\'Yes,thecleverdevil!\'exclaimedHavill,unabletodepreciatelonger。
\'How?\'
\'Theriddlethathasworriedmethreeweekshehassolvedinawaywhichissimplicityitself。Hehasgotit,andIamundone!\'
\'Nonsense,don\'tgiveway。Let\'smakeatracing。\'
\'Theground-planwillbesufficient,\'saidHavill,hiscouragereviving。\'Theideaissosimple,thatifonceseenitisnoteasilyforgotten。\'
AroughtracingofSomerset\'sdesignwasquicklymade,andblowingoutthecandlewithawaveofhishand,theyoungergentlemanlockedthedoor,andtheywentdownstairsagain。
\'Ishouldneverhavethoughtofit,\'saidHavill,astheywalkedhomeward。
\'Onemanhasneedofanothereverytenyears:Ognidiecianniunuomohabisognodell\'altro,astheysayinItaly。You\'llhelpmeforthisturnifIhaveneedofyou?\'
\'Ishallneverhavethepower。\'
\'Oyes,youwill。Amanwhocancontrivetogetadmittedtoacompetitionbywritingaletterabusinganotherman,hasanyamountofpower。Thestrokewasagoodone。\'
Havillwassilenttillhesaid,\'Ithinkthesegustsmeanthatwearetohaveastormofrain。\'
Darelookedup。Theskywasovercast,thetreesshivered,andadroportwobegantostrikeintothewalkers\'coatsfromtheeast。TheywerenotfarfromtheinnatSleeping-Green,whereDarehadlodgings,occupyingtheroomswhichhadbeenusedbySomersettillhegavethemupformorecommodiouschambersatMarkton;andtheydecidedtoturnintheretilltherainshouldbeover。
HavingpossessedhimselfofSomerset\'sbrainsHavillwasinclinedtobejovial,andorderedthebestinwinesthatthehouseafforded。Beforestartingfromhometheyhaddrunkasmuchaswasgoodforthem;sothattheirpotationsheresoonbegantohaveamarkedeffectupontheirtongues。Therainbeatuponthewindowswithadulldoggedpertinacitywhichseemedtosignifyboundlessreservesofthesameandlongcontinuance。Thewindrose,thesigncreaked,andthecandleswaved。Theweatherhad,intruth,brokenupfortheseason,andthiswasthefirstnightofthechange。
\'Well,hereweare,\'saidHavill,ashepouredoutanotherglassofthebrandiedliquorcalledoldportatSleeping-
Green;\'anditseemsthatherewearetoremainforthepresent。\'
\'Iamathomeanywhere!\'criedthelad,whosebrowwashotandeyewild。
Havill,whohadnotdrunkenoughtoaffecthisreasoning,helduphisglasstothelightandsaid,\'Inevercanquitemakeoutwhatyouare,orwhatyourageis。Areyousixteen,one-
and-twenty,ortwenty-seven?AndareyouanEnglishman,Frenchman,Indian,American,orwhat?Youseemnottohavetakenyourdegreesintheseparts。\'
\'That\'sasecret,myfriend,\'saidDare。\'Iamacitizenoftheworld。Iowenocountrypatriotism,andnokingorqueenobedience。Amanwhosecountryhasnoboundaryisyouronlytruegentleman。\'
\'Well,wherewereyouborn——somewhere,Isuppose?\'
\'Itwouldbeafactworththetelling。Thesecretofmybirthlieshere。\'AndDareslappedhisbreastwithhisrighthand。
\'Literally,justunderyourshirt-front;orfiguratively,inyourheart?\'askedHavill。
\'Literallythere。Itisnecessarythatitshouldberecorded,forone\'sownmemoryisatreacherousbookofreference,shouldverificationberequiredatatimeofdelirium,disease,ordeath。\'
Havillaskednofurtherwhathemeant,andwenttothedoor。
FindingthattherainstillcontinuedhereturnedtoDare,whowasbythistimesinkingdowninaone-sidedattitude,asifhungupbytheshoulder。Informinghiscompanionthathewasbutlittleinclinedtomovefarinsuchatempestuousnight,hedecidedtoremainintheinntillnextmorning。Oncallinginthelandlord,however,theylearntthatthehousewasfulloffarmersontheirwayhomefromalargesheep-fairintheneighbourhood,andthatseveralofthese,havingdecidedtostayonaccountofthesametempestuousweather,hadalreadyengagedthesparebeds。IfMr。Darewouldgiveuphisroom,andshareadouble-beddedroomwithMr。Havill,thethingcouldbedone,butnototherwise。
Tothisthetwocompanionsagreed,andpresentlywentupstairswithasgentlemanlyawalkandverticalacandleastheycouldexhibitunderthecircumstances。
