下载辰思小说免费APP
Heputhishandonthenextchair，saying，\'Doyouobject?\'
\'Notatall，\'shereplied；andhesatdown。
\'Supposewegointothechoir，\'saidDeStancypresently。
\'Nobodysitsouthereintheshadows。\'
\'Thisissufficientlynear，andwehaveacandle，\'Paulamurmured。
Beforeanotherminutehadpassedthecandleflamebegantodrowninitsowngrease，slowlydwindled，andwentout。
\'IsupposethatmeansIamtogointothechoirinspiteofmyself。Heavenisonyourside，\'saidPaula。Andrisingtheylefttheirnowtotallydarkcorner，andjoinedthenoiselessshadowyfigureswhointwosandthreeskeptpassingupthenave。
Withinthechoirtherewasablazeoflight，partlyfromthealtar，andmoreparticularlyfromtheimageofthesaintwhomtheyhadassembledtohonour，whichstood，surroundedbycandlesandathicketoffloweringplants，somewayinadvanceofthefoot-pace。Asecondaryradiancefromthesamesourcewasreflectedupwardintotheirfacesbythepolishedmarblepavement，exceptwheninterruptedbytheshadyformsoftheofficiatingpriests。
Whenitwasoverandthepeopleweremovingoff，DeStancyandhiscompanionwenttowardsthesaint，nowbesiegedbynumbersofwomenanxioustoclaimtherespectiveflower-potstheyhadlentforthedecoration。Aseachstruggledforherown，seizedandmarchedoffwithit，Paularemarked——\'Thisratherspoilsthesolemneffectofwhathasgonebefore。\'
\'IperceiveyouareaharshPuritan。\'
\'No，CaptainDeStancy!Whywillyouspeakso?Iamfartoomuchotherwise。Ihavegrowntobesomuchofyourwayofthinking，thatIaccusemyself，andamaccusedbyothers，ofbeingworldly，andhalf-and-half，andotherdreadfulthings——
thoughitisn\'tthatatall。\'
Theywerenowwalkingdownthenave，precededbythesombrefigureswiththepotflowers，whowerejustvisibleintheraysthatreachedthemthroughthedistantchoirscreenattheirback；whileabovethegreynightskyandstarslookedinuponthemthroughthehighclerestorywindows。
\'DobealittleMOREofmywayofthinking!\'rejoinedDeStancypassionately。
\'Don\'t，don\'tspeak，\'shesaidrapidly。\'ThereareMillyandChampreau!\'
Millywasoneofthemaids，andChampreauthecourierandvaletwhohadbeenengagedbyAbnerPower。Theyhadbeensittingbehindtheotherpairthroughouttheservice，andindeedknewrathermoreoftherelationsbetweenPaulaandDeStancythanPaulaknewherself。
Hasteningonthetwolatterwentout，andwalkedtogethersilentlyuptheshortstreet。ThePlaceSt。Deniswasnowlitup，lightsshonefromthehotelwindows，andtheworldwithoutthecathedralhadsofaradvancedinnocturnalchangethatitseemedasiftheyhadbeengonefromitforhours。Withinthehoteltheyfoundthechangeevengreaterthanwithout。Mrs。
Goodmanmetthemhalf-wayonthestairs。
\'PoorCharlotteisworse，\'shesaid。\'Quitefeverish，andalmostdelirious。\'
Paulareproachedherselfwith\'WhydidIgoaway!\'
ThecommoninterestofDeStancyandPaulainthesuffereratoncereproducedaneasebetweenthemasnothingelsecouldhavedone。Thephysicianwasagaincalledin，whoprescribedcertaindraughts，andrecommendedthatsomeoneshouldsitupwithherthatnight。IfPaulaalloweddemonstrationsoflovetoescapehertowardsanybodyitwastowardsCharlotte，andherinstinctwasatoncetowatchbytheinvalid\'scouchherself，atleastforsomehours，itbeingdeemedunnecessarytocallinaregularnurseunlesssheshouldsickenfurther。
\'ButIwillsitwithher，\'saidDeStancy。\'Surelyyouhadbettergotobed?\'Paulawouldnotbepersuaded；andthereuponDeStancy，sayinghewasgoingintothetownforashorttimebeforeretiring，lefttheroom。
Thelastomnibusreturnedfromthelasttrain，andtheinmatesofthehotelretiredtorest。MeanwhileatelegramhadarrivedforCaptainDeStancy；butashehadnotyetreturneditwasputinhisbedroom，withdirectionstothenight-portertoremindhimofitsarrival。
PaulasatonwiththesleepingCharlotte。Presentlysheretiredintotheadjacentsitting-roomwithabook，andflungherselfonacouch，leavingthedooropenbetweenherandhercharge，incasethelattershouldawake。WhileshesatanewbreathingseemedtominglewiththeregularsoundofCharlotte\'sthatreachedherthroughthedoorway:sheturnedquickly，andsawherunclestandingbehindher。
