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However£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡purely¡¡from¡¡policy
that¡¡I¡¡allowed¡¡a¡¡friendship¡¡to¡¡develop¡¡between¡¡my¡¡daughter¡¡and
Miss¡¡Power£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡events¡¡are¡¡proving¡¡the¡¡wisdom¡¡of¡¡my
course¡£¡¡¡¡Straws¡¡show¡¡how¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡blows£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡are¡¡little
signs¡¡that¡¡my¡¡son¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡will¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Stancy
Castle¡¡by¡¡the¡¡fortunate¡¡step¡¡of¡¡marrying¡¡its¡¡owner¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡say
nothing¡¡to¡¡either¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡say¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡but¡¡my
wisdom¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡doing¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡hinder¡¡such¡¡a¡¡consummation£»
despite¡¡inherited¡¡prejudices¡£'

Somerset¡¡had¡¡quite¡¡time¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡rein¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡during¡¡the
old¡¡gentleman's¡¡locution£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡answered
was¡¡so¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡reckless¡¡that¡¡it¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡his¡¡own£º¡¡¡¡'But
how¡¡will¡¡they¡¡live¡¡happily¡¡together¡¡when¡¡she¡¡is¡¡a¡¡Dissenter£»
and¡¡a¡¡Radical£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡New¡­light£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡Neo¡­Greek£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡person
of¡¡red¡¡blood£»¡¡while¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡is¡¡the¡¡reverse¡¡of¡¡them
all£¡'

'I¡¡anticipate¡¡no¡¡difficulty¡¡on¡¡that¡¡score£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡baronet¡£
'My¡¡son's¡¡star¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡that¡¡direction£»¡¡and£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡Magi£»¡¡he
is¡¡following¡¡it¡¡without¡¡trifling¡¡with¡¡his¡¡opportunity¡£¡¡¡¡You
have¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡architecture£»¡¡therefore¡¡you¡¡follow¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡My¡¡son
has¡¡skill¡¡in¡¡gallantry£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡he¡¡is¡¡about¡¡to¡¡exercise¡¡it
profitably¡£'

'May¡¡nobody¡¡wish¡¡him¡¡more¡¡harm¡¡in¡¡that¡¡exercise¡¡than¡¡I¡¡do£¡'
said¡¡Somerset¡¡fervently¡£

A¡¡stagnant¡¡moodiness¡¡of¡¡several¡¡hours¡¡which¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡visit
to¡¡Myrtle¡¡Villa¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡a¡¡resolve¡¡to¡¡journey¡¡over¡¡to¡¡Paula
the¡¡very¡¡next¡¡day¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡now¡¡felt¡¡perfectly¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡the
inviting¡¡of¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡them¡¡at¡¡Nice¡¡was¡¡a
second¡¡stage¡¡in¡¡the¡¡scheme¡¡of¡¡Paula's¡¡uncle£»¡¡the¡¡premature
announcement¡¡of¡¡her¡¡marriage¡¡having¡¡been¡¡the¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡The
roundness¡¡and¡¡neatness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡plan¡¡could¡¡not¡¡fail¡¡to
recommend¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡which¡¡delighted¡¡in¡¡putting¡¡involved
things¡¡straight£»¡¡and¡¡such¡¡a¡¡mind¡¡Abner¡¡Power's¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡£
In¡¡fact£»¡¡the¡¡felicity£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡politic¡¡sense£»¡¡of¡¡pairing¡¡the
captain¡¡with¡¡the¡¡heiress¡¡furnished¡¡no¡¡little¡¡excuse¡¡for
manoeuvring¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡it¡¡about£»¡¡so¡¡long¡¡as¡¡that¡¡manoeuvring
fell¡¡short¡¡of¡¡unfairness£»¡¡which¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Power's¡¡could¡¡scarcely¡¡be
said¡¡to¡¡do¡£

The¡¡next¡¡day¡¡was¡¡spent¡¡in¡¡furnishing¡¡the¡¡builders¡¡with¡¡such
instructions¡¡as¡¡they¡¡might¡¡require¡¡for¡¡a¡¡coming¡¡week¡¡or¡¡ten
days£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡dropping¡¡a¡¡short¡¡note¡¡to¡¡Paula£»¡¡ending¡¡as
follows£º

'I¡¡am¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡Possibly¡¡you¡¡will¡¡refuse¡¡me¡¡an
interview¡£¡¡¡¡Never¡¡mind£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡comingYours£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡G¡£
SOMERSET¡£'