Theotherinmatesoftheinnsoonretiredtorest,andthestormragedonunheededbyalllocalhumanity。
III。
Attwoo\'clocktherainlesseneditsfury。Athalf-pasttwotheobscuredmoonshoneforth;andatthreeHavillawoke。Theblindhadnotbeenpulleddownovernight,andthemoonlightstreamedintotheroom,acrossthebedwhereonDarewassleeping。Helayonhisback,hisarmsthrownout;andhiswell-curvedyouthfulformlookedlikeanunpedestaledDionysusinthecolourlesslunarrays。
SleephadclearedHavill\'smindfromthedrowsingeffectsofthelastnight\'ssitting,andhethoughtofDare\'smysteriousmannerinspeakingofhimself。ThisladresembledtheEtruscanyouthTages,inonerespect,thatofbeingaboywith,seemingly,thewisdomofasage;andtheeffectofhispresencewasnowheightenedbyallthosesinisterandmysticattributeswhicharelentbynocturnalenvironment。Hewhoinbroaddaylightmightbebutayoungchevalierd\'industriewasnowanunlimitedpossibilityinsocialphenomena。Havillrememberedhowtheladhadpointedtohisbreast,andsaidthathissecretwasliterallykeptthere。Thearchitectwastoomuchofaprovincialtohavequenchedthecommoncuriositythatwaspartofhisnaturebytheacquiredmetropolitanindifferencetootherpeople\'sliveswhich,inessencemoreunworthyeventhantheformer,causeslesspracticalinconvenienceinitsexercise。
Darewasbreathingprofoundly。Instigatedasabovementioned,Havillgotoutofbedandstoodbesidethesleeper。Afteramoment\'spausehegentlypulledbacktheunfastenedcollarofDare\'snightshirtandsawawordtattooedindistinctcharactersonhisbreast。BeforetherewastimeforHavilltodecipheritDaremovedslightly,asifconsciousofdisturbance,andHavillhastenedbacktobed。Darebestirredhimselfyetmore,whereuponHavillbreathedheavily,thoughkeepinganintentglanceontheladthroughhishalf-closedeyestolearnifhehadbeenawareoftheinvestigation。
Darewascertainlyconsciousofsomething,forhesatup,rubbedhiseyes,andgazedaroundtheroom;thenafterafewmomentsofreflectionhedrewsomearticlefrombeneathhispillow。AbluegleamshonefromtheobjectasDarehelditinthemoonlight,andHavillperceivedthatitwasasmallrevolver。
Aclammydewbrokeoutuponthefaceandbodyofthearchitectwhen,steppingoutofbedwiththeweaponinhishand,Darelookedunderthebed,behindthecurtains,outofthewindow,andintoacloset,asifconvincedthatsomethinghadoccurred,butindoubtastowhatitwas。HethencameacrosstowhereHavillwaslyingandstillkeepinguptheappearanceofsleep。Watchinghimawhileandmistrustingtherealityofthissemblance,DarebroughtittothetestbyholdingtherevolverwithinafewinchesofHavill\'sforehead。
Havillcouldstandnomore。Crystallizedwithterror,hesaid,withouthowevermovingmorethanhislips,indreadofhastyactiononthepartofDare:\'O,goodLord,Dare,Dare,Ihavedonenothing!\'
Theyouthsmiledandloweredthepistol。\'Iwasonlyfindingoutwhetheritwasyouorsomeburglarwhohadbeenplayingtricksuponme。Ifinditwasyou。\'
\'Doputawaythatthing!Itistooghastlytoproduceinarespectablebedroom。Whydoyoucarryit?\'
\'Cosmopolitesalwaysdo。Nowanswermyquestions。Whatwereyouupto?\'andDareashespokeplayedwiththepistolagain。
Havillhadrecoveredsomecoolness。\'Youcouldnotuseituponme,\'hesaidsardonically,watchingDare。\'Itwouldberiskingyourneckfortoolittleanobject。\'
\'Ididnotthinkyouwereshrewdenoughtoseethat,\'repliedDarecarelessly,ashereturnedtherevolvertoitsplace。
\'Well,whetheryouhaveoutwittedmeorno,youwillkeepthesecretaslongasIchoose。\'
\'Why?\'saidHavill。
\'BecauseIkeepyoursecretoftheletterabusingMissP。,andofthepilferedtracingyoucarryinyourpocket。\'
\'Itisquitetrue,\'saidHavill。
Theywenttobedagain。Darewassoonasleep;butHavilldidnotattempttodisturbhimagain。Theeldermansleptbutfitfully。Hewasarousedinthemorningbyaheavyrumblingandjinglingalongthehighwayoverlookedbythewindow,thefrontwallofthehousebeingshakenbythereverberation。