\'O——IthoughtyouwereinParis!\'saidPaula。
\'Ihavejustcomefromthere——Icouldnotstay。Somethinghasoccurredtomymindaboutthisaffair。\'Hisstrangelymarkedvisage，nowmorenoticeablefrombeingwornwithfatigue，hadaspectraleffectbythenight-light。
\'Whataffair?\'
\'Thismarriage……Paula，DeStancyisagoodfellowenough，butyoumustnotaccepthimjustyet。\'
Pauladidnotanswer。
\'Doyouhear?Youmustnotaccepthim，\'repeatedheruncle，\'tillIhavebeentoEnglandandexaminedintomatters。I
startinanhour\'stime——bytheten-minutes-past-twotrain。\'
\'Thisissomethingverynew!\'
\'Yes——\'tisnew，\'hemurmured，relapsingintohisDutchmanner。
\'Youmustnotaccepthimtillsomethingismadecleartome——
somethingaboutaqueerrelationship。IhavecomefromParistosayso。\'
\'Uncle，Idon\'tunderstandthis。Iammyownmistressinallmatters，andthoughIdon\'tmindtellingyouIhavebynomeansresolvedtoaccepthim，thequestionofhermarriageisespeciallyawoman\'sownaffair。\'
Herunclestoodirresoluteforamoment，asifhisconvictionsweremorethanhisproofs。\'Isaynomoreatpresent，\'hemurmured。\'CanIdoanythingforyouaboutanewarchitect?\'
\'AppointHavill。\'
\'Verywell。Goodnight。\'Andthenhelefther。InashorttimesheheardhimgodownandoutofthehousetocrosstoEnglandbythemorningsteamboat。
Withalittleshrug，asifsheresentedhisinterferenceinsodelicateapoint，shesettledherselfdownanewtoherbook。
One，two，threehourspassed，whenCharlotteawoke，butsoonslumberedsweetlyagain。Millyhadstayedupforsometimelesthermistressshouldrequireanything；butthegirlbeingsleepyPaulasenthertobed。
Itwasalovelynightofearlysummer，anddrawingasidethewindowcurtainsshelookedoutupontheflowersandtreesofthePlace，nowquitevisible，foritwasnearlythreeo\'clock，andthemorninglightwasgrowingstrong。Sheturnedherfaceupwards。Exceptinthecaseofonebedroomallthewindowsonthatsideofthehotelwereindarkness。Theroombeingratherclosesheleftthecasementajar，andopeningthedoorwalkedoutuponthestaircaselanding。Anumberofcagedcanarieswerekepthere，andsheobservedinthedimlightofthelandinglamphowsnuglytheirheadswerealltuckedin。
Onreturningtothesitting-roomagainshecouldhearthatCharlottewasstillslumbering，andthisencouragingcircumstancedisposedhertogotobedherself。Before，however，shehadmadeamoveagentletapcametothedoor。
Paulaopenedit。There，inthefaintlightbythesleepingcanaries，stoodCharlotte\'sbrother。
\'Howisshenow?\'hewhispered。
\'Sleepingsoundly，\'saidPaula。
\'That\'sablessing。Ihavenotbeentobed。Icameinlate，andhavenowcomedowntoknowifIhadnotbettertakeyourplace?\'
\'Nobodyisrequired，Ithink。Butyoucanjudgeforyourself。\'
Uptothispointtheyhadconversedinthedoorwayofthesitting-room，whichDeStancynowentered，crossingittoCharlotte\'sapartment。Hecameoutfromthelatteratapensivepace。
\'Sheisdoingwell，\'hesaidgently。\'Youhavebeenverygoodtoher。WasthechairIsawbyherbedtheoneyouhavebeensittinginallnight?\'
\'Isometimessatthere；sometimeshere。\'
\'IwishIcouldhavesatbesideyou，andheldyourhand——I
speakfrankly。\'
\'Toexcess。\'
\'Andwhynot?Idonotwishtohidefromyouanycornerofmybreast，futileascandourmaybe。JustHeaven!forwhatreasonisitorderedthatcourtship，inwhichsoldiersareusuallysosuccessful，shouldbeafailurewithme?\'
\'Yourlackofforesightchieflyinindulgingfeelingsthatwerenotencouraged。That，andmyuncle\'sindiscreetpermissiontoyoutotravelwithus，haveprecipitatedourrelationsinawaythatIcouldneitherforeseenoravoid，thoughoflateIhavehadapprehensionsthatitmightcometothis。Youvexanddisturbmebysuchwordsofregret。\'
\'Notmorethanyouvexanddisturbme。Butyoucannothatethemanwholovesyousodevotedly?\'
\'IhavesaidbeforeIdon\'thateyou。IrepeatthatIaminterestedinyourfamilyanditsassociationsbecauseofitscompletecontrastwithmyown。\'Shemighthaveadded，\'AndI
amadditionallyinterestedjustnowbecausemyunclehasforbiddenmetobe。\'
\'Butyoudon\'tcareenoughformepersonallytosavemyhappiness。\'
