第10章

"Goon，AuntJanet。"

Shedidnotseemtorecognizeconsciouslythelikenessbetweenpastandpresent；buttheeffectwasthere，forshewentonmorelikeheroldself，thoughtherewasapropheticgravityinhervoice，moremarkedthanIhadeverheardfromher：

"AllthisI’vetoldyewaswell；but，oh，laddie，therewasadreadfullacko’livin’joysuchasIshouldexpectfromthewomanwhommyboyhadchosenforhiswife——andatthemarriagecoupling，too！Andnowonder，whenallissaid；forthoughthemarriageveilo’lovewasfine，an’thegarlando’flowerswasfresh—gathered，underneaththema’wasnaneitherthanaghastlyshroud。AsIlookedinmyveesion——ormaybedream——Iexpectittoseethewormscrawlroundtheflagstaneatherfeet。If’twasnotDeath，laddiedear，thatstoodbyye，itwastheshadowo’Deaththatmadethedarknessroundye，thatneitherthelighto’candlesnorthesmokeo’heathenincensecouldpierce。Oh，laddie，laddie，waeismethatIhaeseensicaveesion——wakingorsleeping，itmattersnot！Iwassairdistressed——sosairthatIwokewi’ashriekonmylipsandbathedincoldsweat。Iwouldhaecomedoontoyetoseeifyouwereheartyorno——oreventolistenatyourdoorforanysoundo’yerbeingquick，butthatIfearedtoalarmyetillmornshouldcome。I’vecountedthehoursandtheminutessincemidnight，whenIsawtheveesion，tillIcamehitherjustthenow。"

"Quiteright，AuntJanet，"Isaid，"andIthankyouforyourkindthoughtformeinthematter，nowandalways。"ThenIwenton，forI

wantedtotakeprecautionsagainstthepossibilityofherdiscoveryofmysecret。Icouldnotbeartothinkthatshemightrunmyprecioussecrettoearthinanywell—meantpieceofbungling。Thatwouldbetomedisasterunbearable。Shemightfrightenawayaltogethermybeautifulvisitor，evenwhosenameororiginIdidnotknow，andImightneverseeheragain：

"Youmustneverdothat，AuntJanet。YouandIaretoogoodfriendstohavesenseofdistrustorannoyancecomebetweenus——whichwouldsurelyhappenifIhadtokeepthinkingthatyouoranyoneelsemightbewatchingme。"

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

April27，1907。

AfteraspelloflonelinesswhichhasseemedendlessIhavesomethingtowrite。WhenthevoidinmyheartwasbecomingthereceptacleformanydevilsofsuspicionanddistrustIsetmyselfataskwhichmight，Ithought，keepmythoughtsinpart，atanyrate，occupied——toexploreminutelytheneighbourhoodroundtheCastle。Thismight，I

hoped，serveasananodynetomypainofloneliness，whichgrewmoreacuteasthedays，thehours，woreon，evenifitshouldnotultimatelyaffordmesomecluetothewhereaboutsofthewomanwhomI

hadnowgrowntolovesomadly。

Myexplorationsoontookasystematicform，asIintendedthatitshouldbeexhaustive。IwouldtakeeverydayaseparatelineofadvancefromtheCastle，beginningatthesouthandworkingroundbytheeasttothenorth。Thefirstdayonlytookmetotheedgeofthecreek，whichIcrossedinaboat，andlandedatthebaseofthecliffopposite。Ifoundthecliffsaloneworthavisit。HereandtherewereopeningstocaveswhichImadeupmymindtoexplorelater。I

managedtoclimbupthecliffataspotlessbeetlingthantherest，andcontinuedmyjourney。Itwas，thoughverybeautiful，notaspeciallyinterestingplace。IexploredthatspokeofthewheelofwhichVissarionwasthehub，andgotbackjustintimefordinner。

