leben.
If
the
preacher
were
not
wholly
wrong
,
what
a
mockery
it
was
!
Not
order
but
disorder
;
not
good
but
evil
;
not
the
beautiful
,
but
this
monstrous
thing
called
sin
—
such
had
been
the
deities
worshipped
in
her
ignorance
.
She
bowed
her
head
in
her
hands
and
wept
hot
tears
beneath
her
veil
.
Suddenly
,
while
the
voice
of
the
preacher
still
resounded
in
the
pulpit
,
Hippolyta
saw
the
vast
congregation
rising
to
their
feet
.
Innumerable
lights
twinkled
over
the
church
;
almost
every
one
present
held
a
taper
which
seemed
to
have
been
lit
at
a
preconcerted
signal
.
The
preacher
's
face
was
half-turned
away
to
the
high
altar
.
Hippolyta
,
doing
mechanically
like
the
others
,
rose
from
her
seat
;
and
the
devout
woman
next
to
whom
she
had
been
sitting
put
a
lighted
taper
into
her
hand
,
which
,
not
knowing
why
,
she
held
aloft
as
she
saw
them
all
doing
.
The
people
began
,
with
the
thunder
of
their
many
voices
,
to
repeat
a
solemn
formula
after
the
priest
;
and
Hippolyta
,
her
ear
more
accustomed
to
what
was
going
forward
,
could
now
distinguish
words
renouncing
evil
and
dedicating
those
who
uttered
them
to
the
service
and
the
Cross
of
their
Redeemer
.
She
could
not
join
in
the
words
,
but
her
tears
fell
fast
.
The
good
woman
near
looked
at
her
very
kindly
.
And
while
she
was
endeavouring
to
conceal
her
emotion
,
she
happened
to
look
across
the
church
,
and
there
,
not
a
long
way
from
the
pulpit
,
she
saw
William
Dauris
standing
with
a
taper
in
his
hand
,
not
bowed
down
with
sorrow
as
when
she
parted
from
him
the
evening
before
,
but
erect
and
firm
in
attitude
repeating
the
words
of
dedication
and
renouncement
,
while
the
tears
ran
down
his
cheeks
.
A
sense
of
thankfulness
relieved
the
fulness
of
Hippolyta
's
heart
;
if
she
,
too
,
continued
weeping
it
was
not
with
such
extreme
desolation
.
There
was
one
,
at
least
,
who
had
vanquished
his
great
enemy
.
She
could
not
tell
what
followed
;
her
mind
was
all
absorbed
.
The
twinkling
tapers
were
put
out
;
lights
appeared
far
away
in
the
chancel
blazing
over
the
high
altar
and
around
it
;
figures
in
strange
raiment
came
and
went
;
the
smoke
of
incense
ascended
clouding
the
lights
;
and
music
seemed
to
be
filling
the
high
roof
above
and
rolling
its
waves
on
every
side
.
It
did
not
soothe
,
it
excited
her
.
She
became
conscious
that
she
was
meditating
a
daring
resolution
.
At
that
moment
she
thought
of
no
one
but
herself
and
the
Form
that
seemed
to
be
gazing
at
her
still
from
the
crucifix
.
There
was
an
interval
of
intense
stillness
;
the
organ
had
stopped
,
all
heads
were
bent
,
and
she
saw
something
—
she
could
not
tell
what
—
going
forward
at
the
altar
.
Thrice
she
heard
the
tinkle
of
an
unseen
bell
;
and
the
music
broke
out
again
.
Then
the
congregation
rose
from
their
kneeling
posture
and
began
to
move
down
the
aisles
towards
the
door
.
Many
of
the
gas-jets
were
turned
off
;
but
one
or
another
in
Hippolyta
's
neighbourhood
was
still
kept
burning
.
She
knelt
and
covered
her
face
with
her
hands
.
Deep
thought
kept
her
immovable
.
But
ere
long
,
when
she
lifted
her
head
,
she
saw
the
preacher
in
his
black
habit
and
white
surplice
coming
with
rapid
step
down
the
church
towards
where
she
was
kneeling
.
When
he
had
arrived
within
a
few
paces
of
her
,
he
turned
and
opened
the
half-doors
of
a
tall
upright
construction
in
dark
wood
,
which
somewhat
marred
the
architectural
beauty
of
the
Gothic
building
and
reminded
Hippolyta
of
the
confessionals
to
which
she
had
on
one
or
two
occasions
seen
people
resorting
in
the
churches
of
Paris
and
Rome
.
It
was
,
no
doubt
,
a
confessional
.
She
watched
the
ecclesiastic
enter
and
fasten
the
doors
after
him
;
she
heard
the
click
with
which
he
drew
aside
something
within
;
and
she
saw
a
man
and
a
woman
take
up
their
position
at
each
side
,
where
a
curtain
more
than
half-concealed
the
kneeling
figures
.
After
a
while
one
of
them
rose
and
went
away
,
followed
,
at
no
great
interval
,
by
the
other
.
No
fresh
arrivals
came
;
and
the
priest
,
opening
one
of
the
upper
partitions
into
which
the
doors
were
divided
,
looked
out
into
the
church
and
saw
Hippolyta
.
She
was
kneeling
still
.
He
drew
back
,
opened
the
other
partition
,
and
appeared
as
if
sitting
in
a
tribunal
waiting
till
Hippolyta
should
come
.
As
the
fancy
struck
her
she
rose
hastily
,
and
without
considering
what
she
was
doing
,
threw
herself
on
her
knees
in
the
confessional
.
There
was
a
wire
grating
between
her
and
the
priest
;
and
all
she
could
make
out
was
the
glimmering
of
his
white
surplice
.
In
an
almost
inaudible
whisper
he
muttered
some
words
,
the
sense
of
which
was
lost
on
her
.
She
did
not
speak
;
and
after
that
one
brief
sentence
neither
for
a
time
did
he
.
At
last
,
finding
her
so
silent
,
he
bent
his
head
near
the
grating
and
said
very
distinctly
,
'
Will
you
not
tell
me
,
my
child
,
when
was
your
last
confession
?
'
'
I
do
n't
know
,
'
replied
Hippolyta
,
confused
;
'
I
am
not
of
your
Church
.
I
am
of
no
Church
.
I
am
not
a
Christian
.
'
'
Poor
child
,
'
said
the
priest
,
more
grieved
apparently
than
astonished
;
'
why
do
you
say
you
are
not
a
Christian
?
Have
you
been
unfaithful
to
your
baptism
?
So
have
we
all
.
'
Hippolyta
felt
encouraged
by
his
calmness
.
But
what
had
she
to
say
?
'
I
have
never
been
baptized
,
'
she
answered
.
'
I
do
not
believe
in
the
Christian
creed
.
But
I
am
in
such
trouble
;
and
what
you
said
to-night
made
me
think
—
'
There
was
no
possibility
of
going
on
,
she
was
so
agitated
.
The
priest
heard
her
sobbing
.
'
Yes
,
'
he
said
very
gently
after
a
while
,
'
it
made
you
think
?
What
did
it
make
you
think
?
Tell
me
.
'
'
Oh
,
'
she
replied
wildly
,
'
I
am
one
of
those
that
have
chosen
the
wrong
side
.
Is
there
not
a
woman
in
your
Gospels
named
Magdalene
?
I
have
been
,
I
am
now
,
a
Magdalene
.
'
'
Do
you
mean
,
my
poor
sister
,
'
he
said
in
the
same
calm
voice
,
like
that
of
a
physician
at
the
bedside
of
a
patient
,
'
that
you
are
living
in
sin
?
'
'
I
mean
,
'
was
the
answer
given
with
heaving
breath
,
'
that
I
have
scorned
to
believe
in
marriage
,
and
have
thought
love
by
itself
enough
.
My
husband
is
not
my
husband
;
I
would
not
let
him
marry
me
.
'
'
Was
he
willing
to
marry
you
?
