The Magician

 A NOVEL By SOMERSET MAUGHAM

 TOGETHER WITH A FRAGMENT OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY

 1908

A FRAGMENT OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY

In 1897, after spending five years at St Thomas's Hospital I passed theexaminations which enabled me to practise medicine. While still a medicalstudent I had published a novel called _Liza of Lambeth_ which caused amild sensation, and on the strength of that I rashly decided to abandondoctoring and earn my living as a writer; so, as soon as I was'qualified', I set out for Spain and spent the best part of a year inSeville. I amused myself hugely and wrote a bad novel. Then I returned toLondon and, with a friend of my own age, took and furnished a small flatnear Victoria Station. A maid of all work cooked for us and kept the flatneat and tidy. My friend was at the Bar, and so I had the day (and theflat) to myself and my work. During the next six years I wrote severalnovels and a number of plays. Only one of these novels had any success, but even that failed to make the stir that my first one had made. I couldget no manager to take my plays. At last, in desperation, I sent one, which I called _A Man of Honour_, to the Stage Society, which gave twoperformances, one on Sunday night, another on Monday afternoon, of playswhich, unsuitable for the commercial theatre, were considered ofsufficient merit to please an intellectual audience. As every one knows, it was the Stage Society that produced the early plays of Bernard Shaw. The committee accepted _A Man of Honour_, and W. L. Courtney, who was amember of it, thought well enough of my crude play to publish it in _TheFortnightly Review_, of which he was then editor. It was a feather in mycap. 

Though these efforts of mine brought me very little money, they attractednot a little attention, and I made friends. I was looked upon as apromising young writer and, I think I may say it without vanity, wasaccepted as a member of the intelligentsia, an honourable conditionwhich, some years later, when I became a popular writer of lightcomedies, I lost; and have never since regained. I was invited toliterary parties and to parties given by women of rank and fashion whothought it behoved them to patronise the arts. An unattached and fairlypresentable young man is always in demand. I lunched out and dined out. Since I could not afford to take cabs, when I dined out, in tails and awhite tie, as was then the custom, I went and came back by bus. I wasasked to spend week-ends in the country. They were something of a trialon account of the tips you had to give to the butler and to the footmanwho brought you your morning tea. He unpacked your gladstone bag, andyou were uneasily aware that your well-worn pyjamas and modest toiletarticles had made an unfavourable impression upon him. For all that, Ifound life pleasant and I enjoyed myself. There seemed no reason why Ishould not go on indefinitely in the same way, bringing out a novel oncea year (which seldom earned more than the small advance the publisherhad given me but which was on the whole respectably reviewed), going tomore and more parties, making more and more friends. It was all verynice, but I couldn't see that it was leading me anywhere. I was thirty. I was in a rut. I felt I must get out of it. It did not take me long tomake up my mind. I told the friend with whom I shared the flat that Iwanted to be rid of it and go abroad. He could not keep it by himself, but we luckily found a middle-aged gentleman who wished to install hismistress in it, and was prepared to take it off our hands. We sold thefurniture for what it could fetch, and within a month I was on my way toParis. I took a room in a cheap hotel on the Left Bank. 

A few months before this, I had been fortunate enough to make friendswith a young painter who had a studio in the Rue Campagne Première. Hisname was Gerald Kelly. He had had an upbringing unusual for a painter, for he had been to Eton and to Cambridge. He was highly talented, abundantly loquacious, and immensely enthusiastic. It was he who firstmade me acquainted with the Impressionists, whose pictures had recentlybeen accepted by the Luxembourg. To my shame, I must admit that I couldnot make head or tail of them. Without much searching, I found anapartment on the fifth floor of a house near the Lion de Belfort. It hadtwo rooms and a kitchen, and cost seven hundred francs a year, which wasthen twenty-eight pounds. I bought, second-hand, such furniture andhousehold utensils as were essential, and the _concierge_ told me of awoman who would come in for half a day and make my _café au lait_ in themorning and my luncheon at noon. I settled down and set to work on stillanother novel. Soon after my arrival, Gerald Kelly took me to arestaurant called Le Chat Blanc in the Rue d'Odessa, near the GareMontparnasse, where a number of artists were in the habit of dining;and from then on I dined there every night. I have described the placeelsewhere, and in some detail in the novel to which these pages are meantto serve as a preface, so that I need not here say more about it. As arule, the same people came in every night, but now and then others came, perhaps only once, perhaps two or three times. We were apt to look uponthem as interlopers, and I don't think we made them particularly welcome. It was thus that I first met Arnold Bennett and Clive Bell. One of thesecasual visitors was Aleister Crowley. He was spending the winter inParis. I took an immediate dislike to him, but he interested and amusedme. He was a great talker and he talked uncommonly well. In early youth, I was told, he was extremely handsome, but when I knew him he had put onweight, and his hair was thinning. He had fine eyes and a way, whethernatural or acquired I do not know, of so focusing them that, when helooked at you, he seemed to look behind you. He was a fake, but notentirely a fake. At Cambridge he had won his chess blue and was esteemedthe best whist player of his time. He was a liar and unbecominglyboastful, but the odd thing was that he had actually done some of thethings he boasted of. As a mountaineer, he had made an ascent of K2 inthe Hindu Kush, the second highest mountain in India, and he made itwithout the elaborate equipment, the cylinders of oxygen and so forth, which render the endeavours of the mountaineers of the present day morelikely to succeed. He did not reach the top, but got nearer to it thananyone had done before. 

Crowley was a voluminous writer of verse, which he published sumptuouslyat his own expense. He had a gift for rhyming, and his verse is notentirely without merit. He had been greatly influenced by Swinburne andRobert Browning. He was grossly, but not unintelligently, imitative. Asyou flip through the pages you may well read a stanza which, if youcame across it in a volume of Swinburne's, you would accept withoutquestion as the work of the master. '_It's rather hard, isn't it, Sir, to make sense of it?_' If you were shown this line and asked what poethad written it, I think you would be inclined to say, Robert Browning. You would be wrong. It was written by Aleister Crowley. 

At the time I knew him he was dabbling in Satanism, magic and the occult. There was just then something of a vogue in Paris for that sort of thing, occasioned, I surmise, by the interest that was still taken in a book ofHuysmans's, _Là Bas_. Crowley told fantastic stories of his experiences, but it was hard to say whether he was telling the truth or merely pullingyour leg. During that winter I saw him several times, but never after Ileft Paris to return to London. Once, long afterwards, I received atelegram from him which ran as follows: 'Please send twenty-five poundsat once. Mother of God and I starving. Aleister Crowley. ' I did not doso, and he lived on for many disgraceful years. 

I was glad to get back to London. My old friend had by then rooms in PallMall, and I was able to take a bedroom in the same building and use hissitting-room to work in. _The Magician_ was published in 1908, so Isuppose it was written during the first six months of 1907. I do notremember how I came to think that Aleister Crowley might serve as themodel for the character whom I called Oliver Haddo; nor, indeed, how I came to think of writing that particular novel at all. When, alittle while ago, my publisher expressed a wish to reissue it, I feltthat, before consenting to this, I really should read it again. Nearlyfifty years had passed since I had done so, and I had completelyforgotten it. Some authors enjoy reading their old works; some cannotbear to. Of these I am. When I have corrected the proofs of a book, Ihave finished with it for good and all. I am impatient when people insiston talking to me about it; I am glad if they like it, but do not muchcare if they don't. I am no more interested in it than in a worn-outsuit of clothes that I have given away. It was thus with disinclinationthat I began to read _The Magician_. It held my interest, as two of myearly novels, which for the same reason I have been obliged to read, didnot. One, indeed, I simply could not get through. Another had to my mindsome good dramatic scenes, but the humour filled me with mortification, and I should have been ashamed to see it republished. As I read _TheMagician_, I wondered how on earth I could have come by all the materialconcerning the black arts which I wrote of. I must have spent days anddays reading in the library of the British Museum. The style is lush andturgid, not at all the sort of style I approve of now, but perhaps notunsuited to the subject; and there are a great many more adverbs andadjectives than I should use today. I fancy I must have been impressed bythe _écriture artiste_ which the French writers of the time had not yetentirely abandoned, and unwisely sought to imitate them. 

Though Aleister Crowley served, as I have said, as the model for OliverHaddo, it is by no means a portrait of him. I made my character morestriking in appearance, more sinister and more ruthless than Crowley everwas. I gave him magical powers that Crowley, though he claimed them, certainly never possessed. Crowley, however, recognized himself in thecreature of my invention, for such it was, and wrote a full-page reviewof the novel in _Vanity Fair_, which he signed 'Oliver Haddo'. I did notread it, and wish now that I had. I daresay it was a pretty piece ofvituperation, but probably, like his poems, intolerably verbose. 

I do not remember what success, if any, my novel had when it waspublished, and I did not bother about it much, for by then a great changehad come into my life. The manager of the Court Theatre, one Otho Stuart, had brought out a play which failed to please, and he could notimmediately get the cast he wanted for the next play he had in mind toproduce. He had read one of mine, and formed a very poor opinion ofit; but he was in a quandary, and it occurred to him that it might justserve to keep his theatre open for a few weeks, by the end of which theactors he wanted for the play he had been obliged to postpone would be atliberty. He put mine on. It was an immediate success. The result of thiswas that in a very little while other managers accepted the plays theyhad consistently refused, and I had four running in London at the sametime. I, who for ten years had earned an average of one hundred pounds ayear, found myself earning several hundred pounds a week. I made up mymind to abandon the writing of novels for the rest of my life. I did notknow that this was something out of my control and that when the urge towrite a novel seized me, I should be able to do nothing but submit. Fiveyears later, the urge came and, refusing to write any more plays for thetime, I started upon the longest of all my novels. I called it _Of HumanBondage_. 

The Magician

I

Arthur Burdon and Dr Porhoët walked in silence. They had lunched at arestaurant in the Boulevard Saint Michel, and were sauntering now in thegardens of the Luxembourg. Dr Porhoët walked with stooping shoulders, hishands behind him. He beheld the scene with the eyes of the many painterswho have sought by means of the most charming garden in Paris to expresstheir sense of beauty. The grass was scattered with the fallen leaves, but their wan decay little served to give a touch of nature to theartifice of all besides. The trees were neatly surrounded by bushes, and the bushes by trim beds of flowers. But the trees grew withoutabandonment, as though conscious of the decorative scheme they helped toform. It was autumn, and some were leafless already. Many of the flowerswere withered. The formal garden reminded one of a light woman, no longeryoung, who sought, with faded finery, with powder and paint, to make abrave show of despair. It had those false, difficult smiles of uneasygaiety, and the pitiful graces which attempt a fascination that thehurrying years have rendered vain. 

Dr Porhoët drew more closely round his fragile body the heavy cloak whicheven in summer he could not persuade himself to discard. The best part ofhis life had been spent in Egypt, in the practice of medicine, and thefrigid summers of Europe scarcely warmed his blood. His memory flashedfor an instant upon those multi-coloured streets of Alexandria; and then, like a homing bird, it flew to the green woods and the storm-beatencoasts of his native Brittany. His brown eyes were veiled with suddenmelancholy. 

'Let us wait here for a moment, ' he said. 

They took two straw-bottomed chairs and sat near the octagonal waterwhich completes with its fountain of Cupids the enchanting artificialityof the Luxembourg. The sun shone more kindly now, and the trees whichframed the scene were golden and lovely. A balustrade of stone gracefullyenclosed the space, and the flowers, freshly bedded, were very gay. Inone corner they could see the squat, quaint towers of Saint Sulpice, andon the other side the uneven roofs of the Boulevard Saint Michel. 

The palace was grey and solid. Nurses, some in the white caps of theirnative province, others with the satin streamers of the _nounou_, marchedsedately two by two, wheeling perambulators and talking. Brightly dressedchildren trundled hoops or whipped a stubborn top. As he watched them, DrPorhoët's lips broke into a smile, and it was so tender that his thinface, sallow from long exposure to subtropical suns, was transfigured. He no longer struck you merely as an insignificant little man with hollowcheeks and a thin grey beard; for the weariness of expression which washabitual to him vanished before the charming sympathy of his smile. Hissunken eyes glittered with a kindly but ironic good-humour. Now passed aguard in the romantic cloak of a brigand in comic opera and a peaked caplike that of an _alguacil_. A group of telegraph boys in blue stood rounda painter, who was making a sketch--notwithstanding half-frozen fingers. Here and there, in baggy corduroys, tight jackets, and wide-brimmed hats, strolled students who might have stepped from the page of Murger'simmortal romance. But the students now are uneasy with the fear ofridicule, and more often they walk in bowler hats and the neat coatsof the _boulevardier_. 

Dr Porhoët spoke English fluently, with scarcely a trace of foreignaccent, but with an elaboration which suggested that he had learned thelanguage as much from study of the English classics as from conversation. 

'And how is Miss Dauncey?' he asked, turning to his friend. 

Arthur Burdon smiled. 

'Oh, I expect she's all right. I've not seen her today, but I'm going totea at the studio this afternoon, and we want you to dine with us at theChien Noir. '

'I shall be much pleased. But do you not wish to be by yourselves?'

'She met me at the station yesterday, and we dined together. We talkedsteadily from half past six till midnight. '

'Or, rather, she talked and you listened with the delighted attention ofa happy lover. '

Arthur Burdon had just arrived in Paris. He was a surgeon on the staff ofSt Luke's, and had come ostensibly to study the methods of the Frenchoperators; but his real object was certainly to see Margaret Dauncey. Hewas furnished with introductions from London surgeons of repute, and hadalready spent a morning at the Hôtel Dieu, where the operator, warnedthat his visitor was a bold and skilful surgeon, whose reputation inEngland was already considerable, had sought to dazzle him by feats thatsavoured almost of legerdemain. Though the hint of charlatanry in theFrenchman's methods had not escaped Arthur Burdon's shrewd eyes, theaudacious sureness of his hand had excited his enthusiasm. Duringluncheon he talked of nothing else, and Dr Porhoët, drawing upon hismemory, recounted the more extraordinary operations that he had witnessedin Egypt. 

He had known Arthur Burdon ever since he was born, and indeed had missedbeing present at his birth only because the Khedive Ismaïl had summonedhim unexpectedly to Cairo. But the Levantine merchant who was Arthur'sfather had been his most intimate friend, and it was with singularpleasure that Dr Porhoët saw the young man, on his advice, enter hisown profession and achieve a distinction which himself had never won. 

Though too much interested in the characters of the persons whom chancethrew in his path to have much ambition on his own behalf, it pleased himto see it in others. He observed with satisfaction the pride which Arthurtook in his calling and the determination, backed by his confidence andtalent, to become a master of his art. Dr Porhoët knew that a diversityof interests, though it adds charm to a man's personality, tends toweaken him. To excel one's fellows it is needful to be circumscribed. He did not regret, therefore, that Arthur in many ways was narrow. Letters and the arts meant little to him. Nor would he trouble himselfwith the graceful trivialities which make a man a good talker. In mixedcompany he was content to listen silently to others, and only somethingvery definite to say could tempt him to join in the general conversation. He worked very hard, operating, dissecting, or lecturing at his hospital, and took pains to read every word, not only in English, but in French andGerman, which was published concerning his profession. Whenever he couldsnatch a free day he spent it on the golf-links of Sunningdale, for hewas an eager and a fine player. 

But at the operating-table Arthur was different. He was no longer theawkward man of social intercourse, who was sufficiently conscious of hislimitations not to talk of what he did not understand, and sincere enoughnot to express admiration for what he did not like. Then, on the otherhand, a singular exhilaration filled him; he was conscious of his power, and he rejoiced in it. No unforeseen accident was able to confuse him. He seemed to have a positive instinct for operating, and his hand andhis brain worked in a manner that appeared almost automatic. He neverhesitated, and he had no fear of failure. His success had been no lessthan his courage, and it was plain that soon his reputation with thepublic would equal that which he had already won with the profession. 

Dr Porhoët had been making listless patterns with his stick upon thegravel, and now, with that charming smile of his, turned to Arthur. 

'I never cease to be astonished at the unexpectedness of human nature, 'he remarked. 'It is really very surprising that a man like you shouldfall so deeply in love with a girl like Margaret Dauncey. '

Arthur made no reply, and Dr Porhoët, fearing that his words mightoffend, hastened to explain. 

'You know as well as I do that I think her a very charming young person. She has beauty and grace and sympathy. But your characters are moredifferent than chalk and cheese. Notwithstanding your birth in the Eastand your boyhood spent amid the very scenes of the Thousand and OneNights, you are the most matter-of-fact creature I have ever comeacross. '

'I see no harm in your saying insular, ' smiled Arthur. 'I confess that Ihave no imagination and no sense of humour. I am a plain, practical man, but I can see to the end of my nose with extreme clearness. Fortunatelyit is rather a long one. '

'One of my cherished ideas is that it is impossible to love withoutimagination. '

Again Arthur Burdon made no reply, but a curious look came into hiseyes as he gazed in front of him. It was the look which might fill thepassionate eyes of a mystic when he saw in ecstasy the Divine Lady ofhis constant prayers. 

'But Miss Dauncey has none of that narrowness of outlook which, if youforgive my saying so, is perhaps the secret of your strength. She has adelightful enthusiasm for every form of art. Beauty really means as muchto her as bread and butter to the more soberly-minded. And she takes apassionate interest in the variety of life. '

'It is right that Margaret should care for beauty, since there is beautyin every inch of her, ' answered Arthur. 

He was too reticent to proceed to any analysis of his feelings; buthe knew that he had cared for her first on account of the physicalperfection which contrasted so astonishingly with the countlessdeformities in the study of which his life was spent. But one phraseescaped him almost against his will. 

'The first time I saw her I felt as though a new world had opened to myken. '

The divine music of Keats's lines rang through Arthur's remark, and tothe Frenchman's mind gave his passion a romantic note that forebodedfuture tragedy. He sought to dispel the cloud which his fancy had castupon the most satisfactory of love affairs. 

'You are very lucky, my friend. Miss Margaret admires you as much as youadore her. She is never tired of listening to my prosy stories of yourchildhood in Alexandria, and I'm quite sure that she will make you themost admirable of wives. '

'You can't be more sure than I am, ' laughed Arthur. 

He looked upon himself as a happy man. He loved Margaret with all hisheart, and he was confident in her great affection for him. It wasimpossible that anything should arise to disturb the pleasant lifewhich they had planned together. His love cast a glamour upon hiswork, and his work, by contrast, made love the more entrancing. 

'We're going to fix the date of our marriage now, ' he said. 'I'm buyingfurniture already. '

'I think only English people could have behaved so oddly as you, inpostponing your marriage without reason for two mortal years. '

'You see, Margaret was ten when I first saw her, and only seventeen whenI asked her to marry me. She thought she had reason to be grateful to meand would have married me there and then. But I knew she hankered afterthese two years in Paris, and I didn't feel it was fair to bind her to metill she had seen at least something of the world. And she seemed hardlyready for marriage, she was growing still. '

'Did I not say that you were a matter-of-fact young man?' smiled DrPorhoët. 

'And it's not as if there had been any doubt about our knowing our minds. We both cared, and we had a long time before us. We could afford towait. '

At that moment a man strolled past them, a big stout fellow, showilydressed in a check suit; and he gravely took off his hat to Dr Porhoët. The doctor smiled and returned the salute. 

'Who is your fat friend?' asked Arthur. 

'That is a compatriot of yours. His name is Oliver Haddo. '

'Art-student?' inquired Arthur, with the scornful tone he used whenreferring to those whose walk in life was not so practical as his own. 

'Not exactly. I met him a little while ago by chance. When I was gettingtogether the material for my little book on the old alchemists I read agreat deal at the library of the Arsenal, which, you may have heard, issingularly rich in all works dealing with the occult sciences. '

Burden's face assumed an expression of amused disdain. He could notunderstand why Dr Porhoët occupied his leisure with studies soprofitless. He had read his book, recently published, on the morefamous of the alchemists; and, though forced to admire the profoundknowledge upon which it was based, he could not forgive the waste oftime which his friend might have expended more usefully on topics ofpressing moment. 

'Not many people study in that library, ' pursued the doctor, 'and Isoon knew by sight those who were frequently there. I saw this gentlemanevery day. He was immersed in strange old books when I arrived early inthe morning, and he was reading them still when I left, exhausted. Sometimes it happened that he had the volumes I asked for, and Idiscovered that he was studying the same subjects as myself. Hisappearance was extraordinary, but scarcely sympathetic; so, though Ifancied that he gave me opportunities to address him, I did not availmyself of them. One day, however, curiously enough, I was looking upsome point upon which it seemed impossible to find authorities. Thelibrarian could not help me, and I had given up the search, when thisperson brought me the very book I needed. I surmised that the librarianhad told him of my difficulty. I was very grateful to the stranger. Weleft together that afternoon, and our kindred studies gave us a commontopic of conversation. I found that his reading was extraordinarily wide, and he was able to give me information about works which I had nevereven heard of. He had the advantage over me that he could apparentlyread, Hebrew as well as Arabic, and he had studied the Kabbalah in theoriginal. '

'And much good it did him, I have no doubt, ' said Arthur. 'And what is heby profession?'

Dr Porhoët gave a deprecating smile. 

'My dear fellow, I hardly like to tell you. I tremble in every limb atthe thought of your unmitigated scorn. '

'Well?'

'You know, Paris is full of queer people. It is the chosen home of everykind of eccentricity. It sounds incredible in this year of grace, but myfriend Oliver Haddo claims to be a magician. I think he is quiteserious. '

'Silly ass!' answered Arthur with emphasis. 

2

Margaret Dauncey shared a flat near the Boulevard du Montparnasse withSusie Boyd; and it was to meet her that Arthur had arranged to come totea that afternoon. The young women waited for him in the studio. Thekettle was boiling on the stove; cups and _petits fours_ stood inreadiness on a model stand. Susie looked forward to the meeting withinterest. She had heard a good deal of the young man, and knew that theconnexion between him and Margaret was not lacking in romance. For yearsSusie had led the monotonous life of a mistress in a school for youngladies, and had resigned herself to its dreariness for the rest of herlife, when a legacy from a distant relation gave her sufficient incometo live modestly upon her means. When Margaret, who had been her pupil, came, soon after this, to announce her intention of spending a coupleof years in Paris to study art, Susie willingly agreed to accompanyher. Since then she had worked industriously at Colarossi's Academy, by no means under the delusion that she had talent, but merely toamuse herself. She refused to surrender the pleasing notion that herenvironment was slightly wicked. After the toil of many years it relievedher to be earnest in nothing; and she found infinite satisfaction inwatching the lives of those around her. 

She had a great affection for Margaret, and though her own stock ofenthusiasms was run low, she could enjoy thoroughly Margaret's youngenchantment in all that was exquisite. She was a plain woman; but therewas no envy in her, and she took the keenest pleasure in Margaret'scomeliness. It was almost with maternal pride that she watched each yearadd a new grace to that exceeding beauty. But her common sense was sound, and she took care by good-natured banter to temper the praises whichextravagant admirers at the drawing-class lavished upon the handsome girlboth for her looks and for her talent. She was proud to think that shewould hand over to Arthur Burdon a woman whose character she had helpedto form, and whose loveliness she had cultivated with a delicate care. 

Susie knew, partly from fragments of letters which Margaret read to her, partly from her conversation, how passionately he adored his bride; andit pleased her to see that Margaret loved him in return with a gratefuldevotion. The story of this visit to Paris touched her imagination. Margaret was the daughter of a country barrister, with whom Arthur hadbeen in the habit of staying; and when he died, many years after hiswife, Arthur found himself the girl's guardian and executor. He sent herto school; saw that she had everything she could possibly want; and when, at seventeen, she told him of her wish to go to Paris and learn drawing, he at once consented. But though he never sought to assume authority overher, he suggested that she should not live alone, and it was on thisaccount that she went to Susie. The preparations for the journey werescarcely made when Margaret discovered by chance that her father had diedpenniless and she had lived ever since at Arthur's entire expense. Whenshe went to see him with tears in her eyes, and told him what she knew, Arthur was so embarrassed that it was quite absurd. 

'But why did you do it?' she asked him. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

'I didn't think it fair to put you under any obligation to me, and Iwanted you to feel quite free. '

She cried. She couldn't help it. 

'Don't be so silly, ' he laughed. 'You own me nothing at all. I've donevery little for you, and what I have done has given me a great deal ofpleasure. '

'I don't know how I can ever repay you. '

'Oh, don't say that, ' he cried. 'It makes it so much harder for me to saywhat I want to. '

She looked at him quickly and reddened. Her deep blue eyes were veiledwith tears. 

'Don't you know that I'd do anything in the world for you?' she cried. 

'I don't want you to be grateful to me, because I was hoping--I might askyou to marry me some day. '

Margaret laughed charmingly as she held out her hands. 

'You must know that I've been wanting you to do that ever since I wasten. '

She was quite willing to give up her idea of Paris and be married withoutdelay, but Arthur pressed her not to change her plans. At first Margaretvowed it was impossible to go, for she knew now that she had no money, and she could not let her lover pay. 

'But what does it matter?' he said. 'It'll give me such pleasure to goon with the small allowance I've been making you. After all, I'm prettywell-to-do. My father left me a moderate income, and I'm making a gooddeal already by operating. '

'Yes, but it's different now. I didn't know before. I thought Iwas spending my own money. '

'If I died tomorrow, every penny I have would be yours. We shall bemarried in two years, and we've known one another much too long tochange our minds. I think that our lives are quite irrevocably united. '

Margaret wished very much to spend this time in Paris, and Arthur hadmade up his mind that in fairness to her they could not marry till shewas nineteen. She consulted Susie Boyd, whose common sense prevented herfrom paying much heed to romantic notions of false delicacy. 

'My dear, you'd take his money without scruple if you'd signed yournames in a church vestry, and as there's not the least doubt that you'llmarry, I don't see why you shouldn't now. Besides, you've got nothingwhatever to live on, and you're equally unfitted to be a governess or atypewriter. So it's Hobson's choice, and you'd better put your exquisitesentiments in your pocket. '

Miss Boyd, by one accident after another, had never seen Arthur, butshe had heard so much that she looked upon him already as an old friend. She admired him for his talent and strength of character as much as forhis loving tenderness to Margaret. She had seen portraits of him, butMargaret said he did not photograph well. She had asked if he wasgood-looking. 

'No, I don't think he is, ' answered Margaret, 'but he's very paintable. '

'That is an answer which has the advantage of sounding well and meaningnothing, ' smiled Susie. 

She believed privately that Margaret's passion for the arts was a notunamiable pose which would disappear when she was happily married. Tohave half a dozen children was in her mind much more important than topaint pictures. Margaret's gift was by no means despicable, but Susiewas not convinced that callous masters would have been so enthusiasticif Margaret had been as plain and old as herself. 

Miss Boyd was thirty. Her busy life had not caused the years to passeasily, and she looked older. But she was one of those plain women whoseplainness does not matter. A gallant Frenchman had to her face called hera _belle laide_, and, far from denying the justness of his observation, she had been almost flattered. Her mouth was large, and she had littleround bright eyes. Her skin was colourless and much disfigured byfreckles. Her nose was long and thin. But her face was so kindly, hervivacity so attractive, that no one after ten minutes thought of herugliness. You noticed then that her hair, though sprinkled with white, was pretty, and that her figure was exceedingly neat. She had good hands, very white and admirably formed, which she waved continually in thefervour of her gesticulation. Now that her means were adequate she tookgreat pains with her dress, and her clothes, though they cost much morethan she could afford, were always beautiful. Her taste was so great, her tact so sure, that she was able to make the most of herself. Shewas determined that if people called her ugly they should be forcedin the same breath to confess that she was perfectly gowned. Susie'stalent for dress was remarkable, and it was due to her influence thatMargaret was arrayed always in the latest mode. The girl's taste inclinedto be artistic, and her sense of colour was apt to run away with herdiscretion. Except for the display of Susie's firmness, she wouldscarcely have resisted her desire to wear nondescript garments ofviolent hue. But the older woman expressed herself with decision. 

'My dear, you won't draw any the worse for wearing a well-made corset, and to surround your body with bands of grey flannel will certainly notincrease your talent. '

'But the fashion is so hideous, ' smiled Margaret. 

'Fiddlesticks! The fashion is always beautiful. Last year it wasbeautiful to wear a hat like a pork-pie tipped over your nose; andnext year, for all I know, it will be beautiful to wear a bonnet likea sitz-bath at the back of your head. Art has nothing to do with a smartfrock, and whether a high-heeled pointed shoe commends itself or not tothe painters in the quarter, it's the only thing in which a woman's footlooks really nice. '

Susie Boyd vowed that she would not live with Margaret at all unless shelet her see to the buying of her things. 

'And when you're married, for heaven's sake ask me to stay with you fourtimes a year, so that I can see after your clothes. You'll never keepyour husband's affection if you trust to your own judgment. '

Miss Boyd's reward had come the night before, when Margaret, coming homefrom dinner with Arthur, had repeated an observation of his. 

'How beautifully you're dressed!' he had said. 'I was rather afraid you'dbe wearing art-serges. '

'Of course you didn't tell him that I insisted on buying every stitchyou'd got on, ' cried Susie. 

'Yes, I did, ' answered Margaret simply. 'I told him I had no taste atall, but that you were responsible for everything. '

'That was the least you could do, ' answered Miss Boyd. 

But her heart went out to Margaret, for the trivial incident showed oncemore how frank the girl was. She knew quite well that few of her friends, though many took advantage of her matchless taste, would have made suchan admission to the lover who congratulated them on the success of theircostume. 

There was a knock at the door, and Arthur came in. 

'This is the fairy prince, ' said Margaret, bringing him to her friend. 

'I'm glad to see you in order to thank you for all you've done forMargaret, ' he smiled, taking the proffered hand. 

Susie remarked that he looked upon her with friendliness, but with acertain vacancy, as though too much engrossed in his beloved really tonotice anyone else; and she wondered how to make conversation with a manwho was so manifestly absorbed. While Margaret busied herself with thepreparations for tea, his eyes followed her movements with a doglike, touching devotion. They travelled from her smiling mouth to her defthands. It seemed that he had never seen anything so ravishing as the wayin which she bent over the kettle. Margaret felt that he was looking ather, and turned round. Their eyes met, and they stood for an appreciabletime gazing at one another silently. 

'Don't be a pair of perfect idiots, ' cried Susie gaily. 'I'm dying for mytea. '

The lovers laughed and reddened. It struck Arthur that he should saysomething polite. 

'I hope you'll show me your sketches afterwards, Miss Boyd. Margaret saysthey're awfully good. '

'You really needn't think it in the least necessary to show any interestin me, ' she replied bluntly. 

'She draws the most delightful caricatures, ' said Margaret. 'I'll bringyou a horror of yourself, which she'll do the moment you leave us. '

'Don't be so spiteful, Margaret. '

Miss Boyd could not help thinking all the same that Arthur Burdon wouldcaricature very well. Margaret was right when she said that he was nothandsome, but his clean-shaven face was full of interest to so passionatean observer of her kind. The lovers were silent, and Susie had theconversation to herself. She chattered without pause and had thesatisfaction presently of capturing their attention. Arthur seemed tobecome aware of her presence, and laughed heartily at her burlesqueaccount of their fellow-students at Colarossi's. Meanwhile Susie examinedhim. He was very tall and very thin. His frame had a Yorkshireman'ssolidity, and his bones were massive. He missed being ungainly onlythrough the serenity of his self-reliance. He had high cheek-bones anda long, lean face. His nose and mouth were large, and his skin wassallow. But there were two characteristics which fascinated her, animposing strength of purpose and a singular capacity for suffering. Thiswas a man who knew his mind and was determined to achieve his desire; itrefreshed her vastly after the extreme weakness of the young painterswith whom of late she had mostly consorted. But those quick dark eyeswere able to express an anguish that was hardly tolerable, and the mobilemouth had a nervous intensity which suggested that he might easily sufferthe very agonies of woe. 

Tea was ready, and Arthur stood up to receive his cup. 

'Sit down, ' said Margaret. 'I'll bring you everything you want, and Iknow exactly how much sugar to put in. It pleases me to wait on you. '

With the grace that marked all her movements she walked cross the studio, the filled cup in one hand and the plate of cakes in the other. To Susieit seemed that he was overwhelmed with gratitude by Margaret'scondescension. His eyes were soft with indescribable tenderness as hetook the sweetmeats she gave him. Margaret smiled with happy pride. Forall her good-nature, Susie could not prevent the pang that wrung herheart; for she too was capable of love. There was in her a wealth ofpassionate affection that none had sought to find. None had everwhispered in her ears the charming nonsense that she read in books. Sherecognised that she had no beauty to help her, but once she had at leastthe charm of vivacious youth. That was gone now, and the freedom to gointo the world had come too late; yet her instinct told her that she wasmade to be a decent man's wife and the mother of children. She stoppedin the middle of her bright chatter, fearing to trust her voice, butMargaret and Arthur were too much occupied to notice that she had ceasedto speak. They sat side by side and enjoyed the happiness of oneanother's company. 

'What a fool I am!' thought Susie. 

She had learnt long ago that common sense, intelligence, good-nature, andstrength of character were unimportant in comparison with a pretty face. She shrugged her shoulders. 

'I don't know if you young things realise that it's growing late. If youwant us to dine at the Chien Noir, you must leave us now, so that we canmake ourselves tidy. '

'Very well, ' said Arthur, getting up. 'I'll go back to my hotel and havea wash. We'll meet at half-past seven. '

When Margaret had closed the door on him, she turned to her friend. 

'Well, what do you think?' she asked, smiling. 

'You can't expect me to form a definite opinion of a man whom I've seenfor so short a time. '

'Nonsense!' said Margaret. 

Susie hesitated for a moment. 

'I think he has an extraordinarily good face, ' she said at lastgravely. 'I've never seen a man whose honesty of purpose was sotransparent. '

Susie Boyd was so lazy that she could never be induced to occupy herselfwith household matters and, while Margaret put the tea things away, shebegan to draw the caricature which every new face suggested to her. Shemade a little sketch of Arthur, abnormally lanky, with a colossal nose, with the wings and the bow and arrow of the God of Love, but it was nothalf done before she thought it silly. She tore it up with impatience. When Margaret came back, she turned round and looked at her steadily. 

'Well?' said the girl, smiling under the scrutiny. 

She stood in the middle of the lofty studio. Half-finished canvasesleaned with their faces against the wall; pieces of stuff were hunghere and there, and photographs of well-known pictures. She had fallenunconsciously into a wonderful pose, and her beauty gave her, notwithstanding her youth, a rare dignity. Susie smiled mockingly. 

'You look like a Greek goddess in a Paris frock, ' she said. 

'What have you to say to me?' asked Margaret, divining from the searchinglook that something was in her friend's mind. 

Susie stood up and went to her. 

'You know, before I'd seen him I hoped with all my heart that he'd makeyou happy. Notwithstanding all you'd told me of him, I was afraid. Iknew he was much older than you. He was the first man you'd ever known. I could scarcely bear to entrust you to him in case you were miserable. '

'I don't think you need have any fear. '

'But now I hope with all my heart that you'll make him happy. It's notyou I'm frightened for now, but him. '

Margaret did not answer; she could not understand what Susie meant. 

'I've never seen anyone with such a capacity for wretchedness as that manhas. I don't think you can conceive how desperately he might suffer. Bevery careful, Margaret, and be very good to him, for you have the powerto make him more unhappy than any human being should be. '

'Oh, but I want him to be happy, ' cried Margaret vehemently. 'You knowthat I owe everything to him. I'd do all I could to make him happy, evenif I had to sacrifice myself. But I can't sacrifice myself, because Ilove him so much that all I do is pure delight. '

Her eyes filled with tears and her voice broke. Susie, with a littlelaugh that was half hysterical, kissed her. 

'My dear, for heaven's sake don't cry! You know I can't bear people whoweep, and if he sees your eyes red, he'll never forgive me. '

3

The Chien Noir, where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined, was themost charming restaurant in the quarter. Downstairs was a public room, where all and sundry devoured their food, for the little place had areputation for good cooking combined with cheapness; and the _patron_, a retired horse-dealer who had taken to victualling in order to build upa business for his son, was a cheery soul whose loud-voiced friendlinessattracted custom. But on the first floor was a narrow room, with threetables arranged in a horse-shoe, which was reserved for a small party ofEnglish or American painters and a few Frenchmen with their wives. Atleast, they were so nearly wives, and their manner had such a matrimonialrespectability, that Susie, when first she and Margaret were introducedinto this society, judged it would be vulgar to turn up her nose. Sheheld that it was prudish to insist upon the conventions of Notting Hillin the Boulevard de Montparnasse. The young women who had thrown in theirlives with these painters were modest in demeanour and quiet in dress. They were model housewives, who had preserved their self-respectnotwithstanding a difficult position, and did not look upon theirrelation with less seriousness because they had not muttered a fewwords before _Monsieur le Maire_. 

The room was full when Arthur Burdon entered, but Margaret had kept himan empty seat between herself and Miss Boyd. Everyone was speaking atonce, in French, at the top of his voice, and a furious argument wasproceeding on the merit of the later Impressionists. Arthur sat down, andwas hurriedly introduced to a lanky youth, who sat on the other side ofMargaret. He was very tall, very thin, very fair. He wore a very highcollar and very long hair, and held himself like an exhausted lily. 

'He always reminds me of an Aubrey Beardsley that's been dreadfullysmudged, ' said Susie in an undertone. 'He's a nice, kind creature, buthis name is Jagson. He has virtue and industry. I haven't seen any of hiswork, but he has absolutely _no_ talent. '

'How do you know, if you've not seen his pictures?' asked Arthur. 

'Oh, it's one of our conventions here that nobody has talent, ' laughedSusie. 'We suffer one another personally, but we have no illusions aboutthe value of our neighbour's work. '

'Tell me who everyone is. '

'Well, look at that little bald man in the corner. That is Warren. '

Arthur looked at the man she pointed out. He was a small person, witha pate as shining as a billiard-ball, and a pointed beard. He hadprotruding, brilliant eyes. 

'Hasn't he had too much to drink?' asked Arthur frigidly. 

'Much, ' answered Susie promptly, 'but he's always in that condition, andthe further he gets from sobriety the more charming he is. He's the onlyman in this room of whom you'll never hear a word of evil. The strangething is that he's very nearly a great painter. He has the mostfascinating sense of colour in the world, and the more intoxicated he is, the more delicate and beautiful is his painting. Sometimes, after morethan the usual number of _apéritifs_, he will sit down in a café to do asketch, with his hand so shaky that he can hardly hold a brush; he has towait for a favourable moment, and then he makes a jab at the panel. Andthe immoral thing is that each of these little jabs is lovely. He's themost delightful interpreter of Paris I know, and when you've seen hissketches--he's done hundreds, of unimaginable grace and feeling anddistinction--you can never see Paris in the same way again. '

The little maid who looked busily after the varied wants of the customersstood in front of them to receive Arthur's order. She was a hard-visagedcreature of mature age, but she looked neat in her black dress and whitecap; and she had a motherly way of attending to these people, with acapacious smile of her large mouth which was full of charm. 

'I don't mind what I eat, ' said Arthur. 'Let Margaret order my dinner forme. '

'It would have been just as good if I had ordered it, ' laughed Susie. 

They began a lively discussion with Marie as to the merits of the variousdishes, and it was only interrupted by Warren's hilarious expostulations. 

'Marie, I precipitate myself at your feet, and beg you to bring me a_poule au riz_. '

'Oh, but give me one moment, _monsieur_, ' said the maid. 

'Do not pay any attention to that gentleman. His morals are detestable, and he only seeks to lead you from the narrow path of virtue. '

Arthur protested that on the contrary the passion of hunger occupied atthat moment his heart to the exclusion of all others. 

'Marie, you no longer love me, ' cried Warren. 'There was a time when youdid not look so coldly upon me when I ordered a bottle of white wine. '

The rest of the party took up his complaint, and all besought her not toshow too hard a heart to the bald and rubicund painter. 

'_Mais si, je vous aime, Monsieur Warren, _' she cried, laughing, '_Jevous aime tous, tous. _'

She ran downstairs, amid the shouts of men and women, to give her orders. 

'The other day the Chien Noir was the scene of a tragedy, ' said Susie. 'Marie broke off relations with her lover, who is a waiter at Lavenue's, and would have no reconciliation. He waited till he had a free evening, and then came to the room downstairs and ordered dinner. Of course, shewas obliged to wait on him, and as she brought him each dish heexpostulated with her, and they mingled their tears. '

'She wept in floods, ' interrupted a youth with neatly brushed hair andfat nose. 'She wept all over our food, and we ate it salt with tears. Webesought her not to yield; except for our encouragement she would havegone back to him; and he beats her. '

Marie appeared again, with no signs now that so short a while ago romancehad played a game with her, and brought the dishes that had been ordered. Susie seized once more upon Arthur Burdon's attention. 

'Now please look at the man who is sitting next to Mr Warren. '

Arthur saw a tall, dark fellow with strongly-marked features, untidyhair, and a ragged black moustache. 

'That is Mr O'Brien, who is an example of the fact that strength of willand an earnest purpose cannot make a painter. He's a failure, and heknows it, and the bitterness has warped his soul. If you listen to him, you'll hear every painter of eminence come under his lash. He can forgivenobody who's successful, and he never acknowledges merit in anyone tillhe's safely dead and buried. '

'He must be a cheerful companion, ' answered Arthur. 'And who is the stoutold lady by his side, with the flaunting hat?'

'That is the mother of Madame Rouge, the little palefaced woman sittingnext to her. She is the mistress of Rouge, who does all the illustrationsfor _La Semaine_. At first it rather tickled me that the old lady shouldcall him _mon gendre_, my son-in-law, and take the irregular union of herdaughter with such a noble unconcern for propriety; but now it seemsquite natural. '

The mother of Madame Rouge had the remains of beauty, and she sat boltupright, picking the leg of a chicken with a dignified gesture. Arthurlooked away quickly, for, catching his eye, she gave him an amorousglance. Rouge had more the appearance of a prosperous tradesman than ofan artist; but he carried on with O'Brien, whose French was perfect, anargument on the merits of Cézanne. To one he was a great master and tothe other an impudent charlatan. Each hotly repeated his opinion, asthough the mere fact of saying the same thing several times made it moreconvincing. 

