confessthatIwenttobedwithoutoneworduponthematterofCarthew，butnotwithouthavingcovenantedwithmyrascalforavisittoChesterthenextday。AtChesterwedidtheCathedral，walkedonthewalls，discussedShakespeareandthemusicalglasses——andmadeafreshengagementforthemorrow。
Idonotknow，andIamgladtohaveforgotten，howlongthesetravelswerecontinued。Wevisitedatleast，bysingularzigzags，Stratford，Warwick，Coventry，Gloucester，Bristol，Bath，andWells。Ateachstagewespokedutifullyofthesceneanditsassociations；Isketched，theShysterspoutedpoetryandcopiedepitaphs。WhocoulddoubtweweretheusualAmericans，travellingwithadesignofself-improvement？
Whowastoguessthatonewasablackmailer，tremblingtoapproachthesceneofaction——theotherahelpless，amateurdetective，waitingonevents？
Itisunnecessarytoremarkthatnoneoccurred，ornonetheleastsuitablewithmydesignofprotectingCarthew。Twotrifles，indeed，completedthoughtheyscarcelychangedmyconceptionoftheShyster。ThefirstwasobservedinGloucester，wherewespentSunday，andIproposedweshouldhearserviceinthecathedral。Tomysurprise，thecreaturehadanISMofhisown，towhichhewasloyal；andheleftmetogoalonetothecathedral——orperhapsnottogoatall——andstoleoffdownadesertedalleytosomeBethelorEbenezerofthepropershade。
Whenwemetagainatlunch，Iralliedhim，andhegrewrestive。
“Youneedemploynocircumlocutionswithme，Mr。Dodd。”hesaidsuddenly。“Youregardmybehaviourfromanunfavourablepointofview：youregardme，Imuchfear，ashypocritical。”
Iwassomewhatconfusedbytheattack。“YouknowwhatI
thinkofyourtrade。”Ireplied，lamelyandcoarsely。
“Excuseme，ifIseemtopressthesubject。”hecontinued，“butifyouthinkmylifeerroneous，wouldyouhavemeneglectthemeansofgrace？Becauseyouconsidermeinthewrongononepoint，wouldyouhavemeplacemyselfonthewronginall？
Surely，sir，thechurchisforthesinner。”
“Didyouaskablessingonyourpresententerprise？”Isneered。
HehadabadattackofSt。Vitus，hisfacewaschanged，andhiseyesflashed。“IwilltellyouwhatIdid！”hecried。“Iprayedforanunfortunatemanandawretchedwomanwhomhetriestosupport。”
IcannotpretendthatIfoundanyrepartee。
ThesecondincidentwasatBristol，whereIlostsightofmygentlemansomehours。Fromthiseclipse，hereturnedtomewiththickspeech，wanderingfootsteps，andabackallwhitenedwithplaster。Ihadhalfexpected，yetIcouldhavewepttoseeit。Alldisabilitieswerepiledonthatweakback——
domesticmisfortune，nervousdisease，adispleasingexterior，emptypockets，andtheslaveryofvice。
Iwillneverdenythatourprolongedconjunctionwastheresultofdoublecowardice。Eachwasafraidtoleavetheother，eachwasafraidtospeak，orknewnotwhattosay。Saveformyill-
judgedallusionatGloucester，thesubjectuppermostinbothourmindswasburied。Carthew，Stallbridge-le-Carthew，Stallbridge-Minster——whichwehadlongsince(andseverally)
identifiedtobetheneareststation——eventhenameofDorsetshirewasstudiouslyavoided。Andyetweweremakingprogressallthetime，tackingacrossbroadEnglandlikeanunweatherlyvesselonawind；approachingourdestination，notopenly，butbyasortofflyingsap。Andatlength，Icanscarcetellhow，weweresetdownbyadilatorybutt-endoflocaltrainontheuntenantedplatformofStallbridge-Minster。
Thetownwasancientandcompact：adominooftiledhousesandwalledgardens，dwarfedbythedisproportionatebignessofthechurch。Fromthemidstofthethoroughfarewhichdivideditinhalf，fieldsandtreeswerevisibleateitherend；andthroughthesally-portofeverystreet，thereflowedinfromthecountryasilentinvasionofgreengrass。Beesandbirdsappearedtomakethemajorityoftheinhabitants；everygardenhaditsrowofhives，theeavesofeveryhousewereplasteredwiththenestsofswallows，andthepinnaclesofthechurchwereflickeredaboutalldaylongbyamultitudeofwings。ThetownwasofRomanfoundation；andasIlookedoutthatafternoonfromthelowwindowsoftheinn，Ishouldscarcehavebeensurprisedtoseeacenturioncomingupthestreetwithafatiguedraftoflegionaries。Inshort，Stallbridge-