ThenextdayItookacourseslightlymoretotheeastward。Ihadnodifficultyinkeepingastraightpath，for，onceIhadrowedacrossthecreek，theoldchurchofSt。Savarosebeforemeinstatelygloom。ThiswasthespotwheremanygenerationsofthenoblestoftheLandoftheBlueMountainshadfromtimeimmemorialbeenlaidtorest，amongstthemtheVissarions。Again，Ifoundtheoppositecliffspiercedhereandtherewithcaves，somewithwideopenings，——

otherstheopeningsofwhichwerepartlyaboveandpartlybelowwater。Icould，however，findnomeansofclimbingthecliffatthispart，andhadtomakealongdetour，followingupthelineofthecreektillfurtheronIfoundapieceofbeachfromwhichascentwaspossible。HereIascended，andfoundthatIwasonalinebetweentheCastleandthesouthernsideofthemountains。IsawthechurchofSt。Savaawaytomyright，andnotfarfromtheedgeofthecliff。

Imademywaytoitatonce，forasyetIhadneverbeennearit。

HithertomyexcursionshadbeenlimitedtotheCastleanditsmanygardensandsurroundings。ItwasofastylewithwhichIwasnotfamiliar——withfourwingstothepointsofthecompass。Thegreatdoorway，setinamagnificentfrontageofcarvedstoneofmanifestlyancientdate，facedwest，sothat，whenoneentered，hewenteast。

Tomysurprise——forsomehowIexpectedthecontrary——Ifoundthedooropen。Notwideopen，butwhatiscalledajar——manifestlynotlockedorbarred，butnotsufficientlyopenforonetolookin。Ientered，andafterpassingthroughawidevestibule，morelikeasectionofacorridorthananostensibleentrance，mademywaythroughaspaciousdoorwayintothebodyofthechurch。Thechurchitselfwasalmostcircular，theopeningsofthefournavesbeingspaciousenoughtogivetheappearanceoftheinteriorasawhole，beingahugecross。

Itwasstrangelydim，forthewindowopeningsweresmallandhigh—

set，andwere，moreover，filledwithgreenorblueglass，eachwindowhavingacolourtoitself。Theglasswasveryold，beingofthethirteenthorfourteenthcentury。Suchappointmentsastherewere——

forithadageneralairofdesolation——wereofgreatbeautyandrichness，——especiallysotobeinaplace——evenachurch——wherethedoorlayopen，andnoonewastobeseen。Itwasstrangelysilentevenforanoldchurchonalonesomeheadland。Therereignedadismalsolemnitywhichseemedtochillme，accustomedasIhavebeentostrangeandweirdplaces。Itseemedabandoned，thoughithadnotthatairofhavingbeenneglectedwhichissooftentobenoticedinold’churches。Therewasnoneoftheeverlastingaccumulationofdustwhichprevailsinplacesofhighercultivationandlargerandmorestrenuouswork。

InthechurchitselforitsappendingchambersIcouldfindnoclueorsuggestionwhichcouldguidemeinanywayinmysearchfortheLadyoftheShroud。Monumentstherewereinprofusion——statues，tablets，andallthecustomarymemorialsofthedead。Thefamiliesanddatesrepresentedweresimplybewildering。OftenthenameofVissarionwasgiven，andtheinscriptionwhichitheldIreadthroughcarefully，lookingtofindsomeenlightenmentofanykind。Butallinvain：therewasnothingtoseeinthechurchitself。SoI

determinedtovisitthecrypt。Ihadnolanternorcandlewithme，sohadtogobacktotheCastletosecureone。

Itwasstrange，cominginfromthesunlight，hereoverwhelmingtoonesorecentlyaccustomedtonorthernskies，tonotetheslendergleamofthelanternwhichIcarried，andwhichIhadlitinsidethedoor。

Atmyfirstentrytothechurchmymindhadbeensomuchtakenupwiththestrangenessoftheplace，togetherwiththeintensityofwishforsomesortofclue，thatIhadreallynoopportunityofexaminingdetail。Butnowdetailbecamenecessary，asIhadtofindtheentrancetothecrypt。Mypunylightcouldnotdissipatethesemi—Cimmeriangloomofthevastedifice；Ihadtothrowthefeeblegleamintooneafteranotherofthedarkcorners。