'Next to me is Madame Meyer, ' proceeded Susie. 'She was a governess inPoland, but she was much too pretty to remain one, and now she lives withthe landscape painter who is by her side. '

Arthur's eyes followed her words and rested on a cleanshaven man with alarge quantity of grey, curling hair. He had a handsome face of adeliberately aesthetic type and was very elegantly dressed. His mannerand his conversation had the flamboyance of the romantic thirties. Hetalked in flowing periods with an air of finality, and what he said wasno less just than obvious. The gay little lady who shared his fortuneslistened to his wisdom with an admiration that plainly flattered him. 

Miss Boyd had described everyone to Arthur except young Raggles, whopainted still life with a certain amount of skill, and Clayson, theAmerican sculptor. Raggles stood for rank and fashion at the ChienNoir. He was very smartly dressed in a horsey way, and he walked withbowlegs, as though he spent most of his time in the saddle. He aloneused scented pomade upon his neat smooth hair. His chief distinctionwas a greatcoat he wore, with a scarlet lining; and Warren, whose memoryfor names was defective, could only recall him by that peculiarity. Butit was understood that he knew duchesses in fashionable streets, andoccasionally dined with them in solemn splendour. 

Clayson had a vinous nose and a tedious habit of saying brilliant things. With his twinkling eyes, red cheeks, and fair, pointed beard, he lookedexactly like a Franz Hals; but he was dressed like the caricature of aFrenchman in a comic paper. He spoke English with a Parisian accent. 

Miss Boyd was beginning to tear him gaily limb from limb, when the doorwas flung open, and a large person entered. He threw off his cloak with adramatic gesture. 

'Marie, disembarrass me of this coat of frieze. Hang my sombrero upon aconvenient peg. '

He spoke execrable French, but there was a grandiloquence about hisvocabulary which set everyone laughing. 

'Here is somebody I don't know, ' said Susie. 

'But I do, at least, by sight, ' answered Burdon. He leaned over to DrPorhoët who was sitting opposite, quietly eating his dinner and enjoyingthe nonsense which everyone talked. 'Is not that your magician?'

'Oliver Haddo, ' said Dr Porhoët, with a little nod of amusement. 

The new arrival stood at the end of the room with all eyes upon him. Hethrew himself into an attitude of command and remained for a momentperfectly still. 

'You look as if you were posing, Haddo, ' said Warren huskily. 

'He couldn't help doing that if he tried, ' laughed Clayson. 

Oliver Haddo slowly turned his glance to the painter. 

'I grieve to see, O most excellent Warren, that the ripe juice of the_aperitif_ has glazed your sparkling eye. '

'Do you mean to say I'm drunk, sir?'

'In one gross, but expressive, word, drunk. '

The painter grotesquely flung himself back in his chair as though he hadbeen struck a blow, and Haddo looked steadily at Clayson. 

'How often have I explained to you, O Clayson, that your deplorable lackof education precludes you from the brilliancy to which you aspire?'

For an instant Oliver Haddo resumed his effective pose; and Susie, smiling, looked at him. He was a man of great size, two or threeinches more than six feet high; but the most noticeable thing abouthim was a vast obesity. His paunch was of imposing dimensions. His facewas large and fleshy. He had thrown himself into the arrogant attitudeof Velasquez's portrait of Del Borro in the Museum of Berlin; and hiscountenance bore of set purpose the same contemptuous smile. He advancedand shook hands with Dr Porhoët. 

'Hail, brother wizard! I greet in you, if not a master, at least astudent not unworthy my esteem. '

Susie was convulsed with laughter at his pompousness, and he turned toher with the utmost gravity. 

'Madam, your laughter is more soft in mine ears than the singing ofBulbul in a Persian garden. '

Dr Porhoët interposed with introductions. The magician bowed solemnly ashe was in turn made known to Susie Boyd, and Margaret, and Arthur Burdon. He held out his hand to the grim Irish painter. 

'Well, my O'Brien, have you been mixing as usual the waters of bitternesswith the thin claret of Bordeaux?'

'Why don't you sit down and eat your dinner?' returned the other, gruffly. 

'Ah, my dear fellow, I wish I could drive the fact into this head ofyours that rudeness is not synonymous with wit. I shall not have lived invain if I teach you in time to realize that the rapier of irony is moreeffective an instrument than the bludgeon of insolence. '

O'Brien reddened with anger, but could not at once find a retort, andHaddo passed on to that faded, harmless youth who sat next to Margaret. 

'Do my eyes deceive me, or is this the Jagson whose name in its inanityis so appropriate to the bearer? I am eager to know if you still devoteupon the ungrateful arts talents which were more profitably employed uponhaberdashery. '

The unlucky creature, thus brutally attacked, blushed feebly withoutanswering, and Haddo went on to the Frenchman, Meyer as more worthy ofhis mocking. 

'I'm afraid my entrance interrupted you in a discourse. Was it thecelebrated harangue on the greatness of Michelangelo, or was it thesearching analysis of the art of Wagner?'

'We were just going, ' said Meyer, getting up with a frown. 

'I am desolated to lose the pearls of wisdom that habitually fall fromyour cultivated lips, ' returned Haddo, as he politely withdrew MadameMeyer's chair. 

He sat down with a smile. 

'I saw the place was crowded, and with Napoleonic instinct decidedthat I could only make room by insulting somebody. It is cause forcongratulation that my gibes, which Raggles, a foolish youth, mistakesfor wit, have caused the disappearance of a person who lives in open sin;thereby vacating two seats, and allowing me to eat a humble meal withample room for my elbows. '

Marie brought him the bill of fare, and he looked at it gravely. 

'I will have a vanilla ice, O well-beloved, and a wing of a tenderchicken, a fried sole, and some excellent pea-soup. '

'_Bien, un potage, une sole, _ one chicken, and an ice. '

'But why should you serve them in that order rather than in the order Igave you?'

Marie and the two Frenchwomen who were still in the room broke intoexclamations at this extravagance, but Oliver Haddo waved his fat hand. 

'I shall start with the ice, O Marie, to cool the passion with whichyour eyes inflame me, and then without hesitation I will devour the wingof a chicken in order to sustain myself against your smile. I shall thenproceed to a fresh sole, and with the pea-soup I will finish a notunsustaining meal. '

Having succeeded in capturing the attention of everyone in the room, Oliver Haddo proceeded to eat these dishes in the order he had named. Margaret and Burdon watched him with scornful eyes, but Susie, who wasnot revolted by the vanity which sought to attract notice, looked at himcuriously. He was clearly not old, though his corpulence added to hisapparent age. His features were good, his ears small, and his nosedelicately shaped. He had big teeth, but they were white and even. Hismouth was large, with heavy moist lips. He had the neck of a bullock. Hisdark, curling hair had retreated from the forehead and temples in such away as to give his clean-shaven face a disconcerting nudity. The baldnessof his crown was vaguely like a tonsure. He had the look of a verywicked, sensual priest. Margaret, stealing a glance at him as he ate, on a sudden violently shuddered; he affected her with an uncontrollabledislike. He lifted his eyes slowly, and she looked away, blushing asthough she had been taken in some indiscretion. These eyes were the mostcurious thing about him. They were not large, but an exceedingly paleblue, and they looked at you in a way that was singularly embarrassing. At first Susie could not discover in what precisely their peculiaritylay, but in a moment she found out: the eyes of most persons convergewhen they look at you, but Oliver Haddo's, naturally or by a habit hehad acquired for effect, remained parallel. It gave the impression thathe looked straight through you and saw the wall beyond. It was uncanny. But another strange thing about him was the impossibility of tellingwhether he was serious. There was a mockery in that queer glance, asardonic smile upon the mouth, which made you hesitate how to take hisoutrageous utterances. It was irritating to be uncertain whether, whileyou were laughing at him, he was not really enjoying an elaborate joke atyour expense. 

His presence cast an unusual chill upon the party. The French membersgot up and left. Warren reeled out with O'Brien, whose uncouth sarcasmswere no match for Haddo's bitter gibes. Raggles put on his coat with thescarlet lining and went out with the tall Jagson, who smarted still underHaddo's insolence. The American sculptor paid his bill silently. Whenhe was at the door, Haddo stopped him. 

'You have modelled lions at the Jardin des Plantes, my dear Clayson. Haveyou ever hunted them on their native plains?'

'No, I haven't. '

Clayson did not know why Haddo asked the question, but he bristled withincipient wrath. 

'Then you have not seen the jackal, gnawing at a dead antelope, scamperaway in terror when the King of Beasts stalked down to make his meal. '

Clayson slammed the door behind him. Haddo was left with Margaret, andArthur Burdon, Dr Porhoët, and Susie. He smiled quietly. 

'By the way, are _you_ a lion-hunter?' asked Susie flippantly. 

He turned on her his straight uncanny glance. 

'I have no equal with big game. I have shot more lions than any manalive. I think Jules Gérard, whom the French of the nineteenth centurycalled _Le Tueur de Lions_, may have been fit to compare with me, but Ican call to mind no other. '

This statement, made with the greatest calm, caused a moment of silence. Margaret stared at him with amazement. 

'You suffer from no false modesty, ' said Arthur Burdon. 

'False modesty is a sign of ill-breeding, from which my birth amplyprotects me. '

Dr Porhoët looked up with a smile of irony. 

'I wish Mr Haddo would take this opportunity to disclose to us themystery of his birth and family. I have a suspicion that, like theimmortal Cagliostro, he was born of unknown but noble parents, andeducated secretly in Eastern palaces. '

'In my origin I am more to be compared with Denis Zachaire or withRaymond Lully. My ancestor, George Haddo, came to Scotland in the suiteof Anne of Denmark, and when James I, her consort, ascended the Englishthrone, he was granted the estates in Staffordshire which I stillpossess. My family has formed alliances with the most noble blood ofEngland, and the Merestons, the Parnabys, the Hollingtons, have beenproud to give their daughters to my house. '

'Those are facts which can be verified in works of reference, ' saidArthur dryly. 

'They can, ' said Oliver. 

'And the Eastern palaces in which your youth was spent, and the blackslaves who waited on you, and the bearded sheikhs who imparted to yousecret knowledge?' cried Dr Porhoët. 

'I was educated at Eton, and I left Oxford in 1896. '

'Would you mind telling me at what college you were?' said Arthur. 

'I was at the House. '

'Then you must have been there with Frank Hurrell. '

'Now assistant physician at St Luke's Hospital. He was one of my mostintimate friends. '

'I'll write and ask him about you. '

'I'm dying to know what you did with all the lions you slaughtered, ' saidSusie Boyd. 

The man's effrontery did not exasperate her as it obviously exasperatedMargaret and Arthur. He amused her, and she was anxious to make him talk. 

'They decorate the floors of Skene, which is the name of my place inStaffordshire. ' He paused for a moment to light a cigar. 'I am the onlyman alive who has killed three lions with three successive shots. '

'I should have thought you could have demolished them by the effects ofyour oratory, ' said Arthur. 

Oliver leaned back and placed his two large hands on the table. 

'Burkhardt, a German with whom I was shooting, was down with fever andcould not stir from his bed. I was awakened one night by the uneasinessof my oxen, and I heard the roaring of lions close at hand. I took mycarbine and came out of my tent. There was only the meagre light of themoon. I walked alone, for I knew natives could be of no use to me. Presently I came upon the carcass of an antelope, half-consumed, and Imade up my mind to wait for the return of the lions. I hid myself amongthe boulders twenty paces from the prey. All about me was the immensityof Africa and the silence. I waited, motionless, hour after hour, tillthe dawn was nearly at hand. At last three lions appeared over a rock. I had noticed, the day before, spoor of a lion and two females. '

'May I ask how you could distinguish the sex?' asked Arthur, incredulously. 

'The prints of a lion's fore feet are disproportionately larger thanthose of the hind feet. The fore feet and hind feet of the lioness arenearly the same size. '

'Pray go on, ' said Susie. 

'They came into full view, and in the dim light, as they stood chest on, they appeared as huge as the strange beasts of the Arabian tales. I aimedat the lioness which stood nearest to me and fired. Without a sound, likea bullock felled at one blow, she dropped. The lion gave vent to asonorous roar. Hastily I slipped another cartridge in my rifle. Then Ibecame conscious that he had seen me. He lowered his head, and his crestwas erect. His lifted tail was twitching, his lips were drawn back fromthe red gums, and I saw his great white fangs. Living fire flashed fromhis eyes, and he growled incessantly. Then he advanced a few steps, hishead held low; and his eyes were fixed on mine with a look of rage. Suddenly he jerked up his tail, and when a lion does this he charges. Igot a quick sight on his chest and fired. He reared up on his hind legs, roaring loudly and clawing at the air, and fell back dead. One lionessremained, and through the smoke I saw her spring to her feet and rushtowards me. Escape was impossible, for behind me were high boulders thatI could not climb. She came on with hoarse, coughing grunts, and withdesperate courage I fired my remaining barrel. I missed her clean. I tookone step backwards in the hope of getting a cartridge into my rifle, andfell, scarcely two lengths in front of the furious beast. She missed me. I owed my safety to that fall. And then suddenly I found that she hadcollapsed. I had hit her after all. My bullet went clean through herheart, but the spring had carried her forwards. When I scrambled to myfeet I found that she was dying. I walked back to my camp and ate acapital breakfast. '

Oliver Haddo's story was received with astonished silence. No one couldassert that it was untrue, but he told it with a grandiloquence thatcarried no conviction. Arthur would have wagered a considerable sum thatthere was no word of truth in it. He had never met a person of this kindbefore, and could not understand what pleasure there might be in theelaborate invention of improbable adventures. 

'You are evidently very brave, ' he said. 

'To follow a wounded lion into thick cover is probably the most dangerousproceeding in the world, ' said Haddo calmly. 'It calls for the utmostcoolness and for iron nerve. '

The answer had an odd effect on Arthur. He gave Haddo a rapid glance, andwas seized suddenly with uncontrollable laughter. He leaned back in hischair and roared. His hilarity affected the others, and they broke intopeal upon peal of laughter. Oliver watched them gravely. He seemedneither disconcerted nor surprised. When Arthur recovered himself, hefound Haddo's singular eyes fixed on him. 

'Your laughter reminds me of the crackling of thorns under a pot, ' hesaid. 

Haddo looked round at the others. Though his gaze preserved its fixity, his lips broke into a queer, sardonic smile. 

'It must be plain even to the feeblest intelligence that a man can onlycommand the elementary spirits if he is without fear. A capricious mindcan never rule the sylphs, nor a fickle disposition the undines. '

Arthur stared at him with amazement. He did not know what on earth theman was talking about. Haddo paid no heed. 

'But if the adept is active, pliant, and strong, the whole world will beat his command. He will pass through the storm and no rain shall fallupon his head. The wind will not displace a single fold of his garment. He will go through fire and not be burned. '

Dr Porhoët ventured upon an explanation of these cryptic utterances. 

'These ladies are unacquainted with the mysterious beings of whom youspeak, _cher ami_. They should know that during the Middle Agesimagination peopled the four elements with intelligences, normallyunseen, some of which were friendly to man and others hostile. They werethought to be powerful and conscious of their power, though at the sametime they were profoundly aware that they possessed no soul. Their lifedepended upon the continuance of some natural object, and hence for themthere could be no immortality. They must return eventually to the abyssof unending night, and the darkness of death afflicted them always. Butit was thought that in the same manner as man by his union with God hadwon a spark of divinity, so might the sylphs, gnomes, undines, andsalamanders by an alliance with man partake of his immortality. And manyof their women, whose beauty was more than human, gained a human soul byloving one of the race of men. But the reverse occurred also, and often alove-sick youth lost his immortality because he left the haunts of hiskind to dwell with the fair, soulless denizens of the running streams orof the forest airs. '

'I didn't know that you spoke figuratively, ' said Arthur to Oliver Haddo. 

The other shrugged his shoulders. 

'What else is the world than a figure? Life itself is but a symbol. Youmust be a wise man if you can tell us what is reality. '

'When you begin to talk of magic and mysticism I confess that I am out ofmy depth. '

'Yet magic is no more than the art of employing consciously invisiblemeans to produce visible effects. Will, love, and imagination are magicpowers that everyone possesses; and whoever knows how to develop them totheir fullest extent is a magician. Magic has but one dogma, namely, thatthe seen is the measure of the unseen. '

'Will you tell us what the powers are that the adept possesses?'

'They are enumerated in a Hebrew manuscript of the sixteenth century, which is in my possession. The privileges of him who holds in his righthand the Keys of Solomon and in his left the Branch of the BlossomingAlmond are twenty-one. He beholds God face to face without dying, andconverses intimately with the Seven Genii who command the celestial army. He is superior to every affliction and to every fear. He reigns with allheaven and is served by all hell. He holds the secret of the resurrectionof the dead, and the key of immortality. '

'If you possess even these you have evidently the most variedattainments, ' said Arthur ironically. 

'Everyone can make game of the unknown, ' retorted Haddo, with a shrug ofhis massive shoulders. 

Arthur did not answer. He looked at Haddo curiously. He asked himselfwhether he believed seriously these preposterous things, or whether hewas amusing himself in an elephantine way at their expense. His marinerwas earnest, but there was an odd expression about the mouth, a hardtwinkle of the eyes, which seemed to belie it. Susie was vastlyentertained. It diverted her enormously to hear occult matters discussedwith apparent gravity in this prosaic tavern. Dr Porhoët broke thesilence. 

'Arago, after whom has been named a neighbouring boulevard, declared thatdoubt was a proof of modesty, which has rarely interfered with theprogress of science. But one cannot say the same of incredulity, and hethat uses the word impossible outside of pure mathematics is lacking inprudence. It should be remembered that Lactantius proclaimed belief inthe existence of antipodes inane, and Saint Augustine of Hippo added thatin any case there could be no question of inhabited lands. '

'That sounds as if you were not quite sceptical, dear doctor, ' said MissBoyd. 

'In my youth I believed nothing, for science had taught me to distrusteven the evidence of my five senses, ' he replied, with a shrug ofthe shoulders. 'But I have seen many things in the East which areinexplicable by the known processes of science. Mr Haddo has givenyou one definition of magic, and I will give you another. It may bedescribed merely as the intelligent utilization of forces which areunknown, contemned, or misunderstood of the vulgar. The young man whosettles in the East sneers at the ideas of magic which surround him, but I know not what there is in the atmosphere that saps his unbelief. When he has sojourned for some years among Orientals, he comes insensiblyto share the opinion of many sensible men that perhaps there is somethingin it after all. '

Arthur Burdon made a gesture of impatience. 

'I cannot imagine that, however much I lived in Eastern countries, Icould believe anything that had the whole weight of science against it. If there were a word of truth in anything Haddo says, we should be unableto form any reasonable theory of the universe. '

'For a scientific man you argue with singular fatuity, ' said Haddo icily, and his manner had an offensiveness which was intensely irritating. 'Youshould be aware that science, dealing only with the general, leaves outof consideration the individual cases that contradict the enormousmajority. Occasionally the heart is on the right side of the body, butyou would not on that account ever put your stethoscope in any otherthan the usual spot. It is possible that under certain conditions thelaw of gravity does not apply, yet you will conduct your life under theconviction that it does so invariably. Now, there are some of us whochoose to deal only with these exceptions to the common run. The dull manwho plays at Monte Carlo puts his money on the colours, and generallyblack or red turns up; but now and then zero appears, and he loses. Butwe, who have backed zero all the time, win many times our stake. Here andthere you will find men whose imagination raises them above the humdrumof mankind. They are willing to lose their all if only they have chanceof a great prize. Is it nothing not only to know the future, as did theprophets of old, but by making it to force the very gates of theunknown?'

Suddenly the bantering gravity with which he spoke fell away from him. Asingular light came into his eyes, and his voice was hoarse. Now at lastthey saw that he was serious. 

'What should you know of that lust for great secrets which consumes me tothe bottom of my soul!'

'Anyhow, I'm perfectly delighted to meet a magician, ' cried Susie gaily. 

'Ah, call me not that, ' he said, with a flourish of his fat hands, regaining immediately his portentous flippancy. 'I would be known ratheras the Brother of the Shadow. '

'I should have thought you could be only a very distant relation ofanything so unsubstantial, ' said Arthur, with a laugh. 

Oliver's face turned red with furious anger. His strange blue eyes grewcold with hatred, and he thrust out his scarlet lips till he had theruthless expression of a Nero. The gibe at his obesity had caught him onthe raw. Susie feared that he would make so insulting a reply that aquarrel must ensure. 

'Well, really, if we want to go to the fair we must start, ' she saidquickly. 'And Marie is dying to be rid of us. '

They got up, and clattered down the stairs into the street. 

4

They came down to the busy, narrow street which led into the Boulevard duMontparnasse. Electric trams passed through it with harsh ringing ofbells, and people surged along the pavements. 

The fair to which they were going was held at the Lion de Belfort, notmore than a mile away, and Arthur hailed a cab. Susie told the driverwhere they wanted to be set down. She noticed that Haddo, who was waitingfor them to start, put his hand on the horse's neck. On a sudden, for noapparent reason, it began to tremble. The trembling passed through thebody and down its limbs till it shook from head to foot as though it hadthe staggers. The coachman jumped off his box and held the wretchedcreature's head. Margaret and Susie got out. It was a horribly painfulsight. The horse seemed not to suffer from actual pain, but from anextraordinary fear. Though she knew not why, an idea came to Susie. 

'Take your hand away, Mr Haddo, ' she said sharply. 

He smiled, and did as she bade him. At the same moment the tremblingbegan to decrease, and in a moment the poor old cab-horse was in itsusual state. It seemed a little frightened still, but otherwiserecovered. 

'I wonder what the deuce was the matter with it, ' said Arthur. 

Oliver Haddo looked at him with the blue eyes that seemed to see rightthrough people, and then, lifting his hat, walked away. Susie turnedsuddenly to Dr Porhoët. 

'Do you think he could have made the horse do that? It came immediatelyhe put his hand on its neck, and it stopped as soon as he took it away. '

'Nonsense!' said Arthur. 

'It occurred to me that he was playing some trick, ' said Dr Porhoëtgravely. 'An odd thing happened once when he came to see me. I have twoPersian cats, which are the most properly conducted of all their tribe. They spend their days in front of my fire, meditating on the problems ofmetaphysics. But as soon as he came in they started up, and their furstood right on end. Then they began to run madly round and round theroom, as though the victims of uncontrollable terror. I opened the door, and they bolted out. I have never been able to understand exactly whattook place. '

Margaret shuddered. 

'I've never met a man who filled me with such loathing, ' she said. 'Idon't know what there is about him that frightens me. Even now I feel hiseyes fixed strangely upon me. I hope I shall never see him again. '

Arthur gave a little laugh and pressed her hand. She would not let hisgo, and he felt that she was trembling. Personally, he had no doubt aboutthe matter. He would have no trifling with credibility. Either Haddobelieved things that none but a lunatic could, or else he was a charlatanwho sought to attract attention by his extravagances. In any case he wascontemptible. It was certain, at all events, that neither he nor anyoneelse could work miracles. 

'I'll tell you what I'll do, ' said Arthur. 'If he really knows FrankHurrell I'll find out all about him. I'll drop a note to Hurrell tonightand ask him to tell me anything he can. '

'I wish you would, ' answered Susie, 'because he interests me enormously. There's no place like Paris for meeting queer folk. Sooner or later yourun across persons who believe in everything. There's no form ofreligion, there's no eccentricity or enormity, that hasn't its votaries. Just think what a privilege it is to come upon a man in the twentiethcentury who honestly believes in the occult. '

'Since I have been occupied with these matters, I have come acrossstrange people, ' said Dr Porhoët quietly, 'but I agree with Miss Boydthat Oliver Haddo is the most extraordinary. For one thing, it isimpossible to know how much he really believes what he says. Is he animpostor or a madman? Does he deceive himself, or is he laughing up hissleeve at the folly of those who take him seriously? I cannot tell. AllI know is that he has travelled widely and is acquainted with manytongues. He has a minute knowledge of alchemical literature, and thereis no book I have heard of, dealing with the black arts, which he doesnot seem to know. ' Dr Porhoët shook his head slowly. 'I should not careto dogmatize about this man. I know I shall outrage the feelings of myfriend Arthur, but I am bound to confess it would not surprise me tolearn that he possessed powers by which he was able to do thingsseemingly miraculous. '

Arthur was prevented from answering by their arrival at the Lion deBelfort. 

The fair was in full swing. The noise was deafening. Steam bandsthundered out the popular tunes of the moment, and to their dinmerry-go-rounds were turning. At the door of booths men vociferouslyimportuned the passers-by to enter. From the shooting saloons came acontinual spatter of toy rifles. Linking up these sounds, were the voicesof the serried crowd that surged along the central avenue, and theshuffle of their myriad feet. The night was lurid with acetylene torches, which flamed with a dull unceasing roar. It was a curious sight, halfgay, half sordid. The throng seemed bent with a kind of savagery uponamusement, as though, resentful of the weary round of daily labour, itsought by a desperate effort to be merry. 

The English party with Dr Porhoët, mildly ironic, had scarcely enteredbefore they were joined by Oliver Haddo. He was indifferent to the plainfact that they did not want his company. He attracted attention, for hisappearance and his manner were remarkable, and Susie noticed that he waspleased to see people point him out to one another. He wore a Spanishcloak, the _capa_, and he flung the red and green velvet of its lininggaudily over his shoulder. He had a large soft hat. His height was great, though less noticeable on account of his obesity, and he towered over thepuny multitude. 

They looked idly at the various shows, resisting the melodramas, thecircuses, the exhibitions of eccentricity, which loudly clamoured fortheir custom. Presently they came to a man who was cutting silhouettes inblack paper, and Haddo insisted on posing for him. A little crowdcollected and did not spare their jokes at his singular appearance. Hethrew himself into his favourite attitude of proud command. Margaretwished to take the opportunity of leaving him, but Miss Boyd insisted onstaying. 

'He's the most ridiculous creature I've ever seen in my life, ' shewhispered. 'I wouldn't let him out of my sight for worlds. '

When the silhouette was done, he presented it with a low bow to Margaret. 

'I implore your acceptance of the only portrait now in existence ofOliver Haddo, ' he said. 

'Thank you, ' she answered frigidly. 

She was unwilling to take it, but had not the presence of mind to puthim off by a jest, and would not be frankly rude. As though certain sheset much store on it, he placed it carefully in an envelope. They walkedon and suddenly came to a canvas booth on which was an Eastern name. Roughly painted on sail-cloth was a picture of an Arab charming snakes, and above were certain words in Arabic. At the entrance, a native satcross-legged, listlessly beating a drum. When he saw them stop, headdressed them in bad French. 

'Does not this remind you of the turbid Nile, Dr Porhoët?' said Haddo. 'Let us go in and see what the fellow has to show. '

Dr Porhoët stepped forward and addressed the charmer, who brightened onhearing the language of his own country. 

'He is an Egyptian from Assiut, ' said the doctor. 

'I will buy tickets for you all, ' said Haddo. 

He held up the flap that gave access to the booth, and Susie went in. Margaret and Arthur Burdon, somewhat against their will, were obliged tofollow. The native closed the opening behind them. They found themselvesin a dirty little tent, ill-lit by two smoking lamps; a dozen stools wereplaced in a circle on the bare ground. In one corner sat a fellah woman, motionless, in ample robes of dingy black. Her face was hidden by a longveil, which was held in place by a queer ornament of brass in the middleof the forehead, between the eyes. These alone were visible, large andsombre, and the lashes were darkened with kohl: her fingers were brightlystained with henna. She moved slightly as the visitors entered, and theman gave her his drum. She began to rub it with her hands, curiously, andmade a droning sound, which was odd and mysterious. There was a peculiarodour in the place, so that Dr Porhoët was for a moment transported tothe evil-smelling streets of Cairo. It was an acrid mixture of incense, of attar of roses, with every imaginable putrescence. It choked the twowomen, and Susie asked for a cigarette. The native grinned when he heardthe English tongue. He showed a row of sparkling and beautiful teeth. 

'My name Mohammed, ' he said. 'Me show serpents to Sirdar Lord Kitchener. Wait and see. Serpents very poisonous. '

He was dressed in a long blue gabardine, more suited to the sunny banksof the Nile than to a fair in Paris, and its colour could hardly be seenfor dirt. On his head was the national tarboosh. 

A rug lay at one side of the tent, and from under it he took a goatskinsack. He placed it on the ground in the middle of the circle formed bythe seats and crouched down on his haunches. Margaret shuddered, for theuneven surface of the sack moved strangely. He opened the mouth of it. The woman in the corner listlessly droned away on the drum, andoccasionally uttered a barbaric cry. With a leer and a flash of hisbright teeth, the Arab thrust his hand into the sack and rummaged as aman would rummage in a sack of corn. He drew out a long, writhing snake. He placed it on the ground and for a moment waited, then he passed hishand over it: it became immediately as rigid as a bar of iron. Exceptthat the eyes, the cruel eyes, were open still, there might have been nolife in it. 

'Look, ' said Haddo. 'That is the miracle which Moses did before Pharaoh. '

Then the Arab took a reed instrument, not unlike the pipe which Panin the hills of Greece played to the dryads, and he piped a weird, monotonous tune. The stiffness broke away from the snake suddenly, andit lifted its head and raised its long body till it stood almost on thetip of its tail, and it swayed slowly to and fro. 

Oliver Haddo seemed extraordinarily fascinated. He leaned forward witheager face, and his unnatural eyes were fixed on the charmer with anindescribable expression. Margaret drew back in terror. 

'You need not be frightened, ' said Arthur. 'These people only work withanimals whose fangs have been extracted. '

Oliver Haddo looked at him before answering. He seemed to consider eachtime what sort of man this was to whom he spoke. 

'A man is only a snake-charmer because, without recourse to medicine, heis proof against the fangs of the most venomous serpents. '

'Do you think so?' said Arthur. 

'I saw the most noted charmer of Madras die two hours after he had beenbitten by a cobra, ' said Haddo. I had heard many tales of his prowess, and one evening asked a friend to take me to him. He was out when wearrived, but we waited, and presently, accompanied by some friends, hecame. We told him what we wanted. He had been at a marriage-feast and wasdrunk. But he sent for his snakes, and forthwith showed us marvels whichthis man has never heard of. At last he took a great cobra from his sackand began to handle it. Suddenly it darted at his chin and bit him. Itmade two marks like pin-points. The juggler started back. 

'"I am a dead man, " he said. 

'Those about him would have killed the cobra, but he prevented them. 

'"Let the creature live, " he said. "It may be of service to others of mytrade. To me it can be of no other use. Nothing can save me. "

'His friends and the jugglers, his fellows, gathered round him and placedhim in a chair. In two hours he was dead. In his drunkenness he hadforgotten a portion of the spell which protected him, and so he died. '

'You have a marvellous collection of tall stories, ' said Arthur. 'I'mafraid I should want better proof that these particular snakes arepoisonous. '

Oliver turned to the charmer and spoke to him in Arabic. Then he answeredArthur. 

'The man has a horned viper, _cerastes_ is the name under which yougentlemen of science know it, and it is the most deadly of all Egyptiansnakes. It is commonly known as Cleopatra's Asp, for that is the serpentwhich was brought in a basket of figs to the paramour of Caesar in orderthat she might not endure the triumph of Augustus. '

'What are you going to do?' asked Susie. 

He smiled but did not answer. He stepped forward to the centre of thetent and fell on his knees. He uttered Arabic words, which Dr. Porhoëttranslated to the others. 

'O viper, I adjure you, by the great God who is all-powerful, to comeforth. You are but a snake, and God is greater than all snakes. Obey mycall and come. '

A tremor went through the goatskin bag, and in a moment a head wasprotruded. A lithe body wriggled out. It was a snake of light greycolour, and over each eye was a horn. It lay slightly curled. 

'Do you recognize it?' said Oliver in a low voice to the doctor. 

'I do. '

The charmer sat motionless, and the woman in the dim background ceasedher weird rubbing of the drum. Haddo seized the snake and opened itsmouth. Immediately it fastened on his hand, and the reptile teeth wentdeep into his flesh. Arthur watched him for signs of pain, but he did notwince. The writhing snake dangled from his hand. He repeated a sentencein Arabic, and, with the peculiar suddenness of a drop of water fallingfrom a roof, the snake fell to the ground. The blood flowed freely. Haddospat upon the bleeding place three times, muttering words they could nothear, and three times he rubbed the wound with his fingers. The bleedingstopped. He stretched out his hand for Arthur to look at. 

'That surely is what a surgeon would call healing by first intention, ' hesaid. 

Burdon was astonished, but he was irritated, too, and would not allowthat there was anything strange in the cessation of the flowing blood. 

'You haven't yet shown that the snake was poisonous. '

'I have not finished yet, ' smiled Haddo. 

He spoke again to the Egyptian, who gave an order to his wife. Without aword she rose to her feet and from a box took a white rabbit. She liftedit up by the ears, and it struggled with its four quaint legs. Haddo putit in front of the horned viper. Before anyone could have moved, thesnake darted forward, and like a flash of lightning struck the rabbit. The wretched little beast gave a slight scream, a shudder went throughit, and it fell dead. 

Margaret sprang up with a cry. 

'Oh, how cruel! How hatefully cruel!'

'Are you convinced now?' asked Haddo coolly. 

The two women hurried to the doorway. They were frightened and disgusted. Oliver Haddo was left alone with the snake-charmer. 

5

Dr Porhoët had asked Arthur to bring Margaret and Miss Boyd to see him onSunday at his apartment in the Île Saint Louis; and the lovers arrangedto spend an hour on their way at the Louvre. Susie, invited to accompanythem, preferred independence and her own reflections. 

To avoid the crowd which throngs the picture galleries on holidays, they went to that part of the museum where ancient sculpture is kept. Itwas comparatively empty, and the long halls had the singular restfulnessof places where works of art are gathered together. Margaret was filledwith a genuine emotion; and though she could not analyse it, as Susie, who loved to dissect her state of mind, would have done, it strangelyexhilarated her. Her heart was uplifted from the sordidness of earth, and she had a sensation of freedom which was as delightful as it wasindescribable. Arthur had never troubled himself with art till Margaret'senthusiasm taught him that there was a side of life he did not realize. Though beauty meant little to his practical nature, he sought, in hisgreat love for Margaret, to appreciate the works which excited her tosuch charming ecstasy. He walked by her side with docility and listened, not without deference, to her outbursts. He admired the correctness ofGreek anatomy, and there was one statue of an athlete which attractedhis prolonged attention, because the muscles were indicated with theprecision of a plate in a surgical textbook. When Margaret talked of theGreeks' divine repose and of their blitheness, he thought it very cleverbecause she said it; but in a man it would have aroused his impatience. 

Yet there was one piece, the charming statue known as _La Diane deGabies_, which moved him differently, and to this presently he insistedon going. With a laugh Margaret remonstrated, but secretly she was notdispleased. She was aware that his passion for this figure was due, notto its intrinsic beauty, but to a likeness he had discovered in it toherself. 

It stood in that fair wide gallery where is the mocking faun, with hisinhuman savour of fellowship with the earth which is divine, and thesightless Homer. The goddess had not the arrogance of the huntress wholoved Endymion, nor the majesty of the cold mistress of the skies. Shewas in the likeness of a young girl, and with collected gesture fastenedher cloak. There was nothing divine in her save a sweet strange spiritof virginity. A lover in ancient Greece, who offered sacrifice beforethis fair image, might forget easily that it was a goddess to whom heknelt, and see only an earthly maid fresh with youth and chastity andloveliness. In Arthur's eyes Margaret had all the exquisite grace of thestatue, and the same unconscious composure; and in her also breathed thespring odours of ineffable purity. Her features were chiselled withthe clear and divine perfection of this Greek girl's; her ears were asdelicate and as finely wrought. The colour of her skin was so tender thatit reminded you vaguely of all beautiful soft things, the radiance ofsunset and the darkness of the night, the heart of roses and the depth ofrunning water. The goddess's hand was raised to her right shoulder, andMargaret's hand was as small, as dainty, and as white. 

'Don't be so foolish, ' said she, as Arthur looked silently at the statue. 

He turned his eyes slowly, and they rested upon her. She saw that theywere veiled with tears. 

'What on earth's the matter?'

'I wish you weren't so beautiful, ' he answered, awkwardly, as though hecould scarcely bring himself to say such foolish things. 'I'm so afraidthat something will happen to prevent us from being happy. It seems toomuch to expect that I should enjoy such extraordinarily good luck. '

She had the imagination to see that it meant much for the practical manso to express himself. Love of her drew him out of his character, and, though he could not resist, he resented the effect it had on him. Shefound nothing to reply, but she took his hand. 

'Everything has gone pretty well with me so far, ' he said, speakingalmost to himself. 'Whenever I've really wanted anything, I've managed toget it. I don't see why things should go against me now. '

He was trying to reassure himself against an instinctive suspicion of themalice of circumstances. But he shook himself and straightened his back. 

'It's stupid to be so morbid as that, ' he muttered. 

Margaret laughed. They walked out of the gallery and turned to the quay. By crossing the bridge and following the river, they must come eventuallyto Dr. Porhoët's house. 

 * * * * *

Meanwhile Susie wandered down the Boulevard Saint Michel, alert with theSunday crowd, to that part of Paris which was dearest to her heart. L'ÎleSaint Louis to her mind offered a synthesis of the French spirit, and itpleased her far more than the garish boulevards in which the English as arule seek for the country's fascination. Its position on an island inthe Seine gave it a compact charm. The narrow streets, with their arrayof dainty comestibles, had the look of streets in a provincial town. Theyhad a quaintness which appealed to the fancy, and they were very restful. The names of the streets recalled the monarchy that passed away inbloodshed, and in _poudre de riz_. The very plane trees had a greatersobriety than elsewhere, as though conscious they stood in a Paris whereprogress was not. In front was the turbid Seine, and below, the twintowers of Notre Dame. Susie could have kissed the hard paving stones ofthe quay. Her good-natured, plain face lit up as she realized the delightof the scene upon which her eyes rested; and it was with a little pang, her mind aglow with characters and events from history and from fiction, that she turned away to enter Dr Porhoët's house. 

She was pleased that the approach did not clash with her fantasies. Shemounted a broad staircase, dark but roomy, and, at the command of the_concierge_, rang a tinkling bell at one of the doorways that faced her. Dr Porhoët opened in person.. 

'Arthur and Mademoiselle are already here, ' he said, as he led her in. 

They went through a prim French dining-room, with much woodwork and heavyscarlet hangings, to the library. This was a large room, but thebookcases that lined the walls, and a large writing-table heaped up withbooks, much diminished its size. There were books everywhere. They werestacked on the floor and piled on every chair. There was hardly space tomove. Susie gave a cry of delight. 

'Now you mustn't talk to me. I want to look at all your books. '

'You could not please me more, ' said Dr Porhoët, 'but I am afraid theywill disappoint you. They are of many sorts, but I fear there are fewthat will interest an English young lady. '

He looked about his writing-table till he found a packet of cigarettes. He gravely offered one to each of his guests. Susie was enchanted withthe strange musty smell of the old books, and she took a first glance atthem in general. For the most part they were in paper bindings, some ofthem neat enough, but more with broken backs and dingy edges; they wereset along the shelves in serried rows, untidily, without method or plan. There were many older ones also in bindings of calf and pigskin, treasurefrom half the bookshops in Europe; and there were huge folios likePrussian grenadiers; and tiny Elzevirs, which had been read by patricianladies in Venice. Just as Arthur was a different man in the operatingtheatre, Dr Porhoët was changed among his books. Though he preserved theamiable serenity which made him always so attractive, he had there adiverting brusqueness of demeanour which contrasted quaintly with hisusual calm. 

'I was telling these young people, when you came in, of an ancient Korânwhich I was given in Alexandria by a learned man whom I operated upon forcataract. ' He showed her a beautifully-written Arabic work, withwonderful capitals and headlines in gold. 'You know that it is almostimpossible for an infidel to acquire the holy book, and this is aparticularly rare copy, for it was written by Kaït Bey, the greatest ofthe Mameluke Sultans. '

He handled the delicate pages as a lover of flowers would handlerose-leaves. 

'And have you much literature on the occult sciences?' asked Susie. 

Dr Porhoët smiled. 

'I venture to think that no private library contains so complete acollection, but I dare not show it to you in the presence of our friendArthur. He is too polite to accuse me of foolishness, but his sarcasticsmile would betray him. '

Susie went to the shelves to which he vaguely waved, and looked with apeculiar excitement at the mysterious array. She ran her eyes along thenames. It seemed to her that she was entering upon an unknown region ofromance. She felt like an adventurous princess who rode on her palfreyinto a forest of great bare trees and mystic silences, where wan, unearthly shapes pressed upon her way. 

'I thought once of writing a life of that fantastic and grandiloquentcreature, Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast vonHohenheim, ' said Dr Porhoët, 'and I have collected many of his books. '

He took down a slim volume in duodecimo, printed in the seventeenthcentury, with queer plates, on which were all manner of cabbalisticsigns. The pages had a peculiar, musty odour. They were stained withiron-mould. 

'Here is one of the most interesting works concerning the black art. It is the _Grimoire of Honorius_, and is the principal text-book of allthose who deal in the darkest ways of the science. '

Then he pointed out the _Hexameron_ of Torquemada and the _Tableau del'Inconstance des Démons_, by Delancre; he drew his finger down theleather back of Delrio's _Disquisitiones Magicae_ and set upright the_Pseudomonarchia Daemonorum_ of Wierus; his eyes rested for an instant onHauber's _Acta et Scripta Magica_, and he blew the dust carefully off themost famous, the most infamous, of them all, Sprenger's _MalleusMalefikorum_. 

'Here is one of my greatest treasures. It is the _Clavicula Salomonis_;and I have much reason to believe that it is the identical copy whichbelonged to the greatest adventurer of the eighteenth century, JacquesCasanova. You will see that the owner's name had been cut out, but enoughremains to indicate the bottom of the letters; and these correspondexactly with the signature of Casanova which I have found at theBibliothéque Nationale. He relates in his memoirs that a copy of thisbook was seized among his effects when he was arrested in Venice fortraffic in the black arts; and it was there, on one of my journeys fromAlexandria, that I picked it up. '

He replaced the precious work, and his eye fell on a stout volume boundin vellum. 

