knockingat
the
door
,
which
was
instantly
opened
by
a
hall
porter
,
while
other
servants
in
rich
liveries
appeared
at
a
distance
.
Rougemont
addressed
a
few
words
in
an
undertone
to
them
,
and
they
instantly
bowed
respectfully
to
Auriol
,
while
the
foremost
of
them
led
the
way
up
a
magnificent
staircase
.
All
this
was
a
mystery
to
the
young
man
,
but
he
followed
his
conductor
without
a
word
,
and
was
presently
ushered
into
a
gorgeously-furnished
and
brilliantly-illuminated
apartment
.
The
servant
then
left
them
;
and
as
soon
as
he
was
gone
Auriol
exclaimed
,
“
Is
it
to
mock
me
that
you
have
brought
me
hither
?
”
“
To
mock
you
—
no
,
”
replied
Rougemont
.
“
I
have
told
you
that
I
mean
to
make
you
rich
.
But
you
look
greatly
exhausted
.
A
glass
of
wine
will
revive
you
.
”
And
as
he
spoke
,
he
stepped
towards
a
small
cabinet
,
and
took
from
it
a
curiously-shaped
bottle
and
a
goblet
.
“
Taste
this
wine
—
it
has
been
long
in
our
family
,
”
he
added
,
filling
the
cup
.
“
It
is
a
strange
,
bewildering
drink
,
”
cried
Auriol
,
setting
down
the
empty
goblet
,
and
passing
his
hand
before
his
eyes
.
“
You
have
taken
it
upon
an
empty
stomach
—
that
is
all
,
”
said
Rougemont
.
“
You
will
be
better
anon
.
”
“
I
feel
as
if
I
were
going
mad
,
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
It
is
some
damnable
potion
you
have
given
me
.
”
“
Ha
!
ha
!
”
laughed
Rougemont
.
“
It
reminds
you
of
the
elixir
you
once
quaffed
—
eh
?
”
“
A
truce
to
this
raillery
!
”
cried
Auriol
angrily
.
“
I
have
said
I
am
in
no
mood
to
bear
it
.
”
“
Pshaw
!
I
mean
no
offence
,
”
rejoined
the
other
,
changing
his
manner
.
“
What
think
you
of
this
house
?
”
“
That
it
is
magnificent
,
”
replied
Auriol
,
gazing
around
.
“
I
envy
you
its
possession
.
”
“
It
shall
be
yours
,
if
you
please
,
”
replied
Rougemont
.
“
Mine
!
you
are
mocking
me
again
.
”
“
Not
in
the
least
.
You
shall
buy
it
from
me
,
if
you
please
.
”
“
At
what
price
?
”
asked
Auriol
bitterly
.
“
At
a
price
you
can
easily
pay
,
”
replied
the
other
.
“
Come
this
way
,
and
we
will
conclude
the
bargain
.
”
Proceeding
towards
the
farther
end
of
the
room
,
they
entered
a
small
exquisitely-furnished
chamber
,
surrounded
with
sofas
of
the
most
luxurious
description
.
In
the
midst
was
a
table
,
on
which
writing
materials
were
placed
.
“
It
were
a
fruitless
boon
to
give
you
this
house
without
the
means
of
living
in
it
,
”
said
Rougemont
,
carefully
closing
the
door
.
“
This
pocket-book
will
furnish
you
with
them
.
”
“
Notes
to
an
immense
amount
!
”
cried
Auriol
,
opening
the
pocket-book
,
and
glancing
at
its
contents
.
“
They
are
yours
,
together
with
the
house
,
”
cried
Rougemont
,
“
if
you
will
but
sign
a
compact
with
me
.
”
“
A
compact
!
”
cried
Auriol
,
regarding
him
with
a
look
of
undefinable
terror
.
“
Who
and
what
are
you
?
”
“
Some
men
would
call
me
the
devil
!
”
replied
Rougemont
carelessly
.
“
But
you
know
me
too
well
to
suppose
that
I
merit
such
a
designation
.
I
offer
you
wealth
.
What
more
could
you
require
?
”
“
But
upon
what
terms
?
”
demanded
Auriol
.
“
The
easiest
imaginable
,
”
replied
the
other
.
“
You
shall
judge
for
yourself
.
”
And
as
he
spoke
,
he
opened
a
writing-desk
upon
the
table
,
and
took
from
it
a
parchment
.
“
Sit
down
,
”
he
added
,
“
and
read
this
.
”
Auriol
complied
,
and
as
he
scanned
the
writing
he
became
transfixed
with
fear
and
astonishment
,
while
the
pocket-book
dropped
from
his
grasp
.
After
a
while
he
looked
up
at
Rougemont
,
who
was
leaning
over
his
shoulder
,
and
whose
features
were
wrinkled
with
a
derisive
smile
.
“
Then
you
are
the
Fiend
?
”
he
cried
.
“
If
you
will
have
it
so
—
certainly
,
”
replied
the
other
.
“
You
are
Satan
in
the
form
of
the
man
I
once
knew
,
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
Avaunt
!
I
will
have
no
dealings
with
you
.
”
“
I
thought
you
wiser
than
to
indulge
in
such
idle
fears
,
Darcy
,
”
rejoined
the
other
.
“
Granting
even
your
silly
notion
of
me
to
be
correct
,
why
need
you
be
alarmed
?
You
are
immortal
.
”
“
True
,
”
rejoined
Auriol
thoughtfully
;
“
but
yet
—
—
”
“
Pshaw
!
”
rejoined
the
other
,
“
sign
,
and
have
done
with
the
matter
.
”
“
By
this
compact
I
am
bound
to
deliver
a
victim
—
a
female
victim
—
whenever
you
shall
require
it
,
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
Precisely
,
”
replied
the
other
;
“
you
can
have
no
difficulty
in
fulfilling
that
condition
.
”
“
But
if
I
fail
in
doing
so
,
I
am
doomed
—
—
”
“
But
you
will
not
fail
,
”
interrupted
the
other
,
lighting
a
taper
and
sealing
the
parchment
.
“
Now
sign
it
.
”
Auriol
mechanically
took
the
pen
,
and
gazed
fixedly
on
the
document
.
“
I
shall
bring
eternal
destruction
on
myself
if
I
sign
it
,
”
he
muttered
.
“
A
stroke
of
the
pen
will
rescue
you
from
utter
ruin
,
”
said
Rougemont
,
leaning
over
his
shoulder
.
“
Riches
and
happiness
are
yours
.
You
will
not
have
such
another
chance
.
”
“
Tempter
!
”
cried
Auriol
,
hastily
attaching
his
signature
to
the
paper
.
But
he
instantly
started
back
aghast
at
the
fiendish
laugh
that
rang
in
his
ears
.
“
I
repent
—
give
it
me
back
!
”
he
cried
,
endeavouring
to
snatch
the
parchment
,
which
Rougemont
thrust
into
his
bosom
.
“
It
is
too
late
!
”
cried
the
latter
,
in
a
triumphant
tone
.
“
You
are
mine
—
irredeemably
mine
.
”
“
Ha
!
”
exclaimed
Auriol
,
sinking
back
on
the
couch
.
“
I
leave
you
in
possession
of
your
house
,
”
pursued
Rougemont
;
“
but
I
shall
return
in
a
week
,
when
I
shall
require
my
first
victim
.
”
“
Your
first
victim
!
oh
,
Heaven
!
”
exclaimed
Auriol
.
“
Ay
,
and
my
choice
falls
on
Edith
Talbot
!
”
replied
Rougemont
.
“
Edith
Talbot
!
”
exclaimed
Auriol
;
“
she
your
victim
!
Think
you
I
would
resign
her
I
love
better
than
life
to
you
?
”
“
It
is
because
she
loves
you
that
I
have
chosen
her
,
”
rejoined
Rougemont
,
with
a
bitter
laugh
.
“
And
such
will
ever
be
the
case
with
you
.
Seek
not
to
love
again
,
for
your
passion
will
be
fatal
to
the
object
of
it
.
When
the
week
has
elapsed
,
I
shall
require
Edith
at
your
hands
.
Till
then
,
farewell
!
”
“
Stay
!