Paulahesitated；fromthemomentDeStancyconfrontedhershehadfeltthatthisnocturnalconversationwastobeagravebusiness。Thecathedralclockstruckthree。\'Ihavethoughtonceortwice，\'shesaidwithanaiveteunusualinher，\'thatifIcouldbesureofgivingpeaceandjoytoyourmindbybecomingyourwife，Ioughttoendeavourtodosoandmakethebestofit——merelyasacharity。ButIbelievethatfeelingisamistake:yourdiscontentisconstitutional，andwouldgoonjustthesamewhetherIacceptedyouorno。Myrefusalofyouispurelyanimaginarygrievance。\'
\'NotifIthinkotherwise。\'
\'Ono，\'shemurmured，withasensethattheplacewasverylonelyandsilent。\'Ifyouthinkitotherwise，Isupposeitisotherwise。\'
\'Mydarling；myPaula!\'hesaid，seizingherhand。\'Dopromisemesomething。Youmustindeed!\'
\'CaptainDeStancy!\'shesaid，tremblingandturningaway。
\'CaptainDeStancy!\'Shetriedtowithdrawherfingers，thenfacedhim，exclaiminginafirmvoiceathirdtime，\'CaptainDeStancy!letgomyhand；forItellyouIwillnotmarryyou!\'
\'GoodGod!\'hecried，droppingherhand。\'WhathaveIdrivenyoutosayinyouranger!Retractit——O，retractit!\'
\'Don\'turgemefurther，asyouvaluemygoodopinion!\'
\'Toloseyounow，istoloseyouforever。Come，pleaseanswer!\'
\'Iwon\'tbecompelled!\'sheinterruptedwithvehemence。\'Iamresolvednottobeyours——nottogiveyouananswerto-night!
Never，neverwillIbereasonedoutofmyintention；andIsayIwon\'tansweryouto-night!Ishouldneverhaveletyoubesomuchwithmebutforpityofyou；andnowitiscometothis!\'
Shehadsunkintoachair，andnowleaneduponherhand，andburiedherfaceinherhandkerchief。Hehadnevercausedheranysuchagitationasthisbefore。
\'Youstabmewithyourwords，\'continuedDeStancy。\'TheexperienceIhavehadwithyouiswithoutparallel，Paula。Itseemslikeadistractingdream。\'
\'Iwon\'tbehurriedbyanybody!\'
\'Thatmaymeananything，\'hesaid，withaperplexed，passionateair。\'Well，mineisafallenfamily，andwemustabidecaprices。WouldtoHeavenitwereextinguished!\'
\'Whatwasextinguished?\'shemurmured。
\'TheDeStancys。HereamI，ahomelesswanderer，livingonmypay；inthenextroomliesshe，mysister，apoorlittlefragilefeverishinvalidwithnosocialposition——andhardlyafriend。WetworepresenttheDeStancyline；andIwishwewerebehindtheirondoorofouroldvaultatSleeping-Green。
Itcanbeseenbylookingatusandourcircumstancesthatwecryfortheearthandoblivion!\'
\'CaptainDeStancy，itisnotlikethat，Iassureyou，\'
sympathizedPaulawithdampeyelashes。\'IloveCharlottetoodearlyforyoutotalklikethat，indeed。Idon\'twanttomarryyouexactly:andyetIcannotbringmyselftosayI
permanentlyrejectyou，becauseIrememberyouareCharlotte\'sbrother，anddonotwishtobethecauseofanymorbidfeelingsinyouwhichwouldruinyourfutureprospects。\'
\'Mydearlife，whatisityoudoubtinme?Yourearnestnessnottodomeharmmakesitalltheharderformetothinkofneverbeingmorethanafriend。\'
\'Well，Ihavenotpositivelyrefused!\'sheexclaimed，inmixedtonesofpityanddistress。\'Letmethinkitoveralittlewhile。ItisnotgeneroustourgesostronglybeforeIcancollectmythoughts，andatthismidnighttime!\'
\'Darling，forgiveit!——There，I\'llsaynomore。\'
Hethenofferedtositupinherplacefortheremainderofthenight；butPauladeclined，assuringhimthatshemeanttostayonlyanotherhalf-hour，afterwhichnobodywouldbenecessary。
Hehadalreadycrossedthelandingtoascendtohisroom，whenshesteppedafterhim，andaskedifhehadreceivedhistelegram。
\'No，\'saidDeStancy。\'NorhaveIheardofone。\'
Paulaexplainedthatitwasputinhisroom，thathemightseeitthemomenthecamein。
\'Itmattersverylittle，\'hereplied，\'sinceIshallseeitnow。Good-night，dearest:good-night!\'headdedtenderly。
Shegravelyshookherhead。\'Itisnotforyoutoexpressyourselflikethat，\'sheanswered。\'Good-night，CaptainDeStancy。\'
Hewentupthestairstothesecondfloor，andPaulareturnedtothesitting-room。HavingleftalightburningDeStancyproceededtolookforthetelegram，andfounditonthecarpet，whereithadbeensweptfromthetable。Whenhehadopenedthesheetasuddensolemnityoverspreadhisface。Hesatdown，restedhiselbowonthetable，andhisforeheadonhishands。
