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He took his hat and turned towards the Villa。 Between the poplars he
stopped to think。 The farther trees were fret…worked black against
the lingering gold of the sunset； a huge moth； attracted by the tip
of his cigar； came fluttering in his face。 The music of a concertina
rose and fell； like the sighing of some disillusioned spirit。 Dawney
stood for several minutes staring at the house。
He was shown to Mrs。 Decie's room。 She was holding a magazine before
her eyes； and received him with as much relief as philosophy
permitted。
〃You are the very person I wanted to see；〃 she said。
He noticed that the magazine she held was uncut。
〃You are a young man；〃 pursued Mrs。 Decie； 〃but as my doctor I have a
right to your discretion。〃
Dawney smiled； the features of his broad； clean…shaven face looked
ridiculously small on such occasions； but his eyes retained their air
of calculation。
〃That is so；〃 he answered。
〃It is about this unfortunate affair。 I understand that Mr。 Harz is
with you。 I want you to use your influence to dissuade him from
attempting to see my niece。〃
〃Influence！〃 said Dawney； 〃you know Harz！〃
Mrs。 Decie's voice hardened。
〃Everybody；〃 she said； 〃has his weak points。 This young man is open
to approach from at least two quartershis pride is one； his work an
other。 I am seldom wrong in gauging character； these are his vital
spots； and they are of the essence of this matter。 I'm sorry for
him； of coursebut at his age； and living a man's life； these
things〃 Her smile was extra pale。 〃I wish you could give me
something for my head。 It's foolish to worry。 Nerves of course！
But I can't help it！ You know my opinion； Dr。 Dawney。 That young
man will go far if he remains unfettered； he will make a name。 You
will be doing him a great service if you could show him the affair as
it really isa drag on him； and quite unworthy of his pride！ Do
help me！ You are just the man to do it！〃
Dawney threw up his head as if to shake off this impeachment； the
curve of his chin thus displayed was imposing in its fulness；
altogether he was imposing； having an air of capability。
She struck him； indeed； as really scared； it was as if her mask of
smile had become awry； and failed to cover her emotion； and he was
puzzled； thinking； 'I wouldn't have believed she had it in her。。。。'
〃It's not an easy business；〃 he said； 〃I'll think it over。〃
〃Thank you！〃 murmured Mrs。 Decie。 〃You are most kind。〃
Passing the schoolroom； he looked in through the open door。
Christian was sitting there。 The sight of her face shocked him； it
was so white； so resolutely dumb。 A book lay on her knees； she was
not reading； but staring before her。 He thought suddenly： 'Poor
thing！ If I don't say something to her； I shall be a brute！'
〃Miss Devorell；〃 he said： 〃You can reckon on him。〃
Christian tried to speak； but her lips trembled so that nothing came
forth。
〃Good…night；〃 said Dawney； and walked out。。。。
Three days later Harz was sitting in the window of his studio。 It
was the first day he had found it possible to work； and now； tired
out； he stared through the dusk at the slowly lengthening shadows of
the rafters。 A solitary mosquito hummed； and two house sparrows； who
had built beneath the roof； chirruped sleepily。 Swallows darted by
the window； dipping their blue wings towards the quiet water； a hush
had stolen over everything。 He fell asleep。
He woke； with a dim impression of some near presence。 In the pale
glimmer from innumerable stars； the room was full of shadowy shapes。
He lit his lantern。 The flame darted forth； bickered； then slowly
lit up the great room。
〃Who's there？〃
A rustling seemed to answer。 He peered about； went to the doorway；
and drew the curtain。 A woman's cloaked figure shrank against the
wall。 Her face was buried in her hands； her arms； from which the
cloak fell back； were alone visible。
〃Christian？〃
She ran past him； and when he had put the lantern down； was standing
at the window。 She turned quickly to him。 〃Take me away from here！
Let me come with you！〃
〃Do you mean it？〃
〃You said you wouldn't give me up！〃
〃You know what you are doing？〃
She made a motion of assent。
〃But you don't grasp what this means。 Things to bear that you know
nothing ofhunger perhaps！ Think； even hunger！ And your people