AtlastIfound，behindthegreatscreen，anarrowstonestaircasewhichseemedtowinddownintotherock。Itwasnotinanywaysecret，butbeinginthenarrowspacebehindthegreatscreen，wasnotvisibleexceptwhenclosetoit。IknewIwasnowclosetomyobjective，andbegantodescend。AccustomedthoughIhavebeentoallsortsofmysteriesanddangers，IfeltawedandalmostoverwhelmedbyasenseoflonelinessanddesolationasIdescendedtheancientwindingsteps。Theseweremanyinnumber，roughlyhewnofoldinthesolidrockonwhichthechurchwasbuilt。

Imetafreshsurpriseinfindingthatthedoorofthecryptwasopen。Afterall，thiswasdifferentfromthechurch—doorbeingopen；

forinmanyplacesitisacustomtoallowallcomersatalltimestofindrestandcomfortinthesacredplace。ButIdidexpectthatatleastthefinalresting—placeofthehistoricdeadwouldbeheldsafeagainstcasualintrusion。EvenI，onaquestwhichwasverynearmyheart，pausedwithanalmostoverwhelmingsenseofdecorumbeforepassingthroughthatopendoor。Thecryptwasahugeplace，strangelyloftyforavault。Fromitsformation，however，Isooncametotheconclusionthatitwasoriginallyanaturalcavernalteredtoitspresentpurposebythehandofman。Icouldhearsomewherenearthesoundofrunningwater，butIcouldnotlocateit。

Nowandagainatirregularintervalstherewasaprolongedbooming，whichcouldonlycomefromawavebreakinginaconfinedplace。Therecollectionthencametomeoftheproximityofthechurchtothetopofthebeetlingcliff，andofthehalf—sunkcavernentranceswhichpiercedit。

Withthegleamofmylamptoguideme，Iwentthroughandroundthewholeplace。Thereweremanymassivetombs，mostlyrough—hewnfromgreatslabsorblocksofstone。Someofthemweremarble，andthecuttingofallwasancient。Solargeandheavyweresomeofthemthatitwasawondertomehowtheycouldeverhavebeenbroughttothisplace，towhichtheonlyentrancewasseeminglythenarrow，tortuousstairwaybywhichIhadcome。AtlastIsawnearoneendofthecryptagreatchainhanging。Turningthelightupward，Ifoundthatitdependedfromaringsetoverawideopening，evidentlymadeartificially。Itmusthavebeenthroughthisopeningthatthegreatsarcophagihadbeenlowered。

Directlyunderneaththehangingchain，whichdidnotcomeclosertothegroundthansomeeightortenfeet，wasahugetombintheshapeofarectangularcofferorsarcophagus。Itwasopen，saveforahugesheetofthickglasswhichrestedaboveitontwothickbalksofdarkoak，cuttoexceedingsmoothness，whichlayacrossit，oneateitherend。OnthefarsidefromwhereIstoodeachofthesewasjoinedtoanotheroakplank，alsocutsmooth，whichslopedgentlytotherockyfloor。Shoulditbenecessarytoopenthetomb，theglasscouldbemadetoslidealongthesupportsanddescendbytheslopingplanks。

Naturallycurioustoknowwhatmightbewithinsuchastrangereceptacle，Iraisedthelantern，depressingitslenssothatthelightmightfallwithin。

ThenIstartedbackwithacry，thelanternslippingfrommynervelesshandandfallingwitharingingsoundonthegreatsheetofthickglass。

Within，pillowedonsoftcushions，andcoveredwithamantlewovenofwhitenaturalfleecespriggedwithtinyspraysofpinewroughtingold，laythebodyofawoman——noneotherthanmybeautifulvisitor。

Shewasmarblewhite，andherlongblackeyelasheslayonherwhitecheeksasthoughsheslept。

Withoutawordorasound，savethesoundsmadebymyhurryingfeetonthestoneflooring，Ifledupthesteepsteps，andthroughthedimexpanseofthechurch，outintothebrightsunlight。IfoundthatI

hadmechanicallyraisedthefallenlamp，andhadtakenitwithmeinmyflight。

Myfeetnaturallyturnedtowardshome。Itwasallinstinctive。Thenewhorrorhad——forthetime，atanyrate——drownedmymindinitsmystery，deeperthanthedeepestdepthsofthoughtorimagination。

