a laodicean-第68部分

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society　had　become　known　to　the　mechanician；　and；　instead　of
shooting　him　as　one　who　knew　too　much　for　their　safety；　they
were　struck　with　his　faculty　for　silence；　and　thought　they
might　be　able　to　make　use　of　him。'

'To　be　sure；'　said　Abner　Power。

'Next；　like　friend　Bunyan；　I　saw　in　my　dream　that　denunciation
was　the　breath　of　life　to　this　society。　　At　an　earlier　date　in
its　history；　objectionable　persons　in　power　had　been　from　time
to　time　murdered；　and　curiously　enough　numbered；　that　is；　upon
the　body　of　each　was　set　a　mark　or　seal；　announcing　that　he
was　one　of　a　series。　　But　at　this　time　the　question　before　the
society　related　to　the　substitution　for　the　dagger；　which　was
vetoed　as　obsolete；　of　some　explosive　machine　that　would　be
both　more　effectual　and　less　difficult　to　manage；　and　in
short；　a　large　reward　was　offered　to　our　needy　Englishman　if
he　would　put　their　ideas　of　such　a　machine　into　shape。'

Abner　Power　nodded　again；　his　complexion　being　peculiarwhich
might　partly　have　been　accounted　for　by　the　reflection　of
window…light　from　the　green…baize　table…cloth。

'He　agreed；　though　no　politician　whatever　himself；　to　exercise
his　wits　on　their　account；　and　brought　his　machine　to　such　a
pitch　of　perfection；　that　it　was　the　identical　one　used　in　the
memorable　attempt'　（Dare　whispered　the　remainder　of　the
sentence　in　tones　so　low　that　not　a　mouse　in　the　corner　could
have　heard。）　　'Well；　the　inventor　of　that　explosive　has
naturally　been　wanted　ever　since　by　all　the　heads　of　police　in
Europe。　　But　the　most　curiousor　perhaps　the　most　natural
part　of　my　story　is；　that　our　hero；　after　the　catastrophe；
grew　disgusted　with　himself　and　his　comrades；　acquired；　in　a
fit　of　revulsion；　quite　a　conservative　taste　in　politics；
which　was　strengthened　greatly　by　the　news　he　indirectly
received　of　the　great　wealth　and　respectability　of　his
brother；　who　had　had　no　communion　with　him　for　years；　and
supposed　him　dead。　　He　abjured　his　employers　and　resolved　to
abandon　them；　but　before　coming　to　England　he　decided　to
destroy　all　trace　of　his　combustible　inventions　by　dropping
them　into　the　neighbouring　lake　at　night　from　a　boat。　　You
feel　the　room　close；　Mr。　Power？'

'No；　I　suffer　from　attacks　of　perspiration　whenever　I　sit　in　a
consecrated　edificethat's　all。　　Pray　go　on。'

'In　carrying　out　this　project；　an　explosion　occurred；　just　as
he　was　throwing　the　stock　overboardit　blew　up　into　his　face；
wounding　him　severely；　and　nearly　depriving　him　of　sight。　　The
boat　was　upset；　but　he　swam　ashore　in　the　darkness；　and
remained　hidden　till　he　recovered；　though　the　scars　produced
by　the　burns　had　been　set　on　him　for　ever。　　This　accident；
which　was　such　a　misfortune　to　him　as　a　man；　was　an　advantage
to　him　as　a　conspirators'　engineer　retiring　from　practice；　and
afforded　him　a　disguise　both　from　his　own　brotherhood　and　from
the　police；　which　he　has　considered　impenetrable；　but　which　is
getting　seen　through　by　one　or　two　keen　eyes　as　time　goes　on。
Instead　of　coming　to　England　just　then；　he　went　to　Peru；
connected　himself　with　the　guano　trade；　I　believe；　and　after
his　brother's　death　revisited　England；　his　old　life
obliterated　as　far　as　practicable　by　his　new　principles。　　He
is　known　only　as　a　great　traveller　to　his　surviving　relatives；
though　he　seldom　says　where　he　has　travelled。　　Unluckily　for
himself；　he　is　WANTED　by　certain　European　governments　as　badly
as　ever。'