\'Thereisnorestformehere,\'hesaid,risingandgoingtothewindow,carefullyavoidingtheneighbourhoodofMr。Dare。
WhenHavillhadglancedouthereturnedtodresshimself。
\'What\'sthatnoise?\'saidDare,awakenedbythesamerumble。
\'ItistheArtillerygoingaway。\'
\'Fromwhere?\'
\'Marktonbarracks。\'
\'Hurrah!\'saidDare,jumpingupinbed。\'Ihavebeenwaitingforthatthesesixweeks。\'
Havilldidnotaskquestionsastothemeaningofthisunexpectedremark。
WhentheyweredownstairsDare\'sfirstactwastoringthebellandaskifhisArmyandNavyGazettehadarrived。
WhiletheservantwasgoneHavillclearedhisthroatandsaid,\'Iamanarchitect,andItakeintheArchitect;youareanarchitect,andyoutakeintheArmyandNavyGazette。\'
\'IamnotanarchitectanymorethanIamasoldier;butI
havetakenintheArmyandNavyGazettethesemanyweeks。\'
Whentheywereatbreakfastthepapercamein。Darehastilytoreitopenandglancedatthepages。
\'IamgoingtoMarktonafterbreakfast!\'hesaidsuddenly,beforelookingup;\'wewillwalktogetherifyoulike?\'
Theywalkedtogetherasplanned,andenteredMarktonaboutteno\'clock。
\'Ihavejusttomakeacallhere,\'saidDare,whentheywereoppositethebarrack-entranceontheoutskirtsofthetown,wherewheel-tracksandaregularchainofhoof-marksleftbythedepartedbatterieswereimprintedinthegravelbetweentheopengates。\'Ishallnotbeamoment。\'Havillstoodstillwhilehiscompanionenteredandaskedthecommissaryincharge,orsomebodyrepresentinghim,whenthenewbatterieswouldarrivetotaketheplaceofthosewhichhadgoneaway。
Hewasinformedthatitwouldbeaboutnoon。
\'NowIamatyourservice,\'saidDare,\'andwillhelpyoutorearrangeyourdesignbythenewintellectuallightwehaveacquired。\'
TheyenteredHavill\'sofficeandsettowork。WhencontrastedwiththetracingfromSomerset\'splan,Havill\'sdesign,whichwasnotfaradvanced,revealedallitsweaknessestohim。
AfterseeingSomerset\'sschemethebandsofHavill\'simaginationwereloosened:helaidhisownpreviouseffortsaside,gotfreshsheetsofdrawing-paperanddrewwithvigour。
\'Imayaswellstayandhelpyou,\'saidDare。\'Ihavenothingtodotilltwelveo\'clock;andnotmuchthen。\'
Sothereheremained。AtaquartertotwelvechildrenandidlersbegantogatheragainsttherailingsofHavill\'shouse。
Afewminutespasttwelvethenoiseofanarrivinghostwasheardattheentrancetothetown。ThereuponDareandHavillwenttothewindow。
TheXandYBatteriesoftheZBrigade,RoyalHorseArtillery,wereenteringMarkton,eachheadedbythemajorwithhisbuglerbehindhim。Inamomenttheycameabreastandpassed,everymaninhisplace;thatistosay:
Sixshininghorses,inpairs,harnessedbyrope-traceswhiteasmilk,withadriveroneachnearhorse:twogunnersonthelead-colouredstout-wheeledlimber,theircarcasesjoltedtoajellyforlackofsprings:twogunnersonthelead-colouredstout-wheeledgun-carriage,inthesamepersonalcondition:
thenine-poundergun,dippingitsheavyheadtoearth,asifashamedofitsofficeintheseenlightenedtimes:thecomplementofjinglingandprancingtroopers,ridingatthewheelsandelsewhere:sixshininghorseswiththeirdrivers,andtraceswhiteasmilk,asbefore:twomoregallantjoltedmen,onanotherjoltinglimber,andmorestoutwheelsandlead-colouredpaint:twomorejoltedmenonanotherdroopinggun:morejinglingtroopersonhorseback:againsixshiningdraught-horses,traces,drivers,gun,gunners,leadpaint,stoutwheelsandtroopersasbefore。
Soeachdetachmentlumberedslowlyby,alleyesmartiallyforward,exceptwhenwanderinginquestoffemalebeauty。
\'He\'safinefellow,ishenot?\'saidDare,denotingbyanodamountedofficer,withasallow,yethandsomeface,andblackmoustache,whocameuponabaygeldingwiththemenofhisbattery。
\'Whatishe?\'saidHavill。
\'Acaptainwholacksadvancement。\'
\'Doyouknowhim?\'
\'Iknowhim?\'
\'Yes;doyou?\'
Daremadenoreply;andtheywatchedthecaptainasherodepastwithhisdrawnswordinhishand,thesunmakingalittlesunuponitsblade,anduponhisbrilliantlypolishedlongbootsandbrightspurs;alsowarminghisgoldcross-beltandbraidings,whitegloves,busbywithitsredbag,andtallwhiteplume。