The¡¡morning¡¡after¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡up¡¡and¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡Between¡¡him¡¡and
Paula¡¡stretched¡¡nine¡¡hundred¡¡miles¡¡by¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡journey¡¡that
he¡¡found¡¡it¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡adopt£»¡¡namely£»¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡in
order¡¡to¡¡inform¡¡his¡¡father¡¡of¡¡his¡¡movements¡¡and¡¡to¡¡make¡¡one¡¡or
two¡¡business¡¡calls¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡afternoon¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡in¡¡attending¡¡to
these¡¡matters£»¡¡the¡¡night¡¡in¡¡speeding¡¡onward£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time
that¡¡nine¡¡o'clock¡¡sounded¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡through¡¡the¡¡sunless¡¡and
leaden¡¡air¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡¡Channel¡¡coasts£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡reduced¡¡the
number¡¡of¡¡miles¡¡on¡¡his¡¡list¡¡by¡¡two¡¡hundred£»¡¡and¡¡cut¡¡off¡¡the
sea¡¡from¡¡the¡¡impediments¡¡between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡Paula¡£

On¡¡awakening¡¡from¡¡a¡¡fitful¡¡sleep¡¡in¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡dawn¡¡of¡¡the
morning¡¡following¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡Lyons£»¡¡quiet¡¡enough¡¡now£»
the¡¡citizens¡¡unaroused¡¡to¡¡the¡¡daily¡¡round¡¡of¡¡bread¡­winning£»
and¡¡enveloped¡¡in¡¡a¡¡haze¡¡of¡¡fog¡£

Six¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡miles¡¡of¡¡his¡¡journey¡¡had¡¡been¡¡got¡¡over£»
there¡¡still¡¡intervened¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡¡between¡¡him¡¡and
the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡suspense¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was
disinclined¡¡to¡¡pause£»¡¡and¡¡pressed¡¡on¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡train£»¡¡which
set¡¡him¡¡down¡¡at¡¡Marseilles¡¡at¡¡mid¡­day¡£

Here¡¡he¡¡considered¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡going¡¡on¡¡to¡¡Nice¡¡that¡¡afternoon¡¡he
would¡¡arrive¡¡at¡¡too¡¡late¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡the¡¡same
evening£º¡¡¡¡it¡¡would¡¡therefore¡¡be¡¡advisable¡¡to¡¡sleep¡¡in
Marseilles¡¡and¡¡proceed¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡to¡¡his¡¡journey's¡¡end£»
so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡her¡¡in¡¡a¡¡brighter¡¡condition¡¡than¡¡he¡¡could¡¡boast
of¡¡to¡­day¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡he¡¡accordingly¡¡did£»¡¡and¡¡leaving¡¡Marseilles
the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡about¡¡eight£»¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡Nice¡¡early¡¡in
the¡¡afternoon¡£

Now¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡actually¡¡at¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡his¡¡gravitation¡¡he
seemed¡¡even¡¡further¡¡away¡¡from¡¡a¡¡feasible¡¡meeting¡¡with¡¡her¡¡than
in¡¡England¡£¡¡¡¡While¡¡afar¡¡off£»¡¡his¡¡presence¡¡at¡¡Nice¡¡had¡¡appeared
to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡needful¡¡for¡¡the¡¡solution¡¡of¡¡his¡¡trouble£»
but¡¡the¡¡very¡¡house¡¡fronts¡¡seemed¡¡now¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡him¡¡what¡¡right¡¡he
had¡¡there¡£¡¡¡¡Unluckily£»¡¡in¡¡writing¡¡from¡¡England£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not
allowed¡¡her¡¡time¡¡to¡¡reply¡¡before¡¡his¡¡departure£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡did
not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡difficulties¡¡might¡¡lie¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡her¡¡seeing
him¡¡privately¡£¡¡¡¡Before¡¡deciding¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡he¡¡walked¡¡down¡¡the
Avenue¡¡de¡¡la¡¡Gare¡¡to¡¡the¡¡promenade¡¡between¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡and¡¡the
Jardin¡¡Public£»¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡to¡¡think¡£

The¡¡hotel¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡given¡¡him¡¡as¡¡her¡¡address¡¡looked¡¡right
out¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡beyond£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡rested¡¡there¡¡with¡¡the
pleasing¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡might¡¡glance¡¡from¡¡a¡¡window¡¡and
discover¡¡his¡¡form¡£¡¡¡¡Everything¡¡in¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡was¡¡sunny¡¡and¡¡gay¡£
Behind¡¡him¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gardens¡¡a¡¡band¡¡was¡¡playing£»¡¡before¡¡him¡¡was
the¡¡sea£»¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡sea£»¡¡the¡¡historical¡¡and¡¡original
Mediterranean£»¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡innumerable¡¡characters¡¡in¡¡history
and¡¡legend¡¡that¡¡arranged¡¡themselves¡¡before¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡long
frieze¡¡of¡¡memories¡¡so¡¡diverse¡¡as¡¡to¡¡include¡¡both¡¡AEneas¡¡and
St¡£¡¡Paul¡£