'
inquired
the
priest
.
'
Yes
,
yes
,
'
she
said
,
weeping
again
;
'
it
is
all
my
fault
.
It
was
I
,
in
my
pride
and
foolishness
,
that
persuaded
him
to
do
evil
.
How
shall
I
repair
it
?
What
must
I
do
?
'
'
You
must
repent
,
'
answered
the
priest
gravely
,
'
as
Magdalene
repented
of
a
lesser
fault
.
For
she
yielded
to
passion
;
and
you
,
my
sister
,
have
perverted
the
very
principle
on
which
purity
and
all
human
affections
rest
.
'
'
How
did
Magdalene
repent
?
'
said
Hippolyta
,
with
a
sudden
flush
upon
her
face
which
made
itself
felt
in
the
darkness
.
'
Tell
me
,
for
the
love
of
good
,
what
did
she
do
?
'
The
answer
came
slow
and
distinct
,
'
She
followed
Christ
to
Calvary
and
clung
to
His
Cross
.
She
lived
and
died
for
Him
.
'
When
Hippolyta
heard
these
words
she
waited
for
no
more
.
Rising
and
turning
from
the
confessional
,
she
ran
with
a
lightning-like
speed
to
the
door
,
and
was
lost
in
the
night
.
The
priest
looked
sorrowfully
after
her
fleeting
figure
and
shook
his
head
.
What
would
become
of
the
strange
penitent
?
·
·
·
·
·
·
Hippolyta
did
not
go
far
.
At
first
the
violent
agitation
of
her
spirits
made
it
seem
stifling
to
enter
a
house
,
and
she
walked
down
the
Hill
until
she
reached
the
turn
where
it
became
the
London
Road
.
It
was
a
cold
raw
evening
,
and
chilled
her
to
the
bone
;
but
the
physical
discomfort
did
her
good
by
recalling
her
to
the
things
of
the
lower
world
;
and
after
wandering
for
some
half
hour
,
she
retraced
her
steps
till
she
arrived
at
her
own
door
.
It
was
open
,
and
the
housekeeper
,
who
appeared
to
have
just
come
in
,
was
taking
some
letters
out
of
the
letterbox
,
which
,
on
seeing
her
mistress
,
she
handed
to
her
.
Hippolyta
looked
at
one
of
them
.
It
was
in
her
father
's
handwriting
,
redirected
from
Falside
.
The
other
was
from
Rupert
.
On
seeing
it
a
terrible
feeling
of
sickness
and
misery
took
possession
of
her
whole
being
.
She
stood
under
the
lamp
which
hung
in
the
middle
of
the
hall
ceiling
,
tore
open
the
enclosure
,
and
read
its
contents
.
They
were
brief
.
Rupert
,
in
his
usual
tone
of
devoted
affection
,
announced
that
he
should
be
coming
up
to
London
that
very
day
,
but
should
arrive
too
late
to
come
on
to
Forrest
House
.
He
would
settle
some
little
business
next
morning
as
early
as
possible
,
and
she
might
expect
him
,
at
latest
,
by
twelve
o'clock
.
Hippolyta
shivered
,
put
the
letter
in
her
pocket
,
and
on
Mrs.
Leeming
's
inquiry
whether
she
would
now
dine
,
as
it
was
getting
late
,
she
merely
shook
her
head
,
and
went
slowly
upstairs
to
her
room
,
in
which
lights
were
burning
.
When
she
reached
it
she
looked
round
as
if
in
search
of
some
object
.
What
it
was
soon
appeared
.
Among
the
many
costly
ivories
with
which
her
boudoir
was
decked
Hippolyta
had
one
day
noticed
a
crucifix
of
exceedingly
noble
and
finished
execution
,
due
probably
to
the
hand
of
a
Flemish
artist
of
the
Renaissance
.
An
instinct
had
led
her
to
take
it
down
from
the
wall
where
it
was
hanging
,
and
put
it
away
out
of
sight
in
a
drawer
.
She
had
a
touch
,
if
not
more
,
of
that
dislike
for
seeing
the
emblem
of
sorrow
continually
before
one
's
eyes
which
has
distinguished
various
poets
and
poetic
natures
of
the
century
;
but
whether
it
was
that
or
something
deeper
which
had
prompted
her
to
hide
it
long
ago
—
what
a
weary
time
it
seemed
—
she
would
have
been
unable
to
say
.
Now
she
took
it
out
again
,
and
set
it
up
where
the
strong
and
steady
light
of
a
lamp
would
fall
upon
it
.
Her
next
action
was
to
lock
the
door
of
her
chamber
and
draw
the
curtains
across
the
window
,
so
as
to
shut
out
the
view
of
the
garden
,
—
a
measure
hardly
needed
,
for
the
darkness
outside
was
very
great
.
Not
a
breath
of
wind
stirred
among
the
dry
branches
or
the
foliage
of
the
evergreens
.
In
the
house
,
as
all
round
,
a
perfect
stillness
reigned
.
And
in
the
silent
night
,
amid
the
solitude
of
her
own
room
,
Hippolyta
paced
up
and
down
,
hour
after
hour
,
with
the
same
intense
self-concentration
,
the
same
sense
that
time
was
flying
on
the
wings
of
night
never
to
return
,
the
same
overwhelming
dread
of
the
morrow
,
which
the
condemned
criminal
must
have
in
his
prison-cell
when
that
morrow
is
to
see
him
die
.
Her
thoughts
were
deep
,
confused
,
and
overwhelming
,
recurring
ever
to
the
one
theme
which
the
preacher
had
handled
with
such
portentous
effect
,
—
the
guilt
,
the
awfulness
of
breaking
through
the
divine
order
.
She
had
been
so
confident
of
her
cause
;
and
it
was
her
cause
that
had
turned
against
her
.
To
spread
the
light
had
ever
appeared
the
only
ambition
worthy
of
her
heroic
soul
;
but
the
light
in
her
was
deceptive
,
a
mere
marsh-light
guiding
to
ruin
.
Instead
of
mounting
the
heights
to
which
she
aspired
,
she
had
flung
herself
into
the
mire
,
and
she
was
now
become
an
object
of
loathing
to
every
honest
man
and
woman
.
She
,
Hippolyta
Valence
,
so
conscious
,
so
proud
of
her
rectitude
,
was
fallen
,
polluted
,
horrible
to
think
upon
like
the
women
whom
she
had
styled
,
in
the
excess
of
a
self-admiring
sympathy
,
her
sisters
.
The
revelation
of
sin
as
no
phantom
,
or
superstition
,
or
conventional
metaphor
,
but
a
foul
and
loathsome
reality
,
had
come
upon
her
like
a
whirlwind
blackening
the
sky
.
Sin
,
the
most
unwomanly
,
the
least
admitting
of
excuse
or
palliation
,
was
it
then
become
a
part
of
her
being
,
a
record
in
the
past
never
to
be
blotted
out
?
As
in
her
mind
she
went
over
these
things
again
and
again
,
questioning
,
denying
,
admitting
,
shrinking
from
herself
,
yet
not
knowing
how
to
escape
into
the
sweet
fresh
air
that
,
after
she
had
been
breathing
it
for
so
many
months
,
had
suddenly
changed
to
miasma
,
her
feeling
was
like
that
of
a
trapped
wild
beast
;
she
could
have
raged
against
herself
,
and
in
the
fury
of
her
disdain
rushed
upon
death
as
a
relief
.
She
turned
with
the
thought
of
it
flaming
in
her
eyes
;
but
the
steady
light
still
showed
her
the
crucifix
,
and
when
her
gaze
went
out
to
it
,
she
remembered
the
words
which
described
it
as
the
image
of
supreme
resignation
.
To
kill
herself
would
not
be
resignation
or
victory
;
it
would
be
pride
and
defeat
.
What
though
she
had
fallen
,
might
she
not
rise
again
?
