a laodicean-第85章
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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 might pass the spot with co