Havillseemedtobetooindifferenttopresshisquestioning;
andwhenallthesoldiershadpassedby,Dareobservedtohiscompanionthatheshouldleavehimforashorttime,butwouldreturnintheafternoonornextday。
Afterthishewalkedupthestreetintherearoftheartillery,followingthemtothebarracks。Onreachingthegateshefoundacrowdofpeoplegatheredoutside,lookingwithadmirationatthegunsandgunnersdrawnupwithintheenclosure。Whenthesoldiersweredismissedtotheirquartersthesightseersdispersed,andDarewentthroughthegatestothebarrack-yard。
Thegunswerestandingonthegreen;thesoldiersandhorseswerescatteredabout,andthehandsomecaptainwhomDarehadpointedouttoHavillwasinspectingthebuildingsinthecompanyofthequartermaster。Daremadeamentalnoteofthesethings,and,apparentlychangingapreviousintention,wentoutfromthebarracksandreturnedtothetown。
IV。
ToreturnforawhiletoGeorgeSomerset。Thesunofhislaterexistencehavingvanishedfromthatyoungman\'shorizon,heconfinedhimselfcloselytothestudio,superintendingtheexertionsofhisdraughtsmenBowles,Knowles,andCockton,whowerenowinthefullswingofworkingoutSomerset\'screationsfromthesketcheshehadpreviouslyprepared。
HehadsofargotthestartofHavillinthecompetitionthat,bythehelpofthesethreegentlemen,hisdesignwassoonfinished。Buthegainednounfairadvantageonthisaccount,anadditionalmonthbeingallowedtoHavilltocompensateforhislaterinformation。
BeforescalinguphisdrawingsSomersetwishedtospendashorttimeinLondon,anddismissinghisassistantstillfurthernotice,helockeduptheroomswhichhadbeenappropriatedasofficeandstudioandpreparedforthejourney。
Itwasafternoon。SomersetwalkedfromthecastleinthedirectionofthewoodtoreachMarktonbyadetour。Hehadnotproceededfarwhenthereapproachedhispathamanridingabayhorsewithasquare-cuttail。Theequestrianworeagrizzledbeard,andlookedatSomersetwithapiercingeyeashenoiselesslyambledneareroverthesoftsodofthepark。
HeprovedtobeMr。CunninghamHaze,chiefconstableofthedistrict,whohadbecomeslightlyknowntoSomersetduringhissojournhere。
\'Oneword,Mr。Somerset,\'saidtheChief,aftertheyhadexchangednodsofrecognition,reininghishorseashespoke。
Somersetstopped。
\'Youhaveastudioatthecastleinwhichyouarepreparingdrawings?\'
\'Ihave。\'
\'Haveyouaclerk?\'
\'Ihadthreetillyesterday,whenIpaidthemoff。\'
\'Wouldtheyhaveanyrighttoenterthestudiolateatnight?\'
\'Therewouldhavebeennothingwrongintheirdoingso。
Eitherofthemmighthavegonebackatanytimeforsomethingforgotten。Theylivedquitenearthecastle。\'
\'Ah,thenallisexplained。IwasridingpastoverthegrassonthenightoflastThursday,andIsawtwopersonsinyourstudiowithalight。Itmusthavebeenabouthalf-pastnineo\'clock。Oneofthemcameforwardandpulleddowntheblindsothatthelightfelluponhisface。ButIonlysawitforashorttime。\'
\'IfitwereKnowlesorCocktonhewouldhavehadabeard。\'
\'Hehadnobeard。\'
\'ThenitmusthavebeenBowles。Ayoungman?\'
\'Quiteyoung。Hiscompanioninthebackgroundseemedolder。\'
\'Theyareallaboutthesameagereally。Bytheway——itcouldn\'thavebeenDare——andHavill,surely!Wouldyourecognizethemagain?\'
\'Theyoungonepossibly。Theothernotatall,forheremainedintheshade。\'
SomersetendeavouredtodiscerninadescriptionbythechiefconstablethefeaturesofMr。Bowles:butitseemedtoapproximatemorecloselytoDareinspiteofhimself。\'I\'llmakeasketchoftheonlyonewhohadnobusinessthere,andshowittoyou,\'hepresentlysaid。\'Ishouldlikethisclearedup。\'
Mr。CunninghamHazesaidhewasgoingtoToneboroughthatafternoon,butwouldreturnintheeveningbeforeSomerset\'sdeparture。Withthistheyparted。ApossiblemotiveforDare\'spresenceintheroomshadinstantlypresenteditselftoSomerset\'smind,forhehadseenDareenterHavill\'sofficemorethanonce,asifhewereatworkthere。