'
Oh
never
,
never
,
'
she
cried
in
her
anguish
;
'
the
snow
has
been
trodden
into
mud
,
the
ermine
is
stained
.
'
Tears
had
been
given
in
the
church
to
ease
her
overflowing
heart
;
but
now
she
had
no
tears
.
The
sweet
short
dream
of
delight
was
over
.
She
might
in
a
few
hours
go
forward
to
meet
Rupert
Glanville
with
a
smile
on
her
face
,
concealing
the
canker-worm
within
.
Did
she
choose
to
follow
a
desperate
course
,
she
might
still
feed
upon
the
honey
of
these
poisoned
flowers
and
dare
retribution
.
But
where
was
the
tranquillity
of
heart
,
the
peace
and
loving
security
,
which
,
as
she
now
perceived
,
had
been
the
foundation
of
her
previous
happiness
?
Gone
,
gone
,
never
to
return
.
Conscience
had
inflicted
a
deadly
wound
upon
her
,
and
she
hung
writhing
on
the
spear
.
The
hours
fled
on
.
But
why
believe
in
what
she
had
heard
by
accident
?
What
was
there
in
common
between
Hippolyta
Valence
and
this
religion
that
so
imperiously
divided
the
light
from
the
darkness
?
There
was
no
Satan
,
and
Christ
was
dead
and
buried
many
ages
ago
.
Suppose
it
a
fable
,
a
children
's
story
,
an
arabesque
on
the
skirt
of
the
eternal
night
.
Alas
!
it
was
impossible
.
Her
sin
had
found
her
out
;
to
lapse
into
the
delusion
of
innocence
was
beyond
her
for
evermore
.
In
this
fearful
noonday
glare
she
beheld
the
stain
,
as
though
it
were
the
spilt
blood
of
murder
,
spreading
over
her
soul
and
soaking
into
it
,
deep
,
deep
.
When
the
murderer
dipped
his
hands
in
water
,
they
were
none
the
less
polluted
,
but
the
water
became
crimson
,
mixed
with
the
blood
that
fell
into
it
.
So
,
she
went
on
saying
to
herself
,
it
would
be
with
marriage
following
on
the
loss
of
innocence
;
it
could
not
bring
back
what
was
lost
,
it
could
only
suffer
degradation
because
of
it
.
A
woman
was
either
angel
or
demon
;
she
must
be
pure
or
impure
.
'
And
what
am
I
?
'
said
Hippolyta
,
shuddering
,
as
in
her
pacing
to
and
fro
she
came
to
a
standstill
before
that
silent
figure
on
the
Cross
.
Her
anguish
became
unendurable
.
She
threw
open
the
window
and
looked
out
.
All
was
dark
and
wintry
.
Through
the
stained
glass
of
the
lancet
nearest
her
she
seemed
to
distinguish
a
faint
gleam
as
of
a
light
still
burning
somewhere
in
the
church
.
There
were
lamps
,
perhaps
,
that
kept
in
all
night
.
She
could
not
imagine
any
one
was
there
at
such
an
hour
,
past
one
o'clock
.
Not
a
star
was
to
be
seen
in
the
sky
.
'
How
like
it
is
to
this
life
of
mine
!
'
she
murmured
with
a
sigh
,
as
she
closed
the
window
and
drew
the
curtain
again
.
But
a
voice
within
seemed
to
make
reply
,
'
Have
you
deserved
the
guidance
of
a
star
,
when
you
have
been
wilful
,
headstrong
,
confident
in
the
strength
of
your
own
knowledge
?
'
and
she
was
compelled
to
make
a
confession
,
as
humiliating
as
it
was
salutary
,
that
she
had
dreamt
of
being
a
sufficient
light
to
herself
.
And
what
,
in
those
arrogant
days
,
had
she
known
of
the
mighty
,
mysterious
world
?
Now
the
veil
was
withdrawn
,
the
tragic
prospect
clear
.
She
had
been
made
to
fix
her
thoughts
,
her
eyes
,
her
memory
,
on
the
existences
which
were
governed
by
passionate
,
evanescent
impulses
,
whether
of
love
or
hate
;
the
blind
world
of
instinct
,
she
saw
,
stood
in
need
of
a
divine
reason
to
overrule
its
manifold
contradictory
tendencies
.
Was
it
not
the
same
with
the
blind
world
of
man
?
And
how
much
blinder
had
she
proved
herself
than
those
in
whom
ignorance
was
the
outcome
of
incapacity
or
lack
of
education
?
Hers
had
been
wanton
,
self-asserting
,
criminal
.
Was
Annie
Dauris
not
saved
?
Whose
sin
was
that
but
Hippolyta
's
.
Was
Rupert
,
the
generous
,
confiding
,
devoted
Rupert
,
lowered
in
his
own
eyes
,
turned
from
the
path
of
happiness
and
honour
,
made
to
share
in
turpitude
of
which
he
had
never
dreamt
?
Whose
sin
,
whose
unpardonable
,
damning
sin
was
that
but
Hippolyta
's
?
Could
the
murderer
,
the
suicide
,
have
done
worse
?
Thinking
these
accusing
thoughts
,
seeing
these
horrible
shadows
trooping
around
her
,
discerning
no
way
of
escape
,
with
an
impetuous
burst
of
tears
Hippolyta
cast
herself
prostrate
on
the
ground
before
the
crucifix
,
crying
aloud
again
and
again
,
amid
the
solitude
of
the
dismal
winter
night
,
'
Oh
thou
unknown
Christ
,
have
pity
on
me
!
'
·
·
·
·
·
·
It
was
nearly
twelve
o'clock
at
noon
,
and
the
sun
was
shining
high
and
bright
in
the
heavens
,
when
Rupert
Glanville
,
his
face
radiant
with
love
and
happiness
,
dashed
up
in
a
hansom
cab
to
the
gates
of
Forrest
House
.
He
sprang
out
hastily
,
dismissed
the
cabman
,
and
ran
as
if
wings
were
carrying
him
along
the
garden
path
into
the
hall
.
When
the
housekeeper
saw
him
she
turned
red
and
pale
.
'
Where
is
Mrs.
Malcolm
?
'
he
cried
gaily
.
'
Is
she
in
her
room
?
'
The
housekeeper
stood
motionless
,
looked
at
him
compassionately
,
and
made
no
reply
.
He
was
struck
with
her
silence
,
and
his
mood
altered
.
'
Answer
,
woman
,
'
he
said
sternly
.
'
Why
are
you
standing
there
like
an
idiot
?
'
She
put
up
her
hand
with
a
pitying
gesture
,
and
faltered
out
,
'
Oh
,
sir
,
Mrs.
Malcolm
is
gone
.
'
—
'
Gone
!
'
he
repeated
in
amaze
.
'
What
do
you
mean
?
Gone
where
?
'
Then
she
told
him
that
on
sending
the
maid
as
usual
to
wake
her
mistress
that
morning
,
the
girl
had
found
the
door
of
her
bedroom
wide
open
,
the
bed
not
slept
in
,
and
Mrs.
Malcolm
not
there
.
It
was
seven
o'clock
when
they
missed
her
.
They
had
searched
all
over
the
house
and
in
the
garden
;
they
had
sent
to
William
Dauris
,
but
all
in
vain
.
Not
a
trace
of
her
was
to
be
discovered
.
She
seemed
to
have
taken
nothing
with
her
but
her
cloak
and
hat
.
Rupert
ran
madly
upstairs
,
rushed
into
Hippolyta
's
boudoir
,
saw
that
everything
was
in
perfect
order
as
the
servants
had
told
him
,
and
looked
round
like
a
man
bewildered
when
he
found
no
Hippolyta
there
.
What
had
become
of
her
?
Was
it
a
dream
?
He
went
by
a
natural
instinct
to
her
writing-table
and
examined
the
papers
lying
on
it
.
They
were
of
no
importance
;
they
yielded
no
clue
.