'I had almost forgotten the most wonderful, the most mysterious, of allthe books that treat of occult science. You have heard of the Kabbalah, but I doubt if it is more than a name to you. '

'I know nothing about it at all, ' laughed Susie, 'except that it's allvery romantic and extraordinary and ridiculous. '

'This, then, is its history. Moses, who was learned in all the wisdom ofEgypt, was first initiated into the Kabbalah in the land of his birth;but became most proficient in it during his wanderings in the wilderness. Here he not only devoted the leisure hours of forty years to thismysterious science, but received lessons in it from an obliging angel. Byaid of it he was able to solve the difficulties which arose during hismanagement of the Israelites, notwithstanding the pilgrimages, wars, andmiseries of that most unruly nation. He covertly laid down the principlesof the doctrine in the first four books of the Pentateuch, but withheldthem from Deuteronomy. Moses also initiated the Seventy Elders into thesesecrets, and they in turn transmitted them from hand to hand. Of all whoformed the unbroken line of tradition, David and Solomon were the mostdeeply learned in the Kabbalah. No one, however, dared to write it downtill Schimeon ben Jochai, who lived in the time of the destruction ofJerusalem; and after his death the Rabbi Eleazar, his son, and the RabbiAbba, his secretary, collected his manuscripts and from them composed thecelebrated treatise called _Zohar_. '

'And how much do you believe of this marvellous story?' asked ArthurBurdon. 

'Not a word, ' answered Dr Porhoët, with a smile. 'Criticism has shownthat _Zohar_ is of modern origin. With singular effrontery, it cites anauthor who is known to have lived during the eleventh century, mentionsthe Crusades, and records events which occurred in the year of Our Lord1264. It was some time before 1291 that copies of _Zohar_ began to becirculated by a Spanish Jew named Moses de Leon, who claimed to possessan autograph manuscript by the reputed author Schimeon ben Jochai. Butwhen Moses de Leon was gathered to the bosom of his father Abraham, awealthy Hebrew, Joseph de Avila, promised the scribe's widow, who hadbeen left destitute, that his son should marry her daughter, to whomhe would pay a handsome dowry, if she would give him the originalmanuscript from which these copies were made. But the widow (one canimagine with what gnashing of teeth) was obliged to confess that she hadno such manuscript, for Moses de Leon had composed _Zohar_ out of his ownhead, and written it with his own right hand. '

Arthur got up to stretch his legs. He gave a laugh. 

'I never know how much you really believe of all these things you tellus. You speak with such gravity that we are all taken in, and then itturns out that you've been laughing at us. '

'My dear friend, I never know myself how much I believe, ' returned DrPorhoët. 

'I wonder if it is for the same reason that Mr Haddo puzzles us so much, 'said Susie. 

'Ah, there you have a case that is really interesting, ' replied thedoctor. 'I assure you that, though I know him fairly intimately, I havenever been able to make up my mind whether he is an elaborate practicaljoker, or whether he is really convinced he has the wonderful powers towhich he lays claim. '

'We certainly saw things last night that were not quite normal, ' saidSusie. 'Why had that serpent no effect on him though it was able to killthe rabbit instantaneously? And how are you going to explain the violenttrembling of that horse, Mr. Burdon?'

'I can't explain it, ' answered Arthur, irritably, 'but I'm not inclinedto attribute to the supernatural everything that I can't immediatelyunderstand. '

'I don't know what there is about him that excites in me a sort ofhorror, ' said Margaret. 'I've never taken such a sudden dislike toanyone. '

She was too reticent to say all she felt, but she had been strangelyaffected last night by the recollection of Haddo's words and of his acts. She had awakened more than once from a nightmare in which he assumedfantastic and ghastly shapes. His mocking voice rang in her ears, and sheseemed still to see that vast bulk and the savage, sensual face. It waslike a spirit of evil in her path, and she was curiously alarmed. Onlyher reliance on Arthur's common sense prevented her from giving way toridiculous terrors. 

'I've written to Frank Hurrell and asked him to tell me all he knowsabout him, ' said Arthur. 'I should get an answer very soon. '

'I wish we'd never come across him, ' cried Margaret vehemently. 'I feelthat he will bring us misfortune. '

'You're all of you absurdly prejudiced, ' answered Susie gaily. 'Heinterests me enormously, and I mean to ask him to tea at the studio. '

'I'm sure I shall be delighted to come. '

Margaret cried out, for she recognized Oliver Haddo's deep banteringtones; and she turned round quickly. They were all so taken aback thatfor a moment no one spoke. They were gathered round the window and hadnot heard him come in. They wondered guiltily how long he had been thereand how much he had heard. 

'How on earth did you get here?' cried Susie lightly, recovering herselffirst. 

'No well-bred sorcerer is so dead to the finer feelings as to enter aroom by the door, ' he answered, with his puzzling smile. 'You werestanding round the window, and I thought it would startle you if I chosethat mode of ingress, so I descended with incredible skill down thechimney. '

'I see a little soot on your left elbow, ' returned Susie. 'I hope youweren't at all burned. '

'Not at all, thanks, ' he answered, gravely brushing his coat. 

'In whatever way you came, you are very welcome, ' said Dr Porhoët, genially holding out his hand. 

But Arthur impatiently turned to his host. 

'I wish I knew what made you engage upon these studies, ' he said. 'Ishould have thought your medical profession protected you from anytenderness towards superstition. '

Dr Porhoët shrugged his shoulders. 

'I have always been interested in the oddities of mankind. At one timeI read a good deal of philosophy and a good deal of science, and Ilearned in that way that nothing was certain. Some people, by the pursuitof science, are impressed with the dignity of man, but I was only madeconscious of his insignificance. The greatest questions of all have beenthreshed out since he acquired the beginnings of civilization and heis as far from a solution as ever. Man can know nothing, for his sensesare his only means of knowledge, and they can give no certainty. There isonly one subject upon which the individual can speak with authority, andthat is his own mind, but even here he is surrounded with darkness. Ibelieve that we shall always be ignorant of the matters which it mostbehoves us to know, and therefore I cannot occupy myself with them. Iprefer to set them all aside, and, since knowledge is unattainable, tooccupy myself only with folly. '

'It is a point of view I do not sympathize with, ' said Arthur. 

'Yet I cannot be sure that it is all folly, ' pursued the Frenchmanreflectively. He looked at Arthur with a certain ironic gravity. 'Doyou believe that I should lie to you when I promised to speak the truth?'

'Certainly not. '

'I should like to tell you of an experience that I once had inAlexandria. So far as I can see, it can be explained by none of theprinciples known to science. I ask you only to believe that I am notconsciously deceiving you. '

He spoke with a seriousness which gave authority to his words. It wasplain, even to Arthur, that he narrated the event exactly as it occurred. 

'I had heard frequently of a certain shiekh who was able by means of amagic mirror to show the inquirer persons who were absent or dead, and anative friend of mine had often begged me to see him. I had never thoughtit worth while, but at last a time came when I was greatly troubled inmy mind. My poor mother was an old woman, a widow, and I had received nonews of her for many weeks. Though I wrote repeatedly, no answer reachedme. I was very anxious and very unhappy. I thought no harm could come ifI sent for the sorcerer, and perhaps after all he had the power whichwas attributed to him. My friend, who was interpreter to the FrenchConsulate, brought him to me one evening. He was a fine man, tall andstout, of a fair complexion, but with a dark brown beard. He was shabbilydressed, and, being a descendant of the Prophet, wore a green turban. Inhis conversation he was affable and unaffected. I asked him what personscould see in the magic mirror, and he said they were a boy not arrived atpuberty, a virgin, a black female slave, and a pregnant woman. In orderto make sure that there was no collusion, I despatched my servant to anintimate friend and asked him to send me his son. While we waited, Iprepared by the magician's direction frankincense and coriander-seed, and a chafing-dish with live charcoal. Meanwhile, he wrote forms ofinvocation on six strips of paper. When the boy arrived, the sorcererthrew incense and one of the paper strips into the chafing-dish, thentook the boy's right hand and drew a square and certain mystical marks onthe palm. In the centre of the square he poured a little ink. This formedthe magic mirror. He desired the boy to look steadily into it withoutraising his head. The fumes of the incense filled the room with smoke. The sorcerer muttered Arabic words, indistinctly, and this he continuedto do all the time except when he asked the boy a question. 

'"Do you see anything in the ink?" he said. 

'"No, " the boy answered. 

'But a minute later, he began to tremble and seemed very much frightened. 

'"I see a man sweeping the ground, " he said. 

'"When he has done sweeping, tell me, " said the sheikh. 

'"He has done, " said the boy. 

'The sorcerer turned to me and asked who it was that I wished the boyshould see. 

'"I desire to see the widow Jeanne-Marie Porhoët. "

'The magician put the second and third of the small strips of paper intothe chafing-dish, and fresh frankincense was added. The fumes werepainful to my eyes. The boy began to speak. 

'"I see an old woman lying on a bed. She has a black dress, and on herhead is a little white cap. She has a wrinkled face and her eyes areclosed. There is a band tied round her chin. The bed is in a sort ofhole, in the wall, and there are shutters to it. "

The boy was describing a Breton bed, and the white cap was the _coiffe_that my mother wore. And if she lay there in her black dress, with a bandabout her chin, I knew that it could mean but one thing. 

'"What else does he see?" I asked the sorcerer. 

'He repeated my question, and presently the boy spoke again. 

'"I see four men come in with a long box. And there are women crying. They all wear little white caps and black dresses. And I see a man in awhite surplice, with a large cross in his hands, and a little boy in along red gown. And the men take off their hats. And now everyone iskneeling down. "

'"I will hear no more, " I said. "It is enough. "

'I knew that my mother was dead. 

'In a little while, I received a letter from the priest of the village inwhich she lived. They had buried her on the very day upon which the boyhad seen this sight in the mirror of ink. '

Dr Porhoët passed his hand across his eyes, and for a little while therewas silence. 

'What have you to say to that?' asked Oliver Haddo, at last. 

'Nothing, ' answered Arthur. 

Haddo looked at him for a minute with those queer eyes of his whichseemed to stare at the wall behind. 

'Have you ever heard of Eliphas Levi?' he inquired. 'He is the mostcelebrated occultist of recent years. He is thought to have known moreof the mysteries than any adept since the divine Paracelsus. '

'I met him once, ' interrupted Dr Porhoët. 'You never saw a man who lookedless like a magician. His face beamed with good-nature, and he wore along grey beard, which covered nearly the whole of his breast. He was ofa short and very corpulent figure. '

'The practice of black arts evidently disposes to obesity, ' said Arthur, icily. 

Susie noticed that this time Oliver Haddo made no sign that the tauntmoved him. His unwinking, straight eyes remained upon Arthur withoutexpression. 

'Levi's real name was Alphonse-Louis Constant, but he adopted that underwhich he is generally known for reasons that are plain to the romanticmind. His father was a bootmaker. He was destined for the priesthood, butfell in love with a damsel fair and married her. The union was unhappy. A fate befell him which has been the lot of greater men than he, and hiswife presently abandoned the marital roof with her lover. To consolehimself he began to make serious researches in the occult, and in duecourse published a vast number of mystical works dealing with magic inall its branches. '

'I'm sure Mr Haddo was going to tell us something very interesting abouthim, ' said Susie. 

'I wished merely to give you his account of how he raised the spirit ofApollonius of Tyana in London. '

Susie settled herself more comfortably in her chair and lit a cigarette. 

'He went there in the spring of 1856 to escape from internal disquietudeand to devote himself without distraction to his studies. He had lettersof introduction to various persons of distinction who concernedthemselves with the supernatural, but, finding them trivial andindifferent, he immersed himself in the study of the supreme Kabbalah. One day, on returning to his hotel, he found a note in his room. Itcontained half a card, transversely divided, on which he at oncerecognized the character of Solomon's Seal, and a tiny slip of paper onwhich was written in pencil: _The other half of this card will be givenyou at three o'clock tomorrow in front of Westminster Abbey_. Next day, going to the appointed spot, with his portion of the card in his hand, hefound a baronial equipage waiting for him. A footman approached, and, making a sign to him, opened the carriage door. Within was a lady inblack satin, whose face was concealed by a thick veil. She motioned himto a seat beside her, and at the same time displayed the other part ofthe card he had received. The door was shut, and the carriage rolledaway. When the lady raised her veil, Eliphas Levi saw that she was ofmature age; and beneath her grey eyebrows were bright black eyes ofpreternatural fixity. '

Susie Boyd clapped her hands with delight. 

'I think it's delicious, and I'm sure every word of it is true, ' shecried. 'I'm enchanted with the mysterious meeting at Westminster Abbeyin the Mid-Victorian era. Can't you see the elderly lady in a hugecrinoline and a black poke bonnet, and the wizard in a ridiculous hat, a bottle-green frock-coat, and a flowing tie of black silk?'

'Eliphas remarks that the lady spoke French with a marked Englishaccent, ' pursued Haddo imperturbably. 'She addressed him as follows:"Sir, I am aware that the law of secrecy is rigorous among adepts; and Iknow that you have been asked for phenomena, but have declined to gratifya frivolous curiosity. It is possible that you do not possess thenecessary materials. I can show you a complete magical cabinet, but Imust require of you first the most inviolable silence. If you do notguarantee this on your honour, I will give the order for you to be drivenhome. "'

Oliver Haddo told his story not ineffectively, but with a comic gravitythat prevented one from knowing exactly how to take it. 

'Having given the required promise Eliphas Levi was shown a collection ofvestments and of magical instruments. The lady lent him certain books ofwhich he was in need; and at last, as a result of many conversations, determined him to attempt at her house the experience of a completeevocation. He prepared himself for twenty-one days, scrupulouslyobserving the rules laid down by the Ritual. At length everythingwas ready. It was proposed to call forth the phantom of the divineApollonius, and to question it upon two matters, one of which concernedEliphas Levi and the other, the lady of the crinoline. She had at firstcounted on assisting at the evocation with a trustworthy person, but atthe last moment her friend drew back; and as the triad or unity isrigorously prescribed in magical rites, Eliphas was left alone. Thecabinet prepared for the experiment was situated in a turret. Fourconcave mirrors were hung within it, and there was an altar of whitemarble, surrounded by a chain of magnetic iron. On it was engravedthe sign of the Pentagram, and this symbol was drawn on the new, whitesheepskin which was stretched beneath. A copper brazier stood on thealtar, with charcoal of alder and of laurel wood, and in front a secondbrazier was placed upon a tripod. Eliphas Levi was clothed in a whiterobe, longer and more ample than the surplice of a priest, and he woreupon his head a chaplet of vervain leaves entwined about a golden chain. In one hand he held a new sword and in the other the Ritual. '

Susie's passion for caricature at once asserted itself, and she laughedas she saw in fancy the portly little Frenchman, with his round, redface, thus wonderfully attired. 

'He set alight the two fires with the prepared materials, and began, atfirst in a low voice, but rising by degrees, the invocations of theRitual. The flames invested every object with a wavering light. Presentlythey went out. He set more twigs and perfumes on the brazier, and whenthe flame started up once more, he saw distinctly before the altar ahuman figure larger than life, which dissolved and disappeared. He beganthe invocations again and placed himself in a circle, which he hadalready traced between the altar and the tripod. Then the depth of themirror which was in front of him grew brighter by degrees, and a paleform arose, and it seemed gradually to approach. He closed his eyes, andcalled three times upon Apollonius. When he opened them, a man stoodbefore him, wholly enveloped in a winding sheet, which seemed more greythan black. His form was lean, melancholy, and beardless. Eliphas felt anintense cold, and when he sought to ask his questions found it impossibleto speak. Thereupon, he placed his hand on the Pentagram, and directedthe point of his sword toward the figure, adjuring it mentally by thatsign not to terrify, but to obey him. The form suddenly grew indistinctand soon it strangely vanished. He commanded it to return, and then felt, as it were, an air pass by him; and, something having touched the handwhich held the sword, his arm was immediately benumbed as far as theshoulder. He supposed that the weapon displeased the spirit, and set itdown within the circle. The human figure at once reappeared, but Eliphasexperienced such a sudden exhaustion in all his limbs that he was obligedto sit down. He fell into a deep coma, and dreamed strange dreams. But ofthese, when he recovered, only a vague memory remained to him. His armcontinued for several days to be numb and painful. The figure had notspoken, but it seemed to Eliphas Levi that the questions were answered inhis own mind. For to each an inner voice replied with one grim word:dead. '

'Your friend seems to have had as little fear of spooks as you haveof lions, ' said Burdon. 'To my thinking it is plain that all thesepreparations, and the perfumes, the mirrors, the pentagrams, must havethe greatest effect on the imagination. My only surprise is that yourmagician saw no more. '

'Eliphas Levi talked to me himself of this evocation, ' said Dr Porhoët. 'He told me that its influence on him was very great. He was no longerthe same man, for it seemed to him that something from the world beyondhad passed into his soul. '

'I am astonished that you should never have tried such an interestingexperiment yourself, ' said Arthur to Oliver Haddo. 

'I have, ' answered the other calmly. 'My father lost his power of speechshortly before he died, and it was plain that he sought with all hismight to tell me something. A year after his death, I called up hisphantom from the grave so that I might learn what I took to be a dyingwish. The circumstances of the apparition are so similar to those I havejust told you that it would only bore you if I repeated them. The onlydifference was that my father actually spoke. '

'What did he say?' asked Susie. 

'He said solemnly: "_Buy Ashantis, they are bound to go up. _"

'I did as he told me; but my father was always unlucky in speculation, and they went down steadily. I sold out at considerable loss, andconcluded that in the world beyond they are as ignorant of the tendencyof the Stock Exchange as we are in this vale of sorrow. '

Susie could not help laughing. But Arthur shrugged his shouldersimpatiently. It disturbed his practical mind never to be certain ifHaddo was serious, or if, as now, he was plainly making game of them. 

6

Two days later, Arthur received Frank Hurrell's answer to his letter. Itwas characteristic of Frank that he should take such pains to reply atlength to the inquiry, and it was clear that he had lost none of his oldinterest in odd personalities. He analysed Oliver Haddo's character withthe patience of a scientific man studying a new species in which he ispassionately concerned. 

My dear Burdon:

It is singular that you should write just now to ask what I know ofOliver Haddo, since by chance I met the other night at dinner at QueenAnne's Gate a man who had much to tell me of him. I am curious to knowwhy he excites your interest, for I am sure his peculiarities make himrepugnant to a person of your robust common sense. I can with difficultyimagine two men less capable of getting on together. Though I have notseen Haddo now for years, I can tell you, in one way and another, a gooddeal about him. He erred when he described me as his intimate friend. Itis true that at one time I saw much of him, but I never ceased cordiallyto dislike him. He came up to Oxford from Eton with a reputation forathletics and eccentricity. But you know that there is nothing thatarouses the ill-will of boys more than the latter, and he achieved anunpopularity which was remarkable. It turned out that he played footballadmirably, and except for his rather scornful indolence he might easilyhave got his blue. He sneered at the popular enthusiasm for games, andwas used to say that cricket was all very well for boys but not fit forthe pastime of men. (He was then eighteen!) He talked grandiloquently ofbig-game shooting and of mountain climbing as sports which demandedcourage and self-reliance. He seemed, indeed, to like football, but heplayed it with a brutal savagery which the other persons concernednaturally resented. It became current opinion in other pursuits that hedid not play the game. He did nothing that was manifestly unfair, but wascapable of taking advantages which most people would have thought mean;and he made defeat more hard to bear because he exulted over thevanquished with the coarse banter that youths find so difficult toendure. 

What you would hardly believe is that, when he first came up, he was aperson of great physical attractions. He is now grown fat, but in thosedays was extremely handsome. He reminded one of those colossal statuesof Apollo in which the god is represented with a feminine roundnessand delicacy. He was very tall and had a magnificent figure. It wasso well-formed for his age that one might have foretold his preciouscorpulence. He held himself with a dashing erectness. Many called it aninsolent swagger. His features were regular and fine. He had a greatquantity of curling hair, which was worn long, with a sort of poeticgrace: I am told that now he is very bald; and I can imagine that thismust be a great blow to him, for he was always exceedingly vain. Iremember a peculiarity of his eyes, which could scarcely have beennatural, but how it was acquired I do not know. The eyes of most peopleconverge upon the object at which they look, but his remained parallel. It gave them a singular expression, as though he were scrutinising theinmost thought of the person with whom he talked. He was notorious alsofor the extravagance of his costume, but, unlike the aesthetes of thatday, who clothed themselves with artistic carelessness, he had a tastefor outrageous colours. Sometimes, by a queer freak, he dressed himselfat unseasonable moments with excessive formality. He is the onlyundergraduate I have ever seen walk down the High in a tall hat and aclosely-buttoned frock-coat. 

I have told you he was very unpopular, but it was not an unpopularityof the sort which ignores a man and leaves him chiefly to his ownsociety. Haddo knew everybody and was to be found in the most unlikelyplaces. Though people disliked him, they showed a curious pleasure in hiscompany, and he was probably entertained more than any man in Oxford. Inever saw him but he was surrounded by a little crowd, who abused himbehind his back, but could not resist his fascination. 

I often tried to analyse this, for I felt it as much as anyone, andthough I honestly could not bear him, I could never resist going tosee him whenever opportunity arose. I suppose he offered the charmof the unexpected to that mass of undergraduates who, for all theirmatter-of-fact breeziness, are curiously alive to the romantic. It wasimpossible to tell what he would do or say next, and you were keptperpetually on the alert. He was certainly not witty, but he had a coarsehumour which excited the rather gross sense of the ludicrous possessed bythe young. He had a gift for caricature which was really diverting, andan imperturbable assurance. He had also an ingenious talent forprofanity, and his inventiveness in this particular was a power amongyouths whose imaginations stopped at the commoner sorts of bad language. I have heard him preach a sermon of the most blasphemous sort in the veryaccents of the late Dean of Christ Church, which outraged and at the sametime irresistibly amused everyone who heard it. He had a more variedknowledge than the greater part of undergraduates, and, having at thesame time a retentive memory and considerable quickness, he was able toassume an attitude of omniscience which was as impressive as it wasirritating. I have never heard him confess that he had not read a book. Often, when I tried to catch him, he confounded me by quoting theidentical words of a passage in some work which I could have sworn he hadnever set eyes on. I daresay it was due only to some juggling, like theconjuror's sleight of hand that apparently lets you choose a card, but infact forces one on you; and he brought the conversation round cleverly toa point when it was obvious I should mention a definite book. He talkedvery well, with an entertaining flow of rather pompous language whichmade the amusing things he said particularly funny. His passion foreuphuism contrasted strikingly with the simple speech of those with whomhe consorted. It certainly added authority to what he said. He was proudof his family and never hesitated to tell the curious of hisdistinguished descent. Unless he has much altered, you will already haveheard of his relationship with various noble houses. He is, in fact, nearly connected with persons of importance, and his ancestry is no lessdistinguished than he asserts. His father is dead, and he owns a place inStaffordshire which is almost historic. I have seen photographs of it, and it is certainly very fine. His forebears have been noted in thehistory of England since the days of the courtier who accompanied Anne ofDenmark to Scotland, and, if he is proud of his stock, it is not withoutcause. So he passed his time at Oxford, cordially disliked, at the sametime respected and mistrusted; he had the reputation of a liar and arogue, but it could not be denied that he had considerable influence overothers. He amused, angered, irritated, and interested everyone with whomhe came in contact. There was always something mysterious about him, andhe loved to wrap himself in a romantic impenetrability. Though he knew somany people, no one knew him, and to the end he remained a stranger inour midst. A legend grew up around him, which he fostered sedulously, andit was reported that he had secret vices which could only be whisperedwith bated breath. He was said to intoxicate himself with Oriental drugs, and to haunt the vilest opium-dens in the East of London. He kept thegreatest surprise for the last, since, though he was never seen to work, he managed, to the universal surprise, to get a first. He went down, andto the best of my belief was never seen in Oxford again. 

I have heard vaguely that he was travelling over the world, and, whenI met in town now and then some of the fellows who had known him at the'Varsity, weird rumours reached me. One told me that he was trampingacross America, earning his living as he went; another asserted that hehad been seen in a monastry in India; a third assured me that he hadmarried a ballet-girl in Milan; and someone else was positive that hehad taken to drink. One opinion, however, was common to all myinformants, and this was that he did something out of the common. Itwas clear that he was not the man to settle down to the tame life of acountry gentleman which his position and fortune indicated. At last I methim one day in Piccadilly, and we dined together at the Savoy. I hardlyrecognized him, for he was become enormously stout, and his hair hadalready grown thin. Though he could not have been more than twenty-five, he looked considerably older. I tried to find out what he had been up to, but, with the air of mystery he affects, he would go into no details. Hegave me to understand that he had sojourned in lands where the white manhad never been before, and had learnt esoteric secrets which overthrewthe foundations of modern science. It seemed to me that he had coarsenedin mind as well as in appearance. I do not know if it was due to my owndevelopment since the old days at Oxford, and to my greater knowledge ofthe world, but he did not seem to me so brilliant as I remembered. Hisfacile banter was rather stupid. In fact he bored me. The pose which hadseemed amusing in a lad fresh from Eton now was intolerable, and I wasglad to leave him. It was characteristic that, after asking me to dinner, he left me in a lordly way to pay the bill. 

Then I heard nothing of him till the other day, when our friend Miss Leyasked me to meet at dinner the German explorer Burkhardt. I dare say youremember that Burkhardt brought out a book a little while ago on hisadventures in Central Asia. I knew that Oliver Haddo was his companion inthat journey and had meant to read it on this account, but, having beenexcessively busy, had omitted to do so. I took the opportunity to ask theGerman about our common acquaintance, and we had a long talk. Burkhardthad met him by chance at Mombasa in East Africa, where he was arrangingan expedition after big game, and they agreed to go together. He told methat Haddo was a marvellous shot and a hunter of exceptional ability. Burkhardt had been rather suspicious of a man who boasted so much of hisattainments, but was obliged soon to confess that he boasted of nothingunjustly. Haddo has had an extraordinary experience, the truth of whichBurkhardt can vouch for. He went out alone one night on the trail ofthree lions and killed them all before morning with one shot each. I knownothing of these things, but from the way in which Burkhardt spoke, Ijudge it must be a unique occurrence. But, characteristically enough, noone was more conscious than Haddo of the singularity of his feat, and hemade life almost insufferable for his fellow-traveller in consequence. Burkhardt assures me that Haddo is really remarkable in pursuit of biggame. He has a sort of instinct which leads him to the most unlikelyplaces, and a wonderful feeling for country, whereby he can cut across, and head off animals whose spoor he has noticed. His courage is verygreat. To follow a wounded lion into thick cover is the most dangerousproceeding in the world, and demands the utmost coolness. The animalinvariably sees the sportsman before he sees it, and in most casescharges. But Haddo never hesitated on these occasions, and Burkhardtcould only express entire admiration for his pluck. It appears that he isnot what is called a good sportsman. He kills wantonly, when there can beno possible excuse, for the mere pleasure of it; and to Burkhardt'sindignation frequently shot beasts whose skins and horns they did noteven trouble to take. When antelope were so far off that it wasimpossible to kill them, and the approach of night made it useless tofollow, he would often shoot, and leave a wretched wounded beast to dieby inches. His selfishness was extreme, and he never shared anyinformation with his friend that might rob him of an uninterruptedpursuit of game. But notwithstanding all this, Burkhardt had so high anopinion of Haddo's general capacity and of his resourcefulness that, whenhe was arranging his journey in Asia, he asked him to come also. Haddoconsented, and it appears that Burkhardt's book gives further proof, ifit is needed, of the man's extraordinary qualities. The German confessedthat on more than one occasion he owed his life to Haddo's rare powerof seizing opportunities. But they quarrelled at last through Haddo'sover-bearing treatment of the natives. Burkhardt had vaguely suspectedhim of cruelty, but at length it was clear that he used them in a mannerwhich could not be defended. Finally he had a desperate quarrel with oneof the camp servants, as a result of which the man was shot dead. Haddoswore that he fired in self-defence, but his action caused a generaldesertion, and the travellers found themselves in a very dangerouspredicament. Burkhardt thought that Haddo was clearly to blame andrefused to have anything more to do with him. They separated. Burkhardtreturned to England; and Haddo, pursued by the friends of the murderedman, had great difficulty in escaping with his life. Nothing has beenheard of him since till I got your letter. 

Altogether, an extraordinary man. I confess that I can make nothing ofhim. I shall never be surprised to hear anything in connexion with him. I recommend you to avoid him like the plague. He can be no one's friend. As an acquaintance he is treacherous and insincere; as an enemy, I canwell imagine that he would be as merciless as he is unscrupulous. 

An immensely long letter!

Goodbye, my son. I hope that your studies in French methods of surgerywill have added to your wisdom. Your industry edifies me, and I am surethat you will eventually be a baronet and the President of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons; and you shall relieve royal persons of their, vermiform appendix. 

Yours ever, FRANK HURRELL

Arthur, having read this letter twice, put it in an envelope and left itwithout comment for Miss Boyd. Her answer came within a couple of hours:'I've asked him to tea on Wednesday, and I can't put him off. You mustcome and help us; but please be as polite to him as if, like most of us, he had only taken mental liberties with the Ten Commandments. '

7

On the morning of the day upon which they had asked him to tea, OliverHaddo left at Margaret's door vast masses of chrysanthemums. There wereso many that the austere studio was changed in aspect. It gained anephemeral brightness that Margaret, notwithstanding pieces of silk hunghere and there on the walls, had never been able to give it. When Arthurarrived, he was dismayed that the thought had not occurred to him. 

'I'm so sorry, ' he said. 'You must think me very inconsiderate. '

Margaret smiled and held his hand. 

'I think I like you because you don't trouble about the common littleattentions of lovers. '

'Margaret's a wise girl, ' smiled Susie. 'She knows that when a man sendsflowers it is a sign that he has admired more women than one. '

'I don't suppose that these were sent particularly to me. '

Arthur Burdon sat down and observed with pleasure the cheerful fire. Thedrawn curtains and the lamps gave the place a nice cosiness, and therewas the peculiar air of romance which is always in a studio. There is asense of freedom about it that disposes the mind to divertingspeculations. In such an atmosphere it is possible to be serious withoutpompousness and flippant without inanity. 

In the few days of their acquaintance Arthur and Susie had arrived atterms of pleasant familiarity. Susie, from her superior standpoint of anunmarried woman no longer young, used him with the good-natured banterwhich she affected. To her, he was a foolish young thing in love, and shemarvelled that even the cleverest man in that condition could behavelike a perfect idiot. But Margaret knew that, if her friend chaffed him, it was because she completely approved of him. As their intimacyincreased, Susie learnt to appreciate his solid character. She admiredhis capacity in dealing with matters that were in his province, and thesimplicity with which he left alone those of which he was ignorant. Therewas no pose in him. She was touched also by an ingenuous candour whichgave a persuasive charm to his abruptness. And, though she set a plainwoman's value on good looks, his appearance, rough hewn like a statue inporphyry, pleased her singularly. It was an index of his character. Thelook of him gave you the whole man, strong yet gentle, honest and simple, neither very imaginative nor very brilliant, but immensely reliable andtrustworthy to the bottom of his soul. He was seated now with Margaret'sterrier on his knees, stroking its ears, and Susie, looking at him, wondered with a little pang why no man like that had even cared for her. It was evident that he would make a perfect companion, and his love, oncewon, was of the sort that did not alter. 

Dr Porhoët came in and sat down with the modest quietness which was oneof his charms. He was not a great talker and loved most to listen insilence to the chatter of young people. The dog jumped down from Arthur'sknee, went up to the doctor, and rubbed itself in friendly fashionagainst his legs. They began to talk in the soft light and had forgottenalmost that another guest was expected. Margaret hoped fervently that hewould not come. She had never looked more lovely than on this afternoon, and she busied herself with the preparations for tea with a housewifelygrace that added a peculiar delicacy to her comeliness. The dignity whichencompassed the perfection of her beauty was delightfully softened, sothat you were reminded of those sweet domestic saints who lighten hereand there the passionate records of the Golden Book. 

'_C'est tellement intime ici_, ' smiled Dr Porhoët, breaking into Frenchin the impossibility of expressing in English the exact feeling whichthat scene gave him. 

It might have been a picture by some master of _genre_. It seemed hardlyby chance that the colours arranged themselves in such agreeable tones, or that the lines of the wall and the seated persons achieved such agraceful decoration. The atmosphere was extraordinarily peaceful. 

There was a knock at the door, and Arthur got up to open. The terrierfollowed at his heels. Oliver Haddo entered. Susie watched to see whatthe dog would do and was by this time not surprised to see a changecome over it. With its tail between its legs, the friendly little beastslunk along the wall to the furthermost corner. It turned a suspicious, frightened eye upon Haddo and then hid its head. The visitor, intent uponhis greetings, had not noticed even that there was an animal in the room. He accepted with a simple courtesy they hardly expected from him theyoung woman's thanks for his flowers. His behaviour surprised them. Heput aside his poses. He seemed genuinely to admire the cosy littlestudio. He asked Margaret to show him her sketches and looked at themwith unassumed interest. His observations were pointed and showed acertain knowledge of what he spoke about. He described himself as anamateur, that object of a painter's derision: the man 'who knows what helikes'; but his criticism, though generous, showed that he was no fool. The two women were impressed. Putting the sketches aside, he began totalk, of the many places he had seen. It was evident that he sought toplease. Susie began to understand how it was that, notwithstandinghis affectations, he had acquired so great an influence over theundergraduates of Oxford. There was romance and laughter in hisconversation; and though, as Frank Hurrell had said, lacking in wit, he made up for it with a diverting pleasantry that might very well havepassed for humour. But Susie, though amused, felt that this was not thepurpose for which she had asked him to come. Dr Porhoët had lent herhis entertaining work on the old alchemists, and this gave her a chanceto bring their conversation to matters on which Haddo was expert. She hadread the book with delight and, her mind all aflame with those strangehistories wherein fact and fancy were so wonderfully mingled, she waseager to know more. The long toil in which so many had engaged, always tolose their fortunes, often to suffer persecution and torture, interestedher no less than the accounts, almost authenticated, of those who hadsucceeded in their extraordinary quest. 

She turned to Dr Porhoët. 

'You are a bold man to assert that now and then the old alchemistsactually did make gold, ' she said. 

'I have not gone quite so far as that, ' he smiled. 'I assert merely that, if evidence as conclusive were offered of any other historical event, itwould be credited beyond doubt. We can disbelieve these circumstantialdetails only by coming to the conclusion beforehand that it is impossiblethey should be true. '

'I wish you would write that life of Paracelsus which you suggest in yourpreface. '

Dr Porhoët, smiling shook his head. 

'I don't think I shall ever do that now, ' he said. 'Yet he is the mostinteresting of all the alchemists, for he offers the fascinating problemof an immensely complex character. It is impossible to know to whatextent he was a charlatan and to what a man of serious science. '

Susie glanced at Oliver Haddo, who sat in silence, his heavy face inshadow, his eyes fixed steadily on the speaker. The immobility of thatvast bulk was peculiar. 

'His name is not so ridiculous as later associations have made it seem, 'proceeded the doctor, 'for he belonged to the celebrated family ofBombast, and they were called Hohenheim after their ancient residence, which was a castle near Stuttgart in Würtemberg. The most interestingpart of his life is that which the absence of documents makes itimpossible accurately to describe. He travelled in Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, in Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. He went even toIndia. He was taken prisoner by the Tartars, and brought to the GreatKhan, whose son he afterwards accompanied to Constantinople. The mindmust be dull indeed that is not thrilled by the thought of this wanderinggenius traversing the lands of the earth at the most eventful date of theworld's history. It was at Constantinople that, according to a certain_aureum vellus_ printed at Rorschach in the sixteenth century, hereceived the philosopher's stone from Solomon Trismosinus. This personpossessed also the _Universal Panacea_, and it is asserted that he wasseen still alive by a French traveller at the end of the seventeenthcentury. Paracelsus then passed through the countries that border theDanube, and so reached Italy, where he served as a surgeon in theimperial army. I see no reason why he should not have been present at thebattle of Pavia. He collected information from physicians, surgeons andalchemists; from executioners, barbers, shepherds, Jews, gipsies, midwives, and fortune-tellers; from high and low, from learned andvulgar. In the sketch I have given of his career in that volume you hold, I have copied out a few words of his upon the acquirement of knowledgewhich affect me with a singular emotion. '

Dr Porhoët took his book from Miss Boyd and opened it thoughtfully. Heread out the fine passage from the preface of the _Paragranum_:

'I went in search of my art, often incurring danger of life. I have notbeen ashamed to learn that which seemed useful to me even from vagabonds, hangmen, and barbers. We know that a lover will go far to meet the womanhe adores; how much more will the lover of Wisdom be tempted to go insearch of his divine mistress. '

He turned the page to find a few more lines further on:

'We should look for knowledge where we may expect to find it, and whyshould a man be despised who goes in search of it? Those who remain athome may grow richer and live more comfortably than those who wander; butI desire neither to live comfortably nor to grow rich. '

'By Jove, those are fine words, ' said Arthur, rising to his feet. 

Their brave simplicity moved him as no rhetoric could have done, andthey made him more eager still to devote his own life to the difficultacquisition of knowledge. Dr Porhoët gave him his ironic smile. 

'Yet the man who could write that was in many ways a mere buffoon, whopraised his wares with the vulgar glibness of a quack. He was vain andostentatious, intemperate and boastful. Listen:

'After me, O Avicenna, Galen, Rhases and Montagnana! After me, not Iafter you, ye men of Paris, Montpellier, Meissen, and Cologne; all youthat come from the countries along the Danube and the Rhine, and you thatcome from the islands of the sea. It is not for me to follow you, becausemine is the lordship. The time will come when none of you shall remain inhis dark corner who will not be an object of contempt to the world, because I shall be the King, and the Monarchy will be mine. '

Dr Porhoët closed the book. 

'Did you ever hear such gibberish in your life? Yet he did a bold thing. He wrote in German instead of in Latin, and so, by weakening the oldbelief in authority, brought about the beginning of free thought inscience. He continued to travel from place to place, followed by a crowdof disciples, some times attracted to a wealthy city by hope of gain, sometimes journeying to a petty court at the invitation of a prince. Hisfolly and the malice of his rivals prevented him from remaining anywherefor long. He wrought many wonderful cures. The physicians of Nurembergdenounced him as a quack, a charlatan, and an impostor. To refute them heasked the city council to put under his care patients that had beenpronounced incurable. They sent him several cases of elephantiasis, and he cured them: testimonials to that effect may still be found in thearchives of Nuremberg. He died as the result of a tavern brawl and wasburied at Salzburg. Tradition says that, his astral body having alreadyduring physical existence become self-conscious, he is now a livingadept, residing with others of his sort in a certain place in Asia. Fromthere he still influences the minds of his followers and at times evenappears to them in visible and tangible substance. '

'But look here, ' said Arthur, 'didn't Paracelsus, like most of these oldfellows, in the course of his researches make any practical discoveries?'

'I prefer those which were not practical, ' confessed the doctor, witha smile. 'Consider for example the _Tinctura Physicorum_, which neitherPope nor Emperor could buy with all his wealth. It was one of thegreatest alchemical mysteries, and, though mentioned under the nameof _The Red Lion_ in many occult works, was actually known to fewbefore Paracelsus, except Hermes Trismegistus and Albertus Magnus. Itspreparation was extremely difficult, for the presence was needed of twoperfectly harmonious persons whose skill was equal. It was said to be ared ethereal fluid. The least wonderful of its many properties was itspower to transmute all inferior metals into gold. There is an old churchin the south of Bavaria where the tincture is said to be still buried inthe ground. In the year 1698 some of it penetrated through the soil, andthe phenomenon was witnessed by many people, who believed it to be amiracle. The church which was thereupon erected is still a well-knownplace for pilgrimage. Paracelsus concludes his directions for itsmanufacture with the words: _But if this be incomprehensible to you, remember that only he who desires with his whole heart will find, and tohim only who knocks vehemently shall the door be opened_. '

'I shall never try to make it, ' smiled Arthur. 

'Then there was the _Electrum Magicum_, of which the wise made mirrorswherein they were able to see not only the events of the past and of thepresent, but the doings of men in daytime and at night. They might seeanything that had been written or spoken, and the person who said it, and the causes that made him say it. But I like best the _Primum EnsMelissae_. An elaborate prescription is given for its manufacture. It wasa remedy to prolong life, and not only Paracelsus, but his predecessorsGalen, Arnold of Villanova, and Raymond Lulli, had laboured studiously todiscover it. '

'Will it make me eighteen again?' cried Susie. 

'It is guaranteed to do so, ' answered Dr Porhoët gravely. 'Lesebren, aphysician to Louis XIV, gives an account of certain experiments witnessedby himself. It appears that one of his friends prepared the remedy, andhis curiosity would not let him rest until he had seen with his own eyesthe effect of it. '

'That is the true scientific attitude, ' laughed Arthur. 

'He took every morning at sunrise a glass of white wine tinctured withthis preparation; and after using it for fourteen days his nails began tofall out, without, however, causing him any pain. His courage failed himat this point, and he gave the same dose to an old female servant. Sheregained at least one of the characteristics of youth, much to herastonishment, for she did not know that she had been taking a medicine, and, becoming frightened, refused to continue. The experimenter then tooksome grain, soaked it in the tincture, and gave it to an aged hen. On thesixth day the bird began to lose its feathers, and kept on losing themtill it was naked as a newborn babe; but before two weeks had passedother feathers grew, and these were more beautifully coloured than anythat fortunate hen had possessed in her youth. Her comb stood up, and shebegan again to lay eggs. '

Arthur laughed heartily. 

'I confess I like that story much better than the others. The _Primum EnsMelissae_ at least offers a less puerile benefit than most magicalsecrets. '

'Do you call the search for gold puerile?' asked Haddo, who had beensitting for a long time in complete silence. 

'I venture to call it sordid. '

'You are very superior. '

'Because I think the aims of mystical persons invariably gross ortrivial? To my plain mind, it is inane to raise the dead in order to hearfrom their phantom lips nothing but commonplaces. And I really cannot seethat the alchemist who spent his life in the attempted manufacture ofgold was a more respectable object than the outside jobber of moderncivilization. '

'But if he sought for gold it was for the power it gave him, and it waspower he aimed at when he brooded night and day over dim secrets. Powerwas the subject of all his dreams, but not a paltry, limited dominionover this or that; power over the whole world, power over all createdthings, power over the very elements, power over God Himself. His lustwas so vast that he could not rest till the stars in their courses wereobedient to his will. '

For once Haddo lost his enigmatic manner. It was plain now that his wordsintoxicated him, and his face assumed a new, a strange, expression. Apeculiar arrogance flashed in his shining eyes. 