MinsterwasoneofthosetownswhichappeartobemaintainedbyEnglandfortheinstructionanddelightoftheAmericanrambler；towhichheseemsguidedbyaninstinctnotlesssurprisingthanthesetter’s；andwhichhevisitsandquitswithequalenthusiasm。
Iwasnotatallinthehumourofthetourist。Ihadwastedweeksoftimeandaccomplishednothing；wewereontheeveoftheengagement，andIhadneitherplansnorallies。Ihadthrustmyselfintothetradeofprivateprovidenceandamateurdetective；IwasspendingmoneyandIwasreapingdisgrace。
Allthetime，IkepttellingmyselfthatImustatleastspeak；
thatthisignominioussilenceshouldhavebeenbrokenlongago，andmustbebrokennow。IshouldhavebrokenitwhenhefirstproposedtocometoStallbridge-Minster；Ishouldhavebrokenitinthetrain；Ishouldbreakitthereandthen，ontheinndoorstep，astheomnibusrolledoff。Iturnedtowardhimatthethought；heseemedtowince，thewordsdiedonmylips，andIproposedinsteadthatweshouldvisittheMinster。
Whilewewereengageduponthisduty，itcameontoraininamannerworthyofthetropics。Thevaultreverberated；everygargoyleinstantlypoureditsfulldischarge；wewadedbacktotheinn，ankle-deepinimpromptubrooks；andtherestoftheafternoonsatweatherbound，hearkeningtothesonorousdeluge。FortwohoursItalkedofindifferentmatters，laboriouslyfeedingtheconversation；fortwohoursmymindwasquitemadeuptodomydutyinstantly——andateachparticularinstantIpostponedittillthenext。Toscrewupmyfalteringcourage，Icalledatdinnerforsomesparklingwine。Itprovedwhenitcametobedetestable；Icouldnotputittomylips；andBellairs，whohadasmuchpalateasaweevil，waslefttofinishithimself。Doubtlessthewineflushedhim；doubtlesshemayhaveobservedmyembarrassmentoftheafternoon；
doubtlesshewasconsciousthatwewereapproachingacrisis，andthatthatevening，ifIdidnotjoinwithhim，Imustdeclaremyselfanopenenemy。Atleasthefled。Dinnerwasdone；thiswasthetimewhenIhadboundmyselftobreakmysilence；nomoredelaysweretobeallowed，nomoreexcusesreceived。I
wentupstairsaftersometobacco；whichIfelttobeamerenecessityinthecircumstances；andwhenIreturned，themanwasgone。Thewaitertoldmehehadleftthehouse。
Therainstillplumped，likeavastshower-bath，overthedesertedtown。Thenightwasdarkandwindless：thestreetlitglimmeringlyfromendtoend，lamps，housewindows，andthereflectionsintherain-poolsallcontributing。Fromapublic-
houseontheothersideoftheway，Iheardaharptwangandadolefulvoiceupraisedinthe“LarboardWatch。”“TheAnchor’sWeighed。”andothernavalditties。WherehadmyShysterwandered？Inalllikelihoodtothatlyricaltavern；therewasnochoiceofdiversion；incomparisonwithStallbridge-Minsteronarainynight，asheepfoldwouldseemgay。
AgainIpassedinreviewthepointsofmyinterview，onwhichI
wasalwaysconstantlyresolvedsolongasmyadversarywasabsentfromthescene：andagaintheystruckmeasinadequate。
FromthisdispiritingexerciseIturnedtothenativeamusementsoftheinncoffee-room，andstudiedforsometimethemezzotintsthatfrowneduponthewall。Therailwayguide，aftershowingmehowsoonIcouldleaveStallbridgeandhowquicklyIcouldreachParis，failedtoholdmyattention。Anillustratedadvertisementbookofhotelsbroughtmeverylowindeed；andwhenitcametothelocalpaper，Icouldhavewept。
Atthispoint，IfoundapassingsolaceinacopyofWhittaker’sAlmanac，andobtainedinfiftyminutesmoreinformationthanI
haveyetbeenabletouse。
Thenafreshapprehensionassailedme。SupposeBellairshadgivenmetheslip？supposehewasnowrollingontheroadtoStallbridge-le-Carthew？orperhapstherealreadyandlayingbeforeaverywhite-facedauditorhisthreatsandpropositions？
Ahastypersonmighthaveinstantlypursued。WhateverIam，I