won't forgiveyou'll lose everything。〃
She shook her head。
〃I must chooseit's one thing or the other。 I can't give you up！
I should be afraid！〃
〃But； dear； how can you come with me？ We can't be married here。〃
〃I am giving my life to you。〃
〃You are too good for me；〃 said Harz。 〃The life you're going into
may be dark； like that！〃 he pointed to the window。
A sound of footsteps broke the hush。 They could see a figure on the
path below。 It stopped； seemed to consider； vanished。 They heard
the sounds of groping hands； of a creaking door； of uncertain feet on
the stairs。
Harz seized her hand。
〃Quick！〃 he whispered； 〃behind this canvas！〃
Christian was trembling violently。 She drew her hood across her
face。 The heavy breathing and ejaculations of the visitor were now
plainly audible。
〃He's there！ Quick！ Hide！〃
She shook her head。
With a thrill at his heart； Harz kissed her； then walked towards the
entrance。 The curtain was pulled aside。
It was Herr Paul； holding a cigar in one hand； his hat in the other；
and breathing hard。
〃Pardon！〃 he said huskily； 〃your stairs are steep； and dark！ mais en；
fin！ nous voila！ I have ventured to come for a talk。〃 His glance
fell on the cloaked figure in the shadow。
〃Pardon！ A thousand pardons！ I had no idea！ I beg you to forgive
this indiscretion！ I may take it you resign pretensions then？ You
have a lady hereI have nothing more to say； I only beg a million
pardons for intruding。 A thousand times forgive me！ Good…night！〃
He bowed and turned to go。 Christian stepped forward； and let the
hood fall from her head。
〃It's I！〃
Herr Paul pirouetted。
〃Good God！〃 he stammered； dropping cigar and hat。 〃Good God！〃
The lantern flared suddenly； revealing his crimson； shaking cheeks。
〃You came here； at night！ You； the daughter of my wife！〃 His eyes
wandered with a dull glare round the room。
〃Take care！〃 cried Harz： 〃If you say a word against her…〃
The two men stared at each other's eyes。 And without warning； the
lantern flickered and went out。 Christian drew the cloak round her
again。 Herr Paul's voice broke the silence； he had recovered his
self…possession。
〃Ah！ ah！〃 he said： 〃Darkness！ Tant mieux！ The right thing for what
we have to say。 Since we do not esteem each other； it is well not to
see too much。〃
〃Just so；〃 said Harz。
Christian had come close to them。 Her pale face and great shining
eyes could just be seen through the gloom。
Herr Paul waved his arm； the gesture was impressive； annihilating。
〃This is a matter； I believe； between two men；〃 he said； addressing
Harz。 〃Let us come to the point。 I will do you the credit to
suppose that you have a marriage in view。 You know； perhaps； that
Miss Devorell has no money till I die？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And I am passably young！ You have money； then？〃
〃No。〃
〃In that case； you would propose to live on air？〃
〃No； to work； it has been done before。〃
〃It is calculated to increase hunger！ You are prepared to take Miss
Devorell； a young lady accustomed to luxury； into places likethis！〃
he peered about him； 〃into places that smell of paint； into the
milieu of 'the people；' into the society of Bohemianswho knows？ of
anarchists； perhaps？〃
Harz clenched his hands： 〃I will answer no more questions。〃
〃In that event； we reach the ultimatum；〃 said Herr Paul。 〃Listen；
Herr Outlaw！ If you have not left the country by noon to…morrow； you
shall be introduced to the police！〃
Christian uttered a cry。 For a minute in the gloom the only sound
heard was the short； hard breathing of the two men。
Suddenly Harz cried： 〃You coward； I defy you！〃
〃Coward！〃 Herr Paul repeated。 〃That is indeed the last word。 Look
to yourself； my friend！〃
Stooping and fumbling on the floor； he picked up his hat。 Christian
had already vanished； the sound of her hurrying footsteps was
distinctly audible at the top of the dark stairs。 Herr Paul stood
still a minute。
〃Look to yourself； my dear friend！〃 he said in a thick voice； groping
for the wall。 Planting his hat askew on his head； he began slowly to
descend the stairs。
XV
Nicholas Treffry sat reading the paper in his room by the light of a
lamp with a green shade； on his sound foot the terrier Scruff was
asleep and snoring lightlythe dog habitually came down when Greta
was in bed； and remained t