But
the
blotting-book
was
wide
open
,
and
a
sealed
envelope
with
his
initials
outside
caught
his
eye
.
As
he
tore
it
crosswise
,
in
his
eagerness
,
a
plain
gold
ring
fell
out
which
he
had
induced
Hippolyta
to
wear
as
Mrs.
Malcolm
,
and
round
it
a
slip
of
paper
.
Written
on
the
latter
,
in
a
trembling
hand
,
were
only
these
words
,
'
Rupert
,
we
must
part
;
do
not
seek
me
.
'
It
was
too
true
.
Hippolyta
had
disappeared
.
CHAPTER
XXIX
LIKE
MADNESS
IN
THE
BRAIN
The
blow
which
had
thus
been
struck
at
the
heart
of
Rupert
Glanville
was
so
unexpected
,
and
its
occasion
so
wrapt
in
mystery
,
that
the
young
man
,
on
reading
Hippolyta
's
brief
sentence
,
announcing
as
it
should
seem
an
everlasting
farewell
,
refused
to
believe
and
stood
there
incapable
of
realising
it
.
His
face
was
calm
as
that
of
a
man
who
has
just
been
shot
dead
.
Hippolyta
vanished
?
But
why
?
he
asked
himself
again
.
She
must
have
simply
been
called
away
by
a
sudden
emergency
;
she
would
return
in
a
few
hours
;
or
she
had
heard
from
Colonel
Valence
and
he
was
in
danger
,
dying
perhaps
,
and
in
need
of
his
daughter
's
presence
.
Surely
it
was
that
which
,
giving
her
an
overwhelming
shock
,
had
disturbed
her
reason
;
that
or
the
attack
of
disease
alone
could
have
made
her
set
down
those
few
wild
words
which
he
read
again
and
again
,
vainly
striving
to
make
them
tell
more
than
their
own
meaning
.
He
drew
a
chair
to
the
writing-table
,
and
sat
down
by
it
,
looking
out
of
the
window
in
a
dazed
and
helpless
fashion
,
not
able
to
think
or
to
act
,
every
faculty
benumbed
and
a
weight
like
ice
in
his
bosom
.
The
entrance
of
the
housekeeper
roused
him
as
from
a
stupor
.
Ought
they
to
do
anything
?
Had
Mr.
Malcolm
any
orders
to
give
?
Rupert
laughed
sardonically
on
hearing
the
name
which
had
gone
with
his
golden
honeymoon
.
It
was
nine
months
,
almost
to
the
day
,
since
he
brought
Hippolyta
from
his
studio
to
Forrest
House
.
Nine
months
!
good
heavens
,
how
happy
they
had
been
,
how
swift
to
come
and
go
,
like
a
broad
stream
of
sunshine
losing
itself
in
the
smiling
ocean
!
It
was
all
over
.
'
A
dream
,
a
dream
,
'
he
murmured
to
himself
.
Or
was
he
dreaming
now
?
The
housekeeper
spoke
again
;
and
he
gave
a
start
at
the
sound
of
a
strange
voice
in
Hippolyta
's
boudoir
.
He
had
forgotten
that
any
one
was
there
.
'
What
did
you
say
?
'
he
inquired
,
passing
his
hand
over
his
forehead
.
Orders
!
No
,
he
had
no
orders
to
give
;
and
he
turned
over
the
scrap
of
paper
which
he
held
between
his
fingers
,
vaguely
imagining
there
might
be
some
message
on
the
back
which
he
had
not
seen
,
to
say
that
it
was
all
a
jest
,
all
make-believe
,
and
Hippolyta
would
come
ere
the
day
was
spent
.
There
was
nothing
except
the
fatal
sentences
written
on
the
paper
;
he
knew
it
before
he
looked
.
But
this
slight
action
brought
him
to
himself
.
Hippolyta
must
have
been
seen
when
she
went
away
;
if
not
by
the
servants
,
yet
by
those
who
were
passing
along
the
street
,
by
the
neighbours
,
the
police
,
by
whatever
people
might
be
about
in
the
early
morning
.
What
if
a
misfortune
to
her
father
had
driven
her
out
of
her
mind
,
and
she
were
wandering
somewhere
without
any
one
to
take
care
of
her
!
The
thought
was
terrible
,
inciting
him
to
lose
no
time
in
seeking
her
traces
,
and
allowing
him
,
till
she
should
be
found
,
to
believe
that
she
had
not
known
what
she
was
doing
when
she
wrote
him
farewell
.
Was
it
not
a
symptom
of
madness
that
people
turned
against
those
they
loved
most
dearly
,
and
fled
from
them
?
This
appalling
comfort
that
Hippolyta
might
be
out
of
her
mind
was
a
sad
testimony
to
the
overthrow
of
Rupert
's
happiness
.
'
Why
,
oh
why
,
'
he
cried
in
despair
,
'
did
I
not
come
on
last
night
instead
of
lingering
in
town
?
I
should
have
noticed
the
change
and
ascertained
the
cause
of
it
;
a
few
hours
would
have
made
all
the
difference
.
We
could
have
called
in
a
physician
,
set
some
one
to
watch
over
her
to
see
that
she
did
not
stray
away
by
herself
.
But
let
us
do
what
we
can
and
not
delay
.
'
He
was
eager
and
active
now
;
the
stupor
had
passed
for
a
while
,
because
a
ray
of
hope
seemed
to
be
dawning
again
.
The
more
he
considered
the
stronger
he
found
those
evidences
of
Hippolyta
's
mental
aberration
which
the
circumstances
of
her
flight
seemed
to
give
.
She
had
not
taken
anything
with
her
in
the
shape
of
money
or
clothing
;
she
had
made
no
preparations
for
a
journey
,
long
or
short
.
Her
books
,
correspondence
,
wardrobe
,
were
all
in
perfect
order
,
as
Mrs.
Leeming
had
seen
them
only
the
day
before
.
There
was
no
sign
of
hurry
or
confusion
in
the
room
,
nothing
out
of
place
,
except
in
that
pleasant
way
which
betokened
that
some
one
had
made
a
home
of
it
.
The
note
she
had
received
from
Rupert
and
had
read
in
the
hall
when
she
came
in
last
night
was
lying
on
her
dressing-table
with
her
keys
.
Only
her
hat
and
cloak
were
gone
.
Rupert
questioned
the
servants
closely
.
Had
any
one
found
a
door
or
window
open
that
morning
?
No
,
but
the
housemaid
,
on
going
to
unbolt
the
front
door
,
was
astonished
to
observe
that
it
was
unfastened
.
Some
one
must
or
might
have
left
the
house
that
way
;
all
other
means
of
exit
were
as
they
had
been
left
the
last
thing
at
night
.
Had
Mrs.
Malcolm
appeared
in
any
way
strange
during
the
past
few
days
?
Had
she
received
letters
,
or
heard
agitating
news
,
or
done
or
said
anything
unusual
?
In
answer
to
these
inquiries
the
housekeeper
mentioned
the
two
letters
received
last
night
,
told
what
she
knew
of
the
trouble
and
flight
of
Annie
Dauris
,
and
of
Hippolyta
's
anxiety
to
discover
and
bring
her
back
.
The
girl
,
she
added
,
was
not
yet
found
;
neither
did
they
seem
aware
at
the
gardener
's
cottage
of
anything
peculiar
in
Mrs.
Malcolm
's
conduct
.
They
were
very
much
attached
to
her
,
and
she
had
displayed
great
kindness
towards
them
.
Rupert
sent
for
William
Dauris
.
The
gardener
came
immediately
,
with
an
expression
of
intense
sorrow
in
his
countenance
,
and
so
deeply
grieved
on
hearing
of
Hippolyta
's
disappearance
from
home
that
he
could
hardly
reply
to
the
questions
which
Rupert
addressed
to
him
.