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
I
break
the
bargain
with
thee
,
fiend
.
I
will
have
none
of
it
.
I
abjure
thee
.
”
And
he
rushed
wildly
after
Rougemont
,
who
had
already
gained
the
larger
chamber
;
but
,
ere
he
could
reach
him
,
the
mysterious
individual
had
passed
through
the
outer
door
,
and
when
Auriol
emerged
upon
the
gallery
,
he
was
nowhere
to
be
seen
.
Several
servants
immediately
answered
the
frantic
shouts
of
the
young
man
,
and
informed
him
that
Mr.
Rougemont
had
quitted
the
house
some
moments
ago
,
telling
them
that
their
master
was
perfectly
satisfied
with
the
arrangements
he
had
made
for
him
.
“
And
we
hope
nothing
has
occurred
to
alter
your
opinion
,
sir
?
”
said
the
hall
porter
.
“
You
are
sure
Mr.
Rougemont
is
gone
?
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
Oh
,
quite
sure
,
sir
,
”
cried
the
hall
porter
.
“
I
helped
him
on
with
his
cloak
myself
.
He
said
he
should
return
this
day
week
.
”
“
If
he
comes
I
will
not
see
him
,
”
cried
Auriol
sharply
;
“
mind
that
.
Deny
me
to
him
;
and
on
no
account
whatever
let
him
enter
the
house
.
”
“
Your
orders
shall
be
strictly
obeyed
,
”
replied
the
porter
,
staring
with
surprise
.
“
Now
leave
me
,
”
cried
Auriol
.
And
as
they
quitted
him
,
he
added
,
in
a
tone
and
with
a
gesture
of
the
deepest
despair
,
“
All
precautions
are
useless
.
I
am
indeed
lost
!
”
Chapter
3
Irresolution
On
returning
to
the
cabinet
,
where
his
fatal
compact
with
Rougemont
had
been
signed
,
Auriol
perceived
the
pocket-book
lying
on
the
floor
near
the
table
,
and
,
taking
it
up
,
he
was
about
to
deposit
it
in
the
writing-desk
,
when
an
irresistible
impulse
prompted
him
once
more
to
examine
its
contents
.
Unfolding
the
roll
of
notes
,
he
counted
them
,
and
found
they
amounted
to
more
than
a
hundred
thousand
pounds
.
The
sight
of
so
much
wealth
,
and
the
thought
of
the
pleasure
and
the
power
it
would
procure
him
,
gradually
dispelled
his
fears
,
and
arising
in
a
transport
of
delight
,
he
exclaimed
—
“
Yes
,
yes
—
all
obstacles
are
now
removed
!
When
Mr.
Talbot
finds
I
am
become
thus
wealthy
,
he
will
no
longer
refuse
me
his
daughter
.
But
I
am
mad
,
”
he
added
,
suddenly
checking
himself
—
“
worse
than
mad
,
to
indulge
such
hopes
.
If
it
be
indeed
the
Fiend
to
whom
I
have
sold
myself
,
I
have
no
help
from
perdition
!
If
it
be
man
,
I
am
scarcely
less
terribly
fettered
.
In
either
case
,
I
will
not
remain
here
longer
;
nor
will
I
avail
myself
of
this
accursed
money
,
which
has
tempted
me
to
my
undoing
.
”
And
,
hurling
the
pocket-book
to
the
farther
end
of
the
room
,
he
was
about
to
pass
through
the
door
,
when
a
mocking
laugh
arrested
him
.
He
looked
round
with
astonishment
and
dread
,
but
could
see
no
one
.
After
a
while
,
he
again
moved
forward
,
but
a
voice
,
which
he
recognised
as
that
of
Rougemont
,
called
upon
him
to
stay
.
“
It
will
be
in
vain
to
fly
,
”
said
the
unseen
speaker
.
“
You
cannot
escape
me
.
Whether
you
remain
here
or
not
—
whether
you
use
the
wealth
I
have
given
you
,
or
leave
it
behind
you
—
you
cannot
annul
your
bargain
.
With
this
knowledge
,
you
are
at
liberty
to
go
.
But
remember
,
on
the
seventh
night
from
this
I
shall
require
Edith
Talbot
from
you
!
”
“
Where
are
you
,
fiend
?
”
demanded
Auriol
,
gazing
around
furiously
.
“
Show
yourself
,
that
I
may
confront
you
.
”
A
mocking
laugh
was
the
only
response
deigned
to
this
injunction
.
“
Give
me
back
the
compact
,
”
cried
Auriol
imploringly
.
“
It
was
signed
in
ignorance
.
I
knew
not
the
price
I
was
to
pay
for
your
assistance
.
Wealth
is
of
no
value
to
me
without
Edith
.
”
“
Without
wealth
you
could
not
obtain
her
,
”
replied
the
voice
.
“
You
are
only
,
therefore
,
where
you
were
.
But
you
will
think
better
of
the
bargain
to-morrow
.
Meanwhile
,
I
counsel
you
to
place
the
money
you
have
so
unwisely
cast
from
you
safely
under
lock
and
key
,
and
to
seek
repose
.
You
will
awaken
with
very
different
thoughts
in
the
morning
.
”
“
How
am
I
to
account
for
my
sudden
accession
of
wealth
?
”
inquired
Auriol
,
after
a
pause
.
“
You
a
gambler
,
and
ask
that
question
!
”
returned
the
unseen
stranger
,
with
a
bitter
laugh
.
“
But
I
will
make
your
mind
easy
on
that
score
.
As
regards
the
house
,
you
will
find
a
regular
conveyance
of
it
within
that
writing-desk
,
while
the
note
lying
on
the
table
,
which
bears
your
address
,
comes
from
me
,
and
announces
the
payment
of
a
hundred
and
twenty
thousand
pounds
to
you
,
as
a
debt
of
honour
.
You
see
I
have
provided
against
every
difficulty
.
And
now
,
farewell
!
”
The
voice
was
then
hushed
;
and
though
Auriol
addressed
several
other
questions
to
the
unseen
speaker
,
no
answer
was
returned
him
.
After
some
moments
of
irresolution
,
Auriol
once
more
took
up
the
pocket-book
,
and
deposited
it
in
the
writing-desk
,
in
which
he
found
,
as
he
had
been
led
to
expect
,
a
deed
conveying
the
house
to
him
.
He
then
opened
the
note
lying
upon
the
table
,
and
found
its
contents
accorded
with
what
had
just
been
told
him
.
Placing
it
with
the
pocket-book
,
he
locked
the
writing-desk
,
exclaiming
,
“
It
is
useless
to
struggle
further
—
I
must
yield
to
fate
!
”
This
done
,
he
went
into
the
adjoining
room
,
and
,
casting
his
eyes
about
,
remarked
the
antique
bottle
and
flagon
.
The
latter
was
filled
to
the
brim
—
how
or
with
what
,
Auriol
paused
not
to
examine
;
but
seizing
the
cup
with
desperation
,
he
placed
it
to
his
lips
,
and
emptied
it
at
a
draught
.
A
species
of
intoxication
,
but
pleasing
as
that
produced
by
opium
,
presently
succeeded
.
All
his
fears
left
him
,
and
in
their
place
the
gentlest
and
most
delicious
fancies
arose
.
Surrendering
himself
delightedly
to
their
influence
,
he
sank
upon
a
couch
,
and
for
some
time
was
wrapped
in
a
dreamy
elysium
,
imagining
himself
wandering
with
Edith
Talbot
in
a
lovely
garden
,
redolent
of
sweets
,
and
vocal
with
the
melody
of
birds
.
Their
path
led
through
a
grove
,
in
the
midst
of
which
was
a
fountain
;
and
they
were
hastening
towards
its
marble
brink
,
when
all
at
once
Edith
uttered
a
scream
,
and
,
starting
back
,
pointed
to
a
large
black
snake
lying
before
her
,
and
upon
which
she
would
have
trodden
the
next
moment
.
Auriol
sprang
forward
and
tried
to
crush
the
reptile
with
his
heel
;
but
,
avoiding
the
blow
,
it
coiled
around
his
leg
,
and
plunged
its
venom
teeth
into
his
flesh
.
