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received no answer； whereupon； as my next resource； I repaired to his
former lodging at Homburg； where I thought it possible he had left
property which he would sooner or later send for。 There I learned
that he had indeed just telegraphed from Cologne for his luggage。 To
Cologne I immediately despatched a line of inquiry as to his
prosperity and the cause of his silence。 The next day I received
three words in answera simple uncommented request that I would come
to him。 I lost no time； and reached him in the course of a few
hours。 It was dark when I arrived； and the city was sheeted in a
cold autumnal rain。 Pickering had stumbled； with an indifference
which was itself a symptom of distress； on a certain musty old
Mainzerhof； and I found him sitting over a smouldering fire in a vast
dingy chamber which looked as if it had grown gray with watching the
ennui of ten generations of travellers。 Looking at him； as he rose
on my entrance； I saw that he was in extreme tribulation。 He was
pale and haggard； his face was five years older。 Now； at least； in
all conscience； he had tasted of the cup of life！ I was anxious to
know what had turned it so suddenly to bitterness； but I spared him
all importunate curiosity； and let him take his time。 I accepted
tacitly his tacit confession of distress； and we made for a while a
feeble effort to discuss the picturesqueness of Cologne。 At last he
rose and stood a long time looking into the fire； while I slowly
paced the length of the dusky room。
〃Well！〃 he said； as I came back； 〃I wanted knowledge； and I certainly
know something I didn't a month ago。〃 And herewith； calmly and
succinctly enough； as if dismay had worn itself out； he related the
history of the foregoing days。 He touched lightly on details； he
evidently never was to gush as freely again as he had done during the
prosperity of his suit。 He had been accepted one evening； as
explicitly as his imagination could desire； and had gone forth in his
rapture and roamed about till nearly morning in the gardens of the
Conversation…house； taking the stars and the perfumes of the summer
night into his confidence。 〃It is worth it all； almost；〃 he said；
〃to have been wound up for an hour to that celestial pitch。 No man；
I am sure； can ever know it but once。〃 The next morning he had
repaired to Madame Blumenthal's lodging and had been met； to his
amazement； by a naked refusal to see him。 He had strode about for a
couple of hoursin another moodand then had returned to the
charge。 The servant handed him a three…cornered note； it contained
these words： 〃Leave me alone to…day； I will give you ten minutes to…
morrow evening。〃 Of the next thirty…six hours he could give no
coherent account； but at the appointed time Madame Blumenthal had
received him。 Almost before she spoke there had come to him a sense
of the depth of his folly in supposing he knew her。 〃One has heard
all one's days；〃 he said； 〃of people removing the mask； it's one of
the stock phrases of romance。 Well； there she stood with her mask in
her hand。 Her face；〃 he went on gravely； after a pause〃her face
was horrible！〃 。 。 。 〃I give you ten minutes；〃 she had said； pointing
to the clock。 〃Make your scene； tear your hair； brandish your
dagger！〃 And she had sat down and folded her arms。 〃It's not a
joke；〃 she cried； 〃it's dead earnest； let us have it over。 You are
dismissedhave you nothing to say？〃 He had stammered some frantic
demand for an explanation； and she had risen and come near him；
looking at him from head to feet； very pale； and evidently more
excited than she wished him to see。 〃I have done with you！〃 she
said； with a smile； 〃you ought to have done with me！ It has all been
delightful； but there are excellent reasons why it should come to an
end。〃 〃You have been playing a part； then；〃 he had gasped out； 〃you
never cared for me？〃 〃Yes； till I knew you； till I saw how far you
would go。 But now the story's finished； we have reached the
denoument。 We will close the book and be good friends。〃 〃To see how
far I would go？〃 he had repeated。 〃You led me on； meaning all the
while to do THIS！〃 〃I led you on； if you will。 I received your
visits； in season and out！ Sometimes they were very entertaining；
sometimes they bored me fearfully。 But you were such a very curious
case ofwhat shall I call it？of sincerity； that I determined to
take good and bad together。 I wanted to make you commit yourself