Heaccordinglysatonthenextstile,andtakingouthispocket-bookbeganapencilsketchofDare\'shead,toshowtoMr。Hazeintheevening;forifDarehadindeedfoundadmissionwithHavill,orashisagent,thedesignwaslost。
Buthecouldnotmakeadrawingthatwasasatisfactorylikeness。ThenheluckilyrememberedthatDare,intheintensewarmthofadmirationhehadaffectedforSomersetonthefirstdayortwooftheiracquaintance,hadbeggedforhisphotograph,andinreturnforithadleftoneofhimselfonthemantelpiece,takenashesaidbyhisownprocess。
SomersetresolvedtoshowthisproductiontoMr。Haze,asbeingmoretothepurposethanasketch,andinsteadoffinishingthelatter,proceededonhisway。
HeenteredtheoldovergrowndrivewhichwoundindirectlythroughthewoodtoMarkton。Theroad,havingbeenlaidoutforidlingratherthanforprogress,bentsharplyhitherandthitheramongthefissuredtrunksandlayersofhornyleaveswhichlaytherealltheyearround,interspersedwithcushionsofvividgreenmossthatformedoasesintherust-redexpanse。
Reachingapointwheretheroadmadeoneofitsbendsbetweentwolargebeeches,amanandwomanrevealedthemselvesatafewyards\'distance,walkingslowlytowardshim。IntheshortandquaintladyherecognizedCharlotteDeStancy,whomherememberednottohaveseenforseveraldays。
Sheslightlyblushedandsaid,\'O,thisispleasant,Mr。
Somerset!Letmepresentmybrothertoyou,CaptainDeStancyoftheRoyalHorseArtillery。\'
HerbrothercameforwardandshookhandsheartilywithSomerset;andtheyallthreerambledontogether,talkingoftheseason,theplace,thefishing,theshooting,andwhateverelsecameuppermostintheirminds。
CaptainDeStancywasapersonagewhowouldhavebeencalledinterestingbywomenwelloutoftheirteens。Hewasripe,withouthavingdeclinedadigittowardsfogeyism。Hewassufficientlyoldandexperiencedtosuggestagoodlyaccumulationoftouchingamourettesinthechambersofhismemory,andnottoooldforthepossibilityofincreasingthestore。Hewasapparentlyabouteight-and-thirty,lesstallthanhisfatherhadbeen,butadmirablymade;andhiseverymovementexhibitedafinecombinationofstrengthandflexibilityoflimb。Hisfacewassomewhatthinandthoughtful,itscomplexionbeingnaturallypale,thoughdarkenedbyexposuretoawarmersunthanours。Hisfeaturesweresomewhatstriking;hismoustacheandhairravenblack;
andhiseyes,deniedtheattributesofmilitarykeennessbyreasonofthelargenessanddarknessoftheiraspect,acquiredtherebyasoftnessofexpressionthatwasinpartwomanly。
Hismouthasfarasitcouldbeseenreproducedthischaracteristic,whichmighthavebeencalledweakness,orgoodness,accordingtothementalattitudeoftheobserver。
Itwaslargebutwellformed,andshowedanunimpairedlineofteethwithin。Hisdressatpresentwasaheather-colouredruralsuit,cutclosetohisfigure。
\'Youknewmycousin,JackRavensbury?\'hesaidtoSomerset,astheywenton。\'PoorJack:hewasagoodfellow。\'
\'Hewasaverygoodfellow。\'
\'Hewouldhavebeenmadeaparsonifhehadlived——itwashisgreatwish。I,ashissenior,andamanoftheworldasI
thoughtmyself,usedtochaffhimaboutitwhenhewasaboy,andtellhimnottobeamilksop,buttoenterthearmy。ButIthinkJackwasright——theparsonshavethebestofit,Iseenow。\'
\'Theywouldhardlyadmitthat,\'saidSomerset,laughing。\'NorcanI。\'
\'NorI,\'saidthecaptain\'ssister。\'SeehowlovelyyoualllookedwithyourbiggunsanduniformwhenyouenteredMarkton;andthenseehowstupidtheparsonslookbycomparison,whentheyflockintoMarktonataVisitation。\'
\'Ah,yes,\'saidDeStancy,\'\"Doubtlessitisabrilliantmasquerade;
Butwhenofthefirstsightyou\'vehadyourfill,Itpalls——atleastitdoessouponme,Thisparadiseofpleasureandennui。\"
Whenoneisgettingonforforty;
\"Whenwehavemadeourlove,andgamedourgaming,Dressed,voted,shone,andmaybe,somethingmore;
Withdandiesdined,heardsenatorsdeclaiming;
Seenbeautiesbroughttomarketbythescore,\"
andsoon,therearisesastrongdesireforaquietold-