'And what else is it that men seek in life but power? If they wantmoney, it is but for the power that attends it, and it is power againthat they strive for in all the knowledge they acquire. Fools and sotsaim at happiness, but men aim only at power. The magus, the sorcerer, the alchemist, are seized with fascination of the unknown; and theydesire a greatness that is inaccessible to mankind. They think by thescience they study so patiently, but endurance and strength, by force ofwill and by imagination, for these are the great weapons of the magician, they may achieve at last a power with which they can face the God ofHeaven Himself. '

Oliver Haddo lifted his huge bulk from the low chair in which he had beensitting. He began to walk up and down the studio. It was curious to seethis heavy man, whose seriousness was always problematical, caught up bya curious excitement. 

'You've been talking of Paracelsus, ' he said. 'There is one of hisexperiments which the doctor has withheld from you. You will find itneither mean nor mercenary, but it is very terrible. I do not knowwhether the account of it is true, but it would be of extraordinaryinterest to test it for oneself. '

He looked round at the four persons who watched him intently. There wasa singular agitation in his manner, as though the thing of which he spokewas very near his heart. 

'The old alchemists believed in the possibility of spontaneousgeneration. By the combination of psychical powers and of strangeessences, they claim to have created forms in which life becamemanifest. Of these, the most marvellous were those strange beings, male and female, which were called _homunculi_. The old philosophersdoubted the possibility of this operation, but Paracelsus assertspositively that it can be done. I picked up once for a song on a barrowat London Bridge a little book in German. It was dirty and thumbed, many of the pages were torn, and the binding scarcely held the leavestogether. It was called _Die Sphinx_ and was edited by a certain Dr EmilBesetzny. It contained the most extraordinary account I have ever read ofcertain spirits generated by Johann-Ferdinand, Count von Küffstein, inthe Tyrol, in 1775. The sources from which this account is taken consistof masonic manuscripts, but more especially of a diary kept by a certainJames Kammerer, who acted in the capacity of butler and famulus to theCount. The evidence is ten times stronger than any upon which men believethe articles of their religion. If it related to less wonderful subjects, you would not hesitate to believe implicitly every word you read. Therewere ten _homunculi_--James Kammerer calls them prophesying spirits--keptin strong bottles, such as are used to preserve fruit, and these werefilled with water. They were made in five weeks, by the Count vonKüffstein and an Italian mystic and rosicrucian, the Abbé Geloni. Thebottles were closed with a magic seal. The spirits were about a spanlong, and the Count was anxious that they should grow. They weretherefore buried under two cartloads of manure, and the pile dailysprinkled with a certain liquor prepared with great trouble by theadepts. The pile after such sprinklings began to ferment and steam, asif heated by a subterranean fire. When the bottles were removed, it wasfound that the spirits had grown to about a span and a half each; themale _homunculi_ were come into possession of heavy beards, and the nailsof the fingers had grown. In two of the bottles there was nothing to beseen save clear water, but when the Abbé knocked thrice at the seal uponthe mouth, uttering at the same time certain Hebrew words, the waterturned a mysterious colour, and the spirits showed their faces, verysmall at first, but growing in size till they attained that of a humancountenance. And this countenance was horrible and fiendish. '

Haddo spoke in a low voice that was hardly steady, and it was plain thathe was much moved. It appeared as if his story affected him so that hecould scarcely preserve his composure. He went on. 

'These beings were fed every three days by the Count with a rose-colouredsubstance which was kept in a silver box. Once a week the bottles wereemptied and filled again with pure rain-water. The change had to be maderapidly, because while the _homunculi_ were exposed to the air theyclosed their eyes and seemed to grow weak and unconscious, as though theywere about to die. But with the spirits that were invisible, at certainintervals blood was poured into the water; and it disappeared at once, inexplicably, without colouring or troubling it. By some accident one ofthe bottles fell one day and was broken. The _homunculus_ within diedafter a few painful respirations in spite of all efforts to save him, andthe body was buried in the garden. An attempt to generate another, madeby the Count without the assistance of the Abbé, who had left, failed; itproduced only a small thing like a leech, which had little vitality andsoon died. '

Haddo ceased speaking, and Arthur looked at him with amazement. 'Buttaking for granted that the thing is possible, what on earth is the useof manufacturing these strange beasts?' he exclaimed. 

'Use!' cried Haddo passionately. 'What do you think would be man'ssensations when he had solved the great mystery of existence, when he sawliving before him the substance which was dead? These _homunculi_ wereseen by historical persons, by Count Max Lemberg, by Count Franz-Josefvon Thun, and by many others. I have no doubt that they were actuallygenerated. But with our modern appliances, with our greater skill, whatmight it not be possible to do now if we had the courage? There arechemists toiling away in their laboratories to create the primitiveprotoplasm from matter which is dead, the organic from the inorganic. Ihave studied their experiments. I know all that they know. Why shouldn'tone work on a larger scale, joining to the knowledge of the old adeptsthe scientific discovery of the moderns? I don't know what would be theresult. It might be very strange and very wonderful. Sometimes my mind isverily haunted by the desire to see a lifeless substance move under myspells, by the desire to be as God. '

He gave a low weird laugh, half cruel, half voluptuous. It made Margaretshudder with sudden fright. He had thrown himself down in the chair, andhe sat in complete shadow. By a singular effect his eyes appearedblood-red, and they stared into space, strangely parallel, with anintensity that was terrifying. Arthur started a little and gave him asearching glance. The laugh and that uncanny glance, the unaccountableemotion, were extraordinarily significant. The whole thing was explainedif Oliver Haddo was mad. 

There was an uncomfortable silence. Haddo's words were out of tunewith the rest of the conversation. Dr Porhoët had spoken of magicalthings with a sceptical irony that gave a certain humour to the subject, and Susie was resolutely flippant. But Haddo's vehemence put theseincredulous people out of countenance. Dr Porhoët got up to go. He shookhands with Susie and with Margaret. Arthur opened the door for him. Thekindly scholar looked round for Margaret's terrier... 

'I must bid my farewells to your little dog. '

He had been so quiet that they had forgotten his presence. 

'Come here, Copper, ' said Margaret. 

The dog slowly slunk up to them, and with a terrified expression crouchedat Margaret's feet. 

'What on earth's the matter with you?' she asked. 

'He's frightened of me, ' said Haddo, with that harsh laugh of his, whichgave such an unpleasant impression. 

'Nonsense!'

Dr Porhoët bent down, stroked the dog's back, and shook its paw. Margaretlifted it up and set it on a table. 

'Now, be good, ' she said, with lifted finger. 

Dr Porhoët with a smile went out, and Arthur shut the door behind him. Suddenly, as though evil had entered into it, the terrier sprang atOliver Haddo and fixed its teeth in his hand. Haddo uttered a cry, and, shaking it off, gave it a savage kick. The dog rolled over with a loudbark that was almost a scream of pain, and lay still for a moment as ifit were desperately hurt. Margaret cried out with horror and indignation. A fierce rage on a sudden seized Arthur so that he scarcely knew what hewas about. The wretched brute's suffering, Margaret's terror, his owninstinctive hatred of the man, were joined together in frenzied passion. 

'You brute, ' he muttered. 

He hit Haddo in the face with his clenched fist. The man collapsedbulkily to the floor, and Arthur, furiously seizing his collar, beganto kick him with all his might. He shook him as a dog would shake arat and then violently flung him down. For some reason Haddo made noresistance. He remained where he fell in utter helplessness. Arthurturned to Margaret. She was holding the poor hurt dog in her hands, crying over it, and trying to comfort it in its pain. Very gently heexamined it to see if Haddo's brutal kick had broken a bone. They satdown beside the fire. Susie, to steady her nerves, lit a cigarette. Shewas horribly, acutely conscious of that man who lay in a mass on thefloor behind them. She wondered what he would do. She wondered why he didnot go. And she was ashamed of his humiliation. Then her heart stoodstill; for she realized that he was raising himself to his feet, slowly, with the difficulty of a very fat person. He leaned against the wall andstared at them. He remained there quite motionless. His stillness got onher nerves, and she could have screamed as she felt him look at them, look with those unnatural eyes, whose expression now she dared not evenimagine. 

At last she could no longer resist the temptation to turn round justenough to see him. Haddo's eyes were fixed upon Margaret so intentlythat he did not see he was himself observed. His face, distorted bypassion, was horrible to look upon. That vast mass of flesh had amalignancy that was inhuman, and it was terrible to see the satanichatred which hideously deformed it. But it changed. The redness gave wayto a ghastly pallor. The revengeful scowl disappeared; and a torpid smilespread over the features, a smile that was even more terrifying than thefrown of malice. What did it mean? Susie could have cried out, but hertongue cleaved to her throat. The smile passed away, and the face becameonce more impassive. It seemed that Margaret and Arthur realized at lastthe power of those inhuman eyes, and they became quite still. The dogceased its sobbing. The silence was so great that each one heard thebeating of his heart. It was intolerable. 

Then Oliver Haddo moved. He came forward slowly. 

'I want to ask you to forgive me for what I did, ' he said. 

'The pain of the dog's bite was so keen that I lost my temper. I deeplyregret that I kicked it. Mr Burdon was very right to thrash me. I feelthat I deserved no less. '

He spoke in a low voice, but with great distinctness. Susie wasastounded. An abject apology was the last thing she expected. 

He paused for Margaret's answer. But she could not bear to look at him. When she spoke, her words were scarcely audible. She did not know why hisrequest to be forgiven made him seem more detestable. 

'I think, if you don't mind, you had better go away. '

Haddo bowed slightly. He looked at Burdon. 

'I wish to tell you that I bear no malice for what you did. I recognizethe justice of your anger. '

Arthur did not answer at all. Haddo hesitated a moment, while his eyesrested on them quietly. To Susie it seemed that they flickered with theshadow of a smile. She watched him with bewildered astonishment. 

He reached for his hat, bowed again, and went. 

8

Susie could not persuade herself that Haddo's regret was sincere. Thehumility of it aroused her suspicion. She could not get out of her mindthe ugly slyness of that smile which succeeded on his face the firstpassionate look of deadly hatred. Her fancy suggested various dark meanswhereby Oliver Haddo might take vengeance on his enemy, and she was atpains to warn Arthur. But he only laughed. 

'The man's a funk, ' he said. 'Do you think if he'd had anything in him atall he would have let me kick him without trying to defend himself?'

Haddo's cowardice increased the disgust with which Arthur regarded him. He was amused by Susie's trepidation. 

'What on earth do you suppose he can do? He can't drop a brickbat on myhead. If he shoots me he'll get his head cut off, and he won't be such anass as to risk that!'

Margaret was glad that the incident had relieved them of Oliver'ssociety. She met him in the street a couple of days later, and sincehe took off his hat in the French fashion without waiting for her toacknowledge him, she was able to make her cut more pointed. 

She began to discuss with Arthur the date of their marriage. It seemedto her that she had got out of Paris all it could give her, and shewished to begin a new life. Her love for Arthur appeared on a suddenmore urgent, and she was filled with delight at the thought of thehappiness she would give him. 

A day or two later Susie received a telegram. It ran as follows:

Please meet me at the Gare du Nord, 2:40. 

Nancy Clerk

It was an old friend, who was apparently arriving in Paris thatafternoon. A photograph of her, with a bold signature, stood on thechimney-piece, and Susie gave it an inquisitive glance. She had not seenNancy for so long that it surprised her to receive this urgent message. 

'What a bore it is!' she said. 'I suppose I must go. '

They meant to have tea on the other side of the river, but the journey tothe station was so long that it would not be worth Susie's while to comeback in the interval; and they arranged therefore to meet at the house towhich they were invited. Susie started a little before two. 

Margaret had a class that afternoon and set out two or three minuteslater. As she walked through the courtyard she started nervously, forOliver Haddo passed slowly by. He did not seem to see her. Suddenly hestopped, put his hand to his heart, and fell heavily to the ground. The_concierge_, the only person at hand, ran forward with a cry. She kneltdown and, looking round with terror, caught sight of Margaret. 

'_Oh, mademoiselle, venez vite!_' she cried. 

Margaret was obliged to go. Her heart beat horribly. She looked down atOliver, and he seemed to be dead. She forgot that she loathed him. Instinctively she knelt down by his side and loosened his collar. Heopened his eyes. An expression of terrible anguish came into his face. 

'For the love of God, take me in for one moment, ' he sobbed. 'I shall diein the street. '

Her heart was moved towards him. He could not go into the poky den, evil-smelling and airless, of the _concierge_. But with her help Margaretraised him to his feet, and together they brought him to the studio. Hesank painfully into a chair. 

'Shall I fetch you some water?' asked Margaret. 

'Can you get a pastille out of my pocket?'

He swallowed a white tabloid, which she took out of a case attached tohis watch-chain. 

'I'm very sorry to cause you this trouble, ' he gasped. 'I suffer from adisease of the heart, and sometimes I am very near death. '

'I'm glad that I was able to help you, ' she said. 

He seemed able to breathe more easily. She left him to himself for awhile, so that he might regain his strength. She took up a book and beganto read. Presently, without moving from his chair, he spoke. 

'You must hate me for intruding on you. '

His voice was stronger, and her pity waned as he seemed to recover. Sheanswered with freezing indifference. 

'I couldn't do any less for you than I did. I would have brought a doginto my room if it seemed hurt. '

'I see that you wish me to go. '

He got up and moved towards the door, but he staggered and with a groantumbled to his knees. Margaret sprang forward to help him. She reproachedherself bitterly for those scornful words. The man had barely escapeddeath, and she was merciless. 

'Oh, please stay as long as you like, ' she cried. 'I'm sorry, I didn'tmean to hurt you. '

He dragged himself with difficulty back to the chair, and she, conscience-stricken, stood over him helplessly. She poured out aglass of water, but he motioned it away as though he would not bebeholden to her even for that. 

'Is there nothing I can do for you at all?' she exclaimed, painfully. 

'Nothing, except allow me to sit in this chair, ' he gasped. 

'I hope you'll remain as long as you choose. '

He did not reply. She sat down again and pretended to read. In a littlewhile he began to speak. His voice reached her as if from a long way off. 

'Will you never forgive me for what I did the other day?'

She answered without looking at him, her back still turned. 

'Can it matter to you if I forgive or not?'

'You have not pity. I told you then how sorry I was that a suddenuncontrollable pain drove me to do a thing which immediately I bitterlyregretted. Don't you think it must have been hard for me, under theactual circumstances, to confess my fault?'

'I wish you not to speak of it. I don't want to think of that horriblescene. '

'If you knew how lonely I was and how unhappy, you would have a littlemercy. '

His voice was strangely moved. She could not doubt now that he wassincere. 

'You think me a charlatan because I aim at things that are unknown toyou. You won't try to understand. You won't give me any credit forstriving with all my soul to a very great end. '

She made no reply, and for a time there was silence. His voice wasdifferent now and curiously seductive. 

'You look upon me with disgust and scorn. You almost persuaded yourselfto let me die in the street rather than stretch out to me a helping hand. And if you hadn't been merciful then, almost against your will, I shouldhave died. '

'It can make no difference to you how I regard you, ' she whispered. 

She did not know why his soft, low tones mysteriously wrung herheartstrings. Her pulse began to beat more quickly. 

'It makes all the difference in the world. It is horrible to think ofyour contempt. I feel your goodness and your purity. I can hardly bear myown unworthiness. You turn your eyes away from me as though I wereunclean. '

She turned her chair a little and looked at him. She was astonished atthe change in his appearance. His hideous obesity seemed no longerrepellent, for his eyes wore a new expression; they were incrediblytender now, and they were moist with tears. His mouth was tortured by apassionate distress. Margaret had never seen so much unhappiness on aman's face, and an overwhelming remorse seized her. 

'I don't want to be unkind to you, ' she said. 

'I will go. That is how I can best repay you for what you have done. '

The words were so bitter, so humiliated, that the colour rose to hercheeks. 

'I ask you to stay. But let us talk of other things. '

For a moment he kept silence. He seemed no longer to see Margaret, andshe watched him thoughtfully. His eyes rested on a print of _La Gioconda_which hung on the wall. Suddenly he began to speak. He recited thehoneyed words with which Walter Pater expressed his admiration for thatconsummate picture. 

'Hers is the head upon which all the ends of the world are come, and theeyelids are a little weary. It is a beauty wrought out from within uponthe flesh, the deposit, little cell by cell, of strange thoughts andfantastic reveries and exquisite passions. Set it for a moment beside oneof those white Greek goddesses or beautiful women of antiquity, and howwould they be troubled by this beauty, into which the soul with all itsmaladies has passed. All the thoughts and experience of the world haveetched and moulded there, in that which they have of power to refine andmake expressive the outward form, the animalism of Greece, the lust ofRome, the mysticism of the Middle Ages, with its spiritual ambition andimaginative loves, the return of the Pagan world, the sins of theBorgias. '

His voice, poignant and musical, blended with the suave music of thewords so that Margaret felt she had never before known their divinesignificance. She was intoxicated with their beauty. She wished him tocontinue, but had not the strength to speak. As if he guessed herthought, he went on, and now his voice had a richness in it as of anorgan heard afar off. It was like an overwhelming fragrance and she couldhardly bear it. 

'She is older than the rocks among which she sits; like the vampire, shehas been dead many times, and learned the secrets of the grave; and hasbeen a diver in deep seas, and keeps their fallen day about her; andtrafficked for strange evils with Eastern merchants; and, as Leda, wasthe mother of Helen of Troy, and, as Saint Anne, the mother of Mary; andall this has been to her but as the sound of lyres and flutes, and livesonly in the delicacy with which it has moulded the changing lineaments, and tinged the eyelids and the hands. '

Oliver Haddo began then to speak of Leonardo da Vinci, mingling with hisown fantasies the perfect words of that essay which, so wonderful was hismemory, he seemed to know by heart. He found exotic fancies in thelikeness between Saint John the Baptist, with his soft flesh and wavinghair, and Bacchus, with his ambiguous smile. Seen through his eyes, theseashore in the Saint Anne had the airless lethargy of some damaskedchapel in a Spanish nunnery, and over the landscapes brooded a wan spiritof evil that was very troubling. He loved the mysterious pictures inwhich the painter had sought to express something beyond the limits ofpainting, something of unsatisfied desire and of longing for unhumanpassions. Oliver Haddo found this quality in unlikely places, and hiswords gave a new meaning to paintings that Margaret had passedthoughtlessly by. There was the portrait of a statuary by Bronzino in theLong Gallery of the Louvre. The features were rather large, the facerather broad. The expression was sombre, almost surly in the repose ofthe painted canvas, and the eyes were brown, almond-shaped like those ofan Oriental; the red lips were exquisitely modelled, and the sensualitywas curiously disturbing; the dark, chestnut hair, cut short, curled overthe head with an infinite grace. The skin was like ivory softened with adelicate carmine. There was in that beautiful countenance more thanbeauty, for what most fascinated the observer was a supreme anddisdainful indifference to the passion of others. It was a vicious face, except that beauty could never be quite vicious; it was a cruel face, except that indolence could never be quite cruel. It was a face thathaunted you, and yet your admiration was alloyed with an unreasoningterror. The hands were nervous and adroit, with long fashioning fingers;and you felt that at their touch the clay almost moulded itself intogracious forms. With Haddo's subtle words the character of that man rosebefore her, cruel yet indifferent, indolent and passionate, cold yetsensual; unnatural secrets dwelt in his mind, and mysterious crimes, anda lust for the knowledge that was arcane. Oliver Haddo was attracted byall that was unusual, deformed, and monstrous, by the pictures thatrepresented the hideousness of man or that reminded you of his mortality. He summoned before Margaret the whole array of Ribera's ghoulish dwarfs, with their cunning smile, the insane light of their eyes, and theirmalice: he dwelt with a horrible fascination upon their malformations, the humped backs, the club feet, the hydrocephalic heads. He describedthe picture by Valdes Leal, in a certain place at Seville, whichrepresents a priest at the altar; and the altar is sumptuous with giltand florid carving. He wears a magnificent cope and a surplice ofexquisite lace, but he wears them as though their weight was more than hecould bear; and in the meagre trembling hands, and in the white, ashenface, in the dark hollowness of the eyes, there is a bodily corruptionthat is terrifying. He seems to hold together with difficulty the bondsof the flesh, but with no eager yearning of the soul to burst its prison, only with despair; it is as if the Lord Almighty had forsaken him and thehigh heavens were empty of their solace. All the beauty of life appearsforgotten, and there is nothing in the world but decay. A ghastlyputrefaction has attacked already the living man; the worms of the grave, the piteous horror of mortality, and the darkness before him offer naughtbut fear. Beyond, dark night is seen and a turbulent sea, the dark nightof the soul of which the mystics write, and the troublous sea of lifewhereon there is no refuge for the weary and the sick at heart. 

Then, as if in pursuance of a definite plan, he analysed with asearching, vehement intensity the curious talent of the modern Frenchman, Gustave Moreau. Margaret had lately visited the Luxembourg, and hispictures were fresh in her memory. She had found in them little save adecorative arrangement marred by faulty drawing; but Oliver Haddo gavethem at once a new, esoteric import. Those effects as of a Florentinejewel, the clustered colours, emerald and ruby, the deep blue ofsapphires, the atmosphere of scented chambers, the mystic persons whoseem ever about secret, religious rites, combined in his cunning phrasesto create, as it were, a pattern on her soul of morbid and mysteriousintricacy. Those pictures were filled with a strange sense of sin, andthe mind that contemplated them was burdened with the decadence of Romeand with the passionate vice of the Renaissance; and it was tortured, too, by all the introspection of this later day. 

Margaret listened, rather breathlessly, with the excitement of anexplorer before whom is spread the plain of an undiscovered continent. The painters she knew spoke of their art technically, and thisimaginative appreciation was new to her. She was horribly fascinatedby the personality that imbued these elaborate sentences. Haddo's eyeswere fixed upon hers, and she responded to his words like a delicateinstrument made for recording the beatings of the heart. She felt anextraordinary languor. At last he stopped. Margaret neither moved norspoke. She might have been under a spell. It seemed to her that she hadno power in her limbs. 

'I want to do something for you in return for what you have done for me, 'he said. 

He stood up and went to the piano. 

'Sit in this chair, ' he said. 

She did not dream of disobeying. He began to play. Margaret was hardlysurprised that he played marvellously. Yet it was almost incredible thatthose fat, large hands should have such a tenderness of touch. Hisfingers caressed the notes with a peculiar suavity, and he drew out ofthe piano effects which she had scarcely thought possible. He seemed toput into the notes a troubling, ambiguous passion, and the instrument hadthe tremulous emotion of a human being. It was strange and terrifying. She was vaguely familiar with the music to which she listened; but therewas in it, under his fingers, an exotic savour that made it harmoniouswith all that he had said that afternoon. His memory was indeedastonishing. He had an infinite tact to know the feeling that occupiedMargaret's heart, and what he chose seemed to be exactly that which atthe moment she imperatively needed. Then he began to play things she didnot know. It was music the like of which she had never heard, barbaric, with a plaintive weirdness that brought to her fancy the moonlit nightsof desert places, with palm trees mute in the windless air, and tawnydistances. She seemed to know tortuous narrow streets, white houses ofsilence with strange moon-shadows, and the glow of yellow light within, and the tinkling of uncouth instruments, and the acrid scents of Easternperfumes. It was like a procession passing through her mind of personswho were not human, yet existed mysteriously, with a life of vampires. Mona Lisa and Saint John the Baptist, Bacchus and the mother of Mary, went with enigmatic motions. But the daughter of Herodias raised herhands as though, engaged for ever in a mystic rite, to invoke outlandishgods. Her face was very pale, and her dark eyes were sleepless; thejewels of her girdle gleamed with sombre fires; and her dress was ofcolours that have long been lost. The smile, in which was all the sorrowof the world and all its wickedness, beheld the wan head of the Saint, and with a voice that was cold with the coldness of death she murmuredthe words of the poet:

'I am amorous of thy body, Iokanaan! Thy body is white like the lilies ofa field that the mower hath never mowed. Thy body is white like the snowsthat lie on the mountains of Judea, and come down into the valleys. Theroses in the garden of the Queen of Arabia are not so white as thy body. Neither the roses in the garden of the Queen of Arabia, the garden ofspices of the Queen of Arabia, nor the feet of the dawn when they lighton the leaves, nor the breast of the moon when she lies on the breast ofthe sea... There is nothing in the world so white as thy body. Suffer meto touch thy body. '

Oliver Haddo ceased to play. Neither of them stirred. At last Margaretsought by an effort to regain her self-control. 

'I shall begin to think that you really are a magician, ' she said, lightly. 

'I could show you strange things if you cared to see them, ' he answered, again raising his eyes to hers. 

'I don't think you will ever get me to believe in occult philosophy, 'she laughed. 

'Yet it reigned in Persia with the magi, it endowed India with wonderfultraditions, it civilised Greece to the sounds of Orpheus's lyre. '

He stood before Margaret, towering over her in his huge bulk; and therewas a singular fascination in his gaze. It seemed that he spoke only toconceal from her that he was putting forth now all the power that was inhim. 

'It concealed the first principles of science in the calculations ofPythagoras. It established empires by its oracles, and at its voicetyrants grew pale upon their thrones. It governed the minds of some bycuriosity, and others it ruled by fear. '

His voice grew very low, and it was so seductive that Margaret's brainreeled. The sound of it was overpowering like too sweet a fragrance. 

I tell you that for this art nothing is impossible. It commands theelements, and knows the language of the stars, and directs the planetsin their courses. The moon at its bidding falls blood-red from the sky. The dead rise up and form into ominous words the night wind that moansthrough their skulls. Heaven and Hell are in its province; and all forms, lovely and hideous; and love and hate. With Circe's wand it can changemen into beasts of the field, and to them it can give a monstroushumanity. Life and death are in the right hand and in the left of him whoknows its secrets. It confers wealth by the transmutation of metals andimmortality by its quintessence. '

Margaret could not hear what he said. A gradual lethargy seized her underhis baleful glance, and she had not even the strength to wish to freeherself. She seemed bound to him already by hidden chains. 

'If you have powers, show them, ' she whispered, hardly conscious that shespoke. 

Suddenly he released the enormous tension with which he held her. Like aman who has exerted all his strength to some end, the victory won, heloosened his muscles, with a faint sigh of exhaustion. Margaret did notspeak, but she knew that something horrible was about to happen. Herheart beat like a prisoned bird, with helpless flutterings, but it seemedtoo late now to draw back. Her words by a mystic influence had settledsomething beyond possibility of recall. 

On the stove was a small bowl of polished brass in which water was keptin order to give a certain moisture to the air. Oliver Haddo put his handin his pocket and drew out a little silver box. He tapped it, with asmile, as a man taps a snuff-box, and it opened. He took an infinitesimalquantity of a blue powder that it contained and threw it on the water inthe brass bowl. Immediately a bright flame sprang up, and Margaret gave acry of alarm. Oliver looked at her quickly and motioned her to remainstill. She saw that the water was on fire. It was burning as brilliantly, as hotly, as if it were common gas; and it burned with the same dry, hoarse roar. Suddenly it was extinguished. She leaned forward and sawthat the bowl was empty. 

The water had been consumed, as though it were straw, and not a dropremained. She passed her hand absently across her forehead. 

'But water cannot burn, ' she muttered to herself. 

It seemed that Haddo knew what she thought, for he smiled strangely. 

'Do you know that nothing more destructive can be invented than this bluepowder, and I have enough to burn up all the water in Paris? Who dreamtthat water might burn like chaff?'

He paused, seeming to forget her presence. He looked thoughtfully at thelittle silver box. 

'But it can be made only in trivial quantities, at enormous expense andwith exceeding labour; it is so volatile that you cannot keep it forthree days. I have sometimes thought that with a little ingenuity I mightmake it more stable, I might so modify it that, like radium, it lost nostrength as it burned; and then I should possess the greatest secret thathas ever been in the mind of man. For there would be no end of it. Itwould continue to burn while there was a drop of water on the earth, andthe whole world would be consumed. But it would be a frightful thing tohave in one's hands; for once it were cast upon the waters, the doom ofall that existed would be sealed beyond repeal. '

He took a long breath, and his eyes glittered with a devilish ardour. Hisvoice was hoarse with overwhelming emotion. 

'Sometimes I am haunted by the wild desire to have seen the great andfinal scene when the irrevocable flames poured down the river, hurryingalong the streams of the earth, searching out the moisture in all growingthings, tearing it even from the eternal rocks; when the flames poureddown like the rushing of the wind, and all that lived fled from beforethem till they came to the sea; and the sea itself was consumed invehement fire. '

Margaret shuddered, but she did not think the man was mad. She hadceased to judge him. He took one more particle of that atrocious powderand put it in the bowl. Again he thrust his hand in his pocket andbrought out a handful of some crumbling substance that might have beendried leaves, leaves of different sorts, broken and powdery. There wasa trace of moisture in them still, for a low flame sprang up immediatelyat the bottom of the dish, and a thick vapour filled the room. It had asingular and pungent odour that Margaret did not know. It was difficultto breathe, and she coughed. She wanted to beg Oliver to stop, but couldnot. He took the bowl in his hands and brought it to her. 

'Look, ' he commanded. 

She bent forward, and at the bottom saw a blue fire, of a peculiarsolidity, as though it consisted of molten metal. It was not still, butwrithed strangely, like serpents of fire tortured by their own unearthlyardour. 

'Breathe very deeply. '

She did as he told her. A sudden trembling came over her, and darknessfell across her eyes. She tried to cry out, but could utter no sound. Herbrain reeled. It seemed to her that Haddo bade her cover her face. Shegasped for breath, and it was as if the earth spun under her feet. Sheappeared to travel at an immeasurable speed. She made a slight movement, and Haddo told her not to look round. An immense terror seized her. Shedid not know whither she was borne, and still they went quickly, quickly;and the hurricane itself would have lagged behind them. At last theirmotion ceased; and Oliver was holding her arm. 

'Don't be afraid, ' he said. 'Open your eyes and stand up. '

The night had fallen; but it was not the comfortable night that soothesthe troubled minds of mortal men; it was a night that agitated the soulmysteriously so that each nerve in the body tingled. There was a luriddarkness which displayed and yet distorted the objects that surroundedthem. No moon shone in the sky, but small stars appeared to dance on theheather, vague night-fires like spirits of the damned. They stood in avast and troubled waste, with huge stony boulders and leafless trees, rugged and gnarled like tortured souls in pain. It was as if there hadbeen a devastating storm, and the country reposed after the flood ofrain and the tempestuous wind and the lightning. All things about themappeared dumbly to suffer, like a man racked by torments who has not thestrength even to realize that his agony has ceased. Margaret heard theflight of monstrous birds, and they seemed to whisper strange thingson their passage. Oliver took her hand. He led her steadily to across-road, and she did not know if they walked amid rocks or tombs. 

She heard the sound of a trumpet, and from all parts, strangely appearingwhere before was nothing, a turbulent assembly surged about her. Thatvast empty space was suddenly filled by shadowy forms, and they sweptalong like the waves of the sea, crowding upon one another's heels. Andit seemed that all the mighty dead appeared before her; and she saw grimtyrants, and painted courtesans, and Roman emperors in their purple, andsultans of the East. All those fierce evil women of olden time passed byher side, and now it was Mona Lisa and now the subtle daughter ofHerodias. And Jezebel looked out upon her from beneath her painted brows, and Cleopatra turned away a wan, lewd face; and she saw the insatiablemouth and the wanton eyes of Messalina, and Fustine was haggard with theeternal fires of lust. She saw cardinals in their scarlet, and warriorsin their steel, gay gentlemen in periwigs, and ladies in powder andpatch. And on a sudden, like leaves by the wind, all these were drivenbefore the silent throngs of the oppressed; and they were innumerable asthe sands of the sea. Their thin faces were earthy with want andcavernous from disease, and their eyes were dull with despair. Theypassed in their tattered motley, some in the fantastic rags of thebeggars of Albrecht Dürer and some in the grey cerecloths of Le Nain;many wore the blouses and the caps of the rabble in France, and many thedingy, smoke-grimed weeds of English poor. And they surged onward like ariotous crowd in narrow streets flying in terror before the mountedtroops. It seemed as though all the world were gathered there in strangeconfusion. 

Then all again was void; and Margaret's gaze was riveted upon a great, ruined tree that stood in that waste place, alone, in ghastly desolation;and though a dead thing, it seemed to suffer a more than human pain. Thelightning had torn it asunder, but the wind of centuries had soughtin vain to drag up its roots. The tortured branches, bare of any twig, were like a Titan's arms, convulsed with intolerable anguish. And in amoment she grew sick with fear, for a change came into the tree, and thetremulousness of life was in it; the rough bark was changed into brutishflesh and the twisted branches into human arms. It became a monstrous, goat-legged thing, more vast than the creatures of nightmare. She saw thehorns and the long beard, the great hairy legs with their hoofs, and theman's rapacious hands. The face was horrible with lust and cruelty, andyet it was divine. It was Pan, playing on his pipes, and the lecherouseyes caressed her with a hideous tenderness. But even while she looked, as the mist of early day, rising, discloses a fair country, the animalpart of that ghoulish creature seemed to fall away, and she saw a lovelyyouth, titanic but sublime, leaning against a massive rock. He was morebeautiful than the Adam of Michelangelo who wakes into life at the callof the Almighty; and, like him freshly created, he had the adorablelanguor of one who feels still in his limbs the soft rain on the loosebrown earth. Naked and full of majesty he lay, the outcast son of themorning; and she dared not look upon his face, for she knew it wasimpossible to bear the undying pain that darkened it with ruthlessshadows. Impelled by a great curiosity, she sought to come nearer, but the vast figure seemed strangely to dissolve into a cloud; andimmediately she felt herself again surrounded by a hurrying throng. Then came all legendary monsters and foul beasts of a madman's fancy;in the darkness she saw enormous toads, with paws pressed to theirflanks, and huge limping scarabs, shelled creatures the like of whichshe had never seen, and noisome brutes with horny scales and round crabs'eyes, uncouth primeval things, and winged serpents, and creeping animalsbegotten of the slime. She heard shrill cries and peals of laughter andthe terrifying rattle of men at the point of death. Haggard women, dishevelled and lewd, carried wine; and when they spilt it there werestains like the stains of blood. And it seemed to Margaret that a fireburned in her veins, and her soul fled from her body; but a new soulcame in its place, and suddenly she knew all that was obscene. She tookpart in some festival of hideous lust, and the wickedness of the worldwas patent to her eyes. She saw things so vile that she screamed interror, and she heard Oliver laugh in derision by her side. It was ascene of indescribable horror, and she put her hands to her eyes so thatshe might not see. 

She felt Oliver Haddo take her hands. She would not let him drag themaway. Then she heard him speak. 

'You need not be afraid. '

His voice was quite natural once more, and she realized with a start thatshe was sitting quietly in the studio. She looked around her withfrightened eyes. Everything was exactly as it had been. The early nightof autumn was fallen, and the only light in the room came from the fire. There was still that vague, acrid scent of the substance which Haddo hadburned. 

'Shall I light the candles?' he said. 

He struck a match and lit those which were on the piano. They threw astrange light. Then Margaret suddenly remembered all that she had seen, and she remembered that Haddo had stood by her side. Shame seized her, intolerable shame, so that the colour, rising to her cheeks, seemedactually to burn them. She hid her face in her hands and burst intotears. 

'Go away, ' she said. 'For God's sake, go. '

He looked at her for a moment; and the smile came to his lips which Susiehad seen after his tussle with Arthur, when last he was in the studio. 

'When you want me you will find me in the Rue de Vaugiraud, number 209, 'he said. 'Knock at the second door on the left, on the third floor. '

She did not answer. She could only think of her appalling shame. 

'I'll write it down for you in case you forget. '

He scribbled the address on a sheet of paper that he found on the table. Margaret took no notice, but sobbed as though her heart would break. Suddenly, looking up with a start, she saw that he was gone. She had notheard him open the door or close it. She sank down on her knees andprayed desperately, as though some terrible danger threatened her. 

But when she heard Susie's key in the door, Margaret sprang to her feet. She stood with her back to the fireplace, her hands behind her, in theattitude of a prisoner protesting his innocence. Susie was too muchannoyed to observe this agitation. 

'Why on earth didn't you come to tea?' she asked. 'I couldn't make outwhat had become of you. '

'I had a dreadful headache, ' answered Margaret, trying to controlherself. 

Susie flung herself down wearily in a chair. Margaret forced herself tospeak. 

'Had Nancy anything particular to say to you?' she asked. 

'She never turned up, ' answered Susie irritably. 'I can't understand it. I waited till the train came in, but there was no sign of her. Then Ithought she might have hit upon that time by chance and was not comingfrom England, so I walked about the station for half an hour. '

She went to the chimneypiece, on which had been left the telegram thatsummoned her to the Gare du Nord, and read it again. She gave a littlecry of surprise. 

'How stupid of me! I never noticed the postmark. It was sent from the RueLittré. '

This was less than ten minutes' walk from the studio. Susie looked at themessage with perplexity. 

'I wonder if someone has been playing a silly practical joke on me. ' Sheshrugged her shoulders. 'But it's too foolish. If I were a suspiciouswoman, ' she smiled, 'I should think you had sent it yourself to get meout of the way. '

The idea flashed through Margaret that Oliver Haddo was the author of it. He might easily have seen Nancy's name on the photograph during his firstvisit to the studio. She had no time to think before she answeredlightly. 

'If I wanted to get rid of you, I should have no hesitation in sayingso. '

'I suppose no one has been here?' asked Susie. 

'No one. '

The lie slipped from Margaret's lips before she had made up her mind totell it. Her heart gave a great beat against her chest. She felt herselfredden. 

Susie got up to light a cigarette. She wished to rest her nerves. The boxwas on the table and, as she helped herself, her eyes fell carelessly onthe address that Haddo had left. She picked it up and read it aloud. 

'Who on earth lives there?' she asked. 

'I don't know at all, ' answered Margaret. 

She braced herself for further questions, but Susie, without interest, put down the sheet of paper and struck a match. 

Margaret was ashamed. Her nature was singularly truthful, and it troubledher extraordinarily that she had lied to her greatest friend. Somethingstronger than herself seemed to impel her. She would have given much toconfess her two falsehoods, but had not the courage. She could not bearthat Susie's implicit trust in her straightforwardness should bedestroyed; and the admission that Oliver Haddo had been there wouldentail a further acknowledgment of the nameless horrors she hadwitnessed. Susie would think her mad. 

There was a knock at the door; and Margaret, her nerves shattered by allthat she had endured, could hardly restrain a cry of terror. She fearedthat Haddo had returned. But it was Arthur Burdon. She greeted him witha passionate relief that was unusual, for she was by nature a woman ofgreat self-possession. She felt excessively weak, physically exhaustedas though she had gone a long journey, and her mind was highly wrought. Margaret remembered that her state had been the same on her first arrivalin Paris, when, in her eagerness to get a preliminary glimpse of itsmarvels, she had hurried till her bones ached from one celebratedmonument to another. They began to speak of trivial things. Margarettried to join calmly in the conversation, but her voice soundedunnatural, and she fancied that more than once Arthur gave her a curiouslook. At length she could control herself no longer and burst into asudden flood of tears. In a moment, uncomprehending but affectionate, hecaught her in his arms. He asked tenderly what was the matter. He soughtto comfort her. She wept ungovernably, clinging to him for protection. 

'Oh, it's nothing, ' she gasped. 'I don't know what is the matter with me. I'm only nervous and frightened. '

Arthur had an idea that women were often afflicted with what he describedby the old-fashioned name of vapours, and was not disposed to pay muchattention to this vehement distress. He soothed her as he would have donea child. 

'Oh, take care of me, Arthur. I'm so afraid that some dreadful thing willhappen to me. I want all your strength. Promise that you'll never forsakeme. '

He laughed, as he kissed away her tears, and she tried to smile. 

'Why can't we be married at once?' she asked. 'I don't want to wait anylonger. I shan't feel safe till I'm actually your wife. '

He reasoned with her very gently. After all, they were to be married in afew weeks. They could not easily hasten matters, for their house was notyet ready, and she needed time to get her clothes. The date had beenfixed by her. She listened sullenly to his words. Their wisdom was plain, and she did not see how she could possibly insist. Even if she told himall that had passed he would not believe her; he would think she wassuffering from some trick of her morbid fancy. 

'If anything happens to me, ' she answered, with the dark, anguished eyesof a hunted beast, 'you will be to blame. '

'I promise you that nothing will happen. '

9

Margaret's night was disturbed, and next day she was unable to go abouther work with her usual tranquillity. She tried to reason herself intoa natural explanation of the events that had happened. The telegramthat Susie had received pointed to a definite scheme on Haddo's part, and suggested that his sudden illness was but a device to get into thestudio. Once there, he had used her natural sympathy as a means wherebyto exercise his hypnotic power, and all she had seen was merely thecreation of his own libidinous fancy. But though she sought to persuadeherself that, in playing a vile trick on her, he had taken a shamefuladvantage of her pity, she could not look upon him with anger. Hercontempt for him, her utter loathing, were alloyed with a feeling thataroused in her horror and dismay. She could not get the man out of herthoughts. All that he had said, all that she had seen, seemed, as thoughit possessed a power of material growth, unaccountably to absorb her. Itwas as if a rank weed were planted in her heart and slid long poisonoustentacles down every artery, so that each part of her body was enmeshed. Work could not distract her, conversation, exercise, art, left herlistless; and between her and all the actions of life stood theflamboyant, bulky form of Oliver Haddo. She was terrified of him nowas never before, but curiously had no longer the physical repulsionwhich hitherto had mastered all other feelings. Although she repeated toherself that she wanted never to see him again, Margaret could scarcelyresist an overwhelming desire to go to him. Her will had been taken fromher, and she was an automaton. She struggled, like a bird in the fowler'snet with useless beating of the wings; but at the bottom of her heart shewas dimly conscious that she did not want to resist. If he had given herthat address, it was because he knew she would use it. She did not knowwhy she wanted to go to him; she had nothing to say to him; she knew onlythat it was necessary to go. But a few days before she had seen the_Phèdre_ of Racine, and she felt on a sudden all the torments that wrungthe heart of that unhappy queen; she, too, struggled aimlessly to escapefrom the poison that the immortal gods poured in her veins. She askedherself frantically whether a spell had been cast over her, for now shewas willing to believe that Haddo's power was all-embracing. Margaretknew that if she yielded to the horrible temptation nothing could saveher from destruction. She would have cried for help to Arthur or toSusie, but something, she knew not what, prevented her. At length, drivenalmost to distraction, she thought that Dr Porhoët might do something forher. He, at least, would understand her misery. There seemed not a momentto lose, and she hastened to his house. They told her he was out. Herheart sank, for it seemed that her last hope was gone. She was like aperson drowning, who clings to a rock; and the waves dash against him, and beat upon his bleeding hands with a malice all too human, as if totear them from their refuge. 