BOOKIV：UNDERTHEFLAGSTAFF

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

May1，1907。

ForsomedaysafterthelastadventureIwasintruthinahalf—dazedcondition，unabletothinksensibly，hardlycoherently。Indeed，itwasasmuchasIcoulddotopreservesomethingofmyhabitualappearanceandmanner。However，myfirsttesthappilycamesoon，andwhenIwasoncethroughitIreacquiredsufficientself—confidencetogothroughwithmypurpose。Graduallytheoriginalphaseofstupefactionpassed，andIwasabletolookthesituationintheface。Iknewtheworstnow，atanyrate；andwhenthelowestpointhasbeenreachedthingsmustbegintomend。Still，IwaswofullysensitiveregardinganythingwhichmightaffectmyLadyoftheShroud，orevenmyopinionofher。IevenbegantodreadAuntJanet’sSecond—Sightvisionsordreams。Thesehadafatalhabitofcomingsoneartofactthattheyalwaysmadeforadangerofdiscovery。IhadtorealizenowthattheLadyoftheShroudmightindeedbeaVampire——oneofthathorridracethatsurvivesdeathandcarriesonalife—in—deathexistenceeternallyandonlyforevil。

Indeed，IbegantoEXPECTthatAuntJanetwoulderelonghavesomepropheticinsighttothematter。Shehadbeensowonderfullycorrectinherpropheticsurmiseswithregardtoboththevisitstomyroomthatitwashardlypossiblethatshecouldfailtotakecognizanceofthislastdevelopment。

Butmydreadwasnotjustified；atanyrate，Ihadnoreasontosuspectthatbyanyforceorexerciseofheroccultgiftshemightcausemeconcernbythediscoveryofmysecret。OnlyoncedidIfeelthatactualdangerinthatrespectwasclosetome。Thatwaswhenshecameearlyonemorningandrappedatmydoor。WhenIcalledout，"Whoisthat？Whatisit？"shesaidinanagitatedway：

"ThankGod，laddie，youareallright！Gotosleepagain。"

Lateron，whenwemetatbreakfast，sheexplainedthatshehadhadanightmareinthegreyofthemorning。Shethoughtshehadseenmeinthecryptofagreatchurchclosebesideastonecoffin；and，knowingthatsuchwasanominoussubjecttodreamabout，cameassoonasshedaredtoseeifIwasallright。Hermindwasevidentlysetondeathandburial，forshewenton：

"Bytheway，Rupert，IamtoldthatthegreatchurchontimetopofthecliffacrossthecreekisSt。Sava’s，wherethegreatpeopleofthecountryusedtobeburied。Iwantyoutotakemetheresomeday。

Weshallgooverit，andlookatthetombsandmonumentstogether。I

reallythinkIshouldbeafraidtogoalone，butitwillbeallrightifyouarewithme。"Thiswasgettingreallydangerous，soIturneditaside：

Really，AuntJanet，I’mafraiditwon’tdo。Ifyougoofftoweirdoldchurches，andfillyourselfupwithafreshsupplyofhorrors，I

don’tknowwhatwillhappen。You’llbedreamingdreadfulthingsaboutmeeverynightandneitheryounorIshallgetanysleep。"Itwenttomyhearttoopposeherinanywish；andalsothiskindofchaffyoppositionmightpainher。ButIhadnoalternative；thematterwastooserioustobeallowedtoproceed。ShouldAuntJanetgotothechurch，shewouldsurelywanttovisitthecrypt。Shouldshedoso，andtherenoticetheglass—coveredtomb——asshecouldnothelpdoing——theLordonlyknewwhatwouldhappen。ShehadalreadySecond—Sightedawomanbeingmarriedtome，andbeforeImyselfknewthatIhadsuchahope。Whatmightshenotrevealdidsheknowwherethewomancamefrom？ItmayhavebeenthatherpowerofSecondSighthadtorestonsomebasisofknowledgeorbelief，andthathervisionwasbutsomeintuitiveperceptionofmyownsubjectivethought。Butwhateveritwasitshouldbestopped——atallhazards。