CaptainDeStancydidnotremainthuslong。Risinghewentsoftlydownstairs。Thegreymorninghadbythistimecreptintothehotel，renderingalightnolongernecessary。Theoldclockonthelandingwaswithinafewminutesoffour，andthebirdswerehoppingupanddowntheircages，andwhettingtheirbills。Hetappedatthesitting-room，andshecameinstantly。
\'ButItoldyouitwasnotnecessary——\'shebegan。
\'Yes，butthetelegram，\'hesaidhurriedly。\'Iwantedtoletyouknowfirstthat——itisveryserious。Paula——myfatherisdead!Hediedsuddenlyyesterday，andImustgoatonce……AboutCharlotte——andhowtoletherknow——\'
\'Shemustnotbetoldyet，\'saidPaula……\'SirWilliamdead!\'
\'Youthinkwehadbetternottellherjustyet?\'saidDeStancyanxiously。\'That\'swhatIwanttoconsultyouabout，ifyou——don\'tmindmyintruding。\'
\'CertainlyIdon\'t，\'shesaid。
Theycontinuedthediscussionforsometime；anditwasdecidedthatCharlotteshouldnotbeinformedofwhathadhappenedtillthedoctorhadbeenconsulted，Paulapromisingtoaccountforherbrother\'sdeparture。
DeStancythenpreparedtoleaveforEnglandbythefirstmorningtrain，androusedthenight-porter，whichfunctionary，havingpackedoffAbnerPower，wasdiscoveredasleeponthesofaofthelandlord\'sparlour。Athalf-pastfivePaula，whointheinterimhadbeenpensivelysittingwithherhandtoherchin，quiteforgettingthatshehadmeanttogotobed，heardwheelswithout，andlookedfromthewindow。Aflyhadbeenbroughtround，andoneofthehotelservantswasintheactofputtingupaportmanteauwithDeStancy\'sinitialsuponit。A
minuteafterwardsthecaptaincametoherdoor。
\'Ithoughtyouhadnotgonetobed，afterall。\'
\'Iwasanxioustoseeyouoff，\'saidshe，\'sinceneitheroftheothersisawake；andyouwishedmenottorousethem。\'
\'Quiteright，youareverygood；\'andloweringhisvoice:
\'Paula，itisasadandsolemntimewithme。Willyougrantmeoneword——notonourlastsadsubject，butonthepreviousone——beforeIpartwithyoutogoandburymyfather?\'
\'Certainly，\'shesaid，ingentleaccents。
\'Thenhaveyouthoughtovermyposition?Willyouatlasthavepityuponmylonelinessbybecomingmywife?\'
Paulasigheddeeply；andsaid，\'Yes。\'
\'Yourhanduponit。\'
Shegavehimherhand:hehelditafewmoments，thenraisedittohislips，andwasgone。
WhenMrs。GoodmanroseshewasinformedofSirWilliam\'sdeath，andofhisson\'sdeparture。
\'ThenthecaptainisnowSirWilliamDeStancy!\'sheexclaimed。\'Really，Paula，sinceyouwouldbeLadyDeStancybymarryinghim，Ialmostthink——\'
\'Hush，aunt!\'
\'Well；whatareyouwritingthere?\'
\'OnlyenteringinmydiarythatIacceptedhimthismorningforpity\'ssake，inspiteofUncleAbner。They\'llsayitwasforthetitle，butknowingitwasnotIdon\'tcare。\'
XI。
OntheeveningofthefourthdayafterthepartingbetweenPaulaandDeStancyatAmiens，whenitwasquitedarkintheMarktonhighway，exceptinsofarastheshadeswerebrokenbythefaintlightsfromtheadjacenttown，ayoungmanknockedsoftlyatthedoorofMyrtleVilla，andaskedifCaptainDeStancyhadarrivedfromabroad。Hewasansweredintheaffirmative，andinafewmomentsthecaptainhimselfcamefromanadjoiningroom。
SeeingthathisvisitorwasDare，fromwhom，aswillberemembered，hehadpartedatCarlsruheinnoverysatisfiedmood，DeStancydidnotaskhimintothehouse，butputtingonhishatwentoutwiththeyouthintothepublicroad。Heretheyconversedastheywalkedupanddown，DarebeginningbyalludingtothedeathofSirWilliam，thesuddennessofwhichhefearedwoulddelayCaptainDeStancy\'soverturesforthehandofMissPower。
\'No，\'saidDeStancymoodily。\'Onthecontrary，ithasprecipitatedmatters。\'
\'Shehasacceptedyou，captain?\'
\'Weareengagedtobemarried。\'
\'Welldone。Icongratulateyou。\'Thespeakerwasabouttoproceedtofurthertriumphantnotesontheintelligence，whencastinghiseyeupontheupperwindowsoftheneighbouringvilla，heappearedtoreflectonwhatwaswithinthem，andcheckinghimself，\'Whenisthefuneraltobe?\'