The
anguish
occasioned
by
the
imaginary
wound
roused
him
from
his
slumber
,
and
looking
up
,
he
perceived
that
a
servant
was
in
attendance
.
Bowing
obsequiously
,
the
man
inquired
whether
he
had
occasion
for
anything
.
“
Show
me
to
my
bedroom
—
that
is
all
I
require
,
”
replied
Auriol
,
scarcely
able
to
shake
off
the
effect
of
the
vision
.
And
,
getting
up
,
he
followed
the
man
,
almost
mechanically
,
out
of
the
room
.
Chapter
4
Edith
Talbot
It
was
late
when
Auriol
arose
on
the
following
morning
.
At
first
,
finding
himself
in
a
large
and
most
luxuriantly-furnished
chamber
,
he
was
at
a
loss
to
conceive
how
he
came
there
,
and
it
was
some
time
before
he
could
fully
recall
the
mysterious
events
of
the
previous
night
.
As
had
been
foretold
,
however
,
by
Rougemont
,
his
position
did
not
cause
him
so
much
anxiety
as
before
.
After
attiring
himself
,
he
descended
to
the
lower
apartments
,
in
one
of
which
a
sumptuous
breakfast
awaited
him
;
and
having
partaken
of
it
,
he
took
a
complete
survey
of
the
house
,
and
found
it
larger
and
more
magnificent
even
than
he
had
supposed
it
.
He
next
supplied
himself
from
the
pocket-book
with
a
certain
sum
,
for
which
he
fancied
he
might
have
occasion
in
the
course
of
the
day
,
and
sallied
forth
.
His
first
business
was
to
procure
a
splendid
carriage
and
horses
,
and
to
order
some
new
and
rich
habiliments
to
be
made
with
the
utmost
expedition
.
He
then
proceeded
towards
May
Fair
,
and
knocked
at
the
door
of
a
large
house
at
the
upper
end
of
Curzon
Street
.
His
heart
beat
violently
as
he
was
shown
into
an
elegant
drawing-room
,
and
his
trepidation
momentarily
increased
,
until
the
servant
reappeared
and
expressed
his
regret
that
he
had
misinformed
him
in
stating
that
Miss
Talbot
was
at
home
.
Both
she
and
Mr.
Talbot
,
he
said
,
had
gone
out
about
half-an-hour
ago
.
Auriol
looked
incredulous
,
but
without
making
any
remark
,
departed
.
Hurrying
home
,
he
wrote
a
few
lines
to
Mr.
Talbot
,
announcing
the
sudden
and
extraordinary
change
in
his
fortune
,
and
formally
demanding
the
hand
of
Edith
.
He
was
about
to
despatch
this
letter
,
when
a
note
was
brought
him
by
his
servant
.
It
was
from
Edith
.
Having
ascertained
his
new
address
from
his
card
,
she
wrote
to
assure
him
of
her
constant
attachment
.
Transported
by
this
proof
of
her
affection
,
Auriol
half
devoured
the
note
with
kisses
,
and
instantly
sent
off
his
own
letter
to
her
father
—
merely
adding
a
few
words
to
say
that
he
would
call
for
an
answer
on
the
morrow
.
But
he
had
not
to
wait
thus
long
for
a
reply
.
Ere
an
hour
had
elapsed
,
Mr.
Talbot
brought
it
in
person
.
Mr.
Talbot
was
a
man
of
about
sixty
—
tall
,
thin
,
and
gentlemanlike
in
deportment
,
with
grey
hair
,
and
black
eyebrows
,
which
lent
considerable
expression
to
the
orbs
beneath
them
.
His
complexion
was
a
bilious
brown
,
and
he
possessed
none
of
the
good
looks
which
in
his
daughter
had
so
captivated
Auriol
,
and
which
it
is
to
be
presumed
,
therefore
,
she
inherited
from
her
mother
.
A
thorough
man
of
the
world
,
though
not
an
unamiable
person
,
Mr.
Talbot
was
entirely
influenced
by
selfish
considerations
.
He
had
hitherto
looked
with
an
unfavourable
eye
upon
Auriol’s
attentions
to
his
daughter
,
from
a
notion
that
the
connection
would
be
very
undesirable
in
a
pecuniary
point
of
view
;
but
the
magnificence
of
the
house
in
Saint
James’s
Square
,
which
fully
bore
out
Auriol’s
account
of
his
newly-acquired
wealth
,
wrought
a
complete
change
in
his
opinions
,
and
he
soon
gave
the
young
man
to
understand
that
he
should
be
delighted
to
have
him
for
a
son-in-law
.
Finding
him
so
favourably
disposed
,
Auriol
entreated
him
to
let
the
marriage
take
place
—
within
three
days
,
if
possible
.
Mr.
Talbot
was
greatly
grieved
that
he
could
not
comply
with
his
young
friend’s
request
,
but
he
was
obliged
to
start
the
next
morning
for
Nottingham
,
and
could
not
possibly
return
under
three
days
.
“
But
we
can
be
married
before
you
go
?
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
Scarcely
,
I
fear
,
”
replied
Mr.
Talbot
,
smiling
blandly
.
“
You
must
control
your
impatience
,
my
dear
young
friend
.
On
the
sixth
day
from
this
—
that
is
,
on
Wednesday
in
next
week
—
we
are
now
at
Friday
—
you
shall
be
made
happy
.
”
The
coincidence
between
this
appointment
,
and
the
time
fixed
by
Rougemont
for
the
delivery
of
his
victim
,
struck
Auriol
forcibly
.
His
emotion
,
however
,
escaped
Mr.
Talbot
,
who
soon
after
departed
,
having
engaged
his
future
son-in-law
to
dine
with
him
at
seven
o’clock
.
Auriol
,
it
need
scarcely
be
said
,
was
punctual
to
the
hour
,
or
,
rather
,
he
anticipated
it
.
He
found
Edith
alone
in
the
drawing-room
,
and
seated
near
the
window
,
which
was
filled
with
choicest
flowers
.
On
seeing
him
,
she
uttered
an
exclamation
of
joy
,
and
sprang
to
meet
him
.
The
young
man
pressed
his
lips
fervently
to
the
little
hand
extended
to
him
.
Edith
Talbot
was
a
lovely
brunette
.
Her
features
were
regular
,
and
her
eyes
,
which
were
perfectly
splendid
,
were
dark
,
almond-shaped
,
and
of
almost
Oriental
languor
.
Her
hair
,
which
she
wore
braided
over
her
brow
and
gathered
behind
in
a
massive
roll
,
was
black
and
glossy
as
a
raven’s
wing
.
Her
cheeks
were
dimpled
,
her
lips
of
velvet
softness
,
and
her
teeth
like
ranges
of
pearls
.
Perfect
grace
accompanied
all
her
movements
,
and
one
only
wondered
that
feet
so
small
as
those
she
possessed
should
have
the
power
of
sustaining
a
form
which
,
though
lightsome
,
was
yet
rounded
in
its
proportions
.
“
You
have
heard
,
dear
Edith
,
that
your
father
has
consented
to
our
union
?
”
said
Auriol
,
after
gazing
at
her
for
a
few
moments
in
silent
admiration
.
Edith
murmured
an
affirmative
,
and
blushed
deeply
.
“
He
has
fixed
Wednesday
next
,
”
pursued
Auriol
;
“
but
I
wish
an
earlier
day
could
have
been
named
.
I
have
a
presentiment
that
if
our
marriage
is
so
long
delayed
,
it
will
not
take
place
at
all
.
”
“
You
are
full
of
misgivings
,
Auriol
,
”
she
replied
.
“
I
confess
it
,
”
he
said
;
“
and
my
apprehensions
have
risen
to
such
a
point
,
that
I
feel
disposed
to
urge
you
to
a
private
marriage
,
during
your
father’s
absence
.
”
“
Oh
no
,
Auriol
;
much
as
I
love
you
,
I
could
never
consent
to
such
a
step
,
”
she
cried
.
“
You
cannot
urge
me
to
it
.
I
would
not
abuse
my
dear
father’s
trusting
love
.
