第70章

ButMalachias’talebegantofreezethemwithhorror。Heconjuredupthescenebeforethem。Thesecretpanelbesidethechimneyslidbackandintherecessappeared……Haines！Whichofusdidnotfeelhisfleshcreep？

HehadaportfoliofullofCelticliteratureinonehand，intheotheraphialmarkedPoison。Surprise，horror，loathingweredepictedonallfaceswhileheeyedthemwithaghastlygrin。Ianticipatedsomesuchreception，hebeganwithaneldritchlaugh，forwhich，itseems，historyistoblame。Yes，itistrue。IamthemurdererofSamuelChilds。AndhowIampunished！Theinfernohasnoterrorsforme。Thisistheappearanceisonme。Tareandages，whatwaywouldIberestingatall，hemutteredthickly，andItrampingDublinthiswhilebackwithmyshareofsongsandhimselfaftermethelikeofasoulthorabullawurrus？Myhell，andIreland’s，isinthislife。ItiswhatItriedtoobliteratemycrime。Distractions，rookshooting，theErselanguage(herecitedsome)，laudanum(heraisedthephialtohislips)，campingout。Invain！Hisspectrestalksme。Dopeismyonlyhope……Ah！Destruction！Theblackpanther！Withacryhesuddenlyvanishedandthepanelslidback。Aninstantlaterhisheadappearedinthedooroppositeandsaid：MeetmeatWestlandrowstationattenpasteleven。Hewasgone！Tearsgushedfromtheeyesofthedissipatedhost。

Theseerraisedhishandtoheaven，murmuring：ThevendettaofMananaan！

ThesagerepeatedLextalionis。Thesentimentalistishewhowouldenjoywithoutincurringtheimmensedebtorshipforathingdone。Malachias，overcomebyemotion，ceased。Themysterywasunveiled。Haineswasthethirdbrother。HisrealnamewasChilds。Theblackpantherwashimselftheghostofhisownfather。Hedrankdrugstoobliterate。Forthisreliefmuchthanks。

Thelonelyhousebythegraveyardisuninhabited。Nosoulwilllivethere。

Thespiderpitchesherwebinthesolitude。Thenocturnalratpeersfromhishole。Acurseisonit。Itishaunted。Murderer’sground。

Whatistheageofthesoulofman？Asshehaththevirtueofthechameleontochangeherhueateverynewapproach，tobegaywiththemerryandmournfulwiththedowncast，sotooisheragechangeableashermood。NolongerisLeopold，ashesitsthere，ruminating，chewingthecudofreminiscence，thatstaidagentofpublicityandholderofamodestsubstanceinthefunds。

HeisyoungLeopold，asinaretrospectivearrangement，amirrorwithinamirror(hey，presto！)，hebeholdethhimself。Thatyoungfigureofthenisseen，precociouslymanly，walkingonanippingmorningfromtheoldhouseinClambrassilstreettothehighschool，hisbooksatchelonhimbandolierwise，andinitagoodlyhunkofwheatenloaf，amother’sthought。

Oritisthesamefigure，ayearorsogoneover，inhisfirsthardhat(ah，thatwasaday！)，alreadyontheroad，afullfledgedtravellerforthefamilyfirm，equippedwithanorderbook，ascentedhandkerchief(notforshowonly)，hiscaseofbrighttrinketware(alas，athingnowofthepast！)，andaquiverfulofcompliantsmilesforthisorthathalfwonhousewifereckoningitoutuponherfingertipsorforabuddingvirginshylyacknowledging(buttheheart？tellme！)hisstudiedbaisemoins。Thescent，thesmilebutmorethanthese，thedarkeyesandoleaginousaddressbroughthomeatduskfallmanyacommissiontotheheadofthefirmseatedwithJacob’spipeafterlikelaboursinthepaternalingle(amealofnoodles，youmaybesure，isaheating)，readingthroughroundhornedspectaclessomepaperfromtheEuropeofamonthbefore。Buthey，presto，themirrorisbreathedonandtheyoungknighterrantrecedes，shrivels，toatinyspeckwithinthemist。Nowheishimselfpaternalandtheseabouthimmightbehissons。

Whocansay？Thewisefatherknowshisownchild。HethinksofadrizzlingnightinHatchstreet，hardbythebondedstoresthere，thefirst。Together(sheisapoorwaif，achildofshame，yoursandmineandofallforabareshillingandherluck-penny)，togethertheyheartheheavytreadofthewatchastworaincapedshadowspassthenewroyaluniversity。Bridie！

BridieKelly！Hewillneverforgetthename，everrememberthenight，firstnight，thebridenight。Theyareentwinedinnethermostdarkness，thewillerwiththewilled，andinaninstant(fiat！)lightshallfloodtheworld。Didheartleaptoheart？Nay，fairreader。Inabreath’twasdonebut-hold！Back！Itmustnotbe！In