\'To-morrow，\'DeStancyreplied。\'Itwouldbeadvisableforyounottocomenearmeduringtheday。\'
\'Iwillnot。Iwillbeamerespectator。Theoldvaultofourancestorswillbeopened，Ipresume，captain?\'
\'Itisopened。\'
\'Imustseeit——andruminateonwhatweoncewere:itisathingIlikedoing。Theghostsofourdead——Ah，whatwasthat?\'
\'Iheardnothing。\'
\'IthoughtIheardafootstepbehindus。\'
Theystoodstill；buttheroadappearedtobequitedeserted，andlikelytocontinuesofortheremainderofthatevening。
Theywalkedonagain，speakinginsomewhatlowertonesthanbefore。
\'WillthelateSirWilliam\'sdeathdelaytheweddingmuch?\'
askedtheyoungermancuriously。
DeStancylanguidlyansweredthathedidnotseewhyitshoulddoso。Somelittletimewouldofcourseintervene，but，sincetherewereseveralreasonsfordespatch，heshouldurgeMissPowerandherrelativestoconsenttoavirtuallyprivateweddingwhichmighttakeplaceataveryearlydate；andhethoughttherewouldbeageneralconsentonthatpoint。
\'Thereareindeedreasonsfordespatch。Yourtitle，SirWilliam，isanewsafeguardoverherheart，certainly；butthereismanyaslip，andyoumustnotlosehernow。\'
\'Idon\'tmeantoloseher!\'saidDeStancy。\'Sheistoogoodtobelost。Andyet——sinceshegaveherpromiseIhavefeltmorethanoncethatIwouldnotengageinsuchastruggleagain。Itwasnotathingofmybeginning，thoughIwaseasilyenoughinflamedtofollow。ButIwillnotlosehernow——ForGod\'ssake，keepthatsecretyouhavesofoolishlyprickedonyourbreast。Itfillsmewithremorsetothinkwhatshewithherscrupulousnotionswillfeel，shouldsheeverknowofyouandyourhistory，andyourrelationtome!\'
Daremadenoreplytillafterasilence，whenhesaid，\'Ofcoursemum\'sthewordtilltheweddingisover。\'
\'Andafterwards——promisethatforhersake?\'
\'Andprobablyafterwards。\'
SirWilliamDeStancydrewadejectedbreathatthetoneoftheanswer。Theyconversedbutalittlewhilelonger，thecaptainhintingtoDarethatitwastimeforthemtopart；
not，however，beforehehadutteredahopethattheyoungmanwouldturnoveranewleafandengageinsomeregularpursuit。
PromisingtocalluponhimathislodgingsDeStancywentindoors，andDarebrisklyretracedhisstepstoMarkton。
Whenhisfootfallhaddiedaway，andthedoorofthehouseoppositehadbeenclosed，anothermanappeareduponthescene。
HecamegentlyoutofthehedgeoppositeMyrtleVilla，whichhepausedtoregardforamoment。Butinsteadofgoingtownward，heturnedhisbackuponthedistantsprinkleoflights，anddidnotcheckhiswalktillhereachedthelodgeofStancyCastle。
Herehepulledthewoodenacornbesidethearch，andwhentheporterappearedhislightrevealedthepedestrian\'scountenancetobescathed，asbylightning。
\'Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Power，\'saidtheporterwithsuddendeferenceasheopenedthewicket。\'Butwewasn\'texpectinganybodyto-night，asthereisnobodyathome，andtheservantsonboardwages；andthat\'swhyIwassolonga-coming。\'
\'Nomatter，nomatter，\'saidAbnerPower。\'Ihavereturnedonsuddenbusiness，andhavenotcometostaylongerthanto-
night。Yourmistressisnotwithme。ImeanttosleepinMarkton，buthavechangedmymind。\'
Mr。Powerhadbroughtnoluggagewithhimbeyondasmallhand-
bag，andassoonasaroomcouldbegotreadyheretiredtobed。
Thenextmorninghepassedinidlywalkingaboutthegroundsandobservingtheprogresswhichhadbeenmadeintheworks——
nowtemporarilysuspended。Butthatinspectionwaslesshisobjectinremainingtherethanmeditation，wasabundantlyevident。WhenthebellbegantotollfromtheneighbouringchurchtoannouncetheburialofSirWilliamDeStancy，hepassedthroughthecastle，andwentonfootinthedirectionindicatedbythesound。Reachingthemarginofthechurchyardhelookedoverthewall，hispresencebeingmaskedbybushesandagroupofidlersfromMarktonwhostoodinfront。Soonafuneralprocessionofsimple——almostmeagreandthreadbare——