He
was
evidently
as
much
in
the
dark
as
any
one
else
.
He
could
not
think
so
feeling
a
lady
as
Mrs.
Malcolm
would
have
set
out
on
a
long
journey
,
especially
if
it
was
connected
with
his
daughter
,
and
not
come
to
say
good-bye
,
or
at
least
send
them
word
that
she
had
found
a
clue
.
She
had
certainly
been
much
troubled
when
she
heard
of
Annie
's
misbehaviour
;
he
knew
that
she
had
made
inquiries
everywhere
,
and
had
even
gone
into
the
East
End
herself
to
help
them
on
.
How
did
she
go
,
Rupert
asked
,
by
what
conveyance
?
William
Dauris
could
not
say
;
he
thought
the
coachman
had
driven
her
.
The
coachman
was
sent
for
,
and
gave
his
account
,
which
was
not
much
.
It
had
been
Mrs.
Malcolm
's
custom
to
have
herself
driven
a
couple
of
miles
along
the
London
Road
and
then
dismiss
him
.
He
believed
that
she
often
engaged
a
cab
to
take
her
much
farther
,
into
town
,
he
supposed
.
But
he
had
never
driven
farther
himself
except
three
days
ago
,
when
she
told
him
to
take
her
to
an
address
in
Grafton
Place
,
Strand
,
—
a
Mr.
Mardol
's
,
—
and
afterwards
—
Rupert
almost
leaped
out
of
the
chair
in
which
he
was
sitting
.
'
What
name
did
you
say
?
'
he
cried
.
'
Mr
.
Mardol
's
?
Grafton
Place
?
Are
you
sure
?
'
The
coachman
was
quite
sure
.
Not
only
had
he
asked
Mrs.
Malcolm
the
address
twice
over
,
but
he
heard
Mr.
Mardol
's
name
several
times
when
he
drove
on
to
the
East
End
,
whither
Mrs.
Malcolm
was
accompanied
by
a
gentleman
from
Grafton
Place
.
'
Oh
,
I
see
now
,
'
exclaimed
Rupert
with
a
sigh
of
relief
;
'
it
will
all
come
clear
.
Thank
you
,
Thomson
,
thank
you
;
you
have
given
me
the
clue
I
wanted
.
Why
did
you
not
inform
me
at
once
?
'
Thomson
had
not
felt
certain
that
it
mattered
,
or
he
would
have
spoken
.
He
knew
the
house
in
Grafton
Place
,
and
the
other
off
Saffron
Hill
.
If
Mr.
Malcolm
wished
to
see
them
himself
,
he
could
get
the
brougham
ready
at
once
.
'
Right
,
quite
right
,
Thomson
,
'
said
his
master
;
'
be
quick
about
it
.
I
will
drive
to
Grafton
Place
.
Mr.
Mardol
is
a
friend
of
mine
.
There
has
been
some
misunderstanding
,
I
suppose
;
that
is
all
.
It
is
nothing
,
nothing
.
Only
look
about
you
.
I
shall
be
waiting
till
you
come
.
'
The
coachman
departed
on
his
errand
;
and
William
Dauris
,
who
had
been
standing
silently
near
during
this
conversation
,
took
heart
again
on
seeing
how
Rupert
's
face
brightened
.
He
appeared
like
a
changed
man
.
'
Then
we
shall
have
Mrs.
Malcolm
back
?
'
said
the
gardener
timidly
.
'
Oh
,
never
fear
,
'
replied
Rupert
,
shaking
him
warmly
by
the
hand
;
'
back
this
evening
,
no
doubt
.
Ladies
will
give
us
these
frightenings
now
and
then
,
'
he
said
,
smiling
as
one
does
to
assure
friends
that
one
has
escaped
a
great
peril
.
'
I
am
very
glad
,
'
said
William
,
'
and
so
will
my
wife
be
when
I
tell
her
.
She
has
been
crying
ever
since
the
housekeeper
brought
us
the
bad
news
.
'
He
said
no
more
,
but
went
away
quietly
.
Rupert
,
who
had
not
taken
off
the
travelling
wraps
in
which
he
had
alighted
from
the
hansom
,
walked
from
the
front
door
to
the
gate
and
back
again
,
up
and
down
the
garden
path
,
till
the
brougham
came
in
sight
.
He
at
once
ran
to
meet
it
,
leaped
in
,
and
told
the
coachman
to
use
his
utmost
speed
till
they
reached
Grafton
Place
.
He
would
willingly
have
galloped
with
the
horses
,
so
great
was
his
excitement
.
To
have
done
with
the
journey
and
clasp
Hippolyta
in
his
arms
again
—
he
could
think
of
nothing
else
.
He
would
forgive
her
at
the
first
word
;
but
she
must
never
so
frighten
him
again
.
In
the
midst
of
these
disjointed
reflections
the
thought
presented
itself
,
'
But
suppose
she
were
not
in
Grafton
Place
?
'
Why
,
he
replied
at
once
to
himself
,
he
had
not
fancied
she
would
be
there
;
at
least
it
could
not
signify
;
Ivor
would
know
where
she
was
,
what
motive
had
induced
her
to
leave
home
suddenly
,
and
in
what
frame
of
mind
she
had
come
to
him
.
The
reason
of
their
meeting
was
plain
enough
.
Ivor
,
Hippolyta
,
and
Colonel
Valence
were
all
mixed
up
in
that
mad
revolutionary
movement
which
appeared
to
delight
in
these
mysterious
vanishings
and
trap-door
scenes
;
there
had
been
some
plan
afoot
,
and
Hippolyta
was
required
to
take
part
in
it
.
'
But
,
'
said
Rupert
,
in
a
gayer
mood
now
that
he
was
going
to
see
her
very
soon
,
'
I
shall
not
allow
this
doctrine
of
blind
obedience
to
come
between
husband
and
wife
.
The
next
time
Hippolyta
sets
out
on
a
humanitarian
expedition
she
shall
take
me
with
her
,
or
I
will
know
the
reason
why
.
'
The
drive
was
horribly
long
,
but
it
could
not
last
for
ever
.
At
a
little
distance
from
the
house
Rupert
pulled
the
check-string
and
got
out
.
It
might
be
an
alarm
or
a
warning
to
the
conspirators
,
as
he
termed
Ivor
and
Hippolyta
in
his
recovered
good-humour
,
if
the
carriage
were
to
drive
up
to
the
door
.
Bidding
Thomson
,
therefore
,
wait
round
the
corner
,
he
walked
on
briskly
to
his
friend
's
house
,
with
which
he
was
familiar
from
of
old
,
and
rang
the
bell
as
quietly
as
the
agitation
of
his
nerves
would
let
him
.
The
door
was
not
opened
at
once
.
'
Ah
,
'
he
said
under
his
breath
,
'
Ivor
is
cautious
;
he
perhaps
wishes
to
reconnoitre
before
parleying
with
the
enemy
.
I
will
pay
him
out
for
this
.
'
He
had
hardly
got
the
words
out
of
his
mouth
when
Ivor
opened
the
door
.
'
What
,
you
,
Rupert
!
'
he
cried
joyously
;
'
who
in
the
world
would
have
thought
it
?
Come
in
,
my
dear
boy
,
and
let
me
look
at
you
.
I
have
been
working
at
high
pressure
to
make
up
for
lost
time
.
That
is
why
I
did
not
come
at
once
;
I
was
busy
.
'
And
with
delight
overspreading
his
rugged
features
Ivor
,
lifting
the
curtain
of
stamped
leather
with
one
hand
,
pushed
Rupert
gently
forward
with
the
other
into
his
workroom
.
A
lad
,
who
happened
to
be
assisting
him
,
retired
at
the
sight
of
a
stranger
through
another
exit
.
Rupert
was
half-minded
to
call
him
back
.
He
dreaded
some
trick
of
collusion
,
he
knew
not
why
.