Thiswholeepisodesetmethinkingintrospectively，andledmegraduallybutimperativelytoself—analysis——notofpowers，butofmotives。Ifoundmyselfbeforelongexaminingmyselfastowhatweremyrealintentions。Ithoughtatfirstthatthisintellectualprocesswasanexerciseofpurereason；butsoondiscardedthisasinadequate——evenimpossible。Reasonisacoldmanifestation；thisfeelingwhichswayedanddominatedmeisnoneotherthanpassion，whichisquick，hot，andinsistent。

Asformyself，theself—analysiscouldleadtobutoneresult——theexpressiontomyselfoftherealityanddefinitenessofanalready—

formedthoughunconsciousintention。Iwishedtodothewomangood——

toserveherinsomeway——tosecurehersomebenefitbyanymeans，nomatterhowdifficult，whichmightbewithinmypower。IknewthatI

lovedher——lovedhermosttrulyandfervently；therewasnoneedforself—analysistotellmethat。And，moreover，noself—analysis，oranyothermentalprocessthatIknewof，couldhelpmyonedoubt：

whethershewasanordinarywoman（oranextraordinarywoman，forthematterofthat）insomesoreandterriblestraits；orelseonewholayundersomedreadfulcondition，onlypartiallyalive，andnotmistressofherselforheracts。Whicheverherconditionmightbe，therewasinmyownfeelingasuperfluityofaffectionforher。Theself—analysistaughtmeonething，atanyrate——thatIhadforher，tostartwith，aninfinitepitywhichhadsoftenedtowardshermywholebeing，andhadalreadymasteredmerelyselfishdesire。OutofitIbegantofindexcusesforhereveryact。InthedoingsoIknewnow，thoughperhapsIdidnotatthetimetheprocesswasgoingon，thatmyviewinitstrueinwardnesswasofherasalivingwoman——thewomanIloved。

Intheformingofourideastherearedifferentmethodsofwork，asthoughtheanalogywithmateriallifeholdsgood。Inthebuildingofahouse，forinstance，therearemanypersonsemployed；menofdifferenttradesandoccupations——architect，builder，masons，carpenters，plumbers，andahostofothers——andallthesewiththeofficialsofeachguildortrade。Sointheworldofthoughtandfeelings：knowledgeandunderstandingcomethroughvariousagents，eachcompetenttoitstask。

HowfarpityreactedwithloveIknewnot；Ionlyknewthatwhateverherstatemightbe，wereshelivingordead，IcouldfindinmyheartnoblamefortheLadyoftheShroud。Itcouldnotbethatshewasdeadintherealconventionalway；for，afterall，theDeaddonotwalktheearthincorporalsubstance，eveniftherebespiritswhichtakethecorporalform。Thiswomanwasofactualformandweight。

HowcouldIdoubtthat，atallevents——I，whohadheldherinmyarms？Mightitnotbethatshewasnotquitedead，andthatithadbeengiventometorestorehertolifeagain？Ah！thatwouldbe，indeed，aprivilegewellworththegivingmylifetoaccomplish。

Thatsuchathingmaybeispossible。Surelytheoldmythswerenotabsoluteinventions；theymusthavehadabasissomewhereinfact。

Maynottheworld—oldstoryofOrpheusandEurydicehavebeenbasedonsomedeep—lyingprincipleorpowerofhumannature？Thereisnotoneofusbuthaswishedatsometimetobringbackthedead。Ay，andwhohasnotfeltthatinhimselforherselfwaspowerinthedeeploveforourdeadtomakethemquickagain，didwebutknowthesecretofhowitwastobedone？