characterarrived，butPowerdidnotjointhepeoplewhofollowedthedeceasedintothechurch。DeStancywasthechiefmournerandonlyrelationpresent，theotherfollowersofthebroken-downoldmanbeinganancientlawyer，acoupleoffaithfulservants，andabowedvillagerwhohadbeenpagetothelateSirWilliam\'sfather——thesinglelivingpersonleftintheparishwhorememberedtheDeStancysaspeopleofwealthandinfluence，andwhofirmlybelievedthatfamilywouldcomeintoitsrightserelong，andousttheuncircumcizedPhilistineswhohadtakenpossessionoftheoldlands。
Thefuneralwasover，andtherustycarriageshadgone，togetherwithmanyofthespectators；butPowerlingeredinthechurchyardasifhewerelookingforsomeone。Atlengthheenteredthechurch，passingbythecavernouspitfallwithdescendingstepswhichstoodopenoutsidethewalloftheDeStancyaisle。Arrivedwithinhescannedthefewidlersofantiquariantasteswhohadremainedaftertheservicetoinspectthemonuments；andbesidearecumbenteffigy——theeffigyinalabasterwhosefeaturesPaulahadwipedwithherhandkerchiefwhentherewithSomerset——hebeheldthemanithadbeenhisbusinesstofind。AbnerPowerwentupandtouchedthisperson，whowasDare，ontheshoulder。
\'Mr。Power——soitis!\'saidtheyouth。\'IhavenotseenyousincewemetinCarlsruhe。\'
\'Youshallseeallthemoreofmenowtomakeupforit。
Shallwewalkroundthechurch?\'
\'Withallmyheart，\'saidDare。
Theywalkedround；andAbnerPowerbeganinasardonicrecitative:\'Iamatraveller，andittakesagooddealtoastonishme。SoIneitherswoonednorscreamedwhenIlearntafewhoursagowhatIhadsuspectedforaweek，thatyouareofthehouseandlineageofJacob。\'Heflunganodtowardsthecanopiedtombsashespoke——\'Inotherwords，thatyouareofthesamebreedastheDeStancys。\'
Darecursorilyglancedround。Nobodywasnearenoughtoheartheirwords，thenearestpersonsbeingtwoworkmenjustoutside，whowerebringingtheirtoolsupfromthevaultpreparativelytoclosingit。
HavingobservedthisDarereplied，\'I，too，amatraveller；
andneitherdoIswoonnorscreamatwhatyousay。ButI
assureyouthatifyoubusyyourselfaboutme，youmaytrulybesaidtobusyyourselfaboutnothing。\'
\'Well，that\'samatterofopinion。Now，there\'snoscarletleftinmyfacetoblushformen\'sfollies；butasanallianceisafootbetweenmynieceandthepresentSirWilliam，thismustbelookedinto。\'
Darereflectivelysaid\'O，\'asheobservedthroughthewindowoneoftheworkmenbringupacandlefromthevaultandextinguishitwithhisfingers。
\'Themarriageisdesirable，andyourrelationshipinitselfisofnoconsequence，\'continuedtheelder，\'butjustlookatthis。Youhaveforcedonthemarriagebyunscrupulousmeans，yourobjectbeingonlytooclearlytoliveoutoftheproceedsofthatmarriage。\'
\'Mr。Power，youmockme，becauseIlabourunderthemisfortuneofhavinganillegitimatefathertoprovidefor。Ireallydeservecommiseration。\'
\'Youmightdeserveitifthatwereall。Butitlooksbadformyniece\'shappinessasLadyDeStancy，thatsheandherhusbandaretobeperpetuallyhauntedbyayoungchevalierd\'industrie，whocanforgeatelegramonoccasion，andlibelaninnocentmanbyaningeniousdeviceinphotography。Itlookssobad，inshort，that，advantageousasatitleandoldfamilynamewouldbetoherandherchildren，Iwon\'tletmybrother\'sdaughterruntheriskofhavingthemattheexpenseofbeinginthegripofamanlikeyou。Thereareothersuitorsintheworld，andothertitles:andsheisabeautifulwoman，whocanwellaffordtobefastidious。I
shallletherknowatonceofthesethings，andbreakoffthebusiness——unlessyoudoONETHING。\'
Aworkmanbroughtupanothercandlefromthevault，andpreparedtoletdowntheslab。\'Well，Mr。Power，andwhatisthatonething?\'
\'GotoPeruasmyagentinabusinessIhavejustundertakenthere。\'
\'Andsettlethere?\'
\'Ofcourse。Iamsoongoingovermyself，andwillbringyouanythingyourequire。\'
\'Howlongwillyougivemetoconsider?\'saidDare。
Powerlookedathiswatch。\'One，two，three，fourhours，\'hesaid。\'IleaveMarktonbytheseveno\'clocktrainthisevening。\'
\'AndifImeetyourproposalwithanegative?\'