Dare　raised　his　eyes　as　he　concluded　his　narration。　　As　has
been　remarked；　he　was　sitting　at　one　end　of　the　vestry…table；
Power　at　the　other；　the　green　cloth　stretching　between　them。
On　the　edge　of　the　table　adjoining　Mr。　Power　a　shining　nozzle
of　metal　was　quietly　resting；　like　a　dog's　nose。　　It　was
directed　point…blank　at　the　young　man。

Dare　started。　　'Aha　revolver？'　he　said。

Mr。　Power　nodded　placidly；　his　hand　still　grasping　the　pistol
behind　the　edge　of　the　table。　　'As　a　traveller　I　always　carry
one　of　'em；'　he　returned；　'and　for　the　last　five　minutes　I
have　been　closely　considering　whether　your　numerous　brains　are
worth　blowing　out　or　no。　　The　vault　yonder　has　suggested
itself　as　convenient　and　snug　for　one　of　the　same　family；　but
the　mental　problem　that　stays　my　hand　is；　how　am　I　to　despatch
and　bury　you　there　without　the　workmen　seeing？'

''Tis　a　strange　problem；　certainly；'　replied　Dare；　'and　one　on
which　I　fear　I　could　not　give　disinterested　advice。　　Moreover；
while　you；　as　a　traveller；　always　carry　a　weapon　of　defence；
as　a　traveller　so　do　I。　　And　for　the　last　three…quarters　of　an
hour　I　have　been　thinking　concerning　you；　an　intensified　form
of　what　you　have　been　thinking　of　me；　but　without　any　concern
as　to　your　interment。　　See　here　for　a　proof　of　it。'　　And　a
second　steel　nose　rested　on　the　edge　of　the　table　opposite　to
the　first；　steadied　by　Dare's　right　hand。

They　remained　for　some　time　motionless；　the　tick　of　the　tower
clock　distinctly　audible。

Mr。　Power　spoke　first。

'Well；　'twould　be　a　pity　to　make　a　mess　here　under　such
dubious　circumstances。　　Mr。　Dare；　I　perceive　that　a　mean
vagabond　can　be　as　sharp　as　a　political　regenerator。　　I　cry
quits；　if　you　care　to　do　the　same？'

Dare　assented；　and　the　pistols　were　put　away。

'Then　we　do　nothing　at　all；　either　side；　but　let　the　course　of
true　love　run　on　to　marriagethat's　the　understanding；　I
think？'　said　Dare　as　he　rose。

'It　is；'　said　Power；　and　turning　on　his　heel；　he　left　the
vestry。

Dare　retired　to　the　church　and　thence　to　the　outside；　where　he
idled　away　a　few　minutes　in　looking　at　the　workmen；　who　were
now　lowering　into　its　place　a　large　stone　slab；　bearing　the
words　'DE　STANCY；'　which　covered　the　entrance　to　the　vault。
When　the　footway　of　the　churchyard　was　restored　to　its　normal
condition　Dare　pursued　his　way　to　Markton。

Abner　Power　walked　back　to　the　castle　at　a　slow　and　equal
pace；　as　though　he　carried　an　over…brimming　vessel　on　his
head。　　He　silently　let　himself　in；　entered　the　long　gallery；
and　sat　down。　　The　length　of　time　that　he　sat　there　was　so
remarkable　as　to　raise　that　interval　of　inanition　to　the　rank
of　a　feat。

Power's　eyes　glanced　through　one　of　the　window…casements：
from　a　hole　without　he　saw　the　head　of　a　tomtit　protruding。
He　listlessly　watched　the　bird　during　the　successive　epochs　of
his　thought；　till　night　came；　without　any　perceptible　change
occurring　in　him。　　Such　fixity　would　have　meant　nothing　else
than　sudden　death　in　any　other　man；　but　in　Mr。　Power　it　merely
signified　that　he　was　engaged　in　ruminations　which
necessitated　a　more　extensive　survey　than　usual。　　At　last；　at
half…past　eight；　after　having　sat　for　five　hours　with　his　eyes
on　the　residence　of　the　tomtits；　to　whom　night　had　brought
cessation　of　thought；　if　not　to　him　who　had　observed　them；　he
rose　amid　the　shades　of　the　furniture；　and　rang　the　bell。
There　were　only　a　servant　or　two　in　the　castle；　one　of　whom
presently　came　with　a　light　in　her　hand　and　a　startled　look
upon　her　face；　which　was　not　reduced　when　she　recognized　him；
for　in　the　opinion　of　that　household　there　was　something
ghoul…like　in　Mr。　Power；　which　made　him　no　desirable　guest。