Ivor
had
never
deceived
him
in
his
life
;
but
in
the
present
excitement
suspicion
caught
at
a
film
of
gossamer
.
The
boy
disappeared
;
and
Rupert
,
who
could
endure
the
suspense
no
longer
,
turned
at
once
on
his
friend
without
preface
or
introduction
,
and
cried
,
'
Where
is
Miss
Valence
,
Ivor
?
'
Ivor
stared
at
him
.
'
Miss
Valence
?
'
he
repeated
.
He
seemed
quite
lost
.
Rupert
thought
he
was
dissembling
,
and
he
could
not
bear
it
.
'
Yes
,
Miss
Valence
,
'
reiterated
the
artist
in
an
angry
voice
.
'
Come
now
,
tell
me
what
you
have
done
with
her
.
'
And
he
took
Ivor
by
the
shoulder
.
The
astonishment
of
the
latter
increased
.
'
But
,
my
dear
fellow
,
'
he
said
,
looking
for
an
explanation
of
this
strange
scene
in
Rupert
's
eyes
,
'
I
do
n't
know
who
Miss
Valence
is
.
I
never
heard
her
name
in
my
life
.
'
Rupert
turned
white
with
passion
.
'
Never
heard
her
name
,
'
he
exclaimed
,
'
and
she
was
with
you
three
days
ago
,
and
you
went
with
her
to
Saffron
Hill
.
Shame
on
you
,
Ivor
;
how
can
you
tell
me
so
?
'
Ivor
was
bewildered
still
,
but
not
quite
so
much
.
'
Indeed
!
'
was
his
reply
,
'
so
that
is
the
lady
's
real
name
.
I
thought
there
must
be
something
.
'
And
then
,
turning
to
Rupert
,
'
I
give
you
my
word
this
is
the
first
I
ever
heard
of
a
Miss
Valence
.
The
lady
who
came
here
three
days
ago
announced
herself
as
Mrs.
Malcolm
.
It
appears
that
she
gave
a
false
name
.
'
Rupert
,
listening
impatiently
,
was
now
bewildered
in
his
turn
.
He
said
slowly
,
'
My
dear
Ivor
,
you
surely
knew
the
name
of
Miss
Valence
,
Colonel
Valence
's
daughter
?
'
'
Neither
Miss
Valence
nor
Colonel
Valence
,
as
I
am
an
honest
engraver
,
'
said
his
friend
;
'
you
must
be
dreaming
,
Rupert
.
What
has
come
over
you
this
morning
?
'
He
made
Glanville
sit
down
,
and
,
in
drawing
him
towards
the
light
,
was
disconcerted
at
seeing
the
ashy
paleness
of
his
cheek
.
'
What
in
Heaven
's
name
is
it
?
'
he
inquired
with
anxious
affection
.
Rupert
kept
studying
every
expression
that
passed
over
his
friend
's
features
,
anticipating
,
somehow
,
that
the
mask
would
fall
and
the
truth
declare
itself
.
But
Ivor
looked
the
soul
of
candour
and
innocence
.
The
artist
was
staggered
.
He
sat
up
,
pulled
himself
together
with
an
effort
,
and
said
,
with
an
imploring
accent
in
each
of
his
words
:
'
Do
be
frank
with
me
.
You
must
know
Miss
Valence
and
her
father
.
They
are
Socialists
like
yourself
;
and
I
believe
you
have
already
received
communications
from
them
,
although
I
never
spoke
to
you
about
them
.
The
lady
that
came
here
—
you
knew
she
was
Miss
Valence
.
'
'
I
declare
to
you
solemnly
,
'
said
Ivor
,
'
I
knew
no
such
thing
.
The
first
time
I
set
eyes
on
her
was
three
months
ago
,
by
mere
accident
as
it
seemed
,
in
Denzil
Lane
,
as
I
was
coming
out
of
a
house
where
I
had
been
on
business
.
She
told
me
her
name
was
Mrs.
Malcolm
,
and
—
'
he
hesitated
for
a
moment
,
but
continued
deliberately
,
'
I
also
learned
,
though
I
ought
not
to
tell
you
so
,
that
she
belonged
to
our
society
.
More
than
that
I
neither
know
nor
desired
to
know
.
What
you
say
about
previous
communications
is
impossible
.
Who
is
Miss
Valence
,
then
,
and
why
does
she
go
by
another
name
?
'
Unless
Ivor
was
playing
a
part
with
unparalleled
sang
froid
and
equal
heartlessness
,
he
must
be
speaking
the
truth
.
Still
,
he
was
not
his
own
master
;
there
might
be
an
obligation
among
Socialists
to
deceive
one
's
dearest
friends
for
the
good
of
the
society
,
thought
Rupert
;
and
in
that
case
it
would
be
in
vain
to
persevere
with
his
questions
.
The
fear
of
losing
Hippolyta
returned
with
horrible
force
.
He
must
try
again
.
'
I
do
n't
wish
to
inquire
into
your
secrets
,
Ivor
,
'
he
began
mildly
;
'
I
have
always
respected
them
.
Only
tell
me
where
Mrs.
Malcolm
is
,
—
let
us
call
her
Mrs.
Malcolm
,
we
need
not
quarrel
over
a
name
,
—
tell
me
how
I
can
send
her
a
message
,
and
I
will
thank
you
from
the
bottom
of
my
heart
.
'
There
was
the
sound
of
tears
in
his
voice
.
Ivor
,
if
not
sincere
,
was
a
consummate
villain
,
who
did
not
need
to
learn
from
the
greatest
how
to
tear
his
friend
's
heart
.
He
stood
seemingly
in
the
uttermost
bewilderment
,
incapable
of
answering
a
word
,
and
trying
to
make
sense
of
what
had
just
been
spoken
by
Rupert
.
When
at
length
he
found
his
voice
he
did
but
mutter
,
'
Miss
Valence
,
Mrs.
Malcolm
?
'
as
though
the
two
names
were
a
subject
of
unmixed
surprise
and
perplexity
to
him
.
Nay
,
the
sight
of
Rupert
's
affliction
moved
him
almost
to
tears
,
and
he
said
,
forgetting
apparently
what
had
been
asked
by
the
latter
:
'
Is
there
any
reason
why
you
should
take
this
deep
interest
in
the
lady
?
If
it
is
one
you
can
confide
to
me
,
I
will
do
all
in
my
power
towards
discovering
her
,
as
I
understand
from
you
that
she
is
no
longer
to
be
found
.
I
was
utterly
ignorant
that
you
cared
for
any
woman
,
Rupert
.
'
The
artist
's
suspicions
were
not
to
be
laid
by
kindness
.
He
knew
only
too
well
that
Hippolyta
had
conveyed
the
message
to
Ivor
Mardol
,
which
compelled
him
to
quit
Trelingham
on
a
secret
expedition
.
This
questioning
about
his
own
interest
in
Miss
Valence
was
to
throw
him
off
the
scent
.
He
cursed
Socialism
and
the
revolutionary
ideas
which
made
a
friend
like
Ivor
disloyal
,
as
he
answered
:
'
What
my
reason
may
be
for
inquiring
about
Mrs.
Malcolm
signifies
to
no
one
but
myself
.
I
want
to
know
where
she
is
,
and
I
believe
you
could
inform
me
,
if
it
was
not
for
some
oath
or
other
you
have
taken
.
Will
you
do
so
,
or
are
we
to
break
off
our
friendship
here
and
now
?
'
'
Rupert
,
my
dear
Rupert
,
what
madness
has
come
over
you
?
'
exclaimed
Ivor
in
unfeigned
distress
.
'
I
cannot
do
more
than
assure
you
that
three
months
ago
Mrs.
Malcolm
was
a
perfect
stranger
to
me
,
that
I
have
never
known
her
address
,
and
that
I
know
it
now
as
little
as
you
do
.
'
'
And
Miss
Valence
brought
you
no
message
when
you
were
living
at
Trelingham
,
in
the
chalet
?