\'Ishallgoatoncetomynieceandtellherthewholecircumstances——tellherthat，bymarryingSirWilliam，shealliesherselfwithanunhappygentlemaninthepowerofacriminalsonwhomakeshislifeaburdentohimbyperpetualdemandsuponhispurse；whowillincreasethosedemandswithhisaccessiontowealth，threatentodegradeherbyexposingherhusband\'santecedentsifsheopposeshisextortions，andwhowillmakehermiserablebylettingherknowthatheroldloverwasshamefullyvictimizedbyayouthsheisboundtoscreenoutofrespecttoherhusband\'sfeelings。Nowamandoesnotcaretolethisownfleshandbloodincurthedangerofsuchanguishasthat，andIshalldowhatIsaytopreventit。KnowingwhatalukewarmsentimenthersisforSirWilliamatbest，Ishallnothavemuchdifficulty。\'
\'Well，Idon\'tfeelinclinedtogotoPeru。\'
\'NeitherdoIwanttobreakoffthematch，thoughIamreadytodoit。Butyoucareaboutyourpersonalfreedom，andyoumightbemadetowearthebroadarrowforyourtricksonSomerset。\'
\'Mr。Power，Iseeyouareahardman。\'
\'Iamahardman。Youwillfindmeone。Well，willyougotoPeru?OrIdon\'tmindAustraliaorCaliforniaasalternatives。Aslongasyouchoosetoremainineitherofthosewealth-producingplaces，solongwillCunninghamHazegouninformed。\'
\'Mr。Power，Iamovercome。Willyouallowmetositdown?
Supposewegointothevestry。Itismorecomfortable。\'
Theyenteredthevestry，andseatedthemselvesintwochairs，oneateachendofthetable。
\'Inthemeantime，\'continuedDare，\'tolendalittleromancetosternrealities，I\'lltellyouasingulardreamIhadjustbeforeyoureturnedtoEngland。\'Powerlookedcontemptuous，butDarewenton:\'Idreamtthatonceuponatimethereweretwobrothers，bornofaNonconformistfamily，oneofwhombecamearailway-contractor，andtheotheramechanicalengineer。\'
\'Amechanicalengineer——good，\'saidPower，beginningtoattend。
\'Whenthefirstwentabroadinhisprofession，andbecameengagedoncontinentalrailways，thesecond，ayoungerman，lookingroundforastart，alsobetookhimselftothecontinent。Butthoughingeniousandscientific，hehadnotthebusinesscapacityoftheelder，whoserebukesledtoasharpquarrelbetweenthem；andtheypartedinbitterestrangement——nevertomeetagainasitturnedout，owingtothedoggedobstinacyandself-willoftheyoungerman。He，afterthis，seemedtolosehismoralballastaltogether，andaftersomeeccentricdoingshewasreducedtoastateofpoverty，andtooklodgingsinacourtinabackstreetofatownwewillcallGeneva，considerablyindoubtastowhatstepsheshouldtaketokeepbodyandsoultogether。\'
AbnerPowerwasshootinganarrowrayofeyesightatDarefromthecornerofhisnearlyclosedlids。\'Yourdreamissointeresting，\'hesaid，withahardsmile，\'thatIcouldlistentoitallday。\'
\'Excellent!\'saidDare，andwenton:\'Nowitsohappenedthatthehouseoppositetotheonetakenbythemechanicianwaspeculiar。Itwasatallnarrowbuilding，whollyunornamented，thewallscoveredwithalayerofwhiteplastercrackedandsoiledbytime。Iseemtoseethathousenow!Sixstonestepsleduptothedoor，witharustyironrailingoneachside，andunderthesestepswereotherswhichwentdowntoacellar——inmydreamofcourse。\'
\'Ofcourse——inyourdream，\'saidPower，noddingcomprehensively。
\'Sittinglonelyandapatheticwithoutalight，athisownchamber-windowatnighttime，ourmechanicianfrequentlyobserveddarkfiguresdescendingthesestepsandultimatelydiscoveredthatthehousewasthemeeting-placeofafraternityofpoliticalphilosophers，whoseobjectwastheexterminationoftyrantsanddespots，andtheoverthrowofestablishedreligions。Thediscoverywasstartlingenough，butourherowasnoteasilystartled。Hekepttheirsecretandlivedonasbefore。Atlastthemechanicianandhisaffairsbecameknowntothesociety，astheaffairsofthesocietyhadbecomeknowntothemechanician，and，insteadofshootinghimasonewhoknewtoomuchfortheirsafety，theywerestruckwithhisfacultyforsilence，andthoughttheymightbeabletomakeuseofhim。\'
\'Tobesure，\'saidAbnerPower。
\'Next，likefriendBunyan，Isawinmydreamthatdenunciationwasthebreathoflifetothissociety。Atanearlierdateinitshistory，objectionablepersonsinpowerhadbeenfromtimetotimemurdered，andcuriouslyenoughnumbered；thatis，uponthebodyofeachwassetamarkorseal，announcingthathewasoneofaseries。Butatthistimethequestionbeforethesocietyrelatedtothesubstitutionforthedagger，whichwasvetoedasobsolete，ofsomeexplosivemachinethatwouldbebothmoreeffectualandlessdifficulttomanage；andinshort，alargerewardwasofferedtoourneedyEnglishmanifhewouldputtheirideasofsuchamachineintoshape。\'