fashionedcountrylife,inwhichincessantmovementisnotanecessarypartoftheprogramme。\'
\'Butyouarenotforty,Will?\'saidCharlotte。
\'Mydear,Iwasthirty-ninelastJanuary。\'
\'Well,menabouthereareyouthsatthatage。ItwasIndiausedyouupso,whenyouservedintheline,wasitnot?I
wishyouhadnevergonethere!\'
\'SodoI,\'saidDeStancydrily。\'ButIoughttogrowayouthagain,liketherest,nowIaminmynativeair。\'
Theycametoanarrowbrook,notwiderthanaman\'sstride,andMissDeStancyhaltedontheedge。
\'Why,Lottie,youusedtojumpiteasilyenough,\'saidherbrother。\'Butwewon\'tmakeherdoitnow。\'Hetookherinhisarms,andliftedherover,givingheragratuitousrideforsomeadditionalyards,andsaying,\'Youarenotapoundheavier,Lott,thanyouwereattenyearsold……Whatdoyouthinkofthecountryhere,Mr。Somerset?Areyougoingtostaylong?\'
\'Ithinkverywellofit,\'saidSomerset。\'ButIleaveto-
morrowmorning,whichmakesitnecessarythatIturnbackinaminuteortwofromwalkingwithyou。\'
\'That\'sadisappointment。Ihadhopedyouweregoingtofinishouttheautumnwithshooting。There\'ssome,veryfair,tobegothereonreasonableterms,I\'vejustheard。\'
\'Butyouneednothireany!\'spokeupCharlotte。\'Paulawouldletyoushootanything,Iamsure。Shehasnotbeenherelongenoughtopreservemuchgame,andthepoachershaditallinMr。Wilkins\'time。Butwhatthereisyoumightkillwithpleasuretoher。\'
\'No,thankyou,\'saidDeStancygrimly。\'IprefertoremainastrangertoMissPower——MissSteam-Power,sheoughttobecalled——andtoallherpossessions。\'
Charlottewassubdued,anddidnotinsistfurther;whileSomerset,beforehecouldfeelhimselfabletodecideonthemoodinwhichthegallantcaptain\'sjokeatPaula\'sexpenseshouldbetaken,wonderedwhetheritwereamarriedmanorabachelorwhoutteredit。
HehadnotbeenabletokeepthequestionofDeStancy\'sdomesticstateoutofhisheadfromthefirstmomentofseeinghim。AssumingDeStancytobeahusband,hefelttheremightbesomeexcuseforhisremark;ifunmarried,Somersetlikedthesatirestillbetter;insuchcircumstancestherewasareliefinthethoughtthatCaptainDeStancy\'sprejudicesmightbeinfinitelystrongerthanthoseofhissisterorfather。
\'Goingto-morrow,didyousay,Mr。Somerset?\'askedMissDeStancy。\'Thenwillyoudinewithusto-day?Myfatherisanxiousthatyoushoulddosobeforeyougo。Iamsorrytherewillbeonlyourownfamilypresenttomeetyou;butyoucanleaveasearlyasyouwish。\'
Herbrothersecondedtheinvitation,andSomersetpromised,thoughhisleisureforthateveningwasshort。HewasintruthsomewhatinclinedtolikeDeStancy;forthoughthecaptainhadsaidnothingofanyvalueeitheronwar,commerce,science,orart,hehadseemedattractivetotheyoungerman。
Beyondthenaturalinterestasoldierhasforimaginativemindsinthecivilwalksoflife,DeStancy\'soccasionalmanifestationsoftaediumvitaeweretoopoeticallyshapedtoberepellent。Gallantrycombinedinhimwithasortofasceticself-repressioninawaythatwascurious。HewasadozenyearsolderthanSomerset:hislifehadbeenpassedingroovesremotefromthoseofSomerset\'sownlife;andthelatterdecidedthathewouldliketomeettheartilleryofficeragain。
Biddingthematemporaryfarewell,hewentawaytoMarktonbyashorterpaththanthatpursuedbytheDeStancys,andafterspendingtheremainderoftheafternoonpreparingfordeparture,hesalliedforthjustbeforethedinner-hourtowardsthesuburbanvilla。
HehadbecomeyetmorecuriouswhetheraMrs。DeStancyexisted;iftherewereonehewouldprobablyseeherto-night。
Hehadanirrepressiblehopethattheremightbesuchalady。
Onenteringthedrawing-roomonlythefather,son,anddaughterwereassembled。SomersetfellintotalkwithCharlotteduringthefewminutesbeforedinner,andhisthoughtfounditswayout。
\'ThereisnoMrs。DeStancy?\'hesaidinanundertone。
\'None,\'shesaid;\'mybrotherisabachelor。\'
ThedinnerhavingbeenfixedatanearlyhourtosuitSomerset,theyhadreturnedtothedrawing-roomateighto\'clock。Aboutninehewasaimingtogetaway。
\'Youarenotoffyet?\'saidthecaptain。