I
have
never
deceived
him
,
and
that
is
the
best
assurance
I
can
give
you
that
I
shall
never
deceive
you
.
”
Further
conversation
was
interrupted
by
the
entrance
of
Mr.
Talbot
,
who
held
out
both
his
hands
to
Auriol
,
and
professed
the
greatest
delight
to
see
him
.
And
no
doubt
he
was
sincere
.
The
dinner
passed
off
most
pleasantly
,
and
so
did
the
evening
;
for
the
old
gentleman
was
in
high
spirits
,
and
his
hilarity
was
communicated
to
the
young
couple
.
When
Auriol
and
Mr.
Talbot
went
up-stairs
to
tea
,
they
found
that
Edith’s
aunt
,
Mrs.
Maitland
,
had
arrived
to
take
charge
of
her
during
her
father’s
absence
.
This
lady
had
always
exhibited
a
partiality
for
Auriol
,
and
had
encouraged
his
suit
to
her
niece
;
consequently
she
was
well
satisfied
with
the
turn
affairs
had
taken
.
It
was
near
midnight
before
Auriol
could
tear
himself
away
;
and
when
he
rose
to
depart
,
Mr.
Talbot
,
who
had
yawned
frequently
,
but
fruitlessly
,
to
give
him
a
hint
,
told
him
he
might
depend
upon
seeing
him
back
on
the
evening
of
the
third
day
,
and
in
the
meantime
he
committed
him
to
the
care
of
Mrs.
Maitland
and
Edith
.
Three
days
flew
by
rapidly
and
delightfully
;
and
on
the
evening
of
the
last
,
just
as
the
little
party
were
assembled
in
the
drawing-room
,
after
dinner
,
Mr.
Talbot
returned
from
this
journey
.
“
Well
,
here
I
am
!
”
he
cried
,
clasping
Edith
to
his
bosom
,
“
without
having
encountered
any
misadventure
.
On
the
contrary
,
I
have
completed
my
business
to
my
entire
satisfaction
.
”
“
Oh
,
how
delighted
I
am
to
see
you
,
dear
papa
!
”
exclaimed
Edith
.
“
Now
,
Auriol
,
you
can
have
no
more
apprehensions
.
”
“
Apprehensions
of
what
?
”
cried
Mr.
Talbot
.
“
Of
some
accident
befalling
you
,
which
might
have
interfered
with
our
happiness
,
sir
,
”
replied
Auriol
.
“
Oh
,
lovers
are
full
of
idle
fears
!
”
cried
Mr.
Talbot
.
“
They
are
unreasonable
beings
.
However
,
here
I
am
,
as
I
said
before
,
safe
and
sound
.
To-morrow
we
will
finish
all
preliminary
arrangements
,
and
the
day
after
you
shall
be
made
happy
—
ha
!
ha
!
”
“
Do
you
know
,
papa
,
Auriol
intends
to
give
a
grand
ball
on
our
wedding-day
,
and
has
invited
all
his
acquaintance
to
it
?
”
remarked
Edith
.
“
I
hope
you
have
not
invited
Cyprian
Rougemont
?
”
said
Mr.
Talbot
,
regarding
him
fixedly
.
“
I
have
not
,
sir
,
”
replied
Auriol
,
turning
pale
.
“
But
why
do
you
particularise
him
?
”
“
Because
I
have
heard
some
things
of
him
not
much
to
his
credit
,
”
replied
Mr.
Talbot
.
“
What
—
what
have
you
heard
,
sir
?
”
demanded
Auriol
.
“
Why
,
one
shouldn’t
believe
all
the
ill
one
hears
of
a
man
;
and
,
indeed
,
I
cannot
believe
all
I
have
heard
of
Cyprian
Rougemont
,
”
replied
Mr.
Talbot
;
“
but
I
should
be
glad
if
you
dropped
his
acquaintance
altogether
.
And
now
let
us
change
the
subject
.
”
Mr.
Talbot
seated
himself
beside
Mrs.
Maitland
,
and
began
to
give
her
some
account
of
his
journey
,
which
appeared
to
have
been
as
pleasant
as
it
had
been
rapid
.
Unable
to
shake
off
the
gloom
which
had
stolen
over
him
,
Auriol
took
his
leave
,
promising
to
meet
Mr.
Talbot
at
his
lawyer’s
in
Lincoln’s
Inn
,
at
noon
on
the
following
day
.
He
was
there
at
the
time
appointed
,
and
,
to
Mr.
Talbot’s
great
delight
,
and
the
no
small
surprise
of
the
lawyer
,
paid
over
a
hundred
thousand
pounds
,
to
be
settled
on
his
future
wife
.
“
You
are
a
perfect
man
of
honour
,
Auriol
,
”
said
Mr.
Talbot
,
clapping
him
on
the
shoulder
,
“
and
I
hope
Edith
will
make
you
an
excellent
wife
.
Indeed
,
I
have
no
doubt
of
it
.
”
“
Nor
I
,
—
if
I
ever
possess
her
,
”
mentally
ejaculated
Auriol
.
The
morning
passed
in
other
preparations
.
In
the
evening
the
lovers
met
as
usual
,
and
separated
with
the
full
persuasion
,
on
Edith’s
part
at
least
,
that
the
next
day
would
make
them
happy
.
Since
the
night
of
the
compact
,
Auriol
had
neither
seen
Rougemont
,
nor
heard
from
him
,
and
he
neglected
no
precaution
to
prevent
his
intrusion
.
Chapter
5
The
Seventh
Night
It
was
a
delicious
morning
in
May
,
and
the
sun
shone
brightly
on
Auriol’s
gorgeous
equipage
,
as
he
drove
to
St.
George’s
,
Hanover
Square
,
where
he
was
united
to
Edith
.
Thus
far
all
seemed
auspicious
,
and
he
thought
he
could
now
bill
defiance
to
fate
.
With
the
object
of
his
love
close
beside
him
,
and
linked
to
him
by
the
strongest
and
holiest
ties
,
it
seemed
impossible
she
could
be
snatched
from
him
.
Nothing
occurred
during
the
morning
to
give
him
uneasiness
,
and
he
gave
orders
that
a
carriage
and
four
should
be
ready
an
hour
before
midnight
,
to
convey
him
and
his
bride
to
Richmond
,
where
they
were
to
spend
their
honeymoon
.
Night
came
,
and
with
it
began
to
arrive
the
guests
who
were
bidden
to
the
ball
.
No
expense
had
been
spared
by
Auriol
to
give
splendour
to
his
fete
.
It
was
in
all
respects
magnificent
.
The
amusements
of
the
evening
commenced
with
a
concert
,
which
was
performed
by
the
first
singers
from
the
Italian
Opera
;
after
which
,
the
ball
was
opened
by
Auriol
and
his
lovely
bride
.
As
soon
as
the
dance
was
over
,
Auriol
made
a
sign
to
an
attendant
,
who
instantly
disappeared
.
“
Are
you
prepared
to
quit
this
gay
scene
with
me
,
Edith
?
”
he
asked
,
with
a
heart
swelling
with
rapture
.
“
Quite
so
,
”
she
replied
,
gazing
at
him
with
tenderness
;
“
I
long
to
be
alone
with
you
.
”
“
Come
,
then
,
”
said
Auriol
.
Edith
arose
,
and
passing
her
arm
under
that
of
her
husband
,
they
quitted
the
ball-room
,
but
in
place
of
descending
the
principal
staircase
,
they
took
a
more
private
course
.
The
hall
,
which
they
were
obliged
to
cross
,
and
which
they
entered
from
a
side-door
,
was
spacious
and
beautifully
proportioned
,
and
adorned
with
numerous
statues
on
pedestals
.
The
ceiling
was
decorated
with
fresco
paintings
,
and
supported
by
two
stately
scagliola
pillars
.
From
between
these
,
a
broad
staircase
of
white
marble
ascended
to
the
upper
room
.
As
Auriol
had
foreseen
,
the
staircase
was
thronged
with
guests
ascending
to
the
ball-room
,
the
doors
of
which
being
open
,
afforded
glimpses
of
the
dancers
,
and
gave
forth
strains
of
liveliest
music
.