Instead of going to the sketch-class, which was held at six in theevening, she hurried to the address that Oliver Haddo had given her. Shewent along the crowded street stealthily, as though afraid that someonewould see her, and her heart was in a turmoil. She desired with all hermight not to go, and sought vehemently to prevent herself, and yet withalshe went. She ran up the stairs and knocked at the door. She rememberedhis directions distinctly. In a moment Oliver Haddo stood before her. Hedid not seem astonished that she was there. As she stood on the landing, it occurred to her suddenly that she had no reason to offer for hervisit, but his words saved her from any need for explanation. 

'I've been waiting for you, ' he said. 

Haddo led her into a sitting-room. He had an apartment in a _maisonmeublée_, and heavy hangings, the solid furniture of that sort of housein Paris, was unexpected in connexion with him. The surroundings were socommonplace that they seemed to emphasise his singularity. There was apeculiar lack of comfort, which suggested that he was indifferent tomaterial things. The room was large, but so cumbered that it gave acramped impression. Haddo dwelt there as if he were apart from anyhabitation that might be his. He moved cautiously among the heavyfurniture, and his great obesity was somehow more remarkable. There wasthe acrid perfume which Margaret remembered a few days before in hervision of an Eastern city. 

Asking her to sit down, he began to talk as if they were oldacquaintances between whom nothing of moment had occurred. At lastshe took her courage in both hands. 

'Why did you make me come here?' she asked suddenly, 'You give me credit now for very marvellous powers, ' he smiled. 

'You knew I should come. '

'I knew. '

'What have I done to you that you should make me so unhappy? I want youto leave me alone. '

'I shall not prevent you from going out if you choose to go. No harm hascome to you. The door is open. '

Her heart beat quickly, painfully almost, and she remained silent. Sheknew that she did not want to go. There was something that drew herstrangely to him, and she was ceasing to resist. A strange feeling beganto take hold of her, creeping stealthily through her limbs; and she wasterrified, but unaccountably elated. 

He began to talk with that low voice of his that thrilled her with acurious magic. He spoke not of pictures now, nor of books, but of life. He told her of strange Eastern places where no infidel had been, and hersensitive fancy was aflame with the honeyed fervour of his phrase. Hespoke of the dawn upon sleeping desolate cities, and the moonlit nightsof the desert, of the sunsets with their splendour, and of the crowdedstreets at noon. The beauty of the East rose before her. He told herof many-coloured webs and of silken carpets, the glittering steel ofarmour damascened, and of barbaric, priceless gems. The splendour of theEast blinded her eyes. He spoke of frankincense and myrrh and aloes, ofheavy perfumes of the scent-merchants, and drowsy odours of the Syriangardens. The fragrance of the East filled her nostrils. And all thesethings were transformed by the power of his words till life itselfseemed offered to her, a life of infinite vivacity, a life of freedom, a life of supernatural knowledge. It seemed to her that a comparison wasdrawn for her attention between the narrow round which awaited her asArthur's wife and this fair, full existence. She shuddered to think ofthe dull house in Harley Street and the insignificance of its humdrumduties. But it was possible for her also to enjoy the wonder of theworld. Her soul yearned for a beauty that the commonalty of men did notknow. And what devil suggested, a warp as it were in the woof of Oliver'sspeech, that her exquisite loveliness gave her the right to devoteherself to the great art of living? She felt a sudden desire forperilous adventures. As though fire passed through her, she sprang toher feet and stood with panting bosom, her flashing eyes bright with themulti-coloured pictures that his magic presented. 

Oliver Haddo stood too, and they faced one another. Then, on a sudden, she knew what the passion was that consumed her. With a quick movement, his eyes more than ever strangely staring, he took her in his arms, andhe kissed her lips. She surrendered herself to him voluptuously. Herwhole body burned with the ecstasy of his embrace. 

'I think I love you, ' she said, hoarsely. 

She looked at him. She did not feel ashamed. 

'Now you must go, ' he said. 

He opened the door, and, without another word, she went. She walkedthrough the streets as if nothing at all had happened. She felt neitherremorse nor revulsion. 

Then Margaret felt every day that uncontrollable desire to go to him;and, though she tried to persuade herself not to yield, she knew that hereffort was only a pretence: she did not want anything to prevent her. When it seemed that some accident would do so, she could scarcely controlher irritation. There was always that violent hunger of the soul whichcalled her to him, and the only happy hours she had were those spent inhis company. Day after day she felt that complete ecstasy when he tookher in his huge arms, and kissed her with his heavy, sensual lips. Butthe ecstasy was extraordinarily mingled with loathing, and her physicalattraction was allied with physical abhorrence. 

Yet when he looked at her with those pale blue eyes, and threw intohis voice those troubling accents, she forgot everything. He spokeof unhallowed things. Sometimes, as it were, he lifted a corner of theveil, and she caught a glimpse of terrible secrets. She understood howmen had bartered their souls for infinite knowledge. She seemed tostand upon a pinnacle of the temple, and spiritual kingdoms of darkness, principalities of the unknown, were spread before her eyes to lure herto destruction. But of Haddo himself she learned nothing. She did notknow if he loved her. She did not know if he had ever loved. He appearedto stand apart from human kind. Margaret discovered by chance that hismother lived, but he would not speak of her. 

'Some day you shall see her, ' he said. 

'When?'

'Very soon. '

Meanwhile her life proceeded with all outward regularity. She found iteasy to deceive her friends, because it occurred to neither that herfrequent absence was not due to the plausible reasons she gave. The lieswhich at first seemed intolerable now tripped glibly off her tongue. Butthough they were so natural, she was seized often with a panic of fearlest they should be discovered; and sometimes, suffering agonies ofremorse, she would lie in bed at night and think with utter shame of theway she was using Arthur. But things had gone too far now, and she mustlet them take their course. She scarcely knew why her feelings towardshim had so completely changed. Oliver Haddo had scarcely mentioned hisname and yet had poisoned her mind. The comparison between the two was toArthur's disadvantage. She thought him a little dull now, and hiscommonplace way of looking at life contrasted with Haddo's fascinatingboldness. She reproached Arthur in her heart because he had neverunderstood what was in her. He narrowed her mind. And gradually she beganto hate him because her debt of gratitude was so great. It seemed unfairthat he should have done so much for her. He forced her to marry him byhis beneficence. Yet Margaret continued to discuss with him thearrangement of their house in Harley Street. It had been her wish tofurnish the drawing-room in the style of Louis XV; and together they madelong excursions to buy chairs or old pieces of silk with which to coverthem. Everything should be perfect in its kind. The date of theirmarriage was fixed, and all the details were settled. Arthur wasridiculously happy. Margaret made no sign. She did not think of thefuture, and she spoke of it only to ward off suspicion. She was inwardlyconvinced now that the marriage would never take place, but what was toprevent it she did not know. She watched Susie and Arthur cunningly. Butthough she watched in order to conceal her own secret, it was another'sthat she discovered. Suddenly Margaret became aware that Susie was deeplyin love with Arthur Burdon. The discovery was so astounding that at firstit seemed absurd. 

'You've never done that caricature of Arthur for me that you promised, 'she said, suddenly. 

'I've tried, but he doesn't lend himself to it, ' laughed Susie. 

'With that long nose and the gaunt figure I should have thought you couldmake something screamingly funny. '

'How oddly you talk of him! Somehow I can only see his beautiful, kindeyes and his tender mouth. I would as soon do a caricature of him aswrite a parody on a poem I loved. '

Margaret took the portfolio in which Susie kept her sketches. She caughtthe look of alarm that crossed her friend's face, but Susie had not thecourage to prevent her from looking. She turned the drawings carelesslyand presently came to a sheet upon which, in a more or less finishedstate, were half a dozen heads of Arthur. Pretending not to see it, shewent on to the end. When she closed the portfolio Susie gave a sigh ofrelief. 

'I wish you worked harder, ' said Margaret, as she put the sketches down. 'I wonder you don't do a head of Arthur as you can't do a caricature. '

'My dear, you mustn't expect everyone to take such an overpoweringinterest in that young man as you do. '

The answer added a last certainty to Margaret's suspicion. She toldherself bitterly that Susie was no less a liar than she. Next day, whenthe other was out, Margaret looked through the portfolio once more, butthe sketches of Arthur had disappeared. She was seized on a sudden withanger because Susie dared to love the man who loved her. 

The web in which Oliver Haddo enmeshed her was woven with skilfulintricacy. He took each part of her character separately and fortifiedwith consummate art his influence over her. There was something satanicin his deliberation, yet in actual time it was almost incredible that hecould have changed the old abhorrence with which she regarded him intothat hungry passion. Margaret could not now realize her life apart fromhis. At length he thought the time was ripe for the final step. 

'It may interest you to know that I'm leaving Paris on Thursday, ' he saidcasually, one afternoon. 

She started to her feet and stared at him with bewildered eyes. 

'But what is to become of me?'

'You will marry the excellent Mr Burdon. '

'You know I cannot live without you. How can you be so cruel?'

'Then the only alternative is that you should accompany me. '

Her blood ran cold, and her heart seemed pressed in an iron vice. 

'What do you mean?'

'There is no need to be agitated. I am making you an eminently desirableoffer of marriage. '

She sank helplessly into her chair. Because she had refused to think ofthe future, it had never struck her that the time must come when it wouldbe necessary to leave Haddo or to throw in her lot with his definitely. She was seized with revulsion. Margaret realized that, though an odiousattraction bound her to the man, she loathed and feared him. The scalesfell from her eyes. She remembered on a sudden Arthur's great love andall that he had done for her sake. She hated herself. Like a bird at itslast gasp beating frantically against the bars of a cage, Margaret made adesperate effort to regain her freedom. She sprang up. 

'Let me go from here. I wish I'd never seen you. I don't know what you'vedone with me. '

'Go by all means if you choose, ' he answered. 

He opened the door, so that she might see he used no compulsion, andstood lazily at the threshold, with a hateful smile on his face. Therewas something terrible in his excessive bulk. Rolls of fat descended fromhis chin and concealed his neck. His cheeks were huge, and the lack ofbeard added to the hideous nakedness of his face. Margaret stopped as shepassed him, horribly repelled yet horribly fascinated. She had an immensedesire that he should take her again in his arms and press her lips withthat red voluptuous mouth. It was as though fiends of hell were takingrevenge upon her loveliness by inspiring in her a passion for thismonstrous creature. She trembled with the intensity of her desire. Hiseyes were hard and cruel. 

'Go, ' he said. 

She bent her head and fled from before him. To get home she passedthrough the gardens of the Luxembourg, but her legs failed her, andin exhaustion she sank upon a bench. The day was sultry. She tried tocollect herself. Margaret knew well the part in which she sat, for in theenthusiastic days that seemed so long gone by she was accustomed to comethere for the sake of a certain tree upon which her eyes now rested. It had all the slim delicacy of a Japanese print. The leaves were slenderand fragile, half gold with autumn, half green, but so tenuous that thedark branches made a pattern of subtle beauty against the sky. The handof a draughtsman could not have fashioned it with a more excellentskill. But now Margaret could take no pleasure in its grace. She felta heartrending pang to think that thenceforward the consummate thingsof art would have no meaning for her. She had seen Arthur the eveningbefore, and remembered with an agony of shame the lies to which she hadbeen forced in order to explain why she could not see him till late thatday. He had proposed that they should go to Versailles, and was bitterlydisappointed when she told him they could not, as usual on Sundays, spendthe whole day together. He accepted her excuse that she had to visit asick friend. It would not have been so intolerable if he had suspectedher of deceit, and his reproaches would have hardened her heart. It washis entire confidence which was so difficult to bear. 

'Oh, if I could only make a clean breast of it all, ' she cried. 

The bell of Saint Sulpice was ringing for vespers. Margaret walked slowlyto the church, and sat down in the seats reserved in the transept for theneedy. She hoped that the music she must hear there would rest her soul, and perhaps she might be able to pray. Of late she had not dared. Therewas a pleasant darkness in the place, and its large simplicity wassoothing. In her exhaustion, she watched listlessly the people go to andfro. Behind her was a priest in the confessional. A little peasant girl, in a Breton _coiffe_, perhaps a maid-servant lately come from her nativevillage to the great capital, passed in and knelt down. Margaret couldhear her muttered words, and at intervals the deep voice of the priest. In three minutes she tripped neatly away. She looked so fresh in herplain black dress, so healthy and innocent, that Margaret could notrestrain a sob of envy. The child had so little to confess, a few punyerrors which must excite a smile on the lips of the gentle priest, andher candid spirit was like snow. Margaret would have given anything tokneel down and whisper in those passionless ears all that she suffered, but the priest's faith and hers were not the same. They spoke a differenttongue, not of the lips only but of the soul, and he would not listen tothe words of an heretic. 

A long procession of seminarists came in from the college which is underthe shadow of that great church, two by two, in black cassocks and shortwhite surplices. Many were tonsured already. Some were quite young. Margaret watched their faces, wondering if they were tormented by suchagony as she. But they had a living faith to sustain them, and if some, as was plain, were narrow and obtuse, they had at least a fixed rulewhich prevented them from swerving into treacherous byways. One of twohad a wan ascetic look, such as the saints may have had when the terrorof life was known to them only in the imaginings of the cloister. Thecanons of the church followed in their more gorgeous vestments, andfinally the officiating clergy. 

The music was beautiful. There was about it a staid, sad dignity; and itseemed to Margaret fit thus to adore God. But it did not move her. Shecould not understand the words that the priests chanted; their gestures, their movements to and fro, were strange to her. For her that statelyservice had no meaning. And with a great cry in her heart she said thatGod had forsaken her. She was alone in an alien land. Evil was all abouther, and in those ceremonies she could find no comfort. What could sheexpect when the God of her fathers left her to her fate? So that shemight not weep in front of all those people, Margaret with down-turnedface walked to the door. She felt utterly lost. As she walked along theinterminable street that led to her own house, she was shaken with sobs. 

'God has forsaken me, ' she repeated. 'God has foresaken me. '

Next day, her eyes red with weeping, she dragged herself to Haddo's door. When he opened it, she went in without a word. She sat down, and hewatched her in silence. 

'I am willing to marry you whenever you choose, ' she said at last. 

'I have made all the necessary arrangements. '

'You have spoken to me of your mother. Will you take me to her at once. '

The shadow of a smile crossed his lips. 

'If you wish it. '

Haddo told her that they could be married before the Consul early enoughon the Thursday morning to catch a train for England. She left everythingin his hands. 

'I'm desperately unhappy, ' she said dully. 

Oliver laid his hands upon her shoulders and looked into her eyes. 

'Go home, and you will forget your tears. I command you to be happy. '

Then it seemed that the bitter struggle between the good and the evil inher was done, and the evil had conquered. She felt on a sudden curiouslyelated. It seemed no longer to matter that she deceived her faithfulfriends. She gave a bitter laugh, as she thought how easy it was tohoodwink them. 

 * * * * *

Wednesday happened to be Arthur's birthday, and he asked her to dine withhim alone. 

'We'll do ourselves proud, and hang the expense, ' he said. 

They had arranged to eat at a fashionable restaurant on the other side ofthe river, and soon after seven he fetched her. Margaret was dressed withexceeding care. She stood in the middle of the room, waiting for Arthur'sarrival, and surveyed herself in the glass. Susie thought she had neverbeen more beautiful. 

'I think you've grown more pleasing to look upon than you ever were, ' shesaid. 'I don't know what it is that has come over you of late, butthere's a depth in your eyes that is quite new. It gives you an oddmysteriousness which is very attractive. '

Knowing Susie's love for Arthur, she wondered whether her friend was notheartbroken as she compared her own plainness with the radiant beautythat was before her. Arthur came in, and Margaret did not move. Hestopped at the door to look at her. Their eyes met. His heart beatquickly, and yet he was seized with awe. His good fortune was too greatto bear, when he thought that this priceless treasure was his. He couldhave knelt down and worshipped as though a goddess of old Greece stoodbefore him. And to him also her eyes had changed. They had acquired aburning passion which disturbed and yet enchanted him. It seemed that thelovely girl was changed already into a lovely woman. An enigmatic smilecame to her lips. 

'Are you pleased?' she asked. 

Arthur came forward and Margaret put her hands on his shoulders. 

'You have scent on, ' he said. 

He was surprised, for she had never used it before. It was a faint, almost acrid perfume that he did not know. It reminded him vaguely ofthose odours which he remembered in his childhood in the East. It wasremote and strange. It gave Margaret a new and troubling charm. There hadever been something cold in her statuesque beauty, but this touch somehowcuriously emphasized her sex. Arthur's lips twitched, and his gaunt facegrew pale with passion. His emotion was so great that it was nearly pain. He was puzzled, for her eyes expressed things that he had never seen inthem before. 

'Why don't you kiss me?' she said. 

She did not see Susie, but knew that a quick look of anguish crossed herface. Margaret drew Arthur towards her. His hands began to tremble. Hehad never ventured to express the passion that consumed him, and when hekissed her it was with a restraint that was almost brotherly. Now theirlips met. Forgetting that anyone else was in the room, he flung his armsaround Margaret. She had never kissed him in that way before, and therapture was intolerable. Her lips were like living fire. He could nottake his own away. He forgot everything. All his strength, all hisself-control, deserted him. It crossed his mind that at this moment hewould willingly die. But the delight of it was so great that he couldscarcely withhold a cry of agony. At length Susie's voice reminded himof the world. 

'You'd far better go out to dinner instead of behaving like a pair ofcomplete idiots. '

She tried to make her tone as flippant as the words, but her voice wascut by a pang of agony. With a little laugh, Margaret withdrew fromArthur's embrace and lightly looked at her friend. Susie's brave smiledied away as she caught this glance, for there was in it a malicioushatred that startled her. It was so unexpected that she was terrified. What had she done? She was afraid, dreadfully afraid, that Margaret hadguessed her secret. Arthur stood as if his senses had left him, quiveringstill with the extremity of passion. 

'Susie says we must go, ' smiled Margaret. 

He could not speak. He could not regain the conventional manner of politesociety. Very pale, like a man suddenly awaked from deep sleep, he wentout at Margaret's side. They walked along the passage. Though the doorwas closed behind them and they were out of earshot, Margaret seemed notwithstanding to hear Susie's passionate sobbing. It gave her a horribledelight. The tavern to which they went was on the Boulevard des Italiens, and at this date the most frequented in Paris. It was crowded, but Arthurhad reserved a table in the middle of the room. Her radiant lovelinessmade people stare at Margaret as she passed, and her consciousness of theadmiration she excited increased her beauty. She was satisfied that amidthat throng of the best-dressed women in the world she had cause to envyno one. The gaiety was charming. Shaded lights gave an opulent cosinessto the scene, and there were flowers everywhere. Innumerable mirrorsreflected women of the world, admirably gowned, actresses of renown, andfashionable courtesans. The noise was very great. A Hungarian band playedin a distant corner, but the music was drowned by the loud talking ofexcited men and the boisterous laughter of women. It was plain thatpeople had come to spend their money with a lavish hand. The vivaciouscrowd was given over with all its heart to the pleasure of the fleetingmoment. Everyone had put aside grave thoughts and sorrow. 

Margaret had never been in better spirits. The champagne went quickly toher head, and she talked all manner of charming nonsense. Arthur wasenchanted. He was very proud, very pleased, and very happy. They talkedof all the things they would do when they were married. They talked ofthe places they must go to, of their home and of the beautiful thingswith which they would fill it. Margaret's animation was extraordinary. Arthur was amused at her delight with the brightness of the place, withthe good things they ate, and with the wine. Her laughter was like arippling brook. Everything tended to take him out of his usual reserve. Life was very pleasing, at that moment, and he felt singularly joyful. 

'Let us drink to the happiness of our life, ' he said. 

They touched glasses. He could not take his eyes away from her. 

'You're simply wonderful tonight, ' he said. 'I'm almost afraid of my goodfortune. '

'What is there to be afraid of?' she cried. 

'I should like to lose something I valued in order to propitiate thefates. I am too happy now. Everything goes too well with me. '

She gave a soft, low laugh and stretched out her hand on the table. Nosculptor could have modelled its exquisite delicacy. She wore only onering, a large emerald which Arthur had given her on their engagement. Hecould not resist taking her hand. 

'Would you like to go on anywhere?' he said, when they had finisheddinner and were drinking their coffee. 

'No, let us stay here. I must go to bed early, as I have a tiring daybefore me tomorrow. '

'What are you going to do?' he asked. 

'Nothing of any importance, ' she laughed. 

Presently the diners began to go in little groups, and Margaret suggestedthat they should saunter towards the Madeleine. The night was fine, butrather cold, and the broad avenue was crowded. Margaret watched thepeople. It was no less amusing than a play. In a little while, they tooka cab and drove through the streets, silent already, that led to thequarter of the Montparnasse. They sat in silence, and Margaret nestledclose to Arthur. He put his arm around her waist. In the shut cab thatfaint, oriental odour rose again to his nostrils, and his head reeled asit had before dinner. 

'You've made me very happy, Margaret, ' he whispered. 'I feel that, however long I live, I shall never have a happier day than this. '

'Do you love me very much?' she asked, lightly. 

He did not answer, but took her face in his hands and kissed herpassionately. They arrived at Margaret's house, and she tripped upto the door. She held out her hand to him, smiling. 

'Goodnight. '

'It's dreadful to think that I must spend a dozen hours without seeingyou. When may I come?'

'Not in the morning, because I shall be too busy. Come at twelve. '

She remembered that her train started exactly at that hour. The door wasopened, and with a little wave of the hand she disappeared. 

10

Susie stared without comprehension at the note that announced Margaret'smarriage. It was a _petit bleu_ sent off from the Gare du Nord, and ranas follows:

When you receive this I shall be on my way to London. I was married toOliver Haddo this morning. I love him as I never loved Arthur. I haveacted in this manner because I thought I had gone too far with Arthur tomake an explanation possible. Please tell him. 

MARGARET

Susie was filled with dismay. She did not know what to do nor what tothink. There was a knock at the door, and she knew it must be Arthur, forhe was expected at midday. She decided quickly that it was impossible tobreak the news to him then and there. It was needful first to find outall manner of things, and besides, it was incredible. Making up her mind, she opened the door. 

'Oh, I'm so sorry Margaret isn't here, ' she said. 'A friend of hers isill and sent for her suddenly. '

'What a bore!' answered Arthur. 'Mrs Bloomfield as usual, I suppose?'

'Oh, you know she's been ill?'

'Margaret has spent nearly every afternoon with her for some days. '

Susie did not answer. This was the first she had heard of MrsBloomfield's illness, and it was news that Margaret was in the habitof visiting her. But her chief object at this moment was to get ridof Arthur. 

'Won't you come back at five o'clock?' she said. 

'But, look here, why shouldn't we lunch together, you and I?'

'I'm very sorry, but I'm expecting somebody in. '

'Oh, all right. Then I'll come back at five. '

He nodded and went out. Susie read the brief note once more, andasked herself if it could possibly be true. The callousness of it wasappalling. She went to Margaret's room and saw that everything was inits place. It did not look as if the owner had gone on a journey. Butthen she noticed that a number of letters had been destroyed. She openeda drawer and found that Margaret's trinkets were gone. An idea struckher. Margaret had bought lately a number of clothes, and these she hadinsisted should be sent to her dressmaker, saying that it was needlessto cumber their little apartment with them. They could stay there tillshe returned to England a few weeks later for her marriage, and it wouldbe simpler to despatch them all from one place. Susie went out. At thedoor it occurred to her to ask the _concierge_ if she knew where Margarethad gone that morning. 

'_Parfaitement, Mademoiselle_, ' answered the old woman. 'I heard her tellthe coachman to go to the British Consulate. '

The last doubt was leaving Susie. She went to the dressmaker and therediscovered that by Margaret's order the boxes containing her things hadgone on the previous day to the luggage office of the Gare du Nord. 

'I hope you didn't let them go till your bill was paid, ' said Susielightly, as though in jest. 

The dressmaker laughed. 

'Mademoiselle paid for everything two or three days ago. '

With indignation, Susie realised that Margaret had not only taken awaythe trousseau bought for her marriage with Arthur; but, since she washerself penniless, had paid for it with the money which he had generouslygiven her. Susie drove then to Mrs Bloomfield, who at once reproached herfor not coming to see her. 

'I'm sorry, but I've been exceedingly busy, and I knew that Margaret waslooking after you. '

'I've not seen Margaret for three weeks, ' said the invalid. 

'Haven't you? I thought she dropped in quite often. '

Susie spoke as though the matter were of no importance. She asked herselfnow where Margaret could have spent those afternoons. By a great effortshe forced herself to speak of casual things with the garrulous old ladylong enough to make her visit seem natural. On leaving her, she went tothe Consulate, and her last doubt was dissipated. Then nothing remainedbut to go home and wait for Arthur. Her first impulse had been to see DrPorhoët and ask for his advice; but, even if he offered to come back withher to the studio, his presence would be useless. She must see Arthur byhimself. Her heart was wrung as she thought of the man's agony when heknew the truth. She had confessed to herself long before that she lovedhim passionately, and it seemed intolerable that she of all persons mustbear him this great blow. 

She sat in the studio, counting the minutes, and thought with a bittersmile that his eagerness to see Margaret would make him punctual. She hadeaten nothing since the _petit déjeuner_ of the morning, and she wasfaint with hunger. But she had not the heart to make herself tea. At lasthe came. He entered joyfully and looked around. 

'Is Margaret not here yet?' he asked, with surprise. 

'Won't you sit down?'

He did not notice that her voice was strange, nor that she kept her eyesaverted. 

'How lazy you are, ' he cried. 'You haven't got the tea. '

'Mr Burdon, I have something to say to you. It will cause you very greatpain. '

He observed now the hoarseness of her tone. He sprang to his feet, anda thousand fancies flashed across his brain. Something horrible hadhappened to Margaret. She was ill. His terror was so great that he couldnot speak. He put out his hands as does a blind man. Susie had to make aneffort to go on. But she could not. Her voice was choked, and she beganto cry. Arthur trembled as though he were seized with ague. She gave himthe letter. 

'What does it mean?'

He looked at her vacantly. Then she told him all that she had done thatday and the places to which she had been. 

'When you thought she was spending every afternoon with Mrs Bloomfield, she was with that man. She made all the arrangements with the utmostcare. It was quite premeditated. '

Arthur sat down and leaned his head on his hand. He turned his backto her, so that she should not see his face. They remained in perfectsilence. And it was so terrible that Susie began to cry quietly. She knewthat the man she loved was suffering an agony greater than the agony ofdeath, and she could not help him. Rage flared up in her heart, andhatred for Margaret. 

'Oh, it's infamous!' she cried suddenly. 'She's lied to you, she's beenodiously deceitful. She must be vile and heartless. She must be rotten tothe very soul. '

He turned round sharply, and his voice was hard. 

'I forbid you to say anything against her. '

Susie gave a little gasp. He had never spoken to her before in anger. Sheflashed out bitterly. 

'Can you love her still, when she's shown herself capable of such viletreachery? For nearly a month this man must have been making love to her, and she's listened to all we said of him. She's pretended to hate thesight of him, I've seen her cut him in the street. She's gone on with allthe preparations for your marriage. She must have lived in a world oflies, and you never suspected anything because you had an unalterablebelief in her love and truthfulness. She owes everything to you. For fouryears she's lived on your charity. She was only able to be here becauseyou gave her money to carry out a foolish whim, and the very clothes onher back were paid for by you. '

'I can't help it if she didn't love me, ' he cried desperately. 

'You know just as well as I do that she pretended to love you. Oh, she'sbehaved shamefully. There can be no excuse for her. '

He looked at Susie with haggard, miserable eyes. 

'How can you be so cruel? For God's sake don't make it harder. '

There was an indescribable agony in his voice. And as if his own words ofpain overcame the last barrier of his self-control, he broke down. He hidhis face in his hands and sobbed. Susie was horribly conscience-stricken. 

'Oh, I'm so sorry, ' she said. 'I didn't mean to say such hateful things. I didn't mean to be unkind. I ought to have remembered how passionatelyyou love her. '

It was very painful to see the effort he made to regain his self-command. Susie suffered as much as he did. Her impulse was to throw herself on herknees, and kiss his hands, and comfort him; but she knew that he wasinterested in her only because she was Margaret's friend. At last hegot up and, taking his pipe from his pocket, filled it silently. She wasterrified at the look on his face. The first time she had ever seen him, Susie wondered at the possibility of self-torture which was in thatrough-hewn countenance; but she had never dreamed that it could expresssuch unutterable suffering. Its lines were suddenly changed, and it wasterrible to look upon. 

'I can't believe it's true, ' he muttered. 'I can't believe it. '

There was a knock at the door, and Arthur gave a startled cry. 

'Perhaps she's come back. '

He opened it hurriedly, his face suddenly lit up by expectation; but itwas Dr Porhoët. 

'How do you do?' said the Frenchman. 'What is happening?'

He looked round and caught the dismay that was on the faces of Arthur andSusie. 

'Where is Miss Margaret? I thought you must be giving a party. '

There was something in his manner that made Susie ask why. 

'I received a telegram from Mr Haddo this morning. '

He took it from his pocket and handed it to Susie. She read it and passedit to Arthur. It said:

Come to the studio at five. High jinks. 

Oliver Haddo

'Margaret was married to Mr Haddo this morning, ' said Arthur, quietly. 'Iunderstand they have gone to England. '

Susie quickly told the doctor the few facts they knew. He was assurprised, as distressed, as they. 

'But what is the explanation of it all?' he asked. 

Arthur shrugged his shoulders wearily. 

'She cared for Haddo more than she cared for me, I suppose. It isnatural enough that she should go away in this fashion rather than offerexplanations. I suppose she wanted to save herself a scene she thoughtmight be rather painful. '

'When did you see her last?'

'We spent yesterday evening together. '

'And did she not show in any way that she contemplated such a step?'

Arthur shook his head. 

'You had no quarrel?'

'We've never quarrelled. She was in the best of spirits. I've never seenher more gay. She talked the whole time of our house in London, and ofthe places we must visit when we were married. '

Another contraction of pain passed over his face as he remembered thatshe had been more affectionate than she had ever been before. The fireof her kisses still burnt upon his lips. He had spent a night of almostsleepless ecstasy because he had been certain for the first time that thepassion which consumed him burnt in her heart too. Words were dragged outof him against his will. 

'Oh, I'm sure she loved me. '

Meanwhile Susie's eyes were fixed on Haddo's cruel telegram. She seemedto hear his mocking laughter. 

'Margaret loathed Oliver Haddo with a hatred that was almost unnatural. It was a physical repulsion like that which people sometimes have forcertain animals. What can have happened to change it into so great a lovethat it has made her capable of such villainous acts?'

'We mustn't be unfair to him, ' said Arthur. 'He put our backs up, and wewere probably unjust. He has done some very remarkable things in his day, and he's no fool. It's possible that some people wouldn't mind theeccentricities which irritated us. He's certainly of very good family andhe's rich. In many ways it's an excellent match for Margaret. '

He was trying with all his might to find excuses for her. It would notmake her treachery so intolerable if he could persuade himself that Haddohad qualities which might explain her infatuation. But as his enemy stoodbefore his fancy, monstrously obese, vulgar, and overbearing, a shudderpassed through him. The thought of Margaret in that man's arms torturedhim as though his flesh were torn with iron hooks. 

'Perhaps it's not true. Perhaps she'll return, ' he cried. 

'Would you take her back if she came to you?' asked Susie. 

'Do you think anything she can do has the power to make me love her less?There must be reasons of which we know nothing that caused her to do allshe has done. I daresay it was inevitable from the beginning. '

Dr Porhoët got up and walked across the room. 

'If a woman had done me such an injury that I wanted to take somehorrible vengeance, I think I could devise nothing more subtly cruel thanto let her be married to Oliver Haddo. '

'Ah, poor thing, poor thing!' said Arthur. 'If I could only suppose shewould be happy! The future terrifies me. '

'I wonder if she knew that Haddo had sent that telegram, ' said Susie. 

'What can it matter?'

She turned to Arthur gravely. 

'Do you remember that day, in this studio, when he kicked Margaret'sdog, and you thrashed him? Well, afterwards, when he thought no one sawhim, I happened to catch sight of his face. I never saw in my life suchmalignant hatred. It was the face of a fiend of wickedness. And whenhe tried to excuse himself, there was a cruel gleam in his eyes whichterrified me. I warned you; I told you that he had made up his mind torevenge himself, but you laughed at me. And then he seemed to go out ofour lives and I thought no more about it. I wonder why he sent Dr Porhoëthere today. He must have known that the doctor would hear of hishumiliation, and he may have wished that he should be present at histriumph. I think that very moment he made up his mind to be even withyou, and he devised this odious scheme. '

'How could he know that it was possible to carry out such a horriblething?' said Arthur. 

'I wonder if Miss Boyd is right, ' murmured the doctor. 'After all, ifyou come to think of it, he must have thought that he couldn't hurtyou more. The whole thing is fiendish. He took away from you all yourhappiness. He must have known that you wanted nothing in the world morethan to make Margaret your wife, and he has not only prevented that, buthe has married her himself. And he can only have done it by poisoningher mind, by warping her very character. Her soul must be horriblybesmirched; he must have entirely changed her personality. '

'Ah, I feel that, ' cried Arthur. 'If Margaret has broken her word to me, if she's gone to him so callously, it's because it's not the Margaret Iknow. Some devil must have taken possession of her body. '

'You use a figure of speech. I wonder if it can possibly be a reality. '

Arthur and Dr Porhoët looked at Susie with astonishment. 

'I can't believe that Margaret could have done such a thing, ' she wenton. 'The more I think of it, the more incredible it seems. I've knownMargaret for years, and she was incapable of deceit. She was verykind-hearted. She was honest and truthful. In the first moment ofhorror, I was only indignant, but I don't want to think too badly ofher. There is only one way to excuse her, and that is by supposing sheacted under some strange compulsion. '

Arthur clenched his hands. 

'I'm not sure if that doesn't make it more awful than before. If he'smarried her, not because he cares, but in order to hurt me, what lifewill she lead with him? We know how heartless he is, how vindictive, howhorribly cruel. '

'Dr Porhoët knows more about these things than we do, ' said Susie. 'Is itpossible that Haddo can have cast some spell upon her that would make herunable to resist his will? Is it possible that he can have got such aninfluence over her that her whole character was changed?'

'How can I tell?' cried the doctor helplessly. 'I have heard that suchthings may happen. I have read of them, but I have no proof. In thesematters all is obscurity. The adepts in magic make strange claims. Arthuris a man of science, and he knows what the limits of hypnotism are. '

'We know that Haddo had powers that other men have not, ' answered Susie. 'Perhaps there was enough truth in his extravagant pretensions to enablehim to do something that we can hardly imagine. '

Arthur passed his hands wearily over his face. 

'I'm so broken, so confused, that I cannot think sanely. At this momenteverything seems possible. My faith in all the truths that have supportedme is tottering. '

For a while they remained silent. Arthur's eyes rested on the chair inwhich Margaret had so often sat. An unfinished canvas still stood uponthe easel. It was Dr Porhoët who spoke at last. 

'But even if there were some truth in Miss Boyd's suppositions, I don'tsee how it can help you. You cannot do anything. You have no remedy, legal or otherwise. Margaret is apparently a free agent, and she hasmarried this man. It is plain that many people will think she has donemuch better in marrying a country gentleman than in marrying a youngsurgeon. Her letter is perfectly lucid. There is no trace of compulsion. To all intents and purposes she has married him of her own free-will, andthere is nothing to show that she desires to be released from him or fromthe passion which we may suppose enslaves her. '

What he said was obviously true, and no reply was possible. 

'The only thing is to grin and bear it, ' said Arthur, rising. 

'Where are you going?' said Susie. 

'I think I want to get away from Paris. Here everything will remind me ofwhat I have lost. I must get back to my work. '

He had regained command over himself, and except for the hopeless woe ofhis face, which he could not prevent from being visible, he was as calmas ever. He held out his hand to Susie. 

'I can only hope that you'll forget, ' she said. 

'I don't wish to forget, ' he answered, shaking his head. 'It's possiblethat you will hear from Margaret. She'll want the things that she hasleft here, and I daresay will write to you. I should like you to tell herthat I bear her no ill-will for anything she has done, and I will neverventure to reproach her. I don't know if I shall be able to do anythingfor her, but I wish her to know that in any case and always I will doeverything that she wants. '

'If she writes to me, I will see that she is told, ' answered Susiegravely. 

'And now goodbye. '

'You can't go to London till tomorrow. Shan't I see you in the morning?'

'I think if you don't mind, I won't come here again. The sight of allthis rather disturbs me. '

Again a contraction of pain passed across his eyes, and Susie saw that hewas using a superhuman effort to preserve the appearance of composure. She hesitated a moment. 

'Shall I never see you again?' she said. 'I should be sorry to lose sightof you entirely. '

'I should be sorry, too, ' he answered. 'I have learned how good and kindyou are, and I shall never forget that you are Margaret's friend. Whenyou come to London, I hope that you will let me know. '

He went out. Dr Porhoët, his hands behind his back, began to walk up anddown the room. At last he turned to Susie. 

'There is one thing that puzzles me, ' he said. 'Why did he marry her?'

'You heard what Arthur said, ' answered Susie bitterly. 'Whateverhappened, he would have taken her back. The other man knew that he couldonly bind her to him securely by going through the ceremonies ofmarriage. '

Dr Porhoët shrugged his shoulders, and presently he left her. When Susiewas alone she began to weep broken-heartedly, not for herself, butbecause Arthur suffered an agony that was hardly endurable. 

11

Arthur went back to London next day. 

Susie felt it impossible any longer to stay in the deserted studio, andaccepted a friend's invitation to spend the winter in Italy. The good DrPorhoët remained in Paris with his books and his occult studies. 

Susie travelled slowly through Tuscany and Umbria. Margaret had notwritten to her, and Susie, on leaving Paris, had sent her friend'sbelongings to an address from which she knew they would eventually beforwarded. She could not bring herself to write. In answer to a noteannouncing her change of plans, Arthur wrote briefly that he had muchwork to do and was delivering a new course of lectures at St. Luke's; hehad lately been appointed visiting surgeon to another hospital, and hisprivate practice was increasing. He did not mention Margaret. His letterwas abrupt, formal, and constrained. Susie, reading it for the tenthtime, could make little of it. She saw that he wrote only from civility, without interest; and there was nothing to indicate his state of mind. Susie and her companion had made up their minds to pass some weeks inRome; and here, to her astonishment, Susie had news of Haddo and hiswife. It appeared that they had spent some time there, and the littleEnglish circle was talking still of their eccentricities. They travelledin some state, with a courier and a suite of servants; they had taken acarriage and were in the habit of driving every afternoon on the Pincio. Haddo had excited attention by the extravagance of his costume, andMargaret by her beauty; she was to be seen in her box at the opera everynight, and her diamonds were the envy of all beholders. Though people hadlaughed a good deal at Haddo's pretentiousness, and been exasperated byhis arrogance, they could not fail to be impressed by his obvious wealth. But finally the pair had disappeared suddenly without saying a word toanybody. A good many bills remained unpaid, but these, Susie learnt, hadbeen settled later. It was reported that they were now in Monte Carlo. 

'Did they seem happy?' Susie asked the gossiping friend who gave her thisscanty information. 

'I think so. After all, Mrs Haddo has almost everything that a womancan want, riches, beauty, nice clothes, jewels. She would be veryunreasonable not to be happy. '

Susie had meant to pass the later spring on the Riviera, but when sheheard that the Haddos were there, she hesitated. She did not want torun the risk of seeing them, and yet she had a keen desire to find outexactly how things were going. Curiosity and distaste struggled in hermind, but curiosity won; and she persuaded her friend to go to MonteCarlo instead of to Beaulieu. At first Susie did not see the Haddos; butrumour was already much occupied with them, and she had only to keep herears open. In that strange place, where all that is extravagant and evil, all that is morbid, insane, and fantastic, is gathered together, theHaddos were in fit company. They were notorious for their assiduity atthe tables and for their luck, for the dinners and suppers they gave atplaces frequented by the very opulent, and for their eccentricappearance. It was a complex picture that Susie put together from thescraps of information she collected. After two or three days she sawthem at the tables, but they were so absorbed in their game that she feltquite safe from discovery. Margaret was playing, but Haddo stood behindher and directed her movements. Their faces were extraordinarily intent. Susie fixed her attention on Margaret, for in what she had heard of hershe had been quite unable to recognize the girl who had been her friend. And what struck her most now was that there was in Margaret's expressiona singular likeness to Haddo's. Notwithstanding her exquisite beauty, shehad a curiously vicious look, which suggested that somehow she sawliterally with Oliver's eyes. They had won great sums that evening, andmany persons watched them. It appeared that they played always in thisfashion, Margaret putting on the stakes and Haddo telling her what to doand when to stop. Susie heard two Frenchmen talking of them. She listenedwith all her ears. She flushed as she heard one of them make anobservation about Margaret which was more than coarse. The other laughed. 

'It is incredible, ' he said. 

'I assure you it's true. They have been married six months, and she isstill only his wife in name. The superstitious through all the ages havebelieved in the power of virginity, and the Church has made use of theidea for its own ends. The man uses her simply as a mascot. '

The men laughed, and their conversation proceeded so grossly that Susie'scheeks burned. But what she had heard made her look at Margaret moreclosely still. She was radiant. Susie could not deny that something hadcome to her that gave a new, enigmatic savour to her beauty. She wasdressed more gorgeously than Susie's fastidious taste would havepermitted; and her diamonds, splendid in themselves, were too magnificentfor the occasion. At last, sweeping up the money, Haddo touched her onthe shoulder, and she rose. Behind her was standing a painted woman ofnotorious disreputability. Susie was astonished to see Margaret smile andnod as she passed her. 