\'Therewouldhavebeennohurry,\'saidSomerset,\'hadInotjustrememberedthatIhaveleftonethingundonewhichIwanttoattendtobeforemydeparture。Iwanttoseethechiefconstableto-night。\'
\'CunninghamHaze?——heistheverymanItoowanttosee。Buthewentoutoftownthisafternoon,andIhardlythinkyouwillseehimto-night。Hisreturnhasbeendelayed。\'
\'Thenthemattermustwait。\'
\'Ihaveleftwordathishouseaskinghimtocallhereifhegetshomebeforehalf-pastten;butatanyrateIshallseehimto-morrowmorning。CanIdoanythingforyou,sinceyouareleavingearly?\'
Somersetrepliedthatthebusinesswasofnogreatimportance,andbrieflyexplainedthesuspectedintrusionintohisstudio;
thathehadwithhimaphotographofthesuspectedyoungman。
\'Ifitisamistake,\'addedSomerset,\'Ishouldregretputtingmydraughtsman\'sportraitintothehandsofthepolice,sinceitmightinjurehischaracter;indeed,itwouldbeunfairtohim。SoIwishtokeepthelikenessinmyownhands,andmerelytoshowittoMr。Haze。That\'swhyIprefernottosendit。\'
\'MymatterwithHazeisthatthebarrackfurnituredoesnotcorrespondwiththeinventories。Ifyoulike,I\'llaskyourquestionatthesametimewithpleasure。\'
ThereuponSomersetgaveCaptainDeStancyanunfastenedenvelopecontainingtheportrait,askinghimtodestroyitiftheconstableshoulddeclareitnottocorrespondwiththefacethatmethiseyeatthewindow。Soonafter,Somersettookhisleaveofthehousehold。
Hehadnotbeenabsenttenminuteswhenotherwheelswereheardonthegravelwithout,andtheservantannouncedMr。
CunninghamHaze,whohadreturnedearlierthanhehadexpected,andhadcalledasrequested。
Theywentintothedining-roomtodiscusstheirbusiness。
WhenthebarrackmatterhadbeenarrangedDeStancysaid,\'I
havealittlecommissiontoexecuteformyfriendMr。
Somerset。Iamtoaskyouifthisportraitofthepersonhesuspectsofunlawfullyenteringhisroomislikethemanyousawthere?\'
Thespeakerwasseatedononesideofthedining-tableandMr。
Hazeontheother。AshespokeDeStancypulledtheenvelopefromhispocket,andhalfdrewoutthephotograph,whichhehadnotasyetlookedat,tohanditovertotheconstable。
Intheacthiseyefellupontheportrait,withitsuncertainexpressionofage,assuredlook,andhairworninafringelikeagirl\'s。
CaptainDeStancy\'sfacebecamestrained,andheleantbackinhischair,havingpreviouslyhadsufficientpoweroverhimselftoclosetheenvelopeandreturnittohispocket。
\'Goodheavens,youareill,CaptainDeStancy?\'saidthechiefconstable。
\'Itwasonlymomentary,\'saidDeStancy;\'betterinaminute——
aglassofwaterwillputmeright。\'
Mr。Hazegothimaglassofwaterfromthesideboard。
\'Thesespasmsoccasionallyovertakeme,\'saidDeStancywhenhehaddrunk。\'Iamalreadybetter。Whatwerewesaying?O,thisaffairofMr。Somerset\'s。Ifindthatthisenvelopeisnottherightone。\'Heostensiblysearchedhispocketagain。
\'Imusthavemislaidit,\'hecontinued,rising。\'I\'llbewithyouagaininamoment。\'
DeStancywentintotheroomadjoining,openedanalbumofportraitsthatlayonthetable,andselectedoneofayoungmanquiteunknowntohim,whoseagewassomewhatakintoDare\'s,butwhoinnootherattributeresembledhim。
DeStancyplacedthispictureintheoriginalenvelope,andreturnedwithittothechiefconstable,sayinghehadfounditatlast。
\'Thankyou,thankyou,\'saidCunninghamHaze,lookingitover。
\'Ah——IperceiveitisnotwhatIexpectedtosee。Mr。
Somersetwasmistaken。\'
Whenthechiefconstablehadleftthehouse,CaptainDeStancyshutthedooranddrewouttheoriginalphotograph。AshelookedatthetranscriptofDare\'sfeatureshewasmovedbyapainfulagitation,tillrecallinghimselftothepresent,hecarefullyputtheportraitintothefire。
DuringthefollowingdaysCaptainDeStancy\'smannerontheroads,inthestreets,andatbarracks,wasthatofCrusoeafterseeingtheprintofaman\'sfootonthesand。
V。