He　ate　a　late　meal；　and　retired　to　bed；　where　he　seemed　to
sleep　not　unsoundly。　　The　next　morning　he　received　a　letter
which　afforded　him　infinite　satisfaction　and　gave　his　stagnant
impulses　a　new　momentum。　　He　entered　the　library；　and　amid
objects　swathed　in　brown　holland　sat　down　and　wrote　a　note　to
his　niece　at　Amiens。　　Therein　he　stated　that；　finding　that　the
Anglo…South…American　house　with　which　he　had　recently
connected　himself　required　his　presence　in　Peru；　it　obliged
him　to　leave　without　waiting　for　her　return。　　He　felt　the　less
uneasy　at　going；　since　he　had　learnt　that　Captain　De　Stancy
would　return　at　once　to　Amiens　to　his　sick　sister；　and　see
them　safely　home　when　she　improved。　　He　afterwards　left　the
castle；　disappearing　towards　a　railway　station　some　miles
above　Markton；　the　road　to　which　lay　across　an　unfrequented
down。



XII。

It　was　a　fine　afternoon　of　late　summer；　nearly　three　months
subsequent　to　the　death　of　Sir　William　De　Stancy　and　Paula's
engagement　to　marry　his　successor　in　the　title。　　George
Somerset　had　started　on　a　professional　journey　that　took　him
through　the　charming　district　which　lay　around　Stancy　Castle。
Having　resigned　his　appointment　as　architect　to　that　important
structurea　resignation　which　had　been　accepted　by　Paula
through　her　solicitorhe　had　bidden　farewell　to　the　locality
after　putting　matters　in　such　order　that　his　successor；
whoever　he　might　be；　should　have　no　difficulty　in　obtaining
the　particulars　necessary　to　the　completion　of　the　work　in
hand。　　Hardly　to　his　surprise　this　successor　was　Havill。

Somerset's　resignation　had　been　tendered　in　no　hasty　mood。　　On
returning　to　England；　and　in　due　course　to　the　castle；
everything　bore　in　upon　his　mind　the　exceeding　sorrowfulness
he　would　not　say　humiliationof　continuing　to　act　in　his
former　capacity　for　a　woman　who；　from　seeming　more　than　a　dear
friend；　had　become　less　than　an　acquaintance。

So　he　resigned；　but　now；　as　the　train　drew　on　into　that　once
beloved　tract　of　country；　the　images　which　met　his　eye　threw
him　back　in　point　of　emotion　to　very　near　where　he　had　been
before　making　himself　a　stranger　here。　　The　train　entered　the
cutting　on　whose　brink　he　had　walked　when　the　carriage
containing　Paula　and　her　friends　surprised　him　the　previous
summer。　　He　looked　out　of　the　window：　　they　were　passing　the
well…known　curve　that　led　up　to　the　tunnel　constructed　by　her
father；　into　which　he　had　gone　when　the　train　came　by　and
Paula　had　been　alarmed　for　his　life。　　There　was　the　path　they
had　both　climbed　afterwards；　involuntarily　seizing　each
other's　hand；　the　bushes；　the　grass；　the　flowers；　everything
just　the　same：

　　　　　　　　　　　　'…Here　was　the　pleasant　place；
　　　　　　　　　　And　nothing　wanting　was；　save　She；　alas！'

When　they　came　out　of　the　tunnel　at　the　other　end　he　caught　a
glimpse　of　the　distant　castle…keep；　and　the　well…remembered
walls　beneath　it。　　The　experience　so　far　transcended　the
intensity　of　what　is　called　mournful　pleasure　as　to　make　him
wonder　how　he　could　have　miscalculated　himself　to　the　extent
of　supposing　that　he