Susie learnt that the Haddos had a suite of rooms at the most expensiveof the hotels. They lived in a whirl of gaiety. They knew few Englishexcept those whose reputations were damaged, but seemed to prefer thesociety of those foreigners whose wealth and eccentricities made them thecynosure of that little world. Afterwards, she often saw them, in companyof Russian Grand-Dukes and their mistresses, of South American women withprodigious diamonds, of noble gamblers and great ladies of doubtful fame, of strange men overdressed and scented. Rumour was increasingly busy withthem. Margaret moved among all those queer people with a coldmysteriousness that excited the curiosity of the sated idlers. Thesuggestion which Susie overheard was repeated more circumstantially. Butto this was joined presently the report of orgies that were enacted inthe darkened sitting-room of the hotel, when all that was noble andvicious in Monte Carlo was present. Oliver's eccentric imaginationinvented whimsical festivities. He had a passion for disguise, and hegave a fancy-dress party of which fabulous stories were told. He soughtto revive the mystical ceremonies of old religions, and it was reportedthat horrible rites had been performed in the garden of the villa, underthe shining moon, in imitation of those he had seen in Eastern places. Itwas said that Haddo had magical powers of extraordinary character, andthe tired imagination of those pleasure-seekers was tickled by his talkof black art. Some even asserted that the blasphemous ceremonies of theBlack Mass had been celebrated in the house of a Polish Prince. Peoplebabbled of satanism and of necromancy. Haddo was thought to be immersedin occult studies for the performance of a magical operation; and somesaid that he was occupied with the Magnum Opus, the greatest and mostfantastic of alchemical experiments. Gradually these stories werenarrowed down to the monstrous assertion that he was attempting to createliving beings. He had explained at length to somebody that magicalreceipts existed for the manufacture of _homunculi_. 

Haddo was known generally by the name he was pleased to give himself. The Brother of the Shadow; but most people used it in derision, forit contrasted absurdly with his astonishing bulk. They were amused oroutraged by his vanity, but they could not help talking about him, andSusie knew well enough by now that nothing pleased him more. His exploitsas a lion-hunter were well known, and it was reported that human bloodwas on his hands. It was soon discovered that he had a queer power overanimals, so that in his presence they were seized with unaccountableterror. He succeeded in surrounding himself with an atmosphere of thefabulous, and nothing that was told of him was too extravagant forbelief. But unpleasant stories were circulated also, and someone relatedthat he had been turned out of a club in Vienna for cheating at cards. He played many games, but here, as at Oxford, it was found that he wasan unscrupulous opponent. And those old rumours followed him that he tookstrange drugs. He was supposed to have odious vices, and people whisperedto one another of scandals that had been with difficulty suppressed. Noone quite understood on what terms he was with his wife, and it wasvaguely asserted that he was at times brutally cruel to her. Susie'sheart sank when she heard this; but on the few occasions upon which shecaught sight of Margaret, she seemed in the highest spirits. One storyinexpressibly shocked her. After lunching at some restaurant, Haddo gavea bad louis among the money with which he paid the bill, and there was adisgraceful altercation with the waiter. He refused to change the cointill a policeman was brought in. His guests were furious, and severaltook the first opportunity to cut him dead. One of those present narratedthe scene to Susie, and she was told that Margaret laughed unconcernedlywith her neighbour while the sordid quarrel was proceeding. The man'sblood was as good as his fortune was substantial, but it seemed to pleasehim to behave like an adventurer. The incident was soon common property, and gradually the Haddos found themselves cold-shouldered. The personswith whom they mostly consorted had reputations too delicate to stand theglare of publicity which shone upon all who were connected with him, andthe suggestion of police had thrown a shudder down many a spine. What hadhappened in Rome happened here again: they suddenly disappeared. 

Susie had not been in London for some time, and as the spring advancedshe remembered that her friends would be glad to see her. It would becharming to spend a few weeks there with an adequate income; for itspleasures had hitherto been closed to her, and she looked forward to hervisit as if it were to a foreign city. But though she would not confessit to herself, her desire to see Arthur was the strongest of her motives. Time and absence had deadened a little the intensity of her feelings, andshe could afford to acknowledge that she regarded him with very greataffection. She knew that he would never care for her, but she was contentto be his friend. She could think of him without pain. 

Susie stayed in Paris for three weeks to buy some of the clothes whichshe asserted were now her only pleasure in life, and then went to London. 

She wrote to Arthur, and he invited her at once to lunch with him at arestaurant. She was vexed, for she felt they could have spoken morefreely in his own house; but as soon as she saw him, she realized thathe had chosen their meeting-place deliberately. The crowd of people thatsurrounded them, the gaiety, the playing of the band, prevented anyintimacy of conversation. They were forced to talk of commonplaces. Susie was positively terrified at the change that had taken place in him. He looked ten years older; he had lost flesh, and his hair was sprinkledwith white. His face was extraordinarily drawn, and his eyes were wearyfrom lack of sleep. But what most struck her was the change in hisexpression. The look of pain which she had seen on his face that lastevening in the studio was now become settled, so that it altered thelines of his countenance. It was harrowing to look at him. He was moresilent than ever, and when he spoke it was in a strange low voice thatseemed to come from a long way off. To be with him made Susie curiouslyuneasy, for there was a strenuousness in him which deprived his manner ofall repose. One of the things that had pleased her in him formerly wasthe tranquillity which gave one the impression that here was a man whocould be relied on in difficulties. At first she could not understandexactly what had happened, but in a moment saw that he was making anunceasing effort at self-control. He was never free from suffering and hewas constantly on the alert to prevent anyone from seeing it. The straingave him a peculiar restlessness. 

But he was gentler than he had ever been before. He seemed genuinely gladto see her and asked about her travels with interest. Susie led him totalk of himself, and he spoke willingly enough of his daily round. He wasearning a good deal of money, and his professional reputation was makingsteady progress. He worked hard. Besides his duties at the two hospitalswith which he was now connected, his teaching, and his private practice, he had read of late one or two papers before scientific bodies, and wasediting a large work on surgery. 

'How on earth can you find time to do so much?' asked Susie. 

'I can do with less sleep than I used, ' he answered. 'It almost doublesmy working-day. '

He stopped abruptly and looked down. His remark had given accidentallysome hint at the inner life which he was striving to conceal. Susie knewthat her suspicion was well-founded. She thought of the long hours helay awake, trying in vain to drive from his mind the agony that torturedhim, and the short intervals of troubled sleep. She knew that he delayedas long as possible the fatal moment of going to bed, and welcomed thefirst light of day, which gave him an excuse for getting up. And becausehe knew that he had divulged the truth he was embarrassed. They satin awkward silence. To Susie, the tragic figure in front of her wassingularly impressive amid that lighthearted throng: all about them happypersons were enjoying the good things of life, talking, laughing, andmaking merry. She wondered what refinement of self-torture had driven himto choose that place to come to. He must hate it. 

When they finished luncheon, Susie took her courage in both hands. 

'Won't you come back to my rooms for half an hour? We can't talk here. '

He made an instinctive motion of withdrawal, as though he sought toescape. He did not answer immediately, and she insisted. 

'You have nothing to do for an hour, and there are many things I want tospeak to you about'

'The only way to be strong is never to surrender to one's weakness, ' hesaid, almost in a whisper, as though ashamed to talk so intimately. 

'Then you won't come?'

'No. '

It was not necessary to specify the matter which it was proposed todiscuss. Arthur knew perfectly that Susie wished to talk of Margaret, andhe was too straightforward to pretend otherwise. Susie paused for onemoment. 

'I was never able to give Margaret your message. She did not write tome. '

A certain wildness came into his eyes, as if the effort he made wasalmost too much for him. 

'I saw her in Monte Carlo, ' said Susie. 'I thought you might like to hearabout her. '

'I don't see that it can do any good, ' he answered. 

Susie made a little hopeless gesture. She was beaten. 

'Shall we go?' she said. 

'You are not angry with me?' he asked. 'I know you mean to be kind. I'mvery grateful to you. '

'I shall never be angry with you, ' she smiled. 

Arthur paid the bill, and they threaded their way among the tables. Atthe door she held out her hand. 

'I think you do wrong in shutting yourself away from all humancomradeship, ' she said, with that good-humoured smile of hers. 'Youmust know that you will only grow absurdly morbid. '

'I go out a great deal, ' he answered patiently, as though he reasonedwith a child. 'I make a point of offering myself distractions from mywork. I go to the opera two or three times a week. '

'I thought you didn't care for music. '

'I don't think I did, ' he answered. 'But I find it rests me. '

He spoke with a weariness that was appalling. Susie had never beheld soplainly the torment of a soul in pain. 

'Won't you let me come to the opera with you one night?' she asked. 'Ordoes it bore you to see me?'

'I should like it above all things, ' he smiled, quite brightly. 'You'relike a wonderful tonic. They're giving Tristan on Thursday. Shall we gotogether?'

'I should enjoy it enormously. '

She shook hands with him and jumped into a cab. 

'Oh, poor thing!' she murmured. 'Poor thing! What can I do for him?'

She clenched, her hands when she thought of Margaret. It was monstrousthat she should have caused such havoc in that good, strong man. 

'Oh, I hope she'll suffer for it, ' she whispered vindictively. 'I hopeshe'll suffer all the agony that he has suffered. '

Susie dressed herself for Covent Garden as only she could do. Her gownpleased her exceedingly, not only because it was admirably made, butbecause it had cost far more than she could afford. To dress well was heronly extravagance. It was of taffeta silk, in that exquisite green whichthe learned in such matters call _Eau de Nil_; and its beauty wasenhanced by the old lace which had formed not the least treasured partof her inheritance. In her hair she wore an ornament of Spanish paste, of exquisite workmanship, and round her neck a chain which had onceadorned that of a madonna in an Andalusian church. Her individualitymade even her plainness attractive. She smiled at herself in the glassruefully, because Arthur would never notice that she was perfectlydressed. 

When she tripped down the stairs and across the pavement to the cab withwhich he fetched her, Susie held up her skirt with a grace she flatteredherself was quite Parisian. As they drove along, she flirted a littlewith her Spanish fan and stole a glance at herself in the glass. Hergloves were so long and so new and so expensive that she was reallyindifferent to Arthur's inattention. 

Her joyous temperament expanded like a spring flower when she foundherself in the Opera House. She put up her glasses and examined the womenas they came into the boxes of the Grand Tier. Arthur pointed out anumber of persons whose names were familiar to her, but she felt theeffort he was making to be amiable. The weariness of his mouth thatevening was more noticeable because of the careless throng. But whenthe music began he seemed to forget that any eye was upon him; he relaxedthe constant tension in which he held himself; and Susie, watching himsurreptitiously, saw the emotions chase one another across his face. Itwas now very mobile. The passionate sounds ate into his soul, minglingwith his own love and his own sorrow, till he was taken out of himself;and sometimes he panted strangely. Through the interval he remainedabsorbed in his emotion. He sat as quietly as before and did not speak aword. Susie understood why Arthur, notwithstanding his old indifference, now showed such eager appreciation of music; it eased the pain hesuffered by transferring it to an ideal world, and his own grievoussorrow made the music so real that it gave him an enjoyment ofextraordinary vehemence. When it was all over and Isolde had given herlast wail of sorrow, Arthur was so exhausted that he could hardly stir. 

But they went out with the crowd, and while they were waiting in thevestibule for space to move in, a common friend came up to them. Thiswas Arbuthnot, an eye-specialist, whom Susie had met on the Riviera andwho, she presently discovered, was a colleague of Arthur's at St Luke's. He was a prosperous bachelor with grey hair and a red, contented face, well-to-do, for his practice was large, and lavish with his money. Hehad taken Susie out to luncheon once or twice in Monte Carlo; for heliked women, pretty or plain, and she attracted him by her good-humour. He rushed up to them now and wrung their hands. He spoke in a jovialvoice. 

'The very people I wanted to see! Why haven't you been to see me, youwicked woman? I'm sure your eyes are in a deplorable condition. '

'Do you think I would let a bold, bad man like you stare into them withan ophthalmoscope?' laughed Susie. 

'Now look here, I want you both to do me a great favour. I'm giving asupper party at the Savoy, and two of my people have suddenly failed me. The table is ordered for eight, and you must come and take their places. '

'I'm afraid I must get home, ' said Arthur. 'I have a deuce of a lot ofwork to do. '

'Nonsense, ' answered Arbuthnot. 'You work much too hard, and a littlerelaxation will do you good. ' He turned to Susie: 'I know you likecuriosities in human nature; I'm having a man and his wife who willpositively thrill you, they're so queer, and a lovely actress, and anawfully jolly American girl. '

'I should love to come, ' said Susie, with an appealing look at Arthur, 'if only to show you how much more amusing I am than lovely actresses. '

Arthur, forcing himself to smile, accepted the invitation. The specialistpatted him cheerily on the back, and they agreed to meet at the Savoy. 

'It's awfully good of you to come, ' said Susie, as they drove along. 'Doyou know, I've never been there in my life, and I'm palpitating withexcitement. '

'What a selfish brute I was to refuse!' he answered. 

When Susie came out of the dressing-room, she found Arthur waiting forher. She was in the best of spirits. 

'Now you must say you like my frock. I've seen six women turn green withenvy at the sight of it. They think I must be French, and they're sureI'm not respectable. '

'That is evidently a great compliment, ' he smiled. 

At that moment Arbuthnot came up to them in his eager way and seizedtheir arms. 

'Come along. We're waiting for you. I'll just introduce you all round, and then we'll go in to supper. '

They walked down the steps into the foyer, and he led them to a group ofpeople. They found themselves face to face with Oliver Haddo andMargaret. 

'Mr Arthur Burdon--Mrs Haddo. Mr Burdon is a colleague of mine at StLuke's; and he will cut out your appendix in a shorter time than any manalive. '

Arbuthnot rattled on. He did not notice that Arthur had grown ghastlypale and that Margaret was blank with consternation. Haddo, his heavyface wreathed with smiles, stepped forward heartily. He seemed thoroughlyto enjoy the situation. 

'Mr Burdon is an old friend of ours, ' he said. 'In fact, it was he whointroduced me to my wife. And Miss Boyd and I have discussed Art and theImmortality of the Soul with the gravity due to such topics. '

He held out his hand, and Susie took it. She had a horror of scenes, and, though this encounter was as unexpected as it was disagreeable, she feltit needful to behave naturally. She shook hands with Margaret. 

'How disappointing!' cried their host. 'I was hoping to give Miss Boydsomething quite new in the way of magicians, and behold! she knows allabout him. '

'If she did, I'm quite sure she wouldn't speak to me, ' said Oliver, witha bantering smile. 

They went into the supper-room. 

'Now, how shall we sit?' said Arbuthnot, glancing round the table. 

Oliver looked at Arthur, and his eyes twinkled. 

'You must really let my wife and Mr Burdon be together. They haven't seenone another for so long that I'm sure they have no end of things to talkabout. ' He chuckled to himself. 'And pray give me Miss Boyd, so that shecan abuse me to her heart's content. '

This arrangement thoroughly suited the gay specialist, for he was able toput the beautiful actress on one side of him and the charming American onthe other. He rubbed his hands. 

'I feel that we're going to have a delightful supper. '

Oliver laughed boisterously. He took, as was his habit, the wholeconversation upon himself, and Susie was obliged to confess that hewas at his best. There was a grotesque drollery about him that was verydiverting, and it was almost impossible to resist him. He ate and drankwith tremendous appetite. Susie thanked her stars at that moment that shewas a woman who knew by long practice how to conceal her feelings, forArthur, overcome with dismay at the meeting, sat in stony silence. Butshe talked gaily. She chaffed Oliver as though he were an old friend, andlaughed vivaciously. She noticed meanwhile that Haddo, more extravagantlydressed than usual, had managed to get an odd fantasy into his eveningclothes: he wore knee-breeches, which in itself was enough to exciteattention; but his frilled shirt, his velvet collar, and oddly-cut satinwaistcoat gave him the appearance of a comic Frenchman. Now that shewas able to examine him more closely, she saw that in the last six monthshe was grown much balder; and the shiny whiteness of his naked crowncontrasted oddly with the redness of his face. He was stouter, too, andthe fat hung in heavy folds under his chin; his paunch was preposterous. The vivacity of his movements made his huge corpulence subtly alarming. He was growing indeed strangely terrible in appearance. His eyes hadstill that fixed, parallel look, but there was in them now at times aferocious gleam. Margaret was as beautiful as ever, but Susie noticedthat his influence was apparent in her dress; for there could be no doubtthat it had crossed the line of individuality and had degenerated intothe eccentric. Her gown was much too gorgeous. It told against theclassical character of her beauty. Susie shuddered a little, for itreminded her of a courtesan's. 

Margaret talked and laughed as much as her husband, but Susie could nottell whether this animation was affected or due to an utter callousness. Her voice seemed natural enough, yet it was inconceivable that she shouldbe so lighthearted. Perhaps she was trying to show that she was happy. The supper proceeded, and the lights, the surrounding gaiety, thechampagne, made everyone more lively. Their host was in uproariousspirits. He told a story or two at which everyone laughed. Oliver Haddohad an amusing anecdote handy. It was a little risky, but it was sofunnily narrated that everyone roared but Arthur, who remained in perfectsilence. Margaret had been drinking glass after glass of wine, and nosooner had her husband finished than she capped his story with another. But whereas his was wittily immoral, hers was simply gross. At first theother women could not understand to what she was tending, but when theysaw, they looked down awkwardly at their plates. Arbuthnot, Haddo, andthe other man who was there laughed very heartily; but Arthur flushed tothe roots of his hair. He felt horribly uncomfortable. He was ashamed. Hedared not look at Margaret. It was inconceivable that from her exquisitemouth such indecency should issue. Margaret, apparently quite unconsciousof the effect she had produced, went on talking and laughing. 

Soon the lights were put out, and Arthur's agony was ended. He wanted torush away, to hide his face, to forget the sight of her and her gaiety, above all to forget that story. It was horrible, horrible. 

She shook hands with him quite lightly. 

'You must come and see us one day. We've got rooms at the Carlton. '

He bowed and did not answer. Susie had gone to the dressing-room to gether cloak. She stood at the door when Margaret came out. 

'Can we drop you anywhere?' said Margaret. 'You must come and see us whenyou have nothing better to do. '

Susie threw back her head. Arthur was standing just in front of themlooking down at the ground in complete abstraction. 

'Do you see him?' she said, in a low voice quivering with indignation. 'That is what you have made him. '

He looked up at that moment and turned upon them his sunken, tormentedeyes. They saw his wan, pallid face with its look of hopeless woe. 

'Do you know that he's killing himself on your account? He can't sleep atnight. He's suffered the tortures of the damned. Oh, I hope you'll sufferas he's suffered!'

'I wonder that you blame me, ' said Margaret. 'You ought to be rathergrateful. '

'Why?'

'You're not going to deny that you've loved him passionately from thefirst day you saw him? Do you think I didn't see that you cared for himin Paris? You care for him now more than ever. '

Susie felt suddenly sick at heart. She had never dreamt that her secretwas discovered. Margaret gave a bitter little laugh and walked past her. 

12

Arthur Burdon spent two or three days in a state of utter uncertainty, but at last the idea he had in mind grew so compelling as to overcome allobjections. He went to the Carlton and asked for Margaret. He had learntfrom the porter that Haddo was gone out and so counted on finding heralone. A simple device enabled him to avoid sending up his name. When hewas shown into her private room Margaret was sitting down. She neitherread nor worked. 

'You told me I might call upon you, ' said Arthur. 

She stood up without answering, and turned deathly pale. 

'May I sit down?' he asked. 

She bowed her head. For a moment they looked at one another in silence. Arthur suddenly forgot all he had prepared to say. His intrusion seemedintolerable. 

'Why have you come?' she said hoarsely. 

They both felt that it was useless to attempt the conventionality ofsociety. It was impossible to deal with the polite commonplaces that easean awkward situation. 

'I thought that I might be able to help you, ' he answered gravely. 

'I want no help. I'm perfectly happy. I have nothing to say to you. '

She spoke hurriedly, with a certain nervousness, and her eyes were fixedanxiously on the door as though she feared that someone would come in. 

'I feel that we have much to say to one another, ' he insisted. 'If it isinconvenient for us to talk here, will you not come and see me?'

'He'd know, ' she cried suddenly, as if the words were dragged out of her. 'D'you think anything can be hidden from him?'

Arthur glanced at her. He was horrified by the terror that was in hereyes. In the full light of day a change was plain in her expression. Herface was strangely drawn, and pinched, and there was in it a constantlook as of a person cowed. Arthur turned away. 

'I want you to know that I do not blame you in the least for anything youdid. No action of yours can ever lessen my affection for you. '

'Oh, why did you come here? Why do you torture me by saying such things?'

She burst on a sudden into a flood of tears, and walked excitedly up anddown the room. 

'Oh, if you wanted me to be punished for the pain I've caused you, youcan triumph now. Susie said she hoped I'd suffer all the agony that I'vemade you suffer. If she only knew!'

Margaret gave a hysterical laugh. She flung herself on her knees byArthur's side and seized his hands. 

'Did you think I didn't see? My heart bled when I looked at your poor wanface and your tortured eyes. Oh, you've changed. I could never havebelieved that a man could change so much in so few months, and it's Iwho've caused it all. Oh, Arthur, Arthur, you must forgive me. And youmust pity me. '

'But there's nothing to forgive, darling, ' he cried. 

She looked at him steadily. Her eyes now were shining with a hardbrightness. 

'You say that, but you don't really think it. And yet if you only knew, all that I have endured is on your account. '

She made a great effort to be calm. 

'What do you mean?' said Arthur. 

'He never loved me, he would never have thought of me if he hadn't wantedto wound you in what you treasured most. He hated you, and he's made mewhat I am so that you might suffer. It isn't I who did all this, but adevil within me; it isn't I who lied to you and left you and caused youall this unhappiness. '

She rose to her feet and sighed deeply. 

'Once, I thought he was dying, and I helped him. I took him into thestudio and gave him water. And he gained some dreadful power over me sothat I've been like wax in his hands. All my will has disappeared, and Ihave to do his bidding. And if I try to resist ... '

Her face twitched with pain and fear. 

'I've found out everything since. I know that on that day when he seemedto be at the point of death, he was merely playing a trick on me, and hegot Susie out of the way by sending a telegram from a girl whose name hehad seen on a photograph. I've heard him roar with laughter at hiscleverness. '

She stopped suddenly, and a look of frightful agony crossed her face. 

'And at this very minute, for all I know, it may be by his influence thatI say this to you, so that he may cause you still greater suffering byallowing me to tell you that he never cared for me. You know now that mylife is hell, and his vengeance is complete. '

'Vengeance for what?'

'Don't you remember that you hit him once, and kicked him unmercifully? Iknow him well now. He could have killed you, but he hated you too much. It pleased him a thousand times more to devise this torture for you andme. '

Margaret's agitation was terrible to behold. This was the first time thatshe had ever spoken to a soul of all these things, and now the longrestraint had burst as burst the waters of a dam. Arthur sought to calmher. 

'You're ill and overwrought. You must try to compose yourself. After all, Haddo is a human being like the rest of us. '

'Yes, you always laughed at his claims. You wouldn't listen to the thingshe said. But I know. Oh, I can't explain it; I daresay common sense andprobability are all against it, but I've seen things with my own eyesthat pass all comprehension. I tell you, he has powers of the most awfulkind. That first day when I was alone with him, he seemed to take me tosome kind of sabbath. I don't know what it was, but I saw horrors, vilehorrors, that rankled for ever after like poison in my mind; and when wewent up to his house in Staffordshire, I recognized the scene; Irecognized the arid rocks, and the trees, and the lie of the land. I knewI'd been there before on that fatal afternoon. Oh, you must believe me!Sometimes I think I shall go mad with the terror of it all. '

Arthur did not speak. Her words caused a ghastly suspicion to flashthrough his mind, and he could hardly contain himself. He thought thatsome dreadful shock had turned her brain. She buried her face in herhands. 

'Look here, ' he said, 'you must come away at once. You can't continue tolive with him. You must never go back to Skene. '

'I can't leave him. We're bound together inseparably. '

'But it's monstrous. There can be nothing to keep you to him. Come backto Susie. She'll be very kind to you; she'll help you to forget allyou've endured. '

'It's no use. You can do nothing for me. '

'Why not?'

'Because, notwithstanding, I love him with all my soul. '

'Margaret!'

'I hate him. He fills me with repulsion. And yet I do not know what thereis in my blood that draws me to him against my will. My flesh cries outfor him. '

Arthur looked away in embarrassment. He could not help a slight, instinctive movement of withdrawal. 

'Do I disgust you?' she said. 

He flushed slightly, but scarcely knew how to answer. He made a vaguegesture of denial. 

'If you only knew, ' she said. 

There was something so extraordinary in her tone that he gave her a quickglance of surprise. He saw that her cheeks were flaming. Her bosom waspanting as though she were again on the point of breaking into a passionof tears. 

'For God's sake, don't look at me!' she cried. 

She turned away and hid her face. The words she uttered were in a shamed, unnatural voice. 

'If you'd been at Monte Carlo, you'd have heard them say, God knows howthey knew it, that it was only through me he had his luck at the tables. He's contented himself with filling my soul with vice. I have no purityin me. I'm sullied through and through. He has made me into a sink ofiniquity, and I loathe myself. I cannot look at myself without a shudderof disgust. '

A cold sweat came over Arthur, and he grew more pale than ever. Herealized now he was in the presence of a mystery that he could notunravel. She went on feverishly. 

'The other night, at supper, I told a story, and I saw you wince withshame. It wasn't I that told it. The impulse came from him, and I knew itwas vile, and yet I told it with gusto. I enjoyed the telling of it; Ienjoyed the pain I gave you, and the dismay of those women. There seem tobe two persons in me, and my real self, the old one that you knew andloved, is growing weaker day by day, and soon she will be dead entirely. And there will remain only the wanton soul in the virgin body. '

Arthur tried to gather his wits together. He felt it an occasion on whichit was essential to hold on to the normal view of things. 

'But for God's sake leave him. What you've told me gives you every groundfor divorce. It's all monstrous. The man must be so mad that he ought tobe put in a lunatic asylum. '

'You can do nothing for me, ' she said. 

'But if he doesn't love you, what does he want you for?'

'I don't know, but I'm beginning to suspect. '

She looked at Arthur steadily. She was now quite calm. 

'I think he wishes to use me for a magical operation. I don't know ifhe's mad or not. But I think he means to try some horrible experiment, and I am needful for its success. That is my safeguard. '

'Your safeguard?'

'He won't kill me because he needs me for that. Perhaps in the process Ishall regain my freedom. '

Arthur was shocked at the callousness with which she spoke. He went up toher and put his hands on her shoulders. 

'Look here, you must pull yourself together, Margaret. This isn't sane. If you don't take care, your mind will give way altogether. You mustcome with me now. When you're out of his hands, you'll soon regain yourcalmness of mind. You need never see him again. If you're afraid, youshall be hidden from him, and lawyers shall arrange everything betweenyou. '

'I daren't. '

'But I promise you that you can come to no harm. Be reasonable. We're inLondon now, surrounded by people on every side. How do you think he cantouch you while we drive through the crowded streets? I'll take youstraight to Susie. In a week you'll laugh at the idle fears you had. '

'How do you know that he is not in the room at this moment, listening toall you say?'

The question was so sudden, so unexpected, that Arthur was startled. Helooked round quickly. 

'You must be mad. You see that the room is empty. '

'I tell you that you don't know what powers he has. Have you ever heardthose old legends with which nurses used to frighten our childhood, ofmen who could turn themselves into wolves, and who scoured the country atnight?' She looked at him with staring eyes. 'Sometimes, when he's comein at Skene in the morning, with bloodshot eyes, exhausted with fatigueand strangely discomposed, I've imagined that he too ... ' She stopped andthrew back her head. 'You're right, Arthur, I think I shall go mad. '

He watched her helplessly. He did not know what to do. Margaret went on, her voice quivering with anguish. 

'When we were married, I reminded him that he'd promised to take meto his mother. He would never speak of her, but I felt I must see her. And one day, suddenly, he told me to get ready for a journey, and wewent a long way, to a place I did not know, and we drove into thecountry. We seemed to go miles and miles, and we reached at last alarge house, surrounded by a high wall, and the windows were heavilybarred. We were shown into a great empty room. It was dismal and coldlike the waiting-room at a station. A man came in to us, a tall man, in a frock-coat and gold spectacles. He was introduced to me as DrTaylor, and then, suddenly, I understood. '

Margaret spoke in hurried gasps, and her eyes were staring wide, asthough she saw still the scene which at the time had seemed the crowninghorror of her experience. 

'I knew it was an asylum, and Oliver hadn't told me a word. He took us upa broad flight of stairs, through a large dormitory--oh, if you only knewwhat I saw there! I was so horribly frightened, I'd never been in such aplace before--to a cell. And the walls and the floor were padded. '

Margaret passed her hand across her forehead to chase away therecollection of that awful sight. 

'Oh, I see it still. I can never get it out of my mind. '

She remembered with a morbid vividness the vast misshapen mass whichshe had seen heaped strangely in one corner. There was a slight movementin it as they entered, and she perceived that it was a human being. Itwas a woman, dressed in shapeless brown flannel; a woman of great statureand of a revolting, excessive corpulence. She turned upon them a huge, impassive face; and its unwrinkled smoothness gave it an appearance ofaborted childishness. The hair was dishevelled, grey, and scanty. Butwhat most terrified Margaret was that she saw in this creature anappalling likeness to Oliver. 

'He told me it was his mother, and she'd been there for five-and-twentyyears. '

Arthur could hardly bear the terror that was in Margaret's eyes. He didnot know what to say to her. In a little while she began to speak again, in a low voice and rapidly, as though to herself, and she wrung herhands. 

'Oh, you don't know what I've endured! He used to spend long periods awayfrom me, and I remained alone at Skene from morning till night, alonewith my abject fear. Sometimes, it seemed that he was seized with adevouring lust for the gutter, and he would go to Liverpool or Manchesterand throw himself among the very dregs of the people. He used to passlong days, drinking in filthy pot-houses. While the bout lasted, nothingwas too depraved for him. He loved the company of all that was criminaland low. He used to smoke opium in foetid dens--oh, you have noconception of his passion to degrade himself--and at last he would comeback, dirty, with torn clothes, begrimed, sodden still with his longdebauch; and his mouth was hot with the kisses of the vile women of thedocks. Oh, he's so cruel when the fit takes him that I think he has afiendish pleasure in the sight of suffering!'

It was more than Arthur could stand. His mind was made up to try a boldcourse. He saw on the table a whisky bottle and glasses. He poured someneat spirit into a tumbler and gave it to Margaret. 

'Drink this, ' he said. 

'What is it?'

'Never mind! Drink it at once. '

Obediently she put it to her lips. He stood over her as she emptied theglass. A sudden glow filled her. 

'Now come with me. '

He took her arm and led her down the stairs. He passed through the hallquickly. There was a cab just drawn up at the door, and he told her toget in. One or two persons stared at seeing a woman come out of thathotel in a teagown and without a hat. He directed the driver to the housein which Susie lived and looked round at Margaret. She had faintedimmediately she got into the cab. 

When they arrived, he carried Margaret upstairs and laid her on a sofa. He told Susie what had happened and what he wanted of her. The dear womanforgot everything except that Margaret was very ill, and promisedwillingly to do all he wished. 

 * * * * *

For a week Margaret could not be moved. Arthur hired a little cottage inHampshire, opposite the Isle of Wight, hoping that amid the mostcharming, restful scenery in England she would quickly regain herstrength; and as soon as it was possible Susie took her down. But she wasmuch altered. Her gaiety had disappeared and with it her determination. Although her illness had been neither long nor serious, she seemed asexhausted, physically and mentally, as if she had been for months at thepoint of death. She took no interest in her surroundings, and wasindifferent to the shady lanes through which they drove and to thegracious trees and the meadows. Her old passion for beauty was gone, andshe cared neither for the flowers which filled their little garden norfor the birds that sang continually. But at last it seemed necessary todiscuss the future. Margaret acquiesced in all that was suggested to her, and agreed willingly that the needful steps should be taken to procureher release from Oliver Haddo. He made apparently no effort to trace her, and nothing had been heard of him. He did not know where Margaret was, but he might have guessed that Arthur was responsible for her flight, andArthur was easily to be found. It made Susie vaguely uneasy that therewas no sign of his existence. She wished that Arthur were not kept by hiswork in London. 

At last a suit for divorce was instituted. 

Two days after this, when Arthur was in his consultingroom, Haddo's cardwas brought to him. Arthur's jaw set more firmly. 

'Show the gentleman in, ' he ordered. 

When Haddo entered, Arthur, standing with his back to the fireplace, motioned him to sit down. 

'What can I do for you?' he asked coldly. 

'I have not come to avail myself of your surgical skill, my dear Burdon, 'smiled Haddo, as he fell ponderously into an armchair. 

'So I imagined. '

'You perspicacity amazes me. I surmise that it is to you I owe thisamusing citation which was served on me yesterday. '

'I allowed you to come in so that I might tell you I will have nocommunication with you except through my solicitors. '

'My dear fellow, why do you treat me with such discourtesy? It is truethat you have deprived me of the wife of my bosom, but you might at leastso far respect my marital rights as to use me civilly. '

'My patience is not as good as it was, ' answered Arthur, 'I venture toremind you that once before I lost my temper with you, and the result youmust have found unpleasant. '

'I should have thought you regretted that incident by now, O Burdon, 'answered Haddo, entirely unabashed. 

'My time is very short, ' said Arthur. 

'Then I will get to my business without delay. I thought it mightinterest you to know that I propose to bring a counter-petitionagainst my wife, and I shall make you co-respondent. '

'You infamous blackguard!' cried Arthur furiously. 'You know as well as Ido that your wife is above suspicion. '

'I know that she left my hotel in your company, and has been living sinceunder your protection. '

Arthur grew livid with rage. He could hardly restrain himself fromknocking the man down. He gave a short laugh. 

'You can do what you like. I'm really not frightened. '

'The innocent are so very incautious. I assure you that I can make a goodenough story to ruin your career and force you to resign yourappointments at the various hospitals you honour with your attention. '

'You forget that the case will not be tried in open court, ' said Arthur. 

Haddo looked at him steadily. He did not answer for a moment. 

'You're quite right, ' he said at last, with a little smile. 'I hadforgotten that. '

'Then I need not detain you longer. '

Oliver Haddo got up. He passed his hand reflectively over his huge face. Arthur watched him with scornful eyes. He touched a bell, and the servantat once appeared. 

'Show this gentleman out. '

Not in the least disconcerted, Haddo strolled calmly to the door. 

Arthur gave a sigh of relief, for he concluded that Haddo would not showfight. His solicitor indeed had already assured him that Oliver would notventure to defend the case. 

Margaret seemed gradually to take more interest in the proceedings, andshe was full of eagerness to be set free. She did not shrink from theunpleasant ordeal of a trial. She could talk of Haddo with composure. Herfriends were able to persuade themselves that in a little while she wouldbe her old self again, for she was growing stronger and more cheerful;her charming laughter rang through the little house as it had been usedto do in the Paris studio. The case was to come on at the end of July, before the long vacation, and Susie had agreed to take Margaret abroad assoon as it was done. 

But presently a change came over her. As the day of the trial drewnearer, Margaret became excited and disturbed; her gaiety deserted her, and she fell into long, moody silences. To some extent this wascomprehensible, for she would have to disclose to callous ears the mostintimate details of her married life; but at last her nervousness grew somarked that Susie could no longer ascribe it to natural causes. Shethought it necessary to write to Arthur about it. 

My Dear Arthur:

I don't know what to make of Margaret, and I wish you would come down andsee her. The good-humour which I have noticed in her of late has givenway to a curious irritability. She is so restless that she cannot keepstill for a moment. Even when she is sitting down her body moves in amanner that is almost convulsive. I am beginning to think that the strainfrom which she suffered is bringing on some nervous disease, and I amreally alarmed. She walks about the house in a peculiarly aimless manner, up and down the stairs, in and out of the garden. She has grown suddenlymuch more silent, and the look has come back to her eyes which they hadwhen first we brought her down here. When I beg her to tell me what istroubling her, she says: 'I'm afraid that something is going to happen. 'She will not or cannot explain what she means. The last few weeks haveset my own nerves on edge, so that I do not know how much of what Iobserve is real, and how much is due to my fancy; but I wish you wouldcome and put a little courage into me. The oddness of it all is making meuneasy, and I am seized with preposterous terrors. I don't know whatthere is in Haddo that inspires me with this unaccountable dread. He isalways present to my thoughts. I seem to see his dreadful eyes and hiscold, sensual smile. I wake up at night, my heart beating furiously, withthe consciousness that something quite awful has happened. 

Oh, I wish the trial were over, and that we were happy in Germany. 

Yours everSUSAN BOYD

Susie took a certain pride in her common sense, and it was humiliating tofind that her nerves could be so distraught. She was worried and unhappy. It had not been easy to take Margaret back to her bosom as if nothing hadhappened. Susie was human; and, though she did ten times more than couldbe expected of her, she could not resist a feeling of irritation thatArthur sacrificed her so calmly. He had no room for other thoughts, andit seemed quite natural to him that she should devote herself entirely toMargaret's welfare. 

Susie walked some way along the road to post this letter and then went toher room. It was a wonderful night, starry and calm, and the silence waslike balm to her troubles. She sat at the window for a long time, and atlast, feeling more tranquil, went to bed. She slept more soundly than shehad done for many days. When she awoke the sun was streaming into herroom, and she gave a deep sigh of delight. She could see trees from herbed, and blue sky. All her troubles seemed easy to bear when the worldwas so beautiful, and she was ready to laugh at the fears that had soaffected her. 

She got up, put on a dressing-gown, and went to Margaret's room. It wasempty. The bed had not been slept in. On the pillow was a note. 

It's no good; I can't help myself. I've gone back to him. Don't troubleabout me any more. It's quite hopeless and useless. 

M

Susie gave a little gasp. Her first thought was for Arthur, and sheuttered a wail of sorrow because he must be cast again into the agony ofdesolation. Once more she had to break the dreadful news. She dressedhurriedly and ate some breakfast. There was no train till nearly eleven, and she had to bear her impatience as best she could. At last it was timeto start, and she put on her gloves. At that moment the door was opened, and Arthur came in. 

She gave a cry of terror and turned pale. 

'I was just coming to London to see you, ' she faltered. 'How did you findout?'

'Haddo sent me a box of chocolates early this morning with a card onwhich was written: _I think the odd trick is mine_. '

This cruel vindictiveness, joined with a schoolboy love of taunting thevanquished foe, was very characteristic. Susie gave Arthur Burdon thenote which she had found in Margaret's room. He read it and then thoughtfor a long time. 

'I'm afraid she's right, ' he said at length. 'It seems quite hopeless. The man has some power over her which we can't counteract. '

Susie wondered whether his strong scepticism was failing at last. She could not withstand her own feeling that there was somethingpreternatural about the hold that Oliver had over Margaret. She hadno shadow of a doubt that he was able to affect his wife even at adistance, and was convinced now that the restlessness of the last fewdays was due to this mysterious power. He had been at work in somestrange way, and Margaret had been aware of it. At length she couldnot resist and had gone to him instinctively: her will was as littleconcerned as when a chip of steel flies to a magnet. 

'I cannot find it in my heart now to blame her for anything she hasdone, ' said Susie. 'I think she is the victim of a most lamentable fate. I can't help it. I must believe that he was able to cast a spell on her;and to that is due all that has happened. I have only pity for her greatmisfortunes. '

'Has it occurred to you what will happen when she is back in Haddo'shands?' cried Arthur. 'You know as well as I do how revengeful he is andhow hatefully cruel. My heart bleeds when I think of the tortures, sheerphysical tortures, which she may suffer. '

He walked up and down in desperation. 

'And yet there's nothing whatever that one can do. One can't go to thepolice and say that a man has cast a magic spell on his wife. '

'Then you believe it too?' said Susie. 

'I don't know what I believe now, ' he cried. 'After all, we can't doanything if she chooses to go back to her husband. She's apparently herown mistress. ' He wrung his hands. 'And I'm imprisoned in London! I can'tleave it for a day. I ought not to be here now, and I must get back in acouple of hours. I can do nothing, and yet I'm convinced that Margaret isutterly wretched. '

Susie paused for a minute or two. She wondered how he would accept thesuggestion that was in her mind. 

'Do you know, it seems to me that common methods are useless. The onlychance is to fight him with his own weapons. Would you mind if I wentover to Paris to consult Dr Porhoët? You know that he is learned in everybranch of the occult, and perhaps he might help us. '

But Arthur pulled himself together. 

'It's absurd. We mustn't give way to superstition. Haddo is merely ascoundrel and a charlatan. He's worked on our nerves as he's worked onpoor Margaret's. It's impossible to suppose that he has any powersgreater than the common run of mankind. '

'Even after all you've seen with your own eyes?'

'If my eyes show me what all my training assures me is impossible, I canonly conclude that my eyes deceive me. '

'Well, I shall run over to Paris. '

13

Some weeks later Dr Porhoët was sitting among his books in the quiet, lowroom that overlooked the Seine. He had given himself over to a pleasingmelancholy. The heat beat down upon the noisy streets of Paris, and thedin of the great city penetrated even to his fastness in the Île SaintLouis. He remembered the cloud-laden sky of the country where he wasborn, and the south-west wind that blew with a salt freshness. The longstreets of Brest, present to his fancy always in a drizzle of rain, withthe lights of cafés reflected on the wet pavements, had a familiar charm. Even in foul weather the sailor-men who trudged along them gave one acurious sense of comfort. There was delight in the smell of the sea andin the freedom of the great Atlantic. And then he thought of the greenlanes and of the waste places with their scented heather, the fair broadroads that led from one old sweet town to another, of the _Pardons_ andtheir gentle, sad crowds. Dr Porhoët gave a sigh. 

'It is good to be born in the land of Brittany, ' he smiled. 

But his _bonne_ showed Susie in, and he rose with a smile to greet her. She had been in Paris for some time, and they had seen much of oneanother. He basked in the gentle sympathy with which she interestedherself in all the abstruse, quaint matters on which he spent his time;and, divining her love for Arthur, he admired the courage with which sheeffaced herself. They had got into the habit of eating many of theirmeals together in a quiet house opposite the Cluny called La ReineBlanche, and here they had talked of so many things that theiracquaintance was grown into a charming friendship. 

'I'm ashamed to come here so often, ' said Susie, as she entered. 'Matildeis beginning to look at me with a suspicious eye. '

'It is very good of you to entertain a tiresome old man, ' he smiled, as he held her hand. 'But I should have been disappointed if you hadforgotten your promise to come this afternoon, for I have much to tellyou. '

'Tell me at once, ' she said, sitting down. 