Northern¡¡eyes¡¡are¡¡not¡¡prepared¡¡on¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡for¡¡the¡¡impact¡¡of
such¡¡images¡¡of¡¡warmth¡¡and¡¡colour¡¡as¡¡meet¡¡them¡¡southward£»¡¡or
for¡¡the¡¡vigorous¡¡light¡¡that¡¡falls¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡of¡¡this
favoured¡¡shore¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡any¡¡other¡¡circumstances¡¡the¡¡transparency
and¡¡serenity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡the¡¡perfume¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea£»¡¡the¡¡radiant
houses£»¡¡the¡¡palms¡¡and¡¡flowers£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡acted¡¡upon¡¡Somerset
as¡¡an¡¡enchantment£»¡¡and¡¡wrapped¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡reverie£»¡¡but¡¡at
present¡¡he¡¡only¡¡saw¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡these¡¡things¡¡as¡¡through¡¡a¡¡thick
glass¡¡which¡¡kept¡¡out¡¡half¡¡their¡¡atmosphere¡£

At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡made¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡take¡¡up¡¡his¡¡quarters¡¡at
her¡¡hotel£»¡¡and¡¡catch¡¡echoes¡¡of¡¡her¡¡and¡¡her¡¡people£»¡¡to¡¡learn
somehow¡¡if¡¡their¡¡attitude¡¡towards¡¡him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡lover¡¡were¡¡actually
hostile£»¡¡before¡¡formally¡¡encountering¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Under¡¡this
crystalline¡¡light£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡gaieties£»¡¡sentiment£»¡¡languor£»
seductiveness£»¡¡and¡¡ready¡­made¡¡romance£»¡¡the¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡a
solitary¡¡unimportant¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lugubrious¡¡North¡¡might¡¡have
faded¡¡from¡¡her¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡only¡¡her¡¡hired¡¡designer¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was
an¡¡artist£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡engaged¡¡by¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a
volunteer£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡know¡¡that¡¡he¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡accept
no¡¡return¡¡for¡¡his¡¡labours¡¡but¡¡the¡¡pleasure¡¡of¡¡presenting¡¡them
to¡¡her¡¡as¡¡a¡¡love¡­offering¡£

So¡¡off¡¡he¡¡went¡¡at¡¡once¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡imposing¡¡building¡¡whither
his¡¡letters¡¡had¡¡preceded¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Owing¡¡to¡¡a¡¡press¡¡of¡¡visitors
there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡moment's¡¡delay¡¡before¡¡he¡¡could¡¡be¡¡attended¡¡to¡¡at
the¡¡bureau£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡large¡¡staircase¡¡that
confronted¡¡him£»¡¡momentarily¡¡hoping¡¡that¡¡her¡¡figure¡¡might
descend¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡skirts¡¡must¡¡indeed¡¡have¡¡brushed¡¡the¡¡carpeting¡¡of
those¡¡steps¡¡scores¡¡of¡¡times¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡engaged¡¡his¡¡room£»¡¡ordered¡¡his
luggage¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡for£»¡¡and¡¡finally¡¡inquired¡¡for¡¡the¡¡party¡¡he
sought¡£

'They¡¡left¡¡Nice¡¡yesterday£»¡¡monsieur£»'¡¡replied¡¡madame¡£

Was¡¡she¡¡quite¡¡sure£»¡¡Somerset¡¡asked¡¡her£¿

Yes£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡sure¡£¡¡¡¡Two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡carriages¡¡had
driven¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡station¡£

Did¡¡she¡¡know¡¡where¡¡they¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to£¿

This¡¡and¡¡other¡¡inquiries¡¡resulted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡information¡¡that¡¡they
had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡at¡¡Monte¡¡Carlo£»¡¡that¡¡how¡¡long¡¡they¡¡were
going¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡whether¡¡they¡¡were¡¡coming¡¡back¡¡again£»
was¡¡not¡¡known¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡final¡¡question¡¡whether¡¡Miss¡¡Power¡¡had
received¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡England¡¡which¡¡must¡¡have¡¡arrived¡¡the¡¡day
previous¡¡was¡¡answered¡¡in¡¡the¡¡affirmative¡£

Somerset's¡¡first¡¡and¡¡sudden¡¡resolve¡¡was¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡on¡¡after
them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡named£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡finally¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡make¡¡his
immediate¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡Monte¡¡Carlo¡¡only¡¡a¡¡cautious¡¡reconnoitre£»
returning¡¡to¡¡Nice¡¡to¡¡sleep¡£

Accordingly£»¡¡after¡¡an¡¡early¡¡dinner£»¡¡he¡¡again¡¡set¡¡forth¡¡through
the¡¡broad¡¡Avenue¡¡de¡¡la¡¡Gare£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡on¡¡the¡¡coast¡¡railway
brought¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beautiful¡¡and¡¡sinister¡¡little¡¡spot¡¡to¡¡which
the¡¡Power¡¡and¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡party¡¡had¡¡strayed¡¡in¡¡common¡¡with¡¡the
rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frivolous¡¡throng¡£

He¡¡assumed¡¡that¡¡their¡¡visit¡¡thither¡¡would¡¡be¡¡chiefly¡¡one¡¡of
curiosity£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡not¡¡prolonged¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the
case¡¡in¡¡even¡¡greater¡¡measure¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡anticipated¡£¡¡¡¡On
inquiry¡¡at¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡he¡¡learnt¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡stayed¡¡only¡¡one
nigh

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