'
inquired
Rupert
with
intense
sternness
.
'
None
whatever
,
'
replied
Ivor
;
'
the
message
I
received
,
and
which
I
remember
you
saw
,
came
from
—
'
he
paused
.
'
From
whom
?
'
said
Rupert
.
'
I
must
say
no
more
about
it
.
These
things
are
really
secret
,
and
they
do
not
concern
you
,
Rupert
,
nor
yet
Miss
Valence
.
I
implore
you
to
let
the
matter
drop
.
'
'
Very
well
,
'
said
Glanville
sullenly
,
rising
as
he
spoke
.
'
Then
here
we
say
good-bye
,
and
that
is
the
end
of
an
old
song
.
'
He
went
to
the
door
.
Ivor
followed
.
'
You
are
not
going
for
good
,
are
you
,
old
fellow
?
'
he
said
tremulously
,
endeavouring
to
detain
him
.
'
Yes
,
I
am
,
'
he
returned
,
shaking
off
the
hand
that
was
laid
affectionately
on
his
arm
.
'
This
is
the
last
you
will
see
of
me
.
'
He
threw
open
the
front
door
and
walked
into
the
street
.
Ivor
,
wounded
in
his
deepest
feelings
,
and
more
sensitive
to
the
change
in
Rupert
's
affection
than
to
the
affront
he
had
received
,
stood
on
the
threshold
watching
him
till
he
turned
the
corner
.
It
would
be
no
use
calling
him
back
while
he
was
in
such
a
mood
.
Ivor
shut
the
door
,
went
back
to
his
workroom
and
took
up
the
plate
on
which
he
was
engaged
.
He
could
not
go
on
with
it
;
his
thoughts
were
all
abroad
,
and
his
fingers
would
not
serve
him
.
After
nearly
a
year
's
absence
to
meet
and
part
like
this
!
Rupert
was
not
a
good
correspondent
,
resembling
in
that
particular
most
men
of
genius
,
who
find
occupation
without
difficulty
,
and
are
loth
to
forego
present
delights
for
the
monotonous
work
of
recording
the
incidents
of
the
day
.
But
few
letters
,
therefore
,
had
passed
between
these
friends
;
and
the
nature
of
Ivor
's
cosmopolitan
interests
on
the
one
side
,
combined
with
Rupert
's
desire
to
conceal
Hippolyta
's
residence
and
way
of
living
on
the
other
,
had
made
intimate
correspondence
difficult
,
if
not
impossible
.
Love
is
the
sworn
foe
of
friendship
,
and
puts
out
lesser
lights
,
as
the
sun
quenches
the
stars
.
Nor
is
cosmopolitan
or
religious
enthusiasm
,
which
you
cannot
share
with
a
friend
,
less
likely
to
estrange
you
from
him
.
In
spite
of
all
this
,
the
devotion
of
Rupert
to
Ivor
was
intense
and
heartfelt
;
while
Ivor
would
have
sacrificed
their
friendship
to
nothing
less
sacred
than
a
sense
of
duty
.
Had
he
done
so
now
?
His
confession
or
the
discovery
of
Hippolyta
alone
could
decide
.
So
Rupert
might
have
argued
in
cold
blood
.
But
his
blood
was
not
cold
;
it
was
boiling
in
his
veins
as
he
walked
away
in
search
of
the
brougham
,
convinced
that
Ivor
had
sheltered
Hippolyta
or
was
conversant
with
her
design
in
quitting
Forrest
House
.
At
that
instant
he
cared
not
a
jot
for
any
man
's
friendship
;
and
he
flung
Ivor
's
from
him
as
a
thing
soiled
and
worthless
.
He
would
be
his
own
friend
and
seek
Hippolyta
till
he
found
her
.
Who
was
the
other
she
had
called
on
?
Thomson
would
know
.
He
stopped
the
carriage
,
which
was
slowly
moving
up
and
down
,
and
before
he
entered
it
,
made
the
coachman
repeat
what
he
had
begun
to
say
in
the
morning
about
driving
Mrs.
Malcolm
to
some
place
near
Saffron
Hill
.
Thomson
had
a
good
local
memory
,
and
knew
the
street
near
St.
Audry
's
Church
.
He
had
seen
the
clergyman
,
also
,
as
he
was
handing
Mrs.
Malcolm
to
her
carriage
.
Rupert
told
him
to
drive
thither
.
He
could
not
conceive
how
a
clergyman
should
come
into
the
story
;
but
it
was
so
mad
a
world
,
and
the
rage
of
new
opinions
had
spread
into
such
unsuspected
quarters
,
that
his
surprise
by
no
means
equalled
his
determination
to
find
out
the
share
which
this
apparently
socialistic
preacher
had
taken
in
decoying
Hippolyta
.
It
was
late
in
the
afternoon
and
already
dusk
when
the
brougham
drew
up
as
near
Mr.
Regan
's
as
it
could
be
safely
taken
.
Rupert
,
not
venturing
to
give
his
card
,
whether
as
Mr.
Glanville
of
Clarence
Gardens
,
or
Mr.
Malcolm
of
Forrest
House
,
merely
said
in
answer
to
the
servant
who
answered
his
knock
,
that
he
had
urgent
business
with
the
clergyman
.
She
had
admitted
that
he
was
at
home
,
although
Rupert
,
not
knowing
his
name
,
or
whether
there
were
one
or
more
,
had
made
a
random
guess
in
simply
asking
for
him
under
that
general
designation
.
When
he
spoke
of
urgent
business
,
she
left
him
standing
in
the
dark
passage
and
disappeared
.
Returning
not
long
after
,
she
showed
him
into
the
sitting-room
,
which
was
almost
as
dark
;
and
there
he
waited
,
considering
with
himself
how
he
should
begin
the
cross-examination
to
which
he
intended
to
submit
the
unknown
ecclesiastic
.
Mr.
Regan
came
in
,
apologised
for
the
want
of
light
,
turned
on
the
gas
,
and
made
ready
to
listen
.
The
artist
judged
it
prudent
to
begin
with
Ivor
Mardol
's
name
.
'
Excuse
me
,
'
said
Mr.
Regan
at
once
,
'
I
trust
you
have
not
come
about
the
business
which
brought
Mr.
Mardol
here
some
days
since
.
I
am
certainly
not
my
brother
's
keeper
in
this
instance
;
and
if
you
want
him
,
you
must
go
to
his
chambers
.
'
Rupert
looked
at
him
.
'
I
do
not
know
whether
it
is
your
brother
's
business
or
not
,
'
he
said
curtly
;
'
it
may
be
,
if
your
brother
,
or
yourself
,
for
matter
of
that
,
be
a
member
of
a
secret
society
.
'
'
I
,
my
dear
sir
!
'
exclaimed
the
clergyman
in
accents
of
dismay
;
'
for
what
do
you
take
me
?
As
for
Maurice
,
I
give
him
up
.
I
cannot
deny
,
how
much
soever
I
may
deplore
,
his
connection
with
plotting
and
nefarious
men
.
'
'
I
thought
so
,
'
said
Rupert
,
his
face
darkening
;
'
and
was
it
about
your
brother
that
the
lady
came
who
accompanied
Mr.
Mardol
?
'
The
murder
was
out
,
he
said
to
himself
.
These
were
all
meshes
of
a
net
in
which
,
by
whose
fault
it
did
not
signify
,
Hippolyta
had
been
entangled
.
Mr.
Regan
examined
his
visitor
's
looks
,
and
became
more
cautious
.
'
I
know
nothing
of
the
lady
except
that
she
called
herself
Mrs.
Malcolm
.
I
told
her
what
I
have
already
repeated
to
you
,
that
if
she
wished
to
hold
communication
with
my
brother
,
the
only
way
was
to
call
at
his
chambers
.
'
'
Cannot
you
inform
me
of
Mrs.