Formyself，IhaveseensuchmysteriesthatIamopentoconvictionregardingthingsnotyetexplained。Thesehavebeen，ofcourse，amongstsavagesorthoseold—worldpeoplewhohavebroughtuncheckedtraditionsandbeliefs——ay，andpowerstoo——downtheagesfromthedimdayswhentheworldwasyoung；whenforceswereelemental，andNature’shandiworkwasexperimentalratherthancompleted。Someofthesewondersmayhavebeenolderstillthantheacceptedperiodofourownperiodofcreation。Maywenothaveto—dayotherwonders，differentonlyinmethod，butnotmoresusceptibleofbelief？Obi—

ismandFantee—ismhavebeenexercisedinmyownpresence，andtheirresultsprovedbytheevidenceofmyowneyesandothersenses。So，too，havestrangerrites，withthesameobjectandthesamesuccess，inthefarPacificIslands。So，too，inIndiaandChina，inThibetandintheGoldenChersonese。Onallandeachoftheseoccasionstherewas，onmyownpart，enoughbelieftosetinmotionthepowersofunderstanding；andtherewerenomoralscruplestostandinthewayofrealization。ThosewhoselivesaresospentthattheyachievethereputationofnotfearingmanorGodordevilarenotdeterredintheirdoingorthwartedfromasetpurposebythingswhichmightdeterothersnotsoequippedforadventure。Whatevermaybebeforethem——pleasantorpainful，bitterorsweet，arduousorfacile，enjoyableorterrible，humorousorfullofaweandhorror——theymustaccept，takingthemintheonwardcourseasagoodathletetakeshurdlesinhisstride。Andtheremustbenohesitating，nolookingback。Iftheexplorerortheadventurerhasscruples，hehadbettergiveupthatspecialbranchofeffortandcomehimselftoamorelevelwalkinlife。Neithermustthereberegrets。Thereisnoneedforsuch；savagelifehasthisadvantage：itbegetsacertaintolerationnottobefoundinconventionalexistence。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

May2，1907。

IhadheardlongagothatSecondSightisaterriblegift，eventoitspossessor。Iamnowinclinednotonlytobelieve，buttounderstandit。AuntJanethasmadesuchapracticeofitoflatethatIgoinconstantdreadofdiscoveryofmysecret。Sheseemstoparallelmeallthetime，whateverImaydo。Itislikeasortofdualexistencetoher；forsheisherdearoldselfallthetime，andyetsomeotherpersonwithasortofintellectualkitoftelescopeandnotebook，whichareeternallyusedonme。IknowtheyareFOR

me，too——forwhatsheconsidersmygood。Butallthesameitmakesanembarrassment。HappilySecondSightcannotspeakasclearlyasitsees，or，rather，asitunderstands。Forthetranslationofthevaguebeliefswhichitinculcatesisbothnebulousanduncertain——asortofDelphicoraclewhichalwayssaysthingswhichnoonecanmakeoutatthetime，butwhichcanbeafterwardsreadinanyoneofseveralways。Thisisallright，forinmycaseitisakindofsafety；but，then，AuntJanetisaverycleverwoman，andsometimesheherselfmaybeabletounderstand。Thenshemaybegintoputtwoandtwotogether。Whenshedoesthat，itwillnotbelongbeforesheknowsmorethanIdoofthefactsofthewholeaffair。AndherreadingofthemandoftheLadyoftheShroud，roundwhomtheycircle，maynotbethesameasmine。Well，thatwillbeallrighttoo。AuntJanetlovesme——GodknowsIhavegoodreasontoknowthatallthroughtheseyears——andwhateverviewshemaytake，heractswillbeallIcouldwish。ButIshallcomeinforagoodlotofscolding，Iamsure。Bytheway，Ioughttothinkofthat；ifAuntJanetscoldsme，itisaprettygoodproofthatIoughttobescolded。IwonderifIdaretellherall。No！Itistoostrange。

Sheisonlyawoman，afterall：andifsheknewIloved……IwishIknewhername，andthought——asImightmyselfdo，onlythatI

resistit——thatsheisnotaliveatall。Well，whatshewouldeitherthinkordobeatsme。IsupposeshewouldwanttoslippermeassheusedtodowhenIwasaweekiddie——inadifferentway，ofcourse。

May3，1907。

Ireallycouldnotgoonseriouslylastnight。TheideaofAuntJanetgivingmealickingasinthedearolddaysmademelaughsomuchthatnothingintheworldseemedseriousthen。Oh，AuntJanetisallrightwhatevercomes。ThatIamsureof，soIneedn’tworryoverit。Agoodthingtoo；therewillbeplentytoworryaboutwithoutthat。Ishallnotcheckhertellingmeofhervisions，however；Imaylearnsomethingfromthem。