unmistakably。 I should have preferred not to bring you to this
place； but that too was necessary。 Of course I can't marry you； I
can do better。 So can you； for that matter； thank your fate for it。
You have thought wonders of me for a month； but your good…humour
wouldn't last。 I am too old and too wise； you are too young and too
foolish。 It seems to me that I have been very good to you； I have
entertained you to the top of your bent； and； except perhaps that I
am a little brusque just now； you have nothing to complain of。 I
would have let you down more gently if I could have taken another
month to it； but circumstances have forced my hand。 Abuse me； curse
me； if you like。 I will make every allowance！〃 Pickering listened
to all this intently enough to perceive that； as if by some sudden
natural cataclysm； the ground had broken away at his feet； and that
he must recoil。 He turned away in dumb amazement。 〃I don't know how
I seemed to be taking it；〃 he said； 〃but she seemed really to desire…
…I don't know whysomething in the way of reproach and vituperation。
But I couldn't； in that way； have uttered a syllable。 I was
sickened； I wanted to get away into the airto shake her off and
come to my senses。 'Have you nothing； nothing； nothing to say？' she
cried； as if she were disappointed； while I stood with my hand on the
door。 'Haven't I treated you to talk enough？' I believed I answered。
'You will write to me then； when you get home？' 'I think not；' said
I。 'Six months hence； I fancy； you will come and see me！' 'Never！'
said I。 'That's a confession of stupidity；' she answered。 'It means
that； even on reflection； you will never understand the philosophy of
my conduct。' The word 'philosophy' seemed so strange that I verily
believe I smiled。 'I have given you all that you gave me；' she went
on。 'Your passion was an affair of the head。' 'I only wish you had
told me sooner that you considered it so！' I exclaimed。 And I went
my way。 The next day I came down the Rhine。 I sat all day on the
boat； not knowing where I was going； where to get off。 I was in a
kind of ague of terror； it seemed to me I had seen something
infernal。 At last I saw the cathedral towers here looming over the
city。 They seemed to say something to me； and when the boat stopped；
I came ashore。 I have been here a week。 I have not slept at night
and yet it has been a week of rest！〃
It seemed to me that he was in a fair way to recover； and that his
own philosophy； if left to take its time； was adequate to the
occasion。 After his story was once told I referred to his grievance
but oncethat evening； later； as we were about to separate for the
night。 〃Suffer me to say that there was some truth in HER account of
your relations；〃 I said。 〃You were using her intellectually； and all
the while； without your knowing it； she was using you。 It was
diamond cut diamond。 Her needs were the more superficial； and she
got tired of the game first。〃 He frowned and turned uneasily away；
but without contradicting me。 I waited a few moments； to see if he
would remember； before we parted； that he had a claim to make upon
me。 But he seemed to have forgotten it。
The next day we strolled about the picturesque old city； and of
course； before long； went into the cathedral。 Pickering said little；
he seemed intent upon his own thoughts。 He sat down beside a pillar
near a chapel； in front of a gorgeous window； and； leaving him to his
meditations； I wandered through the church。 When I came back I saw
he had something to say。 But before he had spoken I laid my hand on
his shoulder and looked at him with a significant smile。 He slowly
bent his head and dropped his eyes； with a mixture of assent and
humility。 I drew forth from where it had lain untouched for a month
the letter he had given me to keep； placed it silently on his knee；
and left him to deal with it alone。
Half an hour later I returned to the same place； but he had gone； and
one of the sacristans； hovering about and seeing me looking for
Pickering； said he thought he had left the church。 I found him in
his gloomy chamber at the inn； pacing slowly up and down。 I should
doubtless have been at a loss to say just what effect I expected the
letter from Smyrna to produce； but his actual aspect surprised me。
He was flushed； excited； a trifle irritated。
〃Evidently；〃 I said； 〃you have read your letter。〃
〃It is proper I should tell you what is in it；