AbnerPowernoddedagain，hiscomplexionbeingpeculiar——whichmightpartlyhavebeenaccountedforbythereflectionofwindow-lightfromthegreen-baizetable-cloth。
\'Heagreed，thoughnopoliticianwhateverhimself，toexercisehiswitsontheiraccount，andbroughthismachinetosuchapitchofperfection，thatitwastheidenticaloneusedinthememorableattempt——\'(Darewhisperedtheremainderofthesentenceintonessolowthatnotamouseinthecornercouldhaveheard。)\'Well，theinventorofthatexplosivehasnaturallybeenwantedeversincebyalltheheadsofpoliceinEurope。Butthemostcurious——orperhapsthemostnaturalpartofmystoryis，thatourhero，afterthecatastrophe，grewdisgustedwithhimselfandhiscomrades，acquired，inafitofrevulsion，quiteaconservativetasteinpolitics，whichwasstrengthenedgreatlybythenewsheindirectlyreceivedofthegreatwealthandrespectabilityofhisbrother，whohadhadnocommunionwithhimforyears，andsupposedhimdead。Heabjuredhisemployersandresolvedtoabandonthem；butbeforecomingtoEnglandhedecidedtodestroyalltraceofhiscombustibleinventionsbydroppingthemintotheneighbouringlakeatnightfromaboat。Youfeeltheroomclose，Mr。Power?\'
\'No，IsufferfromattacksofperspirationwheneverIsitinaconsecratededifice——that\'sall。Praygoon。\'
\'Incarryingoutthisproject，anexplosionoccurred，justashewasthrowingthestockoverboard——itblewupintohisface，woundinghimseverely，andnearlydeprivinghimofsight。Theboatwasupset，butheswamashoreinthedarkness，andremainedhiddentillherecovered，thoughthescarsproducedbytheburnshadbeensetonhimforever。Thisaccident，whichwassuchamisfortunetohimasaman，wasanadvantagetohimasaconspirators\'engineerretiringfrompractice，andaffordedhimadisguisebothfromhisownbrotherhoodandfromthepolice，whichhehasconsideredimpenetrable，butwhichisgettingseenthroughbyoneortwokeeneyesastimegoeson。
InsteadofcomingtoEnglandjustthen，hewenttoPeru，connectedhimselfwiththeguanotrade，Ibelieve，andafterhisbrother\'sdeathrevisitedEngland，hisoldlifeobliteratedasfaraspracticablebyhisnewprinciples。Heisknownonlyasagreattravellertohissurvivingrelatives，thoughheseldomsayswherehehastravelled。Unluckilyforhimself，heisWANTEDbycertainEuropeangovernmentsasbadlyasever。\'
Dareraisedhiseyesasheconcludedhisnarration。Ashasbeenremarked，hewassittingatoneendofthevestry-table，Powerattheother，thegreenclothstretchingbetweenthem。
OntheedgeofthetableadjoiningMr。Powerashiningnozzleofmetalwasquietlyresting，likeadog\'snose。Itwasdirectedpoint-blankattheyoungman。
Darestarted。\'Ah——arevolver?\'hesaid。
Mr。Powernoddedplacidly，hishandstillgraspingthepistolbehindtheedgeofthetable。\'AsatravellerIalwayscarryoneof\'em，\'hereturned；\'andforthelastfiveminutesI
havebeencloselyconsideringwhetheryournumerousbrainsareworthblowingoutorno。Thevaultyonderhassuggesteditselfasconvenientandsnugforoneofthesamefamily；butthementalproblemthatstaysmyhandis，howamItodespatchandburyyoutherewithouttheworkmenseeing?\'
\'\'Tisastrangeproblem，certainly，\'repliedDare，\'andoneonwhichIfearIcouldnotgivedisinterestedadvice。Moreover，whileyou，asatraveller，alwayscarryaweaponofdefence，asatravellersodoI。Andforthelastthree-quartersofanhourIhavebeenthinkingconcerningyou，anintensifiedformofwhatyouhavebeenthinkingofme，butwithoutanyconcernastoyourinterment。Seehereforaproofofit。\'Andasecondsteelnoserestedontheedgeofthetableoppositetothefirst，steadiedbyDare\'srighthand。
Theyremainedforsometimemotionless，thetickofthetowerclockdistinctlyaudible。
Mr。Powerspokefirst。
\'Well，\'twouldbeapitytomakeamesshereundersuchdubiouscircumstances。Mr。Dare，Iperceivethatameanvagabondcanbeassharpasapoliticalregenerator。Icryquits，ifyoucaretodothesame?\'