Anxious
to
avoid
a
newly-arrived
party
in
the
hall
,
Auriol
and
his
bride
lingered
for
a
moment
near
a
pillar
.
“
Ha
!
who
is
this
?
”
cried
Edith
,
as
a
tall
man
,
with
a
sinister
countenance
,
and
habited
entirely
in
black
,
moved
from
the
farther
side
of
the
pillar
,
and
planted
himself
in
their
path
,
with
his
back
partly
towards
them
.
A
thrill
of
apprehension
passed
through
Auriol’s
frame
.
He
looked
up
and
beheld
Rougemont
,
who
,
glancing
over
his
shoulder
,
fixed
his
malignant
gaze
upon
him
.
Retreat
was
now
impossible
.
“
You
thought
to
delude
me
,
”
said
Rougemont
,
in
a
deep
whisper
,
audible
only
to
Auriol
;
“
but
you
counted
without
your
host
.
I
am
come
to
claim
my
victim
.
”
“
What
is
the
matter
with
you
,
that
you
tremble
so
,
dear
Auriol
?
”
cried
Edith
.
“
Who
is
this
strange
person
?
”
But
her
husband
returned
no
answer
.
Terror
had
taken
away
his
power
of
utterance
.
“
Your
carriage
waits
for
you
at
the
door
,
madam
—
all
is
prepared
,
”
said
Rougemont
,
advancing
towards
her
,
and
taking
her
hand
.
“
You
are
coming
,
Auriol
?
”
cried
Edith
,
who
scarcely
knew
whether
to
draw
back
or
go
forward
.
“
Yes
—
yes
,
”
cried
Auriol
,
who
fancied
he
saw
a
means
of
escape
.
“
This
is
my
friend
,
Mr.
Rougemont
—
go
with
him
.
”
“
Mr.
Rougemont
!
”
cried
Edith
.
“
You
told
my
father
he
would
not
be
here
.
”
“
Your
husband
did
not
invite
me
,
madam
,
”
said
Rougemont
,
with
sarcastic
emphasis
;
“
but
knowing
I
should
be
welcome
,
I
came
unasked
.
But
let
us
avoid
those
persons
.
”
In
another
moment
they
were
at
the
door
.
The
carriage
was
there
with
its
four
horses
,
and
a
man-servant
,
in
travelling
attire
,
stood
beside
the
steps
.
Reassured
by
the
sight
,
Auriol
recovered
his
courage
,
and
suffered
Rougemont
to
throw
a
cloak
over
Edith’s
shoulders
.
The
next
moment
she
tripped
up
the
steps
of
the
carriage
,
and
was
ensconced
within
it
.
Auriol
was
about
to
follow
her
,
when
he
received
a
violent
blow
on
the
chest
,
which
stretched
him
on
the
pavement
.
Before
he
could
regain
his
feet
,
Rougemont
had
sprung
into
the
carriage
.
The
steps
were
instantly
put
up
by
the
man-servant
,
who
mounted
the
box
with
the
utmost
celerity
,
while
the
postillions
,
plunging
spurs
into
their
horses
,
dashed
off
with
lightning
speed
.
As
the
carriage
turned
the
corner
of
King
Street
,
Auriol
,
who
had
just
arisen
,
beheld
,
by
the
light
of
a
lamp
,
Rougemont’s
face
at
the
window
of
the
carriage
,
charged
with
an
expression
of
the
most
fiendish
triumph
.
“
What
is
the
matter
?
”
cried
Mr.
Talbot
,
who
had
approached
Auriol
,
“
I
came
to
bid
you
good-bye
.
Why
do
I
find
you
here
alone
?
Where
is
the
carriage
?
—
what
has
become
of
Edith
?
”
“
She
is
in
the
power
of
the
Fiend
,
and
I
have
sold
her
to
him
,
”
replied
Auriol
gloomily
.
“
What
mean
you
,
wretch
?
”
cried
Mr.
Talbot
,
in
a
voice
of
distraction
.
“
I
heard
that
Cyprian
Rougemont
was
here
.
Can
it
be
he
that
has
gone
off
with
her
?
”
“
You
have
hit
the
truth
,
”
replied
Auriol
.
“
He
bought
her
with
the
money
I
gave
you
.
I
have
sold
her
and
myself
to
perdition
!
”
“
Horror
!
”
exclaimed
the
old
man
,
falling
backwards
.
“
Ay
,
breathe
your
last
—
breathe
your
last
!
”
cried
Auriol
wildly
.
“
Would
I
could
yield
up
my
life
,
likewise
!
”
And
he
hurried
away
,
utterly
unconscious
whither
he
went
.
End
of
the
Intermean
Chapter
1
The
Cell
Mr.
Thorneycroft
and
his
companions
had
scarcely
gained
a
passage
in
the
deserted
house
,
which
they
had
entered
in
the
manner
described
in
a
previous
chapter
,
when
they
were
alarmed
by
the
sudden
and
furious
ringing
of
a
bell
overhead
.
The
noise
brought
them
instantly
to
a
halt
,
and
each
man
grasped
his
arms
in
expectation
of
an
attack
,
but
the
peal
ceasing
in
a
few
moments
,
and
all
continuing
quiet
,
they
moved
on
as
before
,
and
presently
reached
a
large
hall
with
a
lofty
window
over
the
door
,
which
,
being
without
shutters
,
afforded
light
enough
to
reveal
the
dilapidated
condition
of
the
mansion
.
From
this
hall
four
side
doors
opened
,
apparently
communicating
with
different
chambers
,
three
of
which
were
cautiously
tried
by
Reeks
,
but
they
proved
to
be
fastened
.
The
fourth
,
however
,
yielded
to
his
touch
,
and
admitted
them
to
a
chamber
,
which
seemed
to
have
been
recently
occupied
,
for
a
lamp
was
burning
within
it
.
The
walls
were
panelled
with
dusky
oak
,
and
hung
at
the
lower
end
with
tapestry
,
representing
the
Assyrian
monarch
Ninus
,
and
his
captive
Zoroaster
,
King
of
the
Bactrians
.
The
chief
furniture
consisted
of
three
large
high-backed
and
grotesquely-carved
arm-chairs
,
near
one
of
which
stood
a
powerful
electrical
machine
.
Squares
and
circles
were
traced
upon
the
floor
,
and
here
and
there
were
scattered
cups
and
balls
,
and
other
matters
apparently
belonging
to
a
conjuring
apparatus
.
The
room
might
be
the
retreat
of
a
man
of
science
,
or
it
might
be
the
repository
of
a
juggler
.
But
whoever
its
occupant
was
,
and
whatsoever
his
pursuits
,
the
good
things
of
the
world
were
not
altogether
neglected
by
him
,
as
was
proved
by
a
table
spread
with
viands
,
and
furnished
with
glasses
,
together
with
a
couple
of
taper-necked
bottles
.
While
glancing
upwards
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
remarked
that
just
above
each
chair
the
ceiling
was
pierced
with
a
round
hole
,
the
meaning
of
which
he
could
not
at
the
time
comprehend
,
though
after
circumstances
sufficiently
explained
it
to
him
.
“
A
singular
room
,
”
he
observed
to
Reeks
,
on
concluding
his
survey
.
“
Did
you
expect
to
find
any
one
here
?
”
“
I
hardly
know
,
”
replied
the
other
.
“
That
bell
may
have
given
the
alarm
.
But
I
will
soon
ascertain
the
point
.
Remain
here
till
I
return
.
”
“
You
are
not
going
to
leave
us
?
”
rejoined
Mr.
Thorneycroft
uneasily
.
“
Only
for
a
moment
,
”
said
Reeks
.
“
Keep
quiet
,
and
no
harm
will
befall
you
.
Whatever
you
may
hear
without
,
do
not
stir
.
”
“
What
are
we
likely
to
hear
?
”
asked
Thorneycroft
with
increasing
trepidation
.
“
That’s
impossible
to
say
,
”
answered
Reeks
;
“
but
I
warn
you
not
to
cry
out
unnecessarily
,
as
such
an
imprudence
would
endanger
our
safety
.
”
“
You
are
quite
sure
you
don’t
mean
to
abandon
us
?