Forthelastfour—and—twentyhoursIhave，whilstawake，beenlookingoverAuntJanet’sbooks，ofwhichIbroughtawheendownhere。Geewhizz！Nowondertheolddearissuperstitious，whensheisfilleduptothebackteethwiththatsortofstuff！Theremaybesometruthinsomeofthoseyarns；thosewhowrotethemmaybelieveinthem，orsomeofthem，atallevents。Butastocoherenceorlogic，oranysortofreasonableorinstructivededuction，theymightaswellhavebeenwrittenbysomanyhens！Theseoccultbook—makersseemtogatheronlyalotofbare，baldfacts，whichtheyputdowninthemostuninterestingwaypossible。Theygobyquantityonly。Onestoryofthekind，wellexaminedandwithlogicalcomments，wouldbemoreconvincingtoathirdpartythanawholehecatombofthem。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。

May4，1907。

Thereisevidentlysomethingupinthecountry。Themountaineersaremoreuneasythantheyhavebeenasyet。Thereisconstantgoingtoandfroamongstthem，mostlyatnightandinthegreyofthemorning。

Ispendmanyhoursinmyroomintheeasterntower，fromwhichIcanwatchthewoods，andgatherfromsignsthepassingtoandfro。Butwithallthisactivitynoonehassaidtomeawordonthesubject。

Itisundoubtedlyadisappointmenttome。Ihadhopedthatthemountaineershadcometotrustme；thatgatheringatwhichtheywantedtofiretheirgunsformegavemestronghopes。Butnowitisapparentthattheydonottrustmeinfull——asyet，atallevents。

Well，Imustnotcomplain。Itisallonlyrightandjust。AsyetI

havedonenothingtoprovetothemtheloveanddevotionthatIfeeltothecountry。IknowthatsuchindividualsasIhavemettrustme，andIbelievelikeme。Butthetrustofanationisdifferent。Thathastobewonandtested；hewhowouldwinitmustjustify，andinawaythatonlytroubloustimescanallow。Nonationwill——can——givefullmeedofhonourtoastrangerintimesofpeace。Whyshouldit？

ImustnotforgetthatIamhereastrangerintheland，andthattothegreatmassofpeopleevenmynameisunknown。PerhapstheywillknowmebetterwhenRookecomesbackwiththatstoreofarmsandammunitionthathehasbought，andthelittlewarshiphehasgotfromSouthAmerica。WhentheyseethatIhandoverthewholelottothenationwithoutastringonthem，theymaybegintobelieve。InthemeantimeallIcandoistowait。Itwillallcomerightintime，I

havenodoubt。Andifitdoesn’tcomeright，well，wecanonlydieonce！

Isthatso？WhataboutmyLadyoftheShroud？Imustnotthinkofthatorofherinthisgallery。Loveandwarareseparate，andmaynotmix——cannotmix，ifitcomestothat。Imustbewiseinthematter；andifIhavegotthehumpinanydegreewhatever，mustnotshowit。

Butonethingiscertain：somethingisup，anditmustbetheTurks。

FromwhattheVladikasaidatthatmeetingtheyhavesomeintentionofanattackontheBlueMountains。Ifthatbeso，wemustbeready；

andperhapsIcanhelpthere。Theforcesmustbeorganized；wemusthavesomemethodofcommunication。Inthiscountry，whereareneitherroadsnorrailwaysnortelegraphs，wemustestablishasignallingsystemofsomesort。THATIcanbeginatonce。Icanmakeacode，oradaptonethatIhaveusedelsewherealready。I

shallrigupasemaphoreonthetopoftheCastlewhichcanbeseenforanenormousdistancearound。Ishalltrainanumberofmentobefacileinsignalling。Andthen，shouldneedcome，ImaybeabletoshowthemountaineersthatIamfittoliveintheirhearts……

Andallthisworkmayproveananodynetopainofanotherkind。Itwillhelp，atanyrate，tokeepmymindoccupiedwhilstIamwaitingforanothervisitfrommyLadyoftheShroud。

RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。