amnothasty，andIwasawareofthreegraveobjections。Inthefirstplace，IcouldnotbecertainthatBellairswasgone。Inthesecond，Ihadnotastewhateverforalongdriveatthathourofthenightandinsomercilessarain。Inthethird，IhadnoideahowIwastogetadmittedifIwent，andnoideawhatIshouldsayifIgotadmitted。“Inshort。”Iconcluded，“thewholesituationisthemerestfarce。Youhavethrustyourselfinwhereyouhadnobusinessandhavenopower。YouwouldbequiteasusefulinSanFrancisco；farhappierinParis；andbeing(bythewrathofGod)atStallbridge-Minster，thewisestthingistogoquietlytobed。”Onthewaytomyroom，Isaw(inaflash)
thatwhichIoughttohavedonelongago，andwhichitwasnowtoolatetothinkof——writtentoCarthew，Imean，detailingthefactsanddescribingBellairs，lettinghimdefendhimselfifhewereable，andgivinghimtimetofleeifhewerenot。Itwasthelastblowtomyself-respect；andIflungmyselfintomybedwithcontumely。
Ihavenoguesswhathouritwas，whenIwaswakenedbytheentranceofBellairscarryingacandle。Hehadbeendrunk，forhewasbedaubedwithmirefromheadtofoot；buthewasnowsoberandundertheempireofsomeviolentemotionwhichhecontrolledwithdifficulty。Hetrembledvisibly；andmorethanonce，duringtheinterviewwhichfollowed，tearssuddenlyandsilentlyoverflowedhischeeks。
“Ihavetoaskyourpardon，sir，forthisuntimelyvisit。”hesaid。
“Imakenodefence，Ihavenoexcuse，Ihavedisgracedmyself，Iamproperlypunished；Iappearbeforeyoutoappealtoyouinmercyforthemosttriflingaidor，Godhelpme！IfearImaygomad。”
“Whatonearthiswrong？”Iasked。
“Ihavebeenrobbed。”hesaid。“Ihavenodefencetooffer；itwasofmyownfault，Iamproperlypunished。”
“But，graciousgoodnessme！”Icried，“whoistheretorobyouinaplacelikethis？”
“Icanformnoopinion。”hereplied。“Ihavenoidea。Iwaslyinginaditchinanimate。Thisisadegradingconfession，sir；
Icanonlysayinself-defencethatperhaps(inyourgoodnature)
youhavemadeyourselfpartlyresponsibleformyshame。Iamnotusedtotheserichwines。”
“Inwhatformwasyourmoney？Perhapsitmaybetraced。”I
suggested。
“ItwasinEnglishsovereigns。IchangeditinNewYork；Igotverygoodexchange。”hesaid，andthen，withamomentaryoutbreak，“Godinheaven，howItoiledforit！”hecried。
“Thatdoesn’tsoundencouraging。”saidI。“Itmaybeworthwhiletoapplytothepolice，butitdoesn’tsoundahopefulcase。”
“AndIhavenohopeinthatdirection。”saidBellairs。“Myhopes，Mr。Dodd，areallfixeduponyourself。Icouldeasilyconvinceyouthatasmall，averysmalladvance，wouldbeinthenatureofanexcellentinvestment；butIprefertorelyonyourhumanity。Ouracquaintancebeganonanunusualfooting；
butyouhavenowknownmeforsometime，wehavebeensometime——Iwasgoingtosaywehadbeenalmostintimate。
Undertheimpulseofinstinctivesympathy，Ihavebaredmyhearttoyou，Mr。Dodd，asIhavedonetofew；andIbelieve——I
trust——ImaysaythatIfeelsure——youheardmewithakindlysentiment。Thisiswhatbringsmetoyoursideatthismostinexcusablehour。Butputyourselfinmyplace——howcouldI
sleep——howcouldIdreamofsleeping，inthisblacknessofremorseanddespair？Therewasafriendathand——soIventuredtothinkofyou；itwasinstinctive；Ifledtoyourside，asthedrowningmanclutchesatastraw。Theseexpressionsarenotexaggerated，theyscarcelyservetoexpresstheagitationofmymind。Andthink，sir，howeasilyyoucanrestoremetohopeand，Imaysay，toreason。Asmallloan，whichshallbefaithfullyrepaid。Fivehundreddollarswouldbeample。”Hewatchedmewithburningeyes。“Fourhundredwoulddo。I
believe，Mr。Dodd，thatIcouldmanagewitheconomyontwo。”
“AndthenyouwillrepaymeoutofCarthew’spocket？”Isaid。
“Iammuchobliged。ButIwilltellyouwhatIwilldo：Iwillseeyouonboardasteamer，payyourfarethroughtoSanFrancisco，andplacefiftydollarsinthepurser’shands，tobegivenyouinNewYork。”
Hedrankinmywords；hisfacerepresentedanecstasyofcunningthought。Icouldreadthere，plainasprint，thathebutthoughttooverreachme。
“AndwhatamItodoin’Frisco？”heasked。“Iamdisbarred，I
havenotrade，Icannotdig，tobeg——“hepausedinthecitation。“AndyouknowthatIamnotalone。”headded，“othersdependuponme。”
“IwillwritetoPinkerton。”Ireturned。“Ifeelsurehecanhelpyoutosomeemployment，andinthemeantime，andforthreemonthsafteryourarrival，heshallpaytoyourselfpersonally，onthefirstandthefifteenth，twenty-fivedollars。”