”
persisted
Thorneycroft
.
“
Make
yourself
easy
;
I
have
no
such
intention
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
sternly
.
“
Oh
!
ve’ll
take
care
on
you
,
don’t
be
afeerd
,
old
gent
,
”
said
Ginger
.
“
Yes
,
ve’ll
take
care
on
you
,
”
added
the
Tinker
and
the
Sandman
.
“
You
may
depend
upon
them
as
upon
me
,
sir
,
”
said
Reeks
.
“
Before
we
explore
the
subterranean
apartments
,
I
wish
to
see
whether
any
one
is
up-stairs
.
”
“
Wot’s
that
you
say
about
subterranean
apartments
,
Mr.
Reeks
?
”
interposed
Ginger
.
“
Ve
ain’t
a-goin’
below
,
eh
?
”
But
without
paying
any
attention
to
the
inquiry
,
Reeks
quitted
the
room
,
and
closed
the
door
carefully
after
him
.
He
next
crossed
the
hall
,
and
cautiously
ascending
a
staircase
at
the
farther
end
of
it
,
reached
the
landing-place
.
Beyond
it
was
a
gallery
,
from
which
several
chambers
opened
.
Advancing
a
few
paces
,
he
listened
intently
,
and
hearing
a
slight
sound
in
an
apartment
to
the
right
,
he
stepped
softly
towards
it
,
and
placing
his
eye
to
the
keyhole
,
beheld
a
tall
man
,
dressed
in
black
,
pacing
to
and
fro
with
rapid
strides
,
while
three
other
persons
,
wrapped
in
sable
gowns
,
and
disguised
with
hideous
masks
,
stood
silent
and
motionless
at
a
little
distance
from
him
.
In
the
tall
man
he
recognised
Cyprian
Rougemont
.
Upon
a
table
in
the
middle
of
the
room
was
laid
a
large
open
volume
,
bound
in
black
vellum
.
Near
it
stood
a
lamp
,
which
served
to
illumine
the
scene
.
Suddenly
,
Rougemont
stopped
,
and
turning
over
several
leaves
of
the
book
,
which
were
covered
with
cabalistic
characters
,
appeared
in
search
of
some
magic
formula
.
Before
he
could
find
it
,
however
,
a
startling
interruption
occurred
.
An
alarum-bell
,
fixed
against
the
wall
,
began
to
ring
,
and
at
the
same
moment
the
doors
of
a
cabinet
flew
open
,
and
a
large
ape
(
for
such
it
seemed
to
Reeks
)
,
clothed
in
a
woollen
shirt
and
drawers
,
sprang
forth
,
and
bounding
upon
the
table
beside
Rougemont
,
placed
its
mouth
to
his
ear
.
The
communication
thus
strangely
made
seemed
highly
displeasing
to
Rougemont
,
who
knitted
his
brows
,
and
delivered
some
instructions
in
an
undertone
to
the
monkey
.
The
animal
nodded
its
head
in
token
of
obedience
,
jumped
off
the
table
,
and
bounded
back
to
the
cabinet
,
the
doors
of
which
closed
as
before
.
Rougemont
next
took
up
the
lamp
,
with
the
evident
intention
of
quitting
the
room
,
seeing
which
,
Reeks
hastily
retreated
to
an
adjoining
chamber
,
the
door
of
which
was
fortunately
open
,
and
had
scarcely
gained
its
shelter
when
the
four
mysterious
personages
appeared
on
the
gallery
.
Reeks
heard
their
footsteps
descending
the
staircase
,
and
then
,
creeping
cautiously
after
them
,
watched
them
across
the
hall
,
and
pause
before
the
chamber
containing
Mr.
Thorneycroft
and
his
companions
.
After
a
moment’s
deliberation
,
Rougemont
noiselessly
locked
the
door
,
took
out
the
key
,
and
leaving
two
of
his
attendants
on
guard
,
returned
with
the
third
towards
the
staircase
.
Without
tarrying
to
confront
them
,
Reeks
started
back
,
and
hurried
along
the
gallery
till
he
came
to
a
back
staircase
,
which
conducted
him
,
by
various
descents
,
to
the
basement
floor
,
where
,
after
traversing
one
or
two
vaults
,
he
entered
a
subterranean
passage
,
arched
overhead
,
and
having
several
openings
at
the
sides
,
apparently
communicating
with
other
passages
.
It
was
lighted
at
intervals
by
lamps
,
which
emitted
a
feeble
radiance
.
By
the
light
of
one
of
these
,
Reeks
discovered
the
door
of
a
cell
.
It
was
of
iron
,
and
as
he
struck
it
with
his
hand
,
returned
a
hollow
clangour
.
On
repeating
the
blow
,
a
hoarse
voice
from
within
cried
,
“
Leave
me
in
peace
!
”
“
Is
it
Auriol
Darcy
who
speaks
?
”
demanded
Reeks
.
“
It
is
,
”
replied
the
prisoner
.
“
Who
are
you
that
put
the
question
?
”
“
A
friend
,
”
replied
Reeks
.
“
I
have
no
friend
here
,
”
said
Auriol
.
“
You
are
mistaken
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
.
“
I
have
come
with
Mr.
Thorneycroft
to
deliver
you
.
”
“
Mr.
Thorneycroft
has
come
too
late
.
He
has
lost
his
daughter
,
”
replied
Auriol
.
“
What
has
happened
to
her
?
”
demanded
Reeks
.
“
She
is
in
the
power
of
the
Fiend
,
”
replied
Auriol
.
“
I
know
she
is
detained
by
Cyprian
Rougemont
,
”
said
Reeks
.
“
But
what
has
befallen
her
?
”
“
She
has
become
like
his
other
victims
—
like
my
victims
!
”
cried
Auriol
distractedly
.
“
Do
not
despair
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
.
“
She
may
yet
be
saved
.
”
“
Saved
!
how
?
”
cried
Auriol
.
“
All
is
over
.
”
“
So
it
may
seem
to
you
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
;
“
but
you
are
the
victim
of
delusion
.
”
“
Oh
that
I
could
think
so
!
”
exclaimed
Auriol
.
“
But
no
—
I
saw
her
fall
into
the
pit
.
I
beheld
her
veiled
figure
rise
from
it
.
I
witnessed
her
signature
to
the
fatal
scroll
.
There
could
be
no
illusion
in
what
I
then
beheld
.
”
“
Despite
all
this
,
you
will
see
her
again
,
”
said
Reeks
.
“
Who
are
you
who
give
me
this
promise
?
”
asked
Auriol
.
“
As
I
have
already
declared
,
a
friend
,
”
replied
Reeks
.
“
Are
you
human
?
”
“
As
yourself
.
”
“
Then
you
seek
in
vain
to
struggle
with
the
powers
of
darkness
,
”
said
Auriol
.
“
I
have
no
fear
of
Cyprian
Rougemont
,
”
rejoined
Reeks
,
with
a
laugh
.
“
Your
voice
seems
familiar
to
me
,
”
said
Auriol
.
“
Tell
me
who
you
are
?
”
“
You
shall
know
anon
,
”
replied
Reeks
.
“
But
,
hist
!
—
we
are
interrupted
.
Some
one
approaches
.
”
Chapter
2
The
Enchanted
Chairs
More
than
ten
minutes
had
elapsed
since
Reeks’
departure
,
and
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
who
had
hitherto
had
some
difficulty
in
repressing
his
anger
,
now
began
to
give
vent
to
it
in
muttered
threats
and
complaints
.
His
impatience
was
shared
by
the
Tinker
,
who
,
stepping
up
to
Ginger
,
said
—
“
Wot
the
devil
can
Mr.
Reeks
be
about
?
I
hope
nuffin’
has
happened
to
him
.
”
“
Don’t
mention
a
certain
gent’s
name
here
,
”
remarked
Ginger
;
“
or
if
you
do
,
treat
it
vith
proper
respect
.
”
“
Pshaw
!
”
exclaimed
the
Tinker
impatiently
;
“
I
don’t
like
a
man
stayin’
avay
in
this
manner
.
It
looks
suspicious
.
I
wotes
ve
goes
and
sees
arter
him
.