Malcolm
's
business
with
your
brother
?
'
inquired
Rupert
,
moderating
his
tone
.
'
I
assure
you
it
may
be
a
matter
of
great
,
of
vital
importance
.
'
But
the
clergyman
was
not
to
be
disarmed
.
He
had
a
great
regard
for
his
brother
,
worthless
though
Maurice
had
proved
himself
.
On
many
a
previous
occasion
he
had
thrown
the
shield
of
silence
over
his
delinquencies
;
and
the
stern
,
serious
manner
of
the
artist
,
who
gave
no
name
and
seemed
to
have
business
of
an
unpleasant
sort
in
hand
,
determined
him
to
say
as
little
as
possible
.
Instead
,
therefore
,
of
disclosing
the
errand
on
which
Hippolyta
had
come
,
he
answered
deliberately
:
'
If
you
will
let
me
know
whom
I
have
the
pleasure
of
addressing
,
I
may
be
better
able
to
judge
whether
you
would
be
interested
in
Mrs.
Malcolm
's
business
.
But
I
must
decline
discussing
it
with
a
stranger
.
'
Except
in
Forrest
House
and
among
the
acquaintance
of
his
servants
,
who
could
not
be
expected
not
to
talk
of
their
master
,
Rupert
had
never
assumed
the
style
and
title
of
Malcolm
.
What
name
should
he
give
?
Would
this
suspicious
clergyman
tell
him
anything
he
did
not
know
,
even
when
he
had
run
the
risk
—
for
a
risk
it
was
in
either
case
—
of
appearing
as
Malcolm
or
in
his
own
name
?
It
did
not
seem
probable
.
Allowing
,
as
was
now
evident
,
that
the
motive
for
Hippolyta
's
leaving
home
—
he
still
called
it
home
—
was
connected
with
the
designs
of
revolutionists
,
he
might
be
certain
that
they
would
guard
their
secret
jealously
.
He
must
try
another
means
.
These
thoughts
passed
through
his
brain
while
he
was
putting
on
his
glove
.
He
had
remained
standing
,
and
Mr.
Regan
had
not
come
many
steps
inside
the
door
.
He
now
said
:
'
My
name
is
of
no
consequence
.
I
will
only
ask
you
to
inform
Mrs.
Malcolm
,
if
you
should
see
her
again
,
that
her
visit
here
is
known
by
those
who
seek
her
,
and
that
she
will
do
well
to
communicate
with
them
if
she
desires
to
prevent
the
most
serious
harm
.
'
He
meant
it
for
a
threat
of
suicide
,
and
Hippolyta
,
he
thought
,
would
so
understand
it
.
Mr.
Regan
answered
,
with
much
dignity
,
that
he
did
not
suppose
the
lady
would
call
again
.
He
was
a
frigidly-correct
,
not
an
inquisitive
man
;
and
although
,
a
few
moments
after
Rupert
left
the
house
,
he
heard
the
sound
of
wheels
driving
away
,
he
would
not
so
much
as
look
through
the
window
to
ascertain
what
species
of
conveyance
it
was
that
had
brought
his
anonymous
and
unwelcome
visitor
.
Rupert
,
on
the
other
hand
,
when
he
had
been
driven
the
length
of
a
street
,
bethought
himself
that
it
would
be
well
to
know
the
clergyman
's
name
.
He
got
out
,
therefore
,
and
inquired
at
a
little
shop
hard
by
who
it
was
that
lived
at
the
address
he
mentioned
,
for
he
had
learnt
that
from
Thomson
.
The
shopman
,
not
without
pomposity
,
answered
,
'
The
Reverend
Philip
Regan
.
'
A
light
flashed
across
Rupert
's
mind
.
'
Philip
Regan
?
'
he
said
,
'
I
remember
now
.
By
heaven
,
it
is
the
very
clergyman
Hippolyta
wanted
to
see
,
—
how
long
ago
?
Before
Christmas
.
Yes
,
it
is
months
since
she
spoke
of
him
;
and
I
,
dolt
as
I
was
,
made
a
jest
of
it
when
she
seemed
to
be
telling
me
why
she
wished
to
call
.
But
did
she
really
mean
me
to
know
,
or
was
it
only
a
ruse
?
The
thing
must
have
been
going
on
then
,
whatever
it
was
.
And
she
seemed
so
happy
;
the
cloud
had
quite
passed
from
her
which
I
noticed
at
the
beginning
of
our
life
together
.
'
He
groaned
aloud
when
he
thought
of
it
.
Was
she
the
guileless
creature
he
had
loved
and
worshipped
,
or
full
of
design
and
treachery
?
Oh
,
it
did
not
matter
now
,
not
now
;
let
her
only
come
back
and
his
heart
would
be
open
to
her
as
of
old
.
How
could
he
live
without
Hippolyta
?
The
strong
man
leaned
his
head
upon
his
hand
,
crying
like
a
child
,
as
the
carriage
rolled
forward
through
the
interminable
London
streets
,
the
gas-lamps
flaring
on
each
side
of
it
,
and
the
noise
of
traffic
and
the
roar
of
vehicles
seeming
to
mock
his
grief
with
their
soulless
reverberations
.
Where
was
she
now
,
when
the
night
had
drawn
on
,
when
every
one
that
had
home
or
shelter
made
towards
it
?
She
was
in
peril
and
far
from
the
heart
that
loved
her
best
in
all
the
world
;
he
knew
no
more
,
but
alas
,
he
could
not
be
uncertain
of
that
.
She
was
surely
miserable
and
a
wanderer
on
the
face
of
the
earth
.
Perhaps
she
was
alone
;
or
,
if
not
,
in
the
power
of
villains
who
would
make
of
her
,
generous
,
confiding
,
ardent
as
she
was
,
the
tool
of
their
murderous
ambition
.
Other
women
,
carried
away
by
the
frenzy
of
revolution
,
had
whetted
the
knife
or
sharpened
the
dagger
.
And
Hippolyta
,
with
her
wild
enthusiasm
,
might
think
to
emulate
the
Charlotte
Cordays
who
had
risen
up
throughout
Europe
in
these
anarchic
times
.
When
Rupert
thought
over
it
all
,
he
cursed
Edgar
Valence
and
Ivor
Mardol
,
to
whose
influence
early
or
late
he
attributed
the
evil
which
had
fastened
on
Hippolyta
like
a
disease
.
But
for
Colonel
Valence
,
the
love
which
had
innocently
sprung
up
between
them
would
ere
now
have
been
crowned
with
marriage
,
and
Hippolyta
be
happy
as
the
wife
of
one
whose
reputation
,
at
any
rate
,
was
not
altogether
unmatched
with
her
beauty
and
grace
.
Or
,
allowing
the
first
false
step
,
she
might
still
have
dwelt
in
seclusion
,
surrounded
with
every
homage
,
her
slightest
wish
anticipated
,
enjoying
happiness
and
giving
it
in
the
way
she
had
chosen
.
But
no.
What
her
father
began
,
this
false
friend
must
accomplish
.
She
had
sacrificed
the
world
to
Rupert
;
she
had
now
been
prevailed
upon
to
sacrifice
him
and
all
his
hopes
and
joys
to
the
Revolution
.
Glanville
was
cut
to
the
heart
.
What
should
he
do
to-morrow
,
when
no
Hippolyta
was
near
him
?
And
would
to-morrow
be
only
the
first
of
many
days
to
be
endured
alone
,
without
love
,
without
friendship
,
all
the
light
gone
out
of
his
life
?
Surely
he
must
find
her
or
make
an
end
.
With
these
sad
thoughts
weighing
on
him
,
Rupert
arrived
,
after
his
long
journey
through
the
lamp-lit
streets
and
the
straggling
suburban
lanes
,
at
Forrest
House
.
He
sat
alone
at
table
and
forced
himself
to
eat
,
knowing
how
much
was
to
be
done
,
or