'I have discovered an MS. At the library of the Arsenal this morning thatno one knew anything about. '

He said this with an air of triumph, as though the achievement were ofnational importance. Susie had a tenderness for his innocent mania; and, though she knew the work in question was occult and incomprehensible, congratulated him heartily. 

'It is the original version of a book by Paracelsus. I have not read ityet, for the writing is most difficult to decipher, but one point caughtmy eye on turning over the pages. That is the gruesome fact thatParacelsus fed the _homunculi_ he manufactured on human blood. Onewonders how he came by it. '

Susie gave a little start, which Dr Porhoët noticed. 

'What is the matter with you?'

'Nothing, ' she said quickly. 

He looked at her for a moment, then proceeded with the subject thatstrangely fascinated him. 

'You must let me take you one day to the library of the Arsenal. Thereis no richer collection in the world of books dealing with the occultsciences. And of course you know that it was at the Arsenal that thetribunal sat, under the suggestive name of _chambre ardente_, to dealwith cases of sorcery and magic?'

'I didn't, ' smiled Susie. 

'I always think that these manuscripts and queer old books, which arethe pride of our library, served in many an old trial. There are volumesthere of innocent appearance that have hanged wretched men and sentothers to the stake. You would not believe how many persons of fortune, rank, and intelligence, during the great reign of Louis XIV, immersedthemselves in these satanic undertakings. '

Susie did not answer. She could not now deal with these matters in anindifferent spirit. Everything she heard might have some bearing on thecircumstances which she had discussed with Dr Porhoët times out ofnumber. She had never been able to pin him down to an affirmation offaith. Certain strange things had manifestly happened, but what theexplanation of them was, no man could say. He offered analogies fromhis well-stored memory. He gave her books to read till she was saturatedwith occult science. At one moment, she was inclined to throw them allaside impatiently, and, at another, was ready to believe that everythingwas possible. 

Dr Porhoët stood up and stretched out a meditative finger. He spoke inthat agreeably academic manner which, at the beginning of theiracquaintance, had always entertained Susie, because it contrasted soabsurdly with his fantastic utterances. 

'It was a strange dream that these wizards cherished. They sought to makethemselves beloved of those they cared for and to revenge themselves onthose they hated; but, above all, they sought to become greater than thecommon run of men and to wield the power of the gods. They hesitated atnothing to gain their ends. But Nature with difficulty allows her secretsto be wrested from her. In vain they lit their furnaces, and in vain theystudied their crabbed books, called up the dead, and conjured ghastlyspirits. Their reward was disappointment and wretchedness, poverty, thescorn of men, torture, imprisonment, and shameful death. And yet, perhapsafter all, there may be some particle of truth hidden away in these darkplaces. '

'You never go further than the cautious perhaps, ' said Susie. 'You nevergive me any definite opinion. '

'In these matters it is discreet to have no definite opinion, ' he smiled, with a shrug of the shoulders. 'If a wise man studies the science of theoccult, his duty is not to laugh at everything, but to seek patiently, slowly, perseveringly, the truth that may be concealed in the night ofthese illusions. '

The words were hardly spoken when Matilde, the ancient _bonne_, openedthe door to let a visitor come in. It was Arthur Burdon. Susie gave a cryof surprise, for she had received a brief note from him two days before, and he had said nothing of crossing the Channel. 

'I'm glad to find you both here, ' said Arthur, as he shook hands withthem. 

'Has anything happened?' cried Susie. 

His manner was curiously distressing, and there was a nervousness abouthis movements that was very unexpected in so restrained a person. 

'I've seen Margaret again, ' he said. 

'Well?'

He seemed unable to go on, and yet both knew that he had somethingimportant to tell them. He looked at them vacantly, as though all he hadto say was suddenly gone out of his mind. 

'I've come straight here, ' he said, in a dull, bewildered fashion. 'Iwent to your hotel, Susie, in the hope of finding you; but when they toldme you were out, I felt certain you would be here. '

'You seem worn out, _cher ami_, ' said Dr Porhoët, looking at him. 'Willyou let Matilde make you a cup of coffee?'

'I should like something, ' he answered, with a look of utter weariness. 

'Sit still for a minute or two, and you shall tell us what you want towhen you are a little rested. '

Dr Porhoët had not seen Arthur since that afternoon in the previous yearwhen, in answer to Haddo's telegram, he had gone to the studio in the RueCampagne Première. He watched him anxiously while Arthur drank hiscoffee. The change in him was extraordinary; there was a cadaverousexhaustion about his face, and his eyes were sunken in their sockets. Butwhat alarmed the good doctor most was that Arthur's personality seemedthoroughly thrown out of gear. All that he had endured during these ninemonths had robbed him of the strength of purpose, the matter-of-factsureness, which had distinguished him. He was now unbalanced andneurotic. 

Arthur did not speak. With his eyes fixed moodily on the ground, hewondered how much he could bring himself to tell them. It revolted himto disclose his inmost thoughts, yet he was come to the end of his tetherand needed the doctor's advice. He found himself obliged to deal withcircumstances that might have existed in a world of nightmare, and hewas driven at last to take advantage of his friend's peculiar knowledge. 

Returning to London after Margaret's flight, Arthur Burdon had thrownhimself again into the work which for so long had been his only solace. It had lost its savour; but he would not take this into account, and heslaved away mechanically, by perpetual toil seeking to deaden hisanguish. But as the time passed he was seized on a sudden with a curiousfeeling of foreboding, which he could in no way resist; it grew instrength till it had all the power of an obsession, and he could notreason himself out of it. He was sure that a great danger threatenedMargaret. He could not tell what it was, nor why the fear of it was sopersistent, but the idea was there always, night and day; it haunted himlike a shadow and pursued him like remorse. His anxiety increasedcontinually, and the vagueness of his terror made it more tormenting. Hefelt quite certain that Margaret was in imminent peril, but he did notknow how to help her. Arthur supposed that Haddo had taken her back toSkene; but, even if he went there, he had no chance of seeing her. Whatmade it more difficult still, was that his chief at St Luke's was away, and he was obliged to be in London in case he should be suddenly calledupon to do some operation. But he could think of nothing else. He feltit urgently needful to see Margaret. Night after night he dreamed thatshe was at the point of death, and heavy fetters prevented him fromstretching out a hand to help her. At last he could stand it no more. Hetold a brother surgeon that private business forced him to leave London, and put the work into his hands. With no plan in his head, merely urgedby an obscure impulse, he set out for the village of Venning, which wasabout three miles from Skene. 

It was a tiny place, with one public-house serving as a hotel to the raretravellers who found it needful to stop there, and Arthur felt that someexplanation of his presence was necessary. Having seen at the station anadvertisement of a large farm to let, he told the inquisitive landladythat he had come to see it. He arrived late at night. Nothing could bedone then, so he occupied the time by trying to find out something aboutthe Haddos. 

Oliver was the local magnate, and his wealth would have made him an easytopic of conversation even without his eccentricity. The landlady roundlycalled him insane, and as an instance of his queerness told Arthur, tohis great dismay, that Haddo would have no servants to sleep in thehouse: after dinner everyone was sent away to the various cottages inthe park, and he remained alone with his wife. It was an awful thoughtthat Margaret might be in the hands of a raving madman, with not a soulto protect her. But if he learnt no more than this of solid fact, Arthurheard much that was significant. To his amazement the old fear of thewizard had grown up again in that lonely place, and the garrulous womangravely told him of Haddo's evil influence on the crops and cattle offarmers who had aroused his anger. He had had an altercation with hisbailiff, and the man had died within a year. A small freeholder in theneighbourhood had refused to sell the land which would have rounded offthe estate of Skene, and a disease had attacked every animal on his farmso that he was ruined. Arthur was impressed because, though she reportedthese rumours with mock scepticism as the stories of ignorant yokels andold women, the innkeeper had evidently a terrified belief in their truth. No one could deny that Haddo had got possession of the land he wanted;for, when it was put up to auction, no one would bid against him, and hebought it for a song. 

As soon as he could do so naturally, Arthur asked after Margaret. Thewoman shrugged her shoulders. No one knew anything about her. She nevercame out of the park gates, but sometimes you could see her wanderingabout inside by herself. She saw no one. Haddo had long since quarrelledwith the surrounding gentry; and though one old lady, the mother of aneighbouring landowner, had called when Margaret first came, she had notbeen admitted, and the visit was never returned. 

'She'll come to no good, poor lady, ' said the hostess of the inn. 'Andthey do say she's a perfect picture to look at. '

Arthur went to his room. He longed for the day to come. There was nocertain means of seeing Margaret. It was useless to go to the park gates, since even the tradesmen were obliged to leave their goods at the lodge;but it appeared that she walked alone, morning and afternoon, and itmight be possible to see her then. He decided to climb into the park andwait till he came upon her in some spot where they were not likely tobe observed. 

Next day the great heat of the last week was gone, and the melancholy skywas dark with lowering clouds. Arthur inquired for the road which led toSkene, and set out to walk the three miles which separated him from it. The country was grey and barren. There was a broad waste of heath, withgigantic boulders strewn as though in pre-historic times Titans had wagedthere a mighty battle. Here and there were trees, but they seemed hardlyto withstand the fierce winds of winter; they were old and bowed beforethe storm. One of them attracted his attention. It had been struck bylightning and was riven asunder, leafless; but the maimed branches werecuriously set on the trunk so that they gave it the appearance of a humanbeing writhing in the torture of infernal agony. The wind whistledstrangely. Arthur's heart sank as he walked on. He had never seen acountry so desolate. 

He came to the park gates at last and stood for some time in front ofthem. At the end of a long avenue, among the trees, he could see part ofa splendid house. He walked along the wooden palisade that surrounded thepark. Suddenly he came to a spot where a board had been broken down. Helooked up and down the road. No one was in sight. He climbed up the low, steep bank, wrenched down a piece more of the fence, and slipped in. 

He found himself in a dense wood. There was no sign of a path, and headvanced cautiously. The bracken was so thick and high that it easilyconcealed him. Dead owners had plainly spent much care upon the place, for here alone in the neighbourhood were trees in abundance; but of lateit had been utterly neglected. It had run so wild that there were notraces now of its early formal arrangement; and it was so hard to makeone's way, the vegetation was so thick, that it might almost have beensome remnant of primeval forest. But at last he came to a grassy path andwalked along it slowly. He stopped on a sudden, for he heard a sound. Butit was only a pheasant that flew heavily through the low trees. Hewondered what he should do if he came face to face with Oliver. Theinnkeeper had assured him that the squire seldom came out, but spent hisdays locked in the great attics at the top of the house. Smoke came fromthe chimneys of them, even in the hottest days of summer, and weird taleswere told of the devilries there committed. 

Arthur went on, hoping in the end to catch sight of Margaret, but hesaw no one. In that grey, chilly day the woods, notwithstanding theirgreenery, were desolate and sad. A sombre mystery seemed to hang overthem. At last he came to a stone bench at a cross-way among the trees, and, since it was the only resting-place he had seen, it struck him thatMargaret might come there to sit down. He hid himself in the bracken. He had forgotten his watch and did not know how the time passed; heseemed to be there for hours. 

But at length his heart gave a great beat against his ribs, for all atonce, so silently that he had not heard her approach, Margaret came intoview. She sat on the stone bench. For a moment he dared not move in casethe sound frightened her. He could not tell how to make his presenceknown. But it was necessary to do something to attract her attention, and he could only hope that she would not cry out. 

'Margaret, ' he called softly. 

She did not move, and he repeated her name more loudly. But still shemade no sign that she had heard. He came forward and stood in front ofher. 

'Margaret. '

She looked at him quietly. He might have been someone she had never seteyes on, and yet from her composure she might have expected him to bestanding there. 

'Margaret, don't you know me?'

'What do you want?' she answered placidly. 

He was so taken aback that he did not know what to say. She kept gazingat him steadfastly. On a sudden her calmness vanished, and she sprang toher feet. 

'Is it you really?' she cried, terribly agitated. 'I thought it was onlya shape that mimicked you. '

'Margaret, what do you mean? What has come over you?'

She stretched out her hand and touched him. 

'I'm flesh and blood all right, ' he said, trying to smile. 

She shut her eyes for a moment, as though in an effort to collectherself. 

'I've had hallucinations lately, ' she muttered. 'I thought it was sometrick played upon me. '

Suddenly she shook herself. 

'But what are you doing here? You must go. How did you come? Oh, whywon't you leave me alone?'

'I've been haunted by a feeling that something horrible was going tohappen to you. I was obliged to come. '

'For God's sake, go. You can do me no good. If he finds out you've beenhere--'

She stopped, and her eyes were dilated with terror. Arthur seized herhands. 

'Margaret, I can't go--I can't leave you like this. For Heaven's sake, tell me what is the matter. I'm so dreadfully frightened. '

He was aghast at the difference wrought in her during the two monthssince he had seen her last. Her colour was gone, and her face had thegreyness of the dead. There were strange lines on her forehead, and hereyes had an unnatural glitter. Her youth had suddenly left her. Shelooked as if she were struck down by mortal illness. 

'What is that matter with you?' he asked. 

'Nothing. ' She looked about her anxiously. 'Oh, why don't you go? How canyou be so cruel?'

'I must do something for you, ' he insisted. 

She shook her head. 

'It's too late. Nothing can help me now. ' She paused; and when she spokeagain it was with a voice so ghastly that it might have come from thelips of a corpse. 'I've found out at last what he's going to do with meHe wants me for his great experiment, and the time is growing shorter. '

'What do you mean by saying he wants you?'

'He wants--my life. '

Arthur gave a cry of dismay, but she put up her hand. 

'It's no use resisting. It can't do any good--I think I shall be gladwhen the moment comes. I shall at least cease to suffer. '

'But you must be mad. '

'I don't know. I know that he is. '

'But if your life is in danger, come away for God's sake. After all, you're free. He can't stop you. '

'I should have to go back to him, as I did last time, ' she answered, shaking her head. 'I thought I was free then, but gradually I knew thathe was calling me. I tried to resist, but I couldn't. I simply had to goto him. '

'But it's awful to think that you are alone with a man who's practicallyraving mad. '

'I'm safe for today, ' she said quietly. 'It can only be done in the veryhot weather. If there's no more this year, I shall live till nextsummer. '

'Oh, Margaret, for God's sake don't talk like that. I love you--I want tohave you with me always. Won't you come away with me and let me take careof you? I promise you that no harm shall come to you. '

'You don't love me any more; you're only sorry for me now. '

'It's not true. '

'Oh yes it is. I saw it when we were in the country. Oh, I don't blameyou. I'm a different woman from the one you loved. I'm not the Margaretyou knew. '

'I can never care for anyone but you. '

She put her hand on his arm. 

'If you loved me, I implore you to go. You don't know what you expose meto. And when I'm dead you must marry Susie. She loves you with all herheart, and she deserves your love. '

'Margaret, don't go. Come with me. '

'And take care. He will never forgive you for what you did. If he can, hewill kill you. '

She started violently, as though she heard a sound. Her face wasconvulsed with sudden fear. 

'For God's sake go, go!'

She turned from him quickly, and, before he could prevent her, hadvanished. With heavy heart he plunged again into the bracken. 

When Arthur had given his friends some account of this meeting, hestopped and looked at Dr Porhoët. The doctor went thoughtfully to hisbookcase. 

'What is it you want me to tell you?' he asked. 

'I think the man is mad, ' said Arthur. 'I found out at what asylum hismother was, and by good luck was able to see the superintendent on my waythrough London. He told me that he had grave doubts about Haddo's sanity, but it was impossible at present to take any steps. I came straight herebecause I wanted your advice. Granting that the man is out of his mind, is it possible that he may be trying some experiment that entails asacrifice of human life?'

'Nothing is more probable, ' said Dr Porhoët gravely. 

Susie shuddered. She remembered the rumour that had reached her ears inMonte Carlo. 

'They said there that he was attempting to make living creatures by amagical operation. ' She glanced at the doctor, but spoke to Arthur. 'Justbefore you came in, our friend was talking of that book of Paracelsus inwhich he speaks of feeding the monsters he has made on human blood. '

Arthur gave a horrified cry. 

'The most significant thing to my mind is that fact about Margaret whichwe are certain of, ' said Dr Porhoët. 'All works that deal with the BlackArts are unanimous upon the supreme efficacy of the virginal condition. '

'But what is to be done?' asked Arthur is desperation. 'We can't leaveher in the hands of a raving madman. ' He turned on a sudden deathlywhite. 'For all we know she may be dead now. '

'Have you ever heard of Gilles de Rais?' said Dr Porhoët, continuing hisreflections. 'That is the classic instance of human sacrifice. I know thecountry in which he lived; and the peasants to this day dare not pass atnight in the neighbourhood of the ruined castle which was the scene ofhis horrible crimes. '

'It's awful to know that this dreadful danger hangs over her, and to beable to do nothing. '

'We can only wait, ' said Dr Porhoët. 

'And if we wait too long, we may be faced by a terrible catastrophe. '

'Fortunately we live in a civilized age. Haddo has a great care of hisneck. I hope we are frightened unduly. '

It seemed to Susie that the chief thing was to distract Arthur, and sheturned over in her mind some means of directing his attention to othermatters. 

'I was thinking of going down to Chartres for two days with MrsBloomfield, ' she said. 'Won't you come with me? It is the most lovelycathedral in the world, and I think you will find it restful to wanderabout it for a little while. You can do no good, here or in London. Perhaps when you are calm, you will be able to think of somethingpractical. '

Dr Porhoët saw what her plan was, and joined his entreaties to hers thatArthur should spend a day or two in a place that had no associations forhim. Arthur was too exhausted to argue, and from sheer wearinessconsented. Next day Susie took him to Chartres. Mrs Bloomfield was notrouble to them, and Susie induced him to linger for a week in thatpleasant, quiet town. They passed many hours in the stately cathedral, and they wandered about the surrounding country. Arthur was obliged toconfess that the change had done him good, and a certain apathy succeededthe agitation from which he had suffered so long. Finally Susie persuadedhim to spend three or four weeks in Brittany with Dr Porhoët, who wasproposing to revisit the scenes of his childhood. They returned to Paris. When Arthur left her at the station, promising to meet her again in anhour at the restaurant where they were going to dine with Dr Porhoët, hethanked her for all she had done. 

'I was in an absurdly hysterical condition, ' he said, holding her hand. 'You've been quite angelic. I knew that nothing could be done, and yet Iwas tormented with the desire to do something. Now I've got myself inhand once more. I think my common sense was deserting me, and I was onthe point of believing in the farrago of nonsense which they call magic. After all, it's absurd to think that Haddo is going to do any harm toMargaret. As soon at I get back to London, I'll see my lawyers, and Idaresay something can be done. If he's really mad, we'll have to put himunder restraint, and Margaret will be free. I shall never forget yourkindness. '

Susie smiled and shrugged her shoulders. 

She was convinced that he would forget everything if Margaret came backto him. But she chid herself for the bitterness of the thought. She lovedhim, and she was glad to be able to do anything for him. 

She returned to the hotel, changed her frock, and walked slowly to theChien Noir. It always exhilarated her to come back to Paris; and shelooked with happy, affectionate eyes at the plane trees, the yellow tramsthat rumbled along incessantly, and the lounging people. When shearrived, Dr Porhoët was waiting, and his delight at seeing her again wasflattering and pleasant. They talked of Arthur. They wondered why he waslate. 

In a moment he came in. They saw at once that something quiteextraordinary had taken place. 

'Thank God, I've found you at last!' he cried. 

His face was moving strangely. They had never seen him so discomposed. 

'I've been round to your hotel, but I just missed you. Oh, why did youinsist on my going away?'

'What on earth's the matter?' cried Susie. 

'Something awful has happened to Margaret. '

Susie started to her feet with a sudden cry of dismay. 

'How do you know?' she asked quickly. 

He looked at them for a moment and flushed. He kept his eyes upon them, as though actually to force his listeners into believing what he wasabout to say. 

'I feel it, ' he answered hoarsely. 

'What do you mean?'

'It came upon me quite suddenly, I can't explain why or how. I only knowthat something has happened. '

He began again to walk up and down, prey to an agitation that wasfrightful to behold. Susie and Dr Porhoët stared at him helplessly. Theytried to think of something to say that would calm him. 

'Surely if anything had occurred, we should have been informed. '

He turned to Susie angrily. 

'How do you suppose we could know anything? She was quite helpless. Shewas imprisoned like a rat in a trap. '

'But, my dear friend, you mustn't give way in this fashion, ' said thedoctor. 'What would you say of a patient who came to you with such astory?'

Arthur answered the question with a shrug of the shoulders. 

'I should say he was absurdly hysterical. '

'Well?'

'I can't help it, the feeling's there. If you try all night you'll neverbe able to argue me out of it. I feel it in every bone of my body. Icouldn't be more certain if I saw Margaret lying dead in front of me. '

Susie saw that it was indeed useless to reason with him. The only coursewas to accept his conviction and make the best of it. 

'What do you want us to do?' she asked. 

'I want you both to come to England with me at once. If we start now wecan catch the evening train. '

Susie did not answer, but she got up. She touched the doctor on the arm. 

'Please come, ' she whispered. 

He nodded and untucked the napkin he had already arranged over hiswaistcoat. 

'I've got a cab at the door, ' said Arthur. 

'And what about clothes for Miss Susie?' said the doctor. 

'Oh, we can't wait for that, ' cried Arthur. 'For God's sake, comequickly. '

Susie knew that there was plenty of time to fetch a few necessary thingsbefore the train started, but Arthur's impatience was too great to bewithstood. 

'It doesn't matter, ' she said. 'I can get all I want in England. '

He hurried them to the door and told the cabman to drive to the stationas quickly as ever he could. 

'For Heaven's sake, calm down a little, ' said Susie. 'You'll be no goodto anyone in that state. '

'I feel certain we're too late. '

'Nonsense! I'm convinced that you'll find Margaret safe and sound. '

He did not answer. He gave a sigh of relief as they drove into thecourtyard of the station. 

14

Susie never forgot the horror of that journey to England. They arrived inLondon early in the morning and, without stopping, drove to Euston. Forthree or four days there had been unusual heat, and even at that hour thestreets were sultry and airless. The train north was crowded, and itseemed impossible to get a breath of air. Her head ached, but she wasobliged to keep a cheerful demeanour in the effort to allay Arthur'sincreasing anxiety. Dr Porhoët sat in front of her. After the sleeplessnight his eyes were heavy and his face deeply lined. He was exhausted. At length, after much tiresome changing, they reached Venning. She hadexpected a greater coolness in that northern country; but there was a hotblight over the place, and, as they walked to the inn from the littlestation, they could hardly drag their limbs along. 

Arthur had telegraphed from London that they must have rooms ready, andthe landlady expected them. She recognized Arthur. He passionatelydesired to ask her whether anything had happened since he went away, but forced himself to be silent for a while. He greeted her withcheerfulness. 

'Well, Mrs Smithers, what has been going on since I left you?' he cried. 

'Of course you wouldn't have heard, sir, ' she answered gravely. 

He began to tremble, but with an almost superhuman effort controlled hisvoice. 

'Has the squire hanged himself?' he asked lightly. 

'No sir--but the poor lady's dead. '

He did not answer. He seemed turned to stone. He stared with ghastlyeyes. 

'Poor thing!' said Susie, forcing herself to speak. 'Was it--verysudden?'

The woman turned to Susie, glad to have someone with whom to discuss theevent. She took no notice of Arthur's agony. 

'Yes, mum; no one expected it. She died quite sudden like. She was onlyburied this morning. '

'What did she die of?' asked Susie, her eyes on Arthur. 

She feared that he would faint. She wanted enormously to get him away, but did not know how to manage it. 

'They say it was heart disease, ' answered the landlady. 'Poor thing! It'sa happy release for her. '

'Won't you get us some tea, Mrs Smithers? We're very tired, and we shouldlike something immediately. '

'Yes, miss. I'll get it at once. '

The good woman bustled away. Susie quickly locked the door. She seizedArthur's arm. 

'Arthur, Arthur. '

She expected him to break down. She looked with agony at Dr Porhoët, whostood helplessly by. 

'You couldn't have done anything if you'd been here. You heard what thewoman said. If Margaret died of heart disease, your suspicions were quitewithout ground. '

He shook her away, almost violently. 

'For God's sake, speak to us, ' cried Susie. 

His silence terrified her more than would have done any outburst ofgrief. Dr Porhoët went up to him gently. 

'Don't try to be brave, my friend. You will not suffer as much if youallow yourself a little weakness. '

'For Heaven's sake leave me alone!' said Arthur, hoarsely. 

They drew back and watched him silently. Susie heard their hostess comealong to the sitting-room with tea, and she unlocked the door. Thelandlady brought in the things. She was on the point of leaving them whenArthur stopped her. 

'How do you know that Mrs Haddo died of heart disease?' he askedsuddenly. 

His voice was hard and stern. He spoke with a peculiar abruptness thatmade the poor woman look at him in amazement. 

'Dr Richardson told me so. '

'Had he been attending her?'

'Yes, sir. Mr Haddo had called him in several times to see his lady. '

'Where does Dr Richardson live?'

'Why, sir, he lives at the white house near the station. '

She could not make out why Arthur asked these questions. 

'Did Mr Haddo go to the funeral?'

'Oh yes, sir. I've never seen anyone so upset. '

'That'll do. You can go. '

Susie poured out the tea and handed a cup to Arthur. To her surprise, hedrank the tea and ate some bread and butter. She could not understandhim. The expression of strain, and the restlessness which had been sopainful, were both gone from his face, and it was set now to a look ofgrim determination. At last he spoke to them. 

'I'm going to see this doctor. Margaret's heart was as sound as mine. '

'What are you going to do?'

'Do?'

He turned on her with a peculiar fierceness. 

'I'm going to put a rope round that man's neck, and if the law won't helpme, by God, I'll kill him myself. '

'_Mais, mon ami, vous êtes fou_, ' cried Dr Porhoët, springing up. 

Arthur put out his hand angrily, as though to keep him back. The frown onhis face grew darker. 

'You _must_ leave me alone. Good Heavens, the time has gone by for tearsand lamentation. After all I've gone through for months, I can't weepbecause Margaret is dead. My heart is dried up. But I know that shedidn't die naturally, and I'll never rest so long as that fellow lives. '

He stretched out his hands and with clenched jaws prayed that one day hemight hold the man's neck between them, and see his face turn livid andpurple as he died. 

'I am going to this fool of a doctor, and then I shall go to Skene. '

'You must let us come with you, ' said Susie. 

'You need not be frightened, ' he answered. 'I shall not take any steps ofmy own till I find the law is powerless. '

'I want to come with you all the same. '

'As you like. '

Susie went out and ordered a trap to be got ready. But since Arthur wouldnot wait, she arranged that it should be sent for them to the doctor'sdoor. They went there at once, on foot. 

Dr Richardson was a little man of five-and-fifty, with a fair beard thatwas now nearly white, and prominent blue eyes. He spoke with a broadStaffordshire accent. There was in him something of the farmer, somethingof the well-to-do tradesman, and at the first glance his intelligence didnot impress one. 

Arthur was shewn with his two friends into the consulting-room, and aftera short interval the doctor came in. He was dressed in flannels and hadan old-fashioned racket in his hand. 

'I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, but Mrs Richardson has got a fewlady-friends to tea, and I was just in the middle of a set. '

His effusiveness jarred upon Arthur, whose manner by contrast became morethan usually abrupt. 

'I have just learnt of the death of Mrs Haddo. I was her guardian and heroldest friend. I came to you in the hope that you would be able to tellme something about it. '

Dr Richardson gave him at once, the suspicious glance of a stupid man. 

'I don't know why you come to me instead of to her husband. He will beable to tell you all that you wish to know. '

'I came to you as a fellow-practitioner, ' answered Arthur. 'I am at StLuke's Hospital. ' He pointed to his card, which Dr Richardson still held. 'And my friend is Dr Porhoët, whose name will be familiar to you withrespect to his studies in Malta Fever. '

'I think I read an article of yours in the _B. M. J. _' said the countrydoctor. 

His manner assumed a singular hostility. He had no sympathy with Londonspecialists, whose attitude towards the general practitioner he resented. He was pleased to sneer at their pretensions to omniscience, and quitewilling to pit himself against them. 

'What can I do for you, Mr Burdon?'

'I should be very much obliged if you would tell me as exactly aspossible how Mrs Haddo died. '

'It was a very simple case of endocarditis. '

'May I ask how long before death you were called in?'

The doctor hesitated. He reddened a little. 

'I'm not inclined to be cross-examined, ' he burst out, suddenly making uphis mind to be angry. 'As a surgeon I daresay your knowledge of cardiacdiseases is neither extensive nor peculiar. But this was a very simplecase, and everything was done that was possible. I don't think there'sanything I can tell you. '

Arthur took no notice of the outburst. 

'How many times did you see her?'

'Really, sir, I don't understand your attitude. I can't see that you haveany right to question me. '

'Did you have a post-mortem?'

'Certainly not. In the first place there was no need, as the cause ofdeath was perfectly clear, and secondly you must know as well as I dothat the relatives are very averse to anything of the sort. You gentlemenin Harley Street don't understand the conditions of private practice. Wehaven't the time to do post-mortems to gratify a needless curiosity. '

Arthur was silent for a moment. The little man was evidently convincedthat there was nothing odd about Margaret's death, but his foolishnesswas as great as his obstinacy. It was clear that several motives wouldinduce him to put every obstacle in Arthur's way, and chief of thesewas the harm it would do him if it were discovered that he had given acertificate of death carelessly. He would naturally do anything to avoidsocial scandal. Still Arthur was obliged to speak. 

'I think I'd better tell you frankly that I'm not satisfied, DrRichardson. I can't persuade myself that this lady's death was dueto natural causes. '

'Stuff and nonsense!' cried the other angrily. 'I've been in practice forhard upon thirty-five years, and I'm willing to stake my professionalreputation on it. '

'I have reason to think you are mistaken. '

'And to what do you ascribe death, pray?' asked the doctor. 

'I don't know yet. '

'Upon my soul, I think you must be out of your senses. Really, sir, yourbehaviour is childish. You tell me that you are a surgeon of someeminence ... '

'I surely told you nothing of the sort. '

'Anyhow, you read papers before learned bodies and have them printed. And you come with as silly a story as a Staffordshire peasant who thinkssomeone has been trying to poison him because he's got a stomach-ache. You may be a very admirable surgeon, but I venture to think I am morecapable than you of judging in a case which I attended and you knownothing about. '

'I mean to take the steps necessary to get an order for exhumation, DrRichardson, and I cannot help thinking it will be worth your while toassist me in every possible way. '

'I shall do nothing of the kind. I think you very impertinent, sir. Thereis no need for exhumation, and I shall do everything in my power toprevent it. And I tell you as chairman of the board of magistrates, myopinion will have as great value as any specialist's in Harley Street. '

He flounced to the door and held it open. Susie and Dr Porhoët walkedout; and Arthur, looking down thoughtfully, followed on their heels. DrRichardson slammed the street-door angrily. 

Dr Porhoët slipped his arm in Arthur's. 

'You must be reasonable, my friend, ' he said. 'From his own point of viewthis doctor has all the rights on his side. You have nothing to justifyyour demands. It is monstrous to expect that for a vague suspicion youwill be able to get an order for exhumation. '

Arthur did not answer. The trap was waiting for them. 

'Why do you want to see Haddo?' insisted the doctor. 'You will do no moregood than you have with Dr Richardson. '

'I have made up my mind to see him, ' answered Arthur shortly. 'But thereis no need that either of you should accompany me. '

'If you go, we will come with you, ' said Susie. 

Without a word Arthur jumped into the dog-cart, and Susie took a seat byhis side. Dr Porhoët, with a shrug of the shoulders, mounted behind. Arthur whipped up the pony, and at a smart trot they traversed the threemiles across the barren heath that lay between Venning and Skene. 

When they reached the park gates, the lodgekeeper, as luck would have it, was standing just inside, and she held one of them open for her littleboy to come in. He was playing in the road and showed no inclination todo so. Arthur jumped down. 

'I want to see Mr Haddo, ' he said. 

'Mr Haddo's not in, ' she answered roughly. 

She tried to close the gate, but Arthur quickly put his foot inside. 

'Nonsense! I have to see him on a matter of great importance. '

'Mr Haddo's orders are that no one is to be admitted. '

'I can't help that, I'm proposing to come in, all the same. '

Susie and Dr Porhoët came forward. They promised the small boy a shillingto hold their horse. 

'Now then, get out of here, ' cried the woman. 'You're not coming in, whatever you say. '

She tried to push the gate to, but Arthur's foot prevented her. Paying noheed to her angry expostulations, he forced his way in. He walked quicklyup the drive. The lodge-keeper accompanied him, with shrill abuse. Thegate was left unguarded, and the others were able to follow withoutdifficulty. 

'You can go to the door, but you won't see Mr Haddo, ' the woman criedangrily. 'You'll get me sacked for letting you come. '

Susie saw the house. It was a fine old building in the Elizabethan style, but much in need of repair; and it had the desolate look of a place thathas been uninhabited. The garden that surrounded it had been allowed torun wild, and the avenue up which they walked was green with rank weeds. Here and there a fallen tree, which none had troubled to remove, markedthe owner's negligence. Arthur went to the door and rang a bell. Theyheard it clang through the house as though not a soul lived there. A mancame to the door, and as soon as he opened it, Arthur, expecting to berefused admission, pushed in. The fellow was as angry as the virago, hiswife, who explained noisily how the three strangers had got into thepark. 

'You can't see the squire, so you'd better be off. He's up in the attics, and no one's allowed to go to him. '

The man tried to push Arthur away. 

'Be off with you, or I'll send for the police. '

'Don't be a fool, ' said Arthur. 'I mean to find Mr Haddo. '

The housekeeper and his wife broke out with abuse, to which Arthurlistened in silence. Susie and Dr Porhoët stood by anxiously. They didnot know what to do. Suddenly a voice at their elbows made them start, and the two servants were immediately silent. 

'What can I do for you?'

Oliver Haddo was standing motionless behind them. It startled Susie thathe should have come upon them so suddenly, without a sound. Dr Porhoët, who had not seen him for some time, was astounded at the change which hadtaken place in him. The corpulence which had been his before was becomenow a positive disease. He was enormous. His chin was a mass of heavyfolds distended with fat, and his cheeks were puffed up so that his eyeswere preternaturally small. He peered at you from between the swollenlids. All his features had sunk into that hideous obesity. His ears werehorribly bloated, and the lobes were large and swelled. He had apparentlya difficulty in breathing, for his large mouth, with its scarlet, shininglips, was constantly open. He had grown much balder and now there wasonly a crescent of long hair stretching across the back of his head fromear to ear. There was something terrible about that great shining scalp. His paunch was huge; he was a very tall man and held himself erect, sothat it protruded like a vast barrel. His hands were infinitelyrepulsive; they were red and soft and moist. He was sweating freely, andbeads of perspiration stood on his forehead and on his shaven lip. 

For a moment they all looked at one another in silence. Then Haddo turnedto his servants. 

'Go, ' he said. 

As though frightened out of their wits, they made for the door and with abustling hurry flung themselves out. A torpid smile crossed his face ashe watched them go. Then he moved a step nearer his visitors. His mannerhad still the insolent urbanity which was customary to him. 

'And now, my friends, will you tell me how I can be of service to you?'

'I have come about Margaret's death, ' said Arthur. 

Haddo, as was his habit, did not immediately answer. He looked slowlyfrom Arthur to Dr Porhoët, and from Dr Porhoët to Susie. His eyes restedon her hat, and she felt uncomfortably that he was inventing some gibeabout it. 

'I should have thought this hardly the moment to intrude upon my sorrow, 'he said at last. 'If you have condolences to offer, I venture to suggestthat you might conveniently send them by means of the penny post. '

Arthur frowned. 

'Why did you not let me know that she was ill?' he asked. 

'Strange as it may seem to you, my worthy friend, it never occurred to methat my wife's health could be any business of yours. '

A faint smile flickered once more on Haddo's lips, but his eyes had stillthe peculiar hardness which was so uncanny. Arthur looked at himsteadily. 

'I have every reason to believe that you killed her, ' he said. 

Haddo's face did not for an instant change its expression. 

'And have you communicated your suspicions to the police?'

'I propose to. '

'And, if I am not indiscreet, may I inquire upon what you base them?'

'I saw Margaret three weeks ago, and she told me that she went in terrorof her life. '

'Poor Margaret! She had always the romantic temperament. I think it wasthat which first brought us together. '

'You damned scoundrel!' cried Arthur. 

'My dear fellow, pray moderate your language. This is surely not anoccasion when you should give way to your lamentable taste for abuse. Yououtrage all Miss Boyd's susceptibilities. ' He turned to her with an airywave of his fat hand. 'You must forgive me if I do not offer you thehospitality of Skene, but the loss I have so lately sustained does notpermit me to indulge in the levity of entertaining. '

He gave her an ironical, low bow; then looked once more at Arthur. 

'If I can be of no further use to you, perhaps you would leave me to myown reflections. The lodgekeeper will give you the exact address of thevillage constable. '

Arthur did not answer. He stared into vacancy, as if he were turning overthings in his mind. Then he turned sharply on his heel and walked towardsthe gate. Susie and Dr Porhoët, taken completely aback, did not know whatto do; and Haddo's little eyes twinkled as he watched their discomfiture. 

'I always thought that your friend had deplorable manners, ' he murmured. 

Susie, feeling very ridiculous, flushed, and Dr Porhoët awkwardly tookoff his hat. As they walked away, they felt Haddo's mocking gaze fixedupon them, and they were heartily thankful to reach the gate. They foundArthur waiting for them. 

'I beg your pardon, ' he said, 'I forgot that I was not alone. '

The three of them drove slowly back to the inn. 

'What are you going to do now?' asked Susie. 

For a long time Arthur made no reply, and Susie thought he could not haveheard her. At last he broke the silence. 

'I see that I can do nothing by ordinary methods. I realize that it isuseless to make a public outcry. There is only my own conviction thatMargaret came to a violent end, and I cannot expect anyone to pay heed tothat. '

'After all, it's just possible that she really died of heart disease. '

Arthur gave Susie a long look. He seemed to consider her wordsdeliberately. 

'Perhaps there are means to decide that conclusively, ' he replied atlength, thoughtfully, as though he were talking to himself. 

'What are they?'

Arthur did not answer. When they came to the door of the inn, he stopped. 

'Will you go in? I wish to take a walk by myself, ' he said. 

Susie looked at him anxiously. 

'You're not going to do anything rash?'

'I will do nothing till I have made quite sure that Margaret was foullymurdered. '

He turned on his heel and walked quickly away. It was late now, and theyfound a frugal meal waiting for them in the little sitting-room. Itseemed no use to delay it till Arthur came back, and silently, sorrowfully, they ate. Afterwards, the doctor smoked cigarettes, whileSusie sat at the open window and looked at the stars. She thought ofMargaret, of her beauty and her charming frankness, of her fall and ofher miserable end; and she began to cry quietly. She knew enough of thefacts now to be aware that the wretched girl was not to blame foranything that had happened. A cruel fate had fallen upon her, and she hadbeen as powerless as in the old tales Phaedra, the daughter of Minos, orMyrrha of the beautiful hair. The hours passed, and still Arthur did notreturn. Susie thought now only of him, and she was frightfully anxious. 

But at last he came in. The night was far advanced. He put down his hatand sat down. For a long while he looked silently at Dr. Porhoët. 

'What is it, my friend?' asked the good doctor at length. 

'Do you remember that you told us once of an experiment you made inAlexandria?' he said, after some hesitation. 

He spoke in a curious voice. 

'You told us that you took a boy, and when he looked in a magic mirror, he saw things which he could not possibly have known. '

'I remember very well, ' said the doctor. 

'I was much inclined to laugh at you at the time. I was convinced thatthe boy was a knave who deceived you. '

'Yes?'

'Of late I've thought of that story often. Some hidden recess of mymemory has been opened, and I seem to remember strange things. Was Ithe boy who looked in the ink?'

'Yes, ' said the doctor quietly. 

Arthur did not say anything. A profound silence fell upon them, whileSusie and the doctor watched him intently. They wondered what was in hismind. 

'There is a side of my character which I did not know till lately, 'Arthur said at last. 'When first it dawned upon me, I fought against it. I said to myself that deep down in all of us, a relic from the long past, is the remains of the superstition that blinded our fathers; and it isneedful for the man of science to fight against it with all his might. And yet it was stronger than I. Perhaps my birth, my early years, inthose Eastern lands where everyone believes in the supernatural, affectedme although I did not know it. I began to remember vague, mysteriousthings, which I never knew had been part of my knowledge. And at last oneday it seemed that a new window was opened on to my soul, and I saw withextraordinary clearness the incident which you had described. I knewsuddenly it was part of my own experience. I saw you take me by the handand pour the ink on my palm and bid me look at it. I felt again thestrange glow that thrilled me, and with an indescribable bitterness I sawthings in the mirror which were not there before. I saw people whom I hadnever seen. I saw them perform certain actions. And some force I knewnot, obliged me to speak. And at length everything grew dim, and I was asexhausted as if I had not eaten all day. '

He went over to the open window and looked out. Neither of the othersspoke. The look on Arthur's face, curiously outlined by the light of thelamp, was very stern. He seemed to undergo some mental struggle ofextraordinary violence. He breath came quickly. At last he turned andfaced them. He spoke hoarsely, quickly. 

'I must see Margaret again. '

'Arthur, you're mad!' cried Susie. 

He went up to Dr Porhoët and, putting his hands on his shoulders, lookedfixedly into his eyes. 

'You have studied this science. You know all that can be known of it. Iwant you to show her to me. '

The doctor gave an exclamation of alarm. 

'My dear fellow, how can I? I have read many books, but I have neverpractised anything. I have only studied these matters for my amusement. '

'Do you believe it can be done?'

'I don't understand what you want. '

'I want you to bring her to me so that I may speak with her, so that Imay find out the truth. '

'Do you think I am God that I can raise men from the dead?'

Arthur's hands pressed him down in the chair from which he sought torise. His fingers were clenched on the old man's shoulders so that hecould hardly bear the pain. 

'You told us how once Eliphas Levi raised a spirit. Do you believe thatwas true?'

'I don't know. I have always kept an open mind. There was much to be saidon both sides. '

'Well, now you must believe. You must do what he did. '

'You must be mad, Arthur. '

'I want you to come to that spot where I saw her last. If her spirit canbe brought back anywhere, it must be in that place where she sat andwept. You know all the ceremonies and all the words that are necessary. '

But Susie came forward and laid her hand on his arm. He looked at herwith a frown. 