Ve
can
leave
the
old
gent
to
take
a
keviet
nap
by
himself
.
Don’t
disturb
yourself
,
sir
.
Ve’ll
only
jist
giv’
a
look
about
us
,
and
then
come
back
.
”
“
Stay
where
you
are
,
rascal
!
”
cried
Thorneycroft
angrily
.
“
I
won’t
be
left
.
Stay
where
you
are
,
I
command
you
!
”
“
Vell
,
ve’ve
got
a
noo
captain
,
I’m
a-thinkin’
,
”
said
the
Tinker
,
winking
at
the
others
.
“
Ve’ve
no
vish
to
disobleege
you
,
sir
.
I’ll
only
jist
peep
out
into
the
hall
,
and
see
if
Mr.
Reeks
is
anyvhere
thereabouts
.
Vy
,
zounds
!
”
he
added
,
as
he
tried
the
door
,
“
it’s
locked
!
”
“
What’s
locked
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
in
dismay
.
“
The
door
,
to
be
sure
,
”
replied
the
Tinker
.
“
Ve’re
prisoners
.
”
“
O
Lord
,
you
don’t
say
so
!
”
cried
the
iron-merchant
in
an
agony
of
fright
.
“
What
will
become
of
us
?
”
A
roar
of
laughter
from
the
others
converted
his
terror
into
fury
.
“
I
see
how
it
is
,
”
he
cried
.
“
You
have
entrapped
me
,
ruffians
.
It’s
all
a
trick
.
You
mean
to
murder
me
.
But
I’ll
sell
my
life
dearly
.
The
first
who
approaches
shall
have
his
brains
blown
out
.
”
And
as
he
spoke
,
he
levelled
a
pistol
at
the
Tinker’s
head
.
“
Holloa
!
wot
are
you
arter
,
sir
?
”
cried
that
individual
,
sheltering
his
head
with
his
hands
.
“
You’re
a-labourin’
under
a
mistake
—
a
complete
mistake
.
If
it
is
a
trap
,
ve’re
catched
in
it
as
vell
as
yourself
.
”
“
To
be
sure
ve
is
,
”
added
the
Sandman
.
“
Sit
down
,
and
vait
a
bit
.
I
dessay
Mr.
Reeks’ll
come
back
,
and
it
von’t
do
no
good
gettin’
into
a
passion
.
”
“
Well
,
well
,
I
must
resign
myself
,
I
suppose
,
”
groaned
Thorneycroft
,
sinking
into
a
chair
.
“
It’s
a
terrible
situation
to
be
placed
in
—
shut
up
in
a
haunted
house
.
”
“
I’ve
been
in
many
much
vurser
sitivations
,
”
observed
Ginger
,
“
and
I
alvays
found
the
best
vay
to
get
out
on
’em
wos
to
take
things
quietly
.
”
“
Besides
,
there’s
no
help
for
it
,
”
said
the
Tinker
,
seating
himself
.
“
That
remains
to
be
seen
,
”
observed
the
Sandman
,
taking
the
chair
opposite
Thorneycroft
.
“
If
Reeks
don’t
come
back
soon
,
I’ll
bust
open
the
door
.
”
“
Plenty
o’
time
for
that
,
”
said
Ginger
,
sauntering
towards
the
table
on
which
the
provisions
were
spread
;
“
wot
do
you
say
to
a
mouthful
o’
wittles
?
”
“
I
wouldn’t
touch
’em
for
the
world
,
”
replied
the
Sandman
.
“
Nor
I
,
”
added
the
Tinker
;
“
they
may
be
pisoned
.
”
“
Pisoned
—
nonsense
!
”
cried
Ginger
;
“
don’t
you
see
some
von
has
been
a-takin’
his
supper
here
?
I’ll
jist
finish
it
for
him
.
”
“
Vith
all
my
‘art
,
”
said
the
Tinker
.
“
Don’t
touch
it
on
any
account
,
”
cried
Mr.
Thorneycroft
.
“
I
agree
with
your
companions
,
it
may
be
poisoned
.
”
“
Oh
!
I
ain’t
afeerd
,
”
cried
Ginger
,
helping
himself
to
a
dish
before
him
.
“
As
good
a
pigeon-pie
as
ever
I
tasted
.
Your
health
,
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
”
he
added
,
filling
a
goblet
from
one
of
the
bottles
.
“
My
service
to
you
,
gents
.
Famous
tipple
,
by
Jove
!
”
drawing
a
long
breath
after
the
draught
,
and
smacking
his
lips
with
amazing
satisfaction
.
“
Never
tasted
sich
a
glass
o’
wine
in
all
my
born
days
,
”
he
continued
,
replenishing
the
goblet
:
“
I
wonder
wot
it’s
called
?
”
“
Prussic
acid
,
”
replied
Mr.
Thorneycroft
gruffly
.
“
Proossic
fiddlestick
!
”
cried
Ginger
;
“
more
likely
Tokay
.
I
shall
finish
the
bottle
,
and
never
be
the
vorse
for
it
!
”
“
He’s
gettin’
svipy
,
”
said
the
Tinker
.
“
I
vonder
vether
it’s
really
Tokay
?
”
“
No
such
thing
,
”
cried
Thorneycroft
;
“
let
him
alone
.
”
“
I
must
taste
it
,
”
said
the
Tinker
,
unable
to
resist
the
temptation
.
“
Here
,
give
us
a
glass
,
Ginger
!
”
“
Vith
pleasure
,
”
replied
Ginger
,
filling
a
goblet
to
the
brim
,
and
handing
it
to
him
.
“
You’d
better
be
perwailed
upon
,
Sandy
.
”
“
Vell
,
I
s’pose
I
must
,
”
replied
the
Sandman
,
taking
the
goblet
proffered
him
.
“
Here’s
the
beaks’
healths
!
”
cried
Ginger
.
“
I
gives
that
toast
‘cos
they’re
alvays
so
kind
to
us
dog-fanciers
.
”
“
Dog-fanciers
—
say
,
rather
,
dog-stealers
;
for
that’s
the
name
such
vagabonds
deserve
to
be
known
by
,
”
said
Mr.
Thorneycroft
with
some
asperity
.
“
Vell
,
ve
von’t
quarrel
about
names
,
”
replied
Ginger
,
laughing
,
“
but
I’ll
relate
a
circumstance
to
you
as’ll
prove
that
wotever
your
opinion
of
our
wocation
may
be
,
the
beaks
upholds
it
.
”
“
There
can
be
but
one
opinion
as
to
your
nefarious
profession
,
”
said
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
“
and
that
is
,
that
it’s
as
bad
as
horse-stealing
and
sheep-stealing
,
and
should
be
punished
as
those
offences
are
punished
.
”
“
So
I
think
,
sir
,
”
said
Ginger
,
winking
at
the
others
;
“
but
to
my
story
,
and
don’t
interrupt
me
,
or
I
can’t
get
through
vith
it
properly
.
There’s
a
gent
livin’
not
a
hundred
miles
from
Pall
Mall
,
as
the
noospapers
says
,
as
had
a
favourite
Scotch
terrier
,
not
worth
more
nor
half-a-crown
to
any
one
but
hisself
,
but
highly
wallerable
to
him
,
‘cos
it
wos
a
favourite
.
Vell
,
the
dog
is
lost
.
A
pal
of
mine
gets
hold
on
it
,
and
the
gent
soon
offers
a
reward
for
its
recovery
.
This
don’t
bring
it
back
quite
so
soon
as
he
expects
,
‘cos
he
don’t
offer
enough
;
so
he
goes
to
an
agent
,
Mr.
Simpkins
,
in
the
Edger
Road
,
and
Mr.
Simpkins
says
to
him
—
says
he
,
‘How
are
you
,
sir
?
I
expected
you
some
days
ago
.
You’ve
com’d
about
that
ere
Scotch
terrier
.
You’ve
got
a
wallable
greyhound
,
I
understand
.
A
man
told
me
he’d
have
that
afore
long.’
Seein’
the
gent
stare
,
Mr.
S.
adds
,
‘Vel
,
I’ll
tell
you
wot
you
must
give
for
your
dog
.