AnybodywhohadcloselyconsideredDareatthistimewouldhavediscoveredthat,shortlyafterthearrivaloftheRoyalHorseArtilleryatMarktonBarracks,hegaveuphisroomattheinnatSleeping-Greenandtookpermanentlodgingsoverabroker\'sshopinthetownabove-mentioned。Thepeculiarityoftheroomswasthattheycommandedaviewlengthwiseofthebarracklanealongwhichanysoldier,inthenaturalcourseofthings,wouldpasseithertoenterthetown,tocallatMyrtleVilla,ortogotoStancyCastle。
Dareseemedtoactasiftherewereplentyoftimeforhisbusiness。Somefewdayshadslippedbywhen,perceivingCaptainDeStancywalkpasthiswindowandintothetown,Daretookhishatandcane,andfollowedinthesamedirection。
WhenhewasaboutfiftyyardsshortofMyrtleVillaontheothersideofthetownhesawDeStancyenteritsgate。
Daremountedastilebesidethehighwayandpatientlywaited。
InabouttwentyminutesDeStancycameoutagainandturnedbackinthedirectionofthetown,tillDarewasrevealedtohimonhislefthand。WhenDeStancyrecognizedtheyouthhewasvisiblyagitated,thoughapparentlynotsurprised。
Standingstillamomenthedroppedhisglanceupontheground,andthencameforwardtoDare,whohavingalightedfromthestilestoodbeforethecaptainwithasmile。
\'Mydearlad!\'saidDeStancy,muchmovedbyrecollections。
HeheldDare\'shandforamomentinbothhisown,andturnedaskance。
\'Youarenotastonished,\'saidDare,stillretaininghissmile,asiftohismindthereweresomethingcomicinthesituation。
\'Iknewyouweresomewherenear。Wheredoyoucomefrom?\'
\'Fromgoingtoandfrointheearth,andwalkingupanddowninit,asSatansaidtohisMaker——Southamptonlast,incommonspeech。\'
\'Haveyoucomeheretoseeme?\'
\'Entirely。IdivinedthatyournextquarterswouldbeMarkton,thepreviousbatteriesthatwereatyourstationhavingcomeonhere。Ihavewantedtoseeyoubadly。\'
\'Youhave?\'
\'Iamratheroutofcash。Ihavebeenknockingaboutagooddealsinceyoulastheardfromme。\'
\'IwilldowhatIcanagain。\'
\'Thanks,captain。\'
\'But,Willy,Iamafraiditwillnotbemuchatpresent。YouknowIamaspoorasamouse。\'
\'Butsuchasitis,couldyouwriteachequeforitnow?\'
\'Iwillsendittoyoufromthebarracks。\'
\'Ihaveabetterplan。BygettingoverthisstilewecouldgoroundatthebackofthevillastoSleeping-GreenChurch。
Thereisalwaysapen-and-inkinthevestry,andwecanhaveanicetalkontheway。Itwouldbeunwiseformetoappearatthebarracksjustnow。\'
\'That\'strue。\'
DeStancysighed,andtheywereabouttowalkacrossthefieldstogether。\'No,\'saidDare,suddenlystopping:myplansmakeitimperativethatweshouldnotruntheriskofbeingseenineachother\'scompanyforlong。Walkon,andI
willfollow。Youcanstrollintothechurchyard,andmoveaboutasifyouwereruminatingontheepitaphs。Therearesomewithexcellentmorals。I\'llenterbytheothergate,andwecanmeeteasilyinthevestry-room。\'
DeStancylookedgloomy,andwasonthepointofacquiescingwhenheturnedbackandsaid,\'Whyshouldyourphotographbeshowntothechiefconstable?\'
\'Bywhom?\'
\'Somersetthearchitect。Hesuspectsyourhavingbrokenintohisofficeorsomethingofthesort。\'DeStancybrieflyrelatedwhatSomersethadexplainedtohimatthedinner-
table。
\'Itwasmerelydiamondcutdiamondbetweenus,onanarchitecturalmatter,\'murmuredDare。\'Ho!andhesuspects;
andthat\'shisremedy!\'
\'Ihopethisisnothingserious?\'askedDeStancygravely。
\'Ipeepedathisdrawing——that\'sall。Butsincehechoosestomakethatuseofmyphotograph,whichIgavehiminfriendship,I\'llmakeuseofhisinawayhelittledreamsof。
Wellnow,let\'son。\'
AquarterofanhourlatertheymetinthevestryofthechurchatSleeping-Green。
\'Ihaveonlyjusttransferredmyaccounttothebankhere,\'
saidDeStancy,ashetookouthischeque-book,\'anditwillbemoreconvenienttomeatpresenttodrawbutasmallsum。
Iwillmakeupthebalanceafterwards。\'
WhenhehadwrittenitDareglancedoverthepaperandsaidruefully,\'Itissmall,dad。Well,thereisallthemorereasonwhyIshouldbroachmyscheme,withaviewtomakingsuchdocumentslargerinthefuture。\'
\'Ishallbegladtohearofanysuchscheme,\'answeredDeStancy,withalanguidattemptatjocularity。