'Arthur, you know in your heart that nothing can come of it. You're onlyincreasing your unhappiness. And even if you could bring her from thegrave for a moment, why can you not let her troubled soul rest in peace?'

'If she died a natural death we shall have no power over her, but if herdeath was violent perhaps her spirit is earthbound still. I tell you Imust be certain. I want to see her once more, and afterwards I shall knowwhat to do. '

'I cannot, I cannot, ' said the doctor. 

'Give me the books and I will do it alone. '

'You know that I have nothing here. '

'Then you must help me, ' said Arthur. 'After all, why should you mind? Weperform a certain operation, and if nothing happens we are no worse offthen before. On the other hand, if we succeed.... Oh, for God's sake, help me! If you have any care for my happiness do this one thing for me. '

He stepped back and looked at the doctor. The Frenchman's eyes were fixedupon the ground. 

'It's madness, ' he muttered. 

He was intensely moved by Arthur's appeal. At last he shrugged hisshoulders. 

'After all, if it is but a foolish mummery it can do no harm. '

'You will help me?' cried Arthur. 

'If it can give you any peace or any satisfaction, I am willing to dowhat I can. But I warn you to be prepared for a great disappointment. '

15

Arthur wished to set about the invocation then and there, but Dr Porhoëtsaid it was impossible. They were all exhausted after the long journey, and it was necessary to get certain things together without which nothingcould be done. In his heart he thought that a night's rest would bringArthur to a more reasonable mind. When the light of day shone upon theearth he would be ashamed of the desire which ran counter to all hisprepossessions. But Arthur remembered that on the next day it would beexactly a week since Margaret's death, and it seemed to him that thentheir spells might have a greater efficacy. 

When they came down in the morning and greeted one another, it was plainthat none of them had slept. 

'Are you still of the same purpose as last night?' asked Dr Porhoëtgravely. 

'I am. '

The doctor hesitated nervously. 

'It will be necessary, if you wish to follow out the rules of the oldnecromancers, to fast through the whole day. '

'I am ready to do anything. '

'It will be no hardship to me, ' said Susie, with a little hystericallaugh. 'I feel I couldn't eat a thing if I tried. '

'I think the whole affair is sheer folly, ' said Dr Porhoët. 

'You promised me you would try. '

The day, the long summer day, passed slowly. There was a hard brilliancyin the sky that reminded the Frenchman of those Egyptian heavens whenthe earth seemed crushed beneath a bowl of molten fire. Arthur was toorestless to remain indoors and left the others to their own devices. Hewalked without aim, as fast as he could go; he felt no weariness. Theburning sun beat down upon him, but he did not know it. The hours passedwith lagging feet. Susie lay on her bed and tried to read. Her nerveswere so taut that, when there was a sound in the courtyard of a pailfalling on the cobbles, she cried out in terror. The sun rose, andpresently her window was flooded with quivering rays of gold. It wasmidday. The day passed, and it was afternoon. The evening came, but itbrought no freshness. Meanwhile Dr Porhoët sat in the little parlour, with his head between his hands, trying by a great mental effort to bringback to his memory all that he had read. His heart began to beat morequickly. Then the night fell, and one by one the stars shone out. Therewas no wind. The air was heavy. Susie came downstairs and began to talkwith Dr Porhoët. But they spoke in a low tone, as if they were afraidthat someone would overhear. They were faint now with want of food. Thehours went one by one, and the striking of a clock filled them each timewith a mysterious apprehension. The lights in the village were put outlittle by little, and everybody slept. Susie had lighted the lamp, andthey watched beside it. A cold shiver passed through her. 

'I feel as though someone were lying dead in the room, ' she said. 

'Why does not Arthur come?'

They spoke inconsequently, and neither heeded what the other said. Thewindow was wide open, but the air was difficult to breathe. And now thesilence was so unusual that Susie grew strangely nervous. She tried tothink of the noisy streets in Paris, the constant roar of traffic, andthe shuffling of the crowds toward evening as the work people returned totheir homes. She stood up. 

'There's no air tonight. Look at the trees. Not a leaf is moving. '

'Why does not Arthur come?' repeated the doctor. 

'There's no moon tonight. It will be very dark at Skene. '

'He's walked all day. He should be here by now. '

Susie felt an extraordinary oppression, and she panted for breath. Atlast they heard a step on the road outside, and Arthur stood at thewindow. 

'Are you ready to come?' he said. 

'We've been waiting for you. '

They joined him, bringing the few things that Dr Porhoët had said werenecessary, and they walked along the solitary road that led to Skene. On each side the heather stretched into the dark night, and there wasa blackness about it that was ominous. There was no sound save that oftheir own steps. Dimly, under the stars, they saw the desolation withwhich they were surrounded. The way seemed very long. They were utterlyexhausted, and they could hardly drag one foot after the other. 

'You must let me rest for a minute, ' said Susie. 

They did not answer, but stopped, and she sat on a boulder by thewayside. They stood motionless in front of her, waiting patiently tillshe was ready. After a little while she forced herself to get up. 

'Now I can go, ' she said. 

Still they did not speak, but walked on. They moved like figures ina dream, with a stealthy directness, as though they acted under theinfluence of another's will. Suddenly the road stopped, and they foundthemselves at the gates of Skene. 

'Follow me very closely, ' said Arthur. 

He turned on one side, and they followed a paling. Susie could feel thatthey walked along a narrow path. She could see hardly two steps in frontof her. At last he stood still. 

'I came here earlier in the night and made the opening easier to getthrough. '

He turned back a broken piece of railing and slipped in. Susie followed, and Dr Porhoët entered after her. 

'I can see nothing, ' said Susie. 

'Give my your hand, and I will lead you. '

They walked with difficulty through the tangled bracken, among closelyplanted trees. They stumbled, and once Dr Porhoët fell. It seemed thatthey went a long way. Susie's heart beat fast with anxiety. All herweariness was forgotten. 

Then Arthur stopped them, and he pointed in front of him. Through anopening in the trees, they saw the house. All the windows were darkexcept those just under the roof, and from them came bright lights. 

'Those are the attics which he uses as a laboratory. You see, he isworking now. There is no one else in the house. '

Susie was curiously fascinated by the flaming lights. There was an awfulmystery in those unknown labours which absorbed Oliver Haddo night afternight till the sun rose. What horrible things were done there, hiddenfrom the eyes of men? By himself in that vast house the madman performedghastly experiments; and who could tell what dark secrets he traffickedin?

'There is no danger that he will come out, ' said Arthur. 'He remainsthere till the break of day. '

He took her hand again and led her on. Back they went among the trees, and presently they were on a pathway. They walked along with greatersafety. 

'Are you all right, Porhoët?' asked Arthur. 

'Yes. '

But the trees grew thicker and the night more sombre. Now the stars wereshut out, and they could hardly see in front of them. 

'Here we are, ' said Arthur. 

They stopped, and found that there was in front of them a green spaceformed by four cross-ways. In the middle a stone bench gleamed vaguelyagainst the darkness. 

'This is where Margaret sat when last I saw her. '

'I can see to do nothing here, ' said the doctor. 

They had brought two flat bowls of brass to serve as censers, and theseArthur gave to Dr Porhoët. He stood by Susie's side while the doctorbusied himself with his preparations. They saw him move to and fro. Theysaw him bend to the ground. Presently there was a crackling of wood, andfrom the brazen bowls red flames shot up. They did not know what heburnt, but there were heavy clouds of smoke, and a strong, aromaticodour filled the air. Now and again the doctor was sharply silhouettedagainst the light. His slight, bowed figure was singularly mysterious. When Susie caught sight of his face, she saw that it was touched with astrong emotion. The work he was at affected him so that his doubts, hisfears, had vanished. He looked like some old alchemist busied withunnatural things. Susie's heart began to beat painfully. She was growingdesperately frightened and stretched out her hand so that she might touchArthur. Silently he put his arm through hers. And now the doctor wastracing strange signs upon the ground. The flames died down and only aglow remained, but he seemed to have no difficulty in seeing what he wasabout. Susie could not discern what figures he drew. Then he put moretwigs upon the braziers, and the flames sprang up once more, cutting thedarkness sharply as with a sword. 

'Now come, ' he said. 

But, inexplicably, a sudden terror seized Susie. She felt that the hairsof her head stood up, and a cold sweat broke out on her body. Her limbshad grown on an instant inconceivably heavy so that she could not move. A panic such as she had never known came upon her, and, except that herlegs would not carry her, she would have fled blindly. She began totremble. She tried to speak, but her tongue clave to her throat. 

'I can't, I'm afraid, ' she muttered hoarsely. 

'You must. Without you we can do nothing, ' said Arthur. 

She could not reason with herself. She had forgotten everything exceptthat she was frightened to death. Her heart was beating so quickly thatshe almost fainted. And now Arthur held her, so firmly that she winced. 

'Let me go, ' she whispered. 'I won't help you. I'm afraid. '

'You must, ' he said. 'You must. '

'No. '

'I tell you, you must come. '

'Why?'

Her deadly fear expressed itself in a passion of sudden anger. 

'Because you love me, and it's the only way to give me peace. '

She uttered a low wail of pain, and her terror gave way to shame. Sheblushed to the roots of her hair because he too knew her secret. And thenshe was seized again with anger because he had the cruelty to taunt herwith it. She had recovered her courage now, and she stepped forward. Dr. Porhoët told her where to stand. Arthur took his place in front of her. 

'You must not move till I give you leave. If you go outside the figure Ihave drawn, I cannot protect you. '

For a moment Dr Porhoët stood in perfect silence. Then he began to recitestrange words in Latin. Susie heard him but vaguely. She did not know thesense, and his voice was so low that she could not have distinguished thewords. But his intonation had lost that gentle irony which was habitualto him, and he spoke with a trembling gravity that was extraordinarilyimpressive. Arthur stood immobile as a rock. The flames died away, andthey saw one another only by the glow of the ashes, dimly, like personsin a vision of death. There was silence. Then the necromancer spokeagain, and now his voice was louder. He seemed to utter weirdinvocations, but they were in a tongue that the others knew not. Andwhile he spoke the light from the burning cinders on a sudden went out. 

It did not die, but was sharply extinguished, as though by invisiblehands. And now the darkness was more sombre than that of the blackestnight. The trees that surrounded them were hidden from their eyes, andthe whiteness of the stone bench was seen no longer. They stood but alittle way one from the other, but each might have stood alone. Susiestrained her eyes, but she could see nothing. She looked up quickly;the stars were gone out, and she could see no further over her head thanround about. The darkness was terrifying. And from it, Dr Porhoët's voicehad a ghastly effect. It seemed to come, wonderfully changed, from thevoid of bottomless chaos. Susie clenched her hands so that she might notfaint. 

All at once she started, for the old man's voice was cut by a sudden gustof wind. A moment before, the utter silence had been almost intolerable, and now a storm seemed to have fallen upon them. The trees all aroundthem rocked in the wind; they heard the branches creak; and they heardthe hissing of the leaves. They were in the midst of a hurricane. Andthey felt the earth sway as it resisted the straining roots of greattrees, which seemed to be dragged up by the force of the furious gale. Whistling and roaring, the wind stormed all about them, and the doctor, raising his voice, tried in vain to command it. But the strangest thingof all was that, where they stood, there was no sign of the raging blast. The air immediately about them was as still as it had been before, andnot a hair on Susie's head was moved. And it was terrible to hear thetumult, and yet to be in a calm that was almost unnatural. 

On a sudden, Dr Porhoët raised his voice, and with a sternness they hadnever heard in it before, cried out in that unknown language. Then hecalled upon Margaret. He called her name three times. In the uproar Susiecould scarcely hear. Terror had seized her again, but in her confusionshe remembered his command, and she dared not move. 

'Margaret, Margaret, Margaret. '

Without a pause between, as quickly as a stone falls to the ground, thedin which was all about them ceased. There was no gradual diminution. Butat one moment there was a roaring hurricane and at the next a silence socomplete that it might have been the silence of death. 

And then, seeming to come out of nothingness, extraordinarily, they heardwith a curious distinctness the sound of a woman weeping. Susie's heartstood still. They heard the sound of a woman weeping, and they recognizedthe voice of Margaret. A groan of anguish burst from Arthur's lips, andhe was on the point of starting forward. But quickly Dr Porhoët put outhis hand to prevent him. The sound was heartrending, the sobbing of awoman who had lost all hope, the sobbing of a woman terrified. If Susiehad been able to stir, she would have put her hands to her ears to shutout the ghastly agony of it. 

And in a moment, notwithstanding the heavy darkness of the starlessnight, Arthur saw her. She was seated on the stone bench as when last hehad spoken with her. In her anguish she sought not to hide her face. Shelooked at the ground, and the tears fell down her cheeks. Her bosomheaved with the pain of her weeping. 

Then Arthur knew that all his suspicions were justified. 

16

Arthur would not leave the little village of Venning. Neither Susie northe doctor could get him to make any decision. None of them spoke of thenight which they had spent in the woods of Skene; but it coloured alltheir thoughts, and they were not free for a single moment from theghastly memory of it. They seemed still to hear the sound of thatpassionate weeping. Arthur was moody. When he was with them, he spokelittle; he opposed a stubborn resistance to their efforts at divertinghis mind. He spent long hours by himself, in the country, and they had noidea what he did. Susie was terribly anxious. He had lost his balance socompletely that she was prepared for any rashness. She divined that hishatred of Haddo was no longer within the bounds of reason. The desire forvengeance filled him entirely, so that he was capable of any violence. 

Several days went by. 

At last, in concert with Dr Porhoët, she determined to make one moreattempt. It was late at night, and they sat with open windows in thesitting-room of the inn. There was a singular oppressiveness in the airwhich suggested that a thunderstorm was at hand. Susie prayed for it; forshe ascribed to the peculiar heat of the last few days much of Arthur'ssullen irritability. 

'Arthur, you _must_ tell us what you are going to do, ' she said. 'Itis useless to stay here. We are all so ill and nervous that we cannotconsider anything rationally. We want you to come away with us tomorrow. '

'You can go if you choose, ' he said. 'I shall remain till that man isdead. '

'It is madness to talk like that. You can do nothing. You are only makingyourself worse by staying here. '

'I have quite made up my mind. '

'The law can offer you no help, and what else can you do?'

She asked the question, meaning if possible to get from him some hint ofhis intentions; but the grimness of his answer, though it only confirmedher vague suspicions, startled her. 

'If I can do nothing else, I shall shoot him like a dog. '

She could think of nothing to say, and for a while they remained insilence. Then he got up. 

'I think I should prefer it if you went, ' he said. 'You can only hamperme. '

'I shall stay here as long as you do. '

'Why?'

'Because if you do anything, I shall be compromised. I may be arrested. Ithink the fear of that may restrain you. '

He looked at her steadily. She met his eyes with a calmness whichshowed that she meant exactly what she said, and he turned uneasilyaway. A silence even greater than before fell upon them. They did notmove. It was so still in the room that it might have been empty. Thebreathlessness of the air increased, so that it was horribly oppressive. Suddenly there was a loud rattle of thunder, and a flash of lightningtore across the heavy clouds. Susie thanked Heaven for the storm whichwould give presently a welcome freshness. She felt excessively ill atease, and it was a relief to ascribe her sensation to a state of theatmosphere. Again the thunder rolled. It was so loud that it seemed tobe immediately above their heads. And the wind rose suddenly and sweptwith a long moan through the trees that surrounded the house. It was asound so human that it might have come from the souls of dead mensuffering hopeless torments of regret. 

The lamp went out, so suddenly that Susie was vaguely frightened. It gaveone flicker, and they were in total darkness. It seemed as though someonehad leaned over the chimney and blown it out. The night was very black, and they could not see the window which opened on to the country. Thedarkness was so peculiar that for a moment no one stirred. 

Then Susie heard Dr Porhoët slip his hand across the table to findmatches, but it seemed that they were not there. Again a loud peal ofthunder startled them, but the rain would not fall. They panted for freshair. On a sudden Susie's heart gave a bound, and she sprang up. 

'There's someone in the room. '

The words were no sooner out of her mouth than she heard Arthur flinghimself upon the intruder. She knew at once, with the certainty of anintuition, that it was Haddo. But how had he come in? What did he want?She tried to cry out, but no sound came from her throat. Dr Porhoëtseemed bound to his chair. He did not move. He made no sound. She knewthat an awful struggle was proceeding. It was a struggle to the deathbetween two men who hated one another, but the most terrible part of itwas that nothing was heard. They were perfectly noiseless. She tried todo something, but she could not stir. And Arthur's heart exulted, for hisenemy was in his grasp, under his hands, and he would not let him gowhile life was in him. He clenched his teeth and tightened his strainingmuscles. Susie heard his laboured breathing, but she only heard thebreathing of one man. She wondered in abject terror what that could mean. They struggled silently, hand to hand, and Arthur knew that his strengthwas greater. He had made up his mind what to do and directed all hisenergy to a definite end. His enemy was extraordinarily powerful, butArthur appeared to create some strength from the sheer force of his will. It seemed for hours that they struggled. He could not bear him down. 

Suddenly, he knew that the other was frightened and sought to escape fromhim. Arthur tightened his grasp; for nothing in the world now would heever loosen his hold. He took a deep, quick breath, and then put out allhis strength in a tremendous effort. They swayed from side to side. Arthur felt as if his muscles were being torn from the bones, he couldnot continue for more than a moment longer; but the agony that flashedacross his mind at the thought of failure braced him to a sudden angryjerk. All at once Haddo collapsed, and they fell heavily to the ground. Arthur was breathing more quickly now. He thought that if he could keepon for one instant longer, he would be safe. He threw all his weight onthe form that rolled beneath him, and bore down furiously on the man'sarm. He twisted it sharply, with all his might, and felt it give way. Hegave a low cry of triumph; the arm was broken. And now his enemy wasseized with panic; he struggled madly, he wanted only to get away fromthose long hands that were killing him. They seemed to be of iron. Arthurseized the huge bullock throat and dug his fingers into it, and they sunkinto the heavy rolls of fat; and he flung the whole weight of his bodyinto them. He exulted, for he knew that his enemy was in his power atlast; he was strangling him, strangling the life out of him. He wantedlight so that he might see the horror of that vast face, and the deadlyfear, and the staring eyes. And still he pressed with those iron hands. And now the movements were strangely convulsive. His victim writhed inthe agony of death. His struggles were desperate, but the avenging handsheld him as in a vice. And then the movements grew spasmodic, and thenthey grew weaker. Still the hands pressed upon the gigantic throat, andArthur forgot everything. He was mad with rage and fury and hate andsorrow. He thought of Margaret's anguish and of her fiendish torture, andhe wished the man had ten lives so that he might take them one by one. And at last all was still, and that vast mass of flesh was motionless, and he knew that his enemy was dead. He loosened his grasp and slippedone hand over the heart. It would never beat again. The man was stonedead. Arthur got up and straightened himself. The darkness was intensestill, and he could see nothing. Susie heard him, and at length she wasable to speak. 

'Arthur what have you done?'

'I've killed him, ' he said hoarsely. 

'O God, what shall we do?'

Arthur began to laugh aloud, hysterically, and in the darkness hishilarity was terrifying. 

'For God's sake let us have some light. '

'I've found the matches, ' said Dr Porhoët. 

He seemed to awake suddenly from his long stupor. He struck one, and itwould not light. He struck another, and Susie took off the globe and thechimney as he kindled the wick. Then he held up the lamp, and they sawArthur looking at them. His face was ghastly. The sweat ran off hisforehead in great beads, and his eyes were bloodshot. He trembled inevery limb. Then Dr Porhoët advanced with the lamp and held it forward. They looked down on the floor for the man who lay there dead. Susie gavea sudden cry of horror. 

There was no one there. 

Arthur stepped back in terrified surprise. There was no one in the room, living or dead, but the three friends. The ground sank under Susie'sfeet, she felt horribly ill, and she fainted. When she awoke, seemingdifficultly to emerge from an eternal night, Arthur was holding down herhead. 

'Bend down, ' he said. 'Bend down. '

All that had happened came back to her, and she burst into tears. Herself-control deserted her, and, clinging to him for protection, shesobbed as though her heart would break. She was shaking from head tofoot. The strangeness of this last horror had overcome her, and she couldhave shrieked with fright. 

'It's all right, ' he said. 'You need not be afraid. '

'Oh, what does it mean?'

'You must pluck up courage. We're going now to Skene. '

She sprang to her feet, as though to get away from him; her heart beatwildly. 

'No, I can't; I'm frightened. '

'We must see what it means. We have no time to lose, or the morning willbe upon us before we get back. '

Then she sought to prevent him. 

'Oh, for God's sake, don't go, Arthur. Something awful may await youthere. Don't risk your life. '

'There is no danger. I tell you the man is dead. '

'If anything happened to you ... '

She stopped, trying to restrain her sobs; she dared not go on. But heseemed to know what was in her mind. 

'I will take no risks, because of you. I know that whether I live or dieis not a--matter of indifference to you. '

She looked up and saw that his eyes were fixed upon her gravely. Shereddened. A curious feeling came into her heart. 

'I will go with you wherever you choose, ' she said humbly. 

'Come, then. '

They stepped out into the night. And now, without rain, the storm hadpassed away, and the stars were shining. They walked quickly. Arthurwent in front of them. Dr Porhoët and Susie followed him, side by side, and they had to hasten their steps in order not to be left behind. Itseemed to them that the horror of the night was passed, and there wasa fragrancy in the air which was wonderfully refreshing. The sky wasbeautiful. And at last they came to Skene. Arthur led them again to theopening in the palisade, and he took Susie's hand. Presently they stoodin the place from which a few days before they had seen the house. Asthen, it stood in massive blackness against the night and, as then, theattic windows shone out with brilliant lights. Susie started, for shehad expected that the whole place would be in darkness. 

'There is no danger, I promise you, ' said Arthur gently. 'We are going tofind out the meaning of all this mystery. '

He began to walk towards the house. 

'Have you a weapon of some sort?' asked the doctor. 

Arthur handed him a revolver. 

'Take this. It will reassure you, but you will have no need of it. Ibought it the other day when--I had other plans. '

Susie gave a little shudder. They reached the drive and walked to thegreat portico which adorned the facade of the house. Arthur tried thehandle, but it would not open. 

'Will you wait here?' he said. 'I can get through one of the windows, andI will let you in. '

He left them. They stood quietly there, with anxious hearts; they couldnot guess what they would see. They were afraid that something wouldhappen to Arthur, and Susie regretted that she had not insisted on goingwith him. Suddenly she remembered that awful moment when the light of thelamp had been thrown where all expected to see a body, and there wasnothing. 

'What do you think it meant?' she cried suddenly. 'What is theexplanation?'

'Perhaps we shall see now, ' answered the doctor. 

Arthur still lingered, and she could not imagine what had become of him. All sorts of horrible fancies passed through her mind, and she dreadedshe knew not what. At last they heard a footstep inside the house, andthe door was opened. 

'I was convinced that nobody slept here, but I was obliged to make sure. I had some difficulty in getting in. '

Susie hesitated to enter. She did not know what horrors awaited her, andthe darkness was terrifying. 

'I cannot see, ' she said. 

'I've brought a torch, ' said Arthur. 

He pressed a button, and a narrow ray of bright light was cast upon thefloor. Dr Porhoët and Susie went in. Arthur carefully closed the door, and flashed the light of his torch all round them. They stood in a largehall, the floor of which was scattered with the skins of lions that Haddoon his celebrated expedition had killed in Africa. There were perhapsa dozen, and their number gave a wild, barbaric note. A great oakstaircase led to the upper floors. 

'We must go through all the rooms, ' said Arthur. 

He did not expect to find Haddo till they came to the lighted attics, butit seemed needful nevertheless to pass right through the house on theirway. A flash of his torch had shown him that the walls of the hall weredecorated with all manner of armour, ancient swords of Eastern handiwork, barbaric weapons from central Africa, savage implements of medievalwarfare; and an idea came to him. He took down a huge battle-axe andswung it in his hand. 

'Now come. '

Silently, holding their breath as though they feared to wake the dead, they went into the first room. They saw it difficultly with their scantlight, since the thin shaft of brilliancy, emphasising acutely thesurrounding darkness, revealed it only piece by piece. It was a largeroom, evidently unused, for the furniture was covered with holland, andthere was a mustiness about it which suggested that the windows wereseldom opened. As in many old houses, the rooms led not from a passagebut into one another, and they walked through many till they came backinto the hall. They had all a desolate, uninhabited air. Their sombrenesswas increased by the oak with which they were panelled. There waspanelling in the hall too, and on the stairs that led broadly to thetop of the house. As they ascended, Arthur stopped for one moment andpassed his hand over the polished wood. 

'It would burn like tinder, ' he said. 

They went through the rooms on the first floor, and they were as emptyand as cheerless. Presently they came to that which had been Margaret's. In a bowl were dead flowers. Her brushes were still on the toilet table. But it was a gloomy chamber, with its dark oak, and, so comfortless thatSusie shuddered. Arthur stood for a time and looked at it, but he saidnothing. They found themselves again on the stairs and they went to thesecond storey. But here they seemed to be at the top of the house. 

'How does one get up to the attics?' said Arthur, looking about him withsurprise. 

He paused for a while to think. Then he nodded his head. 

'There must be some steps leading out of one of the rooms. '

They went on. And now the ceilings were much lower, with heavy beams, and there was no furniture at all. The emptiness seemed to makeeverything more terrifying. They felt that they were on the thresholdof a great mystery, and Susie's heart began to beat fast. Arthurconducted his examination with the greatest method; he walked roundeach room carefully, looking for a door that might lead to a staircase;but there was no sign of one. 

'What will you do if you can't find the way up?' asked Susie. 

'I shall find the way up, ' he answered. 

They came to the staircase once more and had discovered nothing. Theylooked at one another helplessly. 

'It's quite clear there is a way, ' said Arthur, with impatience. 'Theremust be something in the nature of a hidden door somewhere or other. '

He leaned against the balustrade and meditated. The light of his lanternthrew a narrow ray upon the opposite wall. 

'I feel certain it must be in one of the rooms at the end of the house. That seems the most natural place to put a means of ascent to theattics. '

They went back, and again he examined the panelling of a small room thathad outside walls on three sides of it. It was the only room that did notlead into another. 

'It must be here, ' he said. 

Presently he gave a little laugh, for he saw that a small door wasconcealed by the woodwork. He pressed it where he thought there might bea spring, and it flew open. Their torch showed them a narrow woodenstaircase. They walked up and found themselves in front of a door. Arthurtried it, but it was locked. He smiled grimly. 

'Will you get back a little, ' he said. 

He lifted his axe and swung it down upon the latch. The handle wasshattered, but the lock did not yield. He shook his head. As he pausedfor a moment, an there was a complete silence, Susie distinctly heard aslight noise. She put her hand on Arthur's arm to call his attention toit, and with strained ears they listened. There was something alive onthe other side of the door. They heard its curious sound: it was not thatof a human voice, it was not the crying of an animal, it wasextraordinary. 

It was the sort of gibber, hoarse and rapid, and it filled them with anicy terror because it was so weird and so unnatural. 

'Come away, Arthur, ' said Susie. 'Come away. '

'There's some living thing in there, ' he answered. 

He did not know why the sound horrified him. The sweat broke out on hisforehead. 

'Something awful will happen to us, ' whispered Susie, shaking withuncontrollable fear. 

'The only thing is to break the door down. '

The horrid gibbering was drowned by the noise he made. Quickly, withoutpausing, he began to hack at the oak door with all his might. In rapidsuccession his heavy blows rained down, and the sound echoed through theempty house. There was a crash, and the door swung back. They had been solong in almost total darkness that they were blinded for an instant bythe dazzling light. And then instinctively they started back, for, as thedoor opened, a wave of heat came out upon them so that they could hardlybreathe. The place was like an oven. 

They entered. It was lit by enormous lamps, the light of which wasincreased by reflectors, and warmed by a great furnace. They could notunderstand why so intense a heat was necessary. The narrow windows wereclosed. Dr Porhoët caught sight of a thermometer and was astounded at thetemperature it indicated. The room was used evidently as a laboratory. Onbroad tables were test-tubes, basins and baths of white porcelain, measuring-glasses, and utensils of all sorts; but the surprising thingwas the great scale upon which everything was. Neither Arthur nor DrPorhoët had ever seen such gigantic measures nor such large test-tubes. There were rows of bottles, like those in the dispensary of a hospital, each containing great quantities of a different chemical. The threefriends stood in silence. The emptiness of the room contrasted so oddlywith its appearance of being in immediate use that it was uncanny. Susiefelt that he who worked there was in the midst of his labours, and mightreturn at any moment; he could have only gone for an instant into anotherchamber in order to see the progress of some experiment. It was quitesilent. Whatever had made those vague, unearthly noises was hushed bytheir approach. 

The door was closed between this room and the next. Arthur opened it, andthey found themselves in a long, low attic, ceiled with great rafters, asbrilliantly lit and as hot as the first. Here too were broad tables ladenwith retorts, instruments for heating, huge test-tubes, and all manner ofvessels. The furnace that warmed it gave a steady heat. Arthur's gazetravelled slowly from table to table, and he wondered what Haddo'sexperiments had really been. The air was heavy with an extraordinaryodour: it was not musty, like that of the closed rooms through which theyhad passed, but singularly pungent, disagreeable and sickly. He askedhimself what it could spring from. Then his eyes fell upon a hugereceptacle that stood on the table nearest to the furnace. It was coveredwith a white cloth. He took it off. The vessel was about four feet high, round, and shaped somewhat like a washing tub, but it was made of glassmore than an inch thick. In it a spherical mass, a little larger than afootball, of a peculiar, livid colour. The surface was smooth, but rathercoarsely grained, and over it ran a dense system of blood-vessels. Itreminded the two medical men of those huge tumours which are preserved inspirit in hospital museums. Susie looked at it with an incomprehensibledisgust. Suddenly she gave a cry. 

'Good God, it's moving!'

Arthur put his hand on her arm quickly to quieten her and bent down withirresistible curiosity. They saw that it was a mass of flesh unlike thatof any human being; and it pulsated regularly. The movement was quitedistinct, up and down, like the delicate heaving of a woman's breast whenshe is asleep. Arthur touched the thing with one finger and it shrankslightly. 

'Its quite warm, ' he said. 

He turned it over, and it remained in the position in which he had placedit, as if there were neither top nor bottom to it. But they could seenow, irregularly placed on one side, a few short hairs. They were justlike human hairs. 

'Is it alive?' whispered Susie, struck with horror and amazement. 

'Yes!'

Arthur seemed fascinated. He could not take his eyes off the loathsomething. He watched it slowly heave with even motion. 

'What can it mean?' he asked. 

He looked at Dr Porhoët with pale startled face. A thought was coming tohim, but a thought so unnatural, extravagant, and terrible that he pushedit from him with a movement of both hands, as though it were a materialthing. Then all three turned around abruptly with a start, for they heardagain the wild gibbering which had first shocked their ears. In thewonder of this revolting object they had forgotten all the rest. Thesound seemed extraordinarily near, and Susie drew back instinctively, forit appeared to come from her very side. 

'There's nothing here, ' said Arthur. 'It must be in the next room. '

'Oh, Arthur, let us go, ' cried Susie. 'I'm afraid to see what may be instore for us. It is nothing to us; and what we see may poison our sleepfor ever. '

She looked appealingly at Dr Porhoët. He was white and anxious. The heatof that place had made the sweat break out on his forehead. 

'I have seen enough. I want to see no more, ' he said. 

'Then you may go, both of you, ' answered Arthur. 'I do not wish to forceyou to see anything. But I shall go on. Whatever it is, I wish to findout. '

'But Haddo? Supposing he is there, waiting? Perhaps you are only walkinginto a trap that he has set for you. '

'I am convinced that Haddo is dead. '

Again that unintelligible jargon, unhuman and shrill, fell upon theirears, and Arthur stepped forward. Susie did not hesitate. She wasprepared to follow him anywhere. He opened the door, and there was asudden quiet. Whatever made those sounds was there. It was a larger roomthan any on the others and much higher, for it ran along the whole frontof the house. The powerful lamps showed every corner of it at once, but, above, the beams of the open ceiling were dark with shadow. And here thenauseous odour, which had struck them before, was so overpowering thatfor a while they could not go in. It was indescribably foul. Even Arthurthought it would make him sick, and he looked at the windows to see if itwas possible to open them; but it seemed they were hermetically closed. The extreme warmth made the air more overpowering. There were fourfurnaces here, and they were all alight. In order to give out more heatand to burn slowly, the fronts of them were open, and one could see thatthey were filled with glowing coke. 

The room was furnished no differently from the others, but to the variousinstruments for chemical operations on a large scale were added allmanner of electrical appliances. Several books were lying about, and onehad been left open face downwards on the edge of a table. But whatimmediately attracted their attention was a row of those large glassvessels like that which they had seen in the adjoining room. Each wascovered with a white cloth. They hesitated a moment, for they knew thathere they were face to face with the great enigma. At last Arthur pulledaway the cloth from one. None of them spoke. They stared with astonishedeyes. For here, too, was a strange mass of flesh, almost as large as anew-born child, but there was in it the beginnings of something ghastlyhuman. It was shaped vaguely like an infant, but the legs were joinedtogether so that it looked like a mummy rolled up in its coverings. There were neither feet nor knees. The trunk was formless, but therewas a curious thickening on each side; it was as if a modeller had meantto make a figure with the arms loosely bent, but had left the workunfinished so that they were still one with the body. There was somethingthat resembled a human head, covered with long golden hair, but it washorrible; it was an uncouth mass, without eyes or nose or mouth. Thecolour was a kind of sickly pink, and it was almost transparent. Therewas a very slight movement in it, rhythmical and slow. It was living too. 

Then quickly Arthur removed the covering from all the other jars but one;and in a flash of the eyes they saw abominations so awful that Susie hadto clench her fists in order not to scream. There was one monstrous thingin which the limbs approached nearly to the human. It was extraordinarilyheaped up, with fat tiny arms, little bloated legs, and an absurd squatbody, so that it looked like a Chinese mandarin in porcelain. In anotherthe trunk was almost like that of a human child, except that it waspatched strangely with red and grey. But the terror of it was thatat the neck it branched hideously, and there were two distinct heads, monstrously large, but duly provided with all their features. Thefeatures were a caricature of humanity so shameful that one could hardlybear to look. And as the light fell on it, the eyes of each head openedslowly. They had no pigment in them, but were pink, like the eyes ofwhite rabbits; and they stared for a moment with an odd, unseeing glance. Then they were shut again, and what was curiously terrifying was that themovements were not quite simultaneous; the eyelids of one head fellslowly just before those of the other. And in another place was a ghastlymonster in which it seemed that two bodies had been dreadfully entangledwith one another. It was a creature of nightmare, with four arms and fourlegs, and this one actually moved. With a peculiar motion it crawledalong the bottom of the great receptacle in which it was kept, towardsthe three persons who looked at it. It seemed to wonder what they did. Susie started back with fright, as it raised itself on its four legs andtried to reach up to them. 

Susie turned away and hid her face. She could not look at those ghastlycounterfeits of humanity. She was terrified and ashamed. 

'Do you understand what this means?' said Dr Porhoët to Arthur, in anawed voice. 'It means that he has discovered the secret of life. '

'Was it for these vile monstrosities that Margaret was sacrificed in allher loveliness?'

The two men looked at one another with sad, wondering eyes. 

'Don't you remember that he talked of the manufacture of human beings?It's these misshapen things that he's succeeding in producing, ' said thedoctor. 

'There is one more that we haven't seen, ' said Arthur. 

He pointed to the covering which still hid the largest of the vases. Hehad a feeling that it contained the most fearful of all these monsters;and it was not without an effort that he drew the cloth away. But nosooner had he done this than something sprang up, so that instinctivelyhe started back, and it began to gibber in piercing tones. These were theunearthly sounds that they had heard. It was not a voice, it was a kindof raucous crying, hoarse yet shrill, uneven like the barking of a dog, and appalling. The sounds came forth in rapid succession, angrily, asthough the being that uttered them sought to express itself in furiouswords. It was mad with passion and beat against the glass walls of itsprison with clenched fists. For the hands were human hands, and thebody, though much larger, was of the shape of a new-born child. Thecreature must have stood about four feet high. The head was horriblymisshapen. The skull was enormous, smooth and distended like that of ahydrocephalic, and the forehead protruded over the face hideously. Thefeatures were almost unformed, preternaturally small under the great, overhanging brow; and they had an expression of fiendish malignity. 

The tiny, misshapen countenance writhed with convulsive fury, and fromthe mouth poured out a foaming spume. It raised its voice higher andhigher, shrieking senseless gibberish in its rage. Then it began to hurlits whole body madly against the glass walls and to beat its head. Itappeared to have a sudden incomprehensible hatred for the threestrangers. It was trying to fly at them. The toothless gums movedspasmodically, and it threw its face into horrible grimaces. Thatnameless, loathsome abortion was the nearest that Oliver Haddo hadcome to the human form. 

'Come away, ' said Arthur. 'We must not look at this. '

He quickly flung the covering over the jar. 

'Yes, for God's sake let us go, ' said Susie. 

'We haven't done yet, ' answered Arthur. 'We haven't found the author ofall this. '

He looked at the room in which they were, but there was no door exceptthat by which they had entered. Then he uttered a startled cry, andstepping forward fell on his knee. 

On the other side of the long tables heaped up with instruments, hiddenso that at first they had not seen him, Oliver Haddo lay on the floor, dead. His blue eyes were staring wide, and they seemed larger than theyhad ever been. They kept still the expression of terror which they hadworn in the moment of his agony, and his heavy face was distorted withdeadly fear. It was purple and dark, and the eyes were injected withblood. 

'He died of suffocation, ' whispered Dr Porhoët. 

Arthur pointed to the neck. There could be seen on it distinctly themarks of the avenging fingers that had strangled the life out of him. Itwas impossible to hesitate. 

'I told you that I had killed him, ' said Arthur. 

Then he remembered something more. He took hold of the right arm. He wasconvinced that it had been broken during that desperate struggle in thedarkness. He felt it carefully and listened. He heard plainly the twoparts of the bone rub against one another. The dead man's arm was brokenjust in the place where he had broken it. Arthur stood up. He took onelast look at his enemy. That vast mass of flesh lay heaped up on thefloor in horrible disorder. 

'Now that you have seen, will you come away?' said Susie, interruptinghim. 

The words seemed to bring him suddenly to himself. 

'Yes, we must go quickly. '

They turned away and with hurried steps walked through those brightattics till they came to the stairs. 

'Now go down and wait for me at the door, ' said Arthur. 'I will followyou immediately. '

'What are you going to do?' asked Susie. 

'Never mind. Do as I tell you. I have not finished here yet. '

They went down the great oak staircase and waited in the hall. Theywondered what Arthur was about. Presently he came running down. 

'Be quick!' he cried. 'We have no time to lose. '

'What have you done, Arthur?'

There's no time to tell you now. '

He hurried them out and slammed the door behind him. He took Susie'shand. 

'Now we must run. Come. '

She did not know what his haste signified, but her heart beat furiously. He dragged her along. Dr Porhoët hurried on behind them. Arthur plungedinto the wood. He would not leave them time to breathe. 

'You must be quick, ' he said. 

At last they came to the opening in the fence, and he helped them to getthrough. Then he carefully replaced the wooden paling and, taking Susie'sarm began to walk rapidly towards their inn. 

'I'm frightfully tired, ' she said. 'I simply can't go so fast. '

'You must. Presently you can rest as long as you like. '

They walked very quickly for a while. Now and then Arthur looked back. The night was still quite dark, and the stars shone out in their myriads. At last he slackened their pace. 

'Now you can go more slowly, ' he said. 

Susie saw the smiling glance that he gave her. His eyes were full oftenderness. He put his arm affectionately round her shoulders to supporther. 

'I'm afraid you're quite exhausted, poor thing, ' he said. 'I'm sorry tohave had to hustle you so much. '

'It doesn't matter at all. '

She leaned against him comfortably. With that protecting arm about her, she felt capable of any fatigue. Dr Porhoët stopped. 

'You must really let me roll myself a cigarette, ' he said. 

'You may do whatever you like, ' answered Arthur. 

There was a different ring in his voice now, and it was soft with agood-humour that they had not heard in it for many months. He appearedsingularly relieved. Susie was ready to forget the terrible past andgive herself over to the happiness that seemed at last in store for her. They began to saunter slowly on. And now they could take pleasure in theexquisite night. The air was very suave, odorous with the heather thatwas all about them, and there was an enchanting peace in that scene whichwonderfully soothed their weariness. It was dark still, but they knew thedawn was at hand, and Susie rejoiced in the approaching day. In the eastthe azure of the night began to thin away into pale amethyst, and thetrees seemed gradually to stand out from the darkness in a ghostlybeauty. Suddenly birds began to sing all around them in a splendidchorus. From their feet a lark sprang up with a rustle of wings and, mounting proudly upon the air, chanted blithe canticles to greet themorning. They stood upon a little hill. 

'Let us wait here and see the sun rise, ' said Susie. 

'As you will. '

They stood all three of them, and Susie took in deep, joyful breaths ofthe sweet air of dawn. The whole land, spread at her feet, was clothed inthe purple dimness that heralds day, and she exulted in its beauty. Butshe noticed that Arthur, unlike herself and Dr Porhoët, did not looktoward the east. His eyes were fixed steadily upon the place from whichthey had come. What did he look for in the darkness of the west? Sheturned round, and a cry broke from her lips, for the shadows there werelurid with a deep red glow. 

'It looks like a fire, ' she said. 

'It is. Skene is burning like tinder. '

And as he spoke it seemed that the roof fell in, for suddenly vast flamessprang up, rising high into the still night air; and they saw that thehouse they had just left was blazing furiously. It was a magnificentsight from the distant hill on which they stood to watch the fire as itsoared and sank, as it shot scarlet tongues along like strange Titanicmonsters, as it raged from room to room. Skene was burning. It was beyondthe reach of human help. In a little while there would be no trace of allthose crimes and all those horrors. Now it was one mass of flame. Itlooked like some primeval furnace, where the gods might work unheard-ofmiracles. 

'Arthur, what have you done?' asked Susie, in a tone that was hardlyaudible. 

He did not answer directly. He put his arm about her shoulder again, sothat she was obliged to turn round. 

'Look, the sun is rising. '

In the east, a long ray of light climbed up the sky, and the sun, yellowand round, appeared upon the face of the earth.