The
party
von’t
take
less
than
six
guineas
.
He
knows
it
ain’t
vorth
six
shillin’
,
but
it’s
a
great
favourite
,
and
has
given
him
a
precious
sight
o’
trouble
in
gettin’
it.’
‘Give
him
trouble
!
’
cries
the
gent
angrily
—
‘and
what
has
it
given
me
?
I
hope
to
see
the
rascal
hanged
!
I
shall
pay
no
such
money.’
‘Werry
vell
,
’
replies
Mr.
Simpkins
coolly
,
‘then
your
dog’ll
be
bled
to
death
,
as
the
nobleman’s
wos
,
and
thrown
down
a
breathless
carkis
afore
your
door.’
”
“
You
don’t
mean
to
say
that
such
a
horrid
circumstance
as
that
really
took
place
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
,
who
was
much
interested
in
the
relation
.
“
Only
t’other
day
,
I
assure
you
,
”
replied
Ginger
.
“
I’d
shoot
the
ruffian
who
treated
a
dog
of
mine
so
,
if
I
caught
him
!
”
cried
Mr.
Thorneycroft
indignantly
.
“
And
sarve
him
right
,
too
,
”
said
Ginger
.
“
I
discourages
all
cruelty
to
hanimals
.
But
don’t
interrupt
me
again
.
Arter
a
bit
more
chafferin’
vith
Mr.
Simpkins
,
the
gent
offers
three
pound
for
his
dog
,
and
then
goes
avay
.
Next
day
he
reads
a
report
i’
the
Times
noospaper
that
a
man
has
been
taken
up
for
dog-stealin’
,
and
that
a
lot
o’
dogs
is
shut
up
in
the
green-yard
behind
the
police-office
in
Bow
Street
.
So
he
goes
there
in
search
o’
his
favourite
,
and
sure
enough
he
finds
it
,
but
the
inspector
von’t
give
it
up
to
him
,
‘cos
the
superintendent
is
out
o’
the
vay
.
”
“
Shameful
!
”
cried
Mr.
Thorneycroft
.
“
Shameful
,
indeed
,
sir
,
”
echoed
Ginger
,
laughing
.
“
Thinkin’
his
dog
safe
enough
in
the
hands
o’
the
police
,
the
gent
sleeps
soundly
that
night
,
but
ven
he
goes
back
next
mornin’
he
finds
it
has
disappeared
.
The
green-yard
has
been
broken
into
overnight
,
and
all
the
dogs
stolen
from
it
.
”
“
Under
the
noses
of
the
police
?
”
cried
Thorneycroft
.
“
Under
their
werry
noses
,
”
replied
Ginger
.
“
But
now
comes
the
cream
o’
the
jest
.
You
shall
hear
wot
the
beak
says
to
him
ven
the
gent
craves
his
assistance
.
‘I
can’t
interfere
in
the
matter
,
’
says
he
,
a-bendin’
of
his
brows
in
a
majestic
manner
.
‘Parties
don’t
ought
to
come
here
vith
complaints
of
vhich
I
can’t
take
notice
.
This
place
ain’t
an
advertisin’
office
,
and
I
sha’n’t
suffer
it
to
be
made
von
.
I
von’t
listen
to
statements
affectin’
the
characters
of
absent
parties.’
Statements
affectin’
our
characters
,
—
do
you
tvig
that
,
sir
?
”
“
I
do
,
indeed
,
”
said
Thorneycroft
,
sighing
;
“
and
I
am
sorry
to
think
such
a
remark
should
have
dropped
from
the
bench
.
”
“
You’re
right
to
say
dropped
from
it
,
sir
,
”
laughed
Ginger
.
“
I
told
you
the
beaks
vos
our
best
friends
;
they
alvays
takes
our
parts
.
Ven
the
gent
urges
that
it
was
a
subject
of
ser’ous
importance
to
all
dog-owners
,
the
magistrit
angrily
interrupts
him
,
sayin’
—
‘Then
let
there
be
a
meetin’
of
dog-owners
to
discuss
their
grievances
.
Don’t
come
to
me
.
I
can’t
help
you.’
And
he
vouldn’t
if
he
could
,
‘cos
he’s
the
dog-fancier’s
friend
.
”
“
It
looks
like
it
,
I
must
own
,
”
replied
Thorneycroft
.
“
Such
reprehensible
indifference
gives
encouragement
to
people
of
your
profession
.
Government
itself
is
to
blame
.
As
all
persons
who
keep
dogs
pay
a
tax
for
them
,
their
property
ought
to
be
protected
.
”
“
I’m
quite
satisfied
vith
the
present
state
of
the
law
,
”
said
Ginger
;
“
here’s
the
vorthy
beak
!
I’ll
drink
his
health
a
second
time
.
”
“
Halloa
!
wot’s
that
?
”
cried
the
Tinker
;
“
I
thought
I
heerd
a
noise
.
”
“
So
did
I
,
”
rejoined
the
Sandman
;
“
a
strange
sort
o’
rumblin’
sound
overhead
.
”
“
There
it
goes
again
!
”
cried
Ginger
;
“
wot
an
awful
din
!
”
“
Now
it’s
underneath
,
”
said
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
turning
pale
,
and
trembling
.
“
It
sounds
as
if
some
hidden
machinery
were
at
work
.
”
The
noise
,
which
up
to
this
moment
had
borne
an
indistinct
resemblance
to
the
creaking
of
wheels
and
pulleys
,
now
increased
to
a
violent
clatter
,
while
the
house
was
shaken
as
if
by
the
explosion
of
a
mine
beneath
it
.
At
the
same
time
,
the
occupants
of
the
chairs
received
a
sharp
electrical
shock
,
that
agitated
every
limb
,
and
caused
Mr.
Thorneycroft
to
let
fall
his
pistol
,
which
went
off
as
it
reached
the
ground
.
At
the
same
time
,
the
Sandman
dropped
his
goblet
,
and
the
Tinker
relinquished
his
grasp
of
the
cutlass
.
Before
they
could
recover
from
the
shock
,
all
three
were
caught
by
stout
wooden
hooks
,
which
,
detaching
themselves
from
the
back
of
the
chairs
,
pinioned
their
arms
,
while
their
legs
were
restrained
by
fetters
,
which
sprang
from
the
ground
and
clasped
round
their
ankles
.
Thus
fixed
,
they
struggled
vainly
to
get
free
.
The
chairs
seemed
nailed
to
the
ground
,
so
that
all
efforts
to
move
them
proved
futile
.
But
the
worst
was
to
come
.
From
the
holes
in
the
ceiling
already
alluded
to
,
descended
three
heavy
bell-shaped
helmets
,
fashioned
like
those
worn
by
divers
at
the
bottom
of
the
sea
,
and
having
round
eyelet-holes
of
glass
.
It
was
evident
,
from
the
manner
of
their
descent
,
that
these
helmets
must
drop
on
the
heads
of
the
sitters
—
a
conviction
that
filled
them
with
inexpressible
terror
.
They
shouted
,
and
swore
frightfully
;
but
their
vociferations
availed
them
nothing
.
Down
came
the
helmets
,
and
the
same
moment
the
monkey
,
which
had
been
seen
by
Reeks
,
issued
from
a
cupboard
at
the
top
of
a
cabinet
,
and
grinned
and
gibbered
at
them
.
Down
came
the
first
helmet
,
and
covered
the
Tinker
to
the
shoulders
.
His
appearance
was
at
once
ludicrous
and
terrible
,
and
his
roaring
within
the
casque
sounded
like
the
bellowing
of
a
baited
bull
.
Down
came
the
second
helmet
,
though
rather
more
slowly
,
and
the
Sandman
was
eclipsed
in
the
same
manner
as
the
Tinker
,
and
roared
as
loudly
.
In
both
these
instances
the
helmets
had
dropped
without
guidance
,
but
in
the
case
of
Mr.
Thorneycroft
,
a
hand
,
thrust
out
of
the
hole
in
the
ceiling
,
held
the
helmet
suspended
over
his
head
,
like
the
sword
of
Damocles
.
While
the
poor
iron-merchant
momentarily
