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see no risk worth considering。〃
〃In short；〃 I said； 〃you agree with me？〃
〃I agree with youthough I _am_ the most opinionated man living。 The
chances now seem to me to be all in Oscar's favor； Lucilla's antipathy is
not what I feared it wasan antipathy firmly rooted in a constitutional
malady。 It is nothing more serious；〃 said Nugent； deciding the question；
at once and for ever； with the air of a man profoundly versed in
physiology〃it is nothing more serious than a fanciful growth； a morbid
accident； of her blindness。 She may live to get over itshe would； I
believe； certainly get over it； if she could see。 In two words； after
what I have found out this morning； I say as you sayOscar is making a
mountain out of a molehill。 He ought to have put himself right with
Lucilla long since。 I have unbounded influence over him。 It shall back
your influence。 Oscar shall make a clean breast of it； before the week is
out。〃
We shook hands on that bargain。 As I looked at himbright and dashing
and resolute； Oscar； as I had always wished Oscar to beI own to my
shame I privately regretted that we had not met Nugent in the twilight；
on that evening of ours which had opened to Lucilla the gates of a new
life。
Having said to each other all that we had to sayour two lovers being
away together at the time； for a walk on the hillswe separated； as I
then supposed； for the rest of the day。 Nugent went to the inn； to look
at a stable which he proposed converting into a studio： no room at
Browndown being half large enough； for the first prodigious picture with
which the 〃Grand Consoler〃 in Art proposed to astonish the world。 As for
me； having nothing particular to do； I went out to see if I could meet
Oscar and Lucilla on their return from their walk。
Failing to find them； I strolled back by way of Browndown。 Nugent was
sitting alone on the low wall in front of the house； smoking a cigar。 He
rose and came to meet me； with his finger placed mysteriously on his
lips。
〃You mustn't come in；〃 he said； 〃you mustn't speak loud enough to be
heard。〃 He pointed round the corner of the house to the little room at
the side； already familiar to you in these pages。 〃Oscar and Lucilla are
shut up together there。 And Oscar is making his confession to her at this
moment！〃
I lifted my hands and eyes in astonishment。 Nugent went on。
〃I see you want to know how it has all come about。 You shall know。While
I was looking at the stable （it isn't half big enough for a studio for
Me！）； Oscar's servant brought me a little pencil note； entreating me； in
Oscar's name； to go to him directly at Browndown。 I found him waiting out
here； dreadfully agitated。 He cautioned me （just as I have cautioned you）
not to speak loud。 For the same reason too。 Lucilla was in the house〃
〃I thought they had gone out for a walk；〃 I interposed。
〃They did go out for a walk。 But Lucilla complained of fatigue； and Oscar
brought her back to Browndown to rest。 Well！ I inquired what was the
matter。 The answer informed me that the secret of Oscar's complexion had
forced its way out for the second time； in Lucilla's hearing。〃
〃Jicks again！〃 I exclaimed。
〃Nonot Jicks。 Oscar's own man…servant； this time。〃
〃How did it happen？〃
〃It happened through one of the boys in the village。 Oscar and Lucilla
found the little imp howling outside the house。 They asked what was the
matter。 The imp told them that the servant at Browndown had beaten him。
Lucilla was indignant。 She insisted on having the thing inquired into。
Oscar left her in the drawing…room （unluckily； as it turned out； without
shutting the door）； called the man up into the passage； and asked what he
meant by ill…using the boy。 The man answered； 'I boxed his ears； sir； as
an example to the rest of them。' 'What did he do？' 'Rapped at the door；
sir； with a stick （he is not the first who has done it when you are out）；
and asked if Blue Face was at home。' Lucilla heard every word of it；
through the open door。 Need I tell you what happened next？〃
It was quite needless to relate that part of the story。 I remembered too
well what had happened on the former occasion； in the garden。 I saw too
plainly that Lucilla must have connected the two occurrences in her mind；
and must have had her ready suspicion roused to serious action； as the
necessary result。
〃I understand；〃 I said。 〃Of course； she insisted on an explanation。 Of
course； Oscar compromised himself by a clumsy excuse； and wanted you to
help him。 What did you do？〃
〃What I told you I should do this morning。 He had counted confidently on
my taking his sideit was pitiable to see him； poor fellow！ Still； for
his own sake； I refused to yield。 I left him the choice of giving her the
true explanation himself； or of leaving me to do it。 There wasn't a
moment to lose； she was in no humour to be trifled with； I can tell you！
Oscar behaved very well about ithe always behaves well when I drive him
into a corner！ In one word； he was man enough to feel that he was the
right person to make a clean breast of itnot I。 I gave the poor old boy
a hug to encourage him； pushed him into the room； shut the door on him；
and came out here。 He ought to have done it by this time。 He _has_ done
it！ Here he comes！〃
Oscar ran out； bareheaded； from the house。 There were signs of
disturbance in him； as he approached us； which warned me that something
had gone wrong； before he opened his lips。
Nugent spoke first。
〃What's amiss now？〃 he asked。 〃Have you told her the truth？〃
〃I have tried to tell her the truth。〃
〃Tried？ What do you mean？〃
Oscar put his arm round his brother's neck； and laid his head on his
brother's shoulder； without answering one word。
I put a question to him on my side。
〃Did Lucilla refuse to listen to you？〃 I asked。
〃No。〃
〃Has she said anything or done anything？〃
He lifted his head from his brother's shoulder； and stopped me before I
could finish the sentence。
〃You need feel no anxiety about Lucilla。 Lucilla's curiosity is
satisfied。〃
Nugent and I gazed at one another； in complete bewilderment。 Lucilla had
heard it all； Lucilla's curiosity was satisfied。 He had that incredibly
happy result to communicate to usand he announced it with a look of
humiliation； in a tone of despair！ Nugent's patience gave way。
〃Let us have an end of this mystification；〃 he said； putting Oscar back
from him； sharply； at arm's length。 〃I want a plain answer to a plain
question。 She knows that the boy knocked at the door； and asked if Blue
Face was at home。 Does she know what the boy's impudence meant？ Yes？ or
No？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Does she know that it is you who are Blue Face？〃
〃No。〃
〃No！！！ Who else does she think it is？〃
As he asked the question； Lucilla appeared at the door of the house。 She
moved her blind face inquiringly first one way； then the other。 〃Oscar！〃
she called out； 〃why have you left me alone？ where are you？〃
Oscar turned； trembling； to his brother。
〃For God's sake forgive me； Nugent！〃 he said。 〃She thinks it's YOU。〃
CHAPTER THE TWENTY…SIXTH
He proves Equal to the Occasion
AT that astounding confession； abruptly revealed in those plain words；
even resolute Nugent lost all power of self…control。 He burst out with a
cry which reached Lucilla's ears。 She instantly turned towards us； and
instantly assumed that the cry had come from Oscar's lips。
〃Ah！ there you are！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Oscar！ Oscar！ what is the matter
with you to…day？〃
Oscar was incapable of answering her。 He had cast one glance of entreaty
at his brother as Lucilla came nearer to us。 The mute reproach which had
answered him； in Nugent's eyes； had broken down his last reserves of
endurance。 He was crying silently on Nugent's breast。
It was necessary that one of us should make his； or her； voice heard。 I
spoke first。
〃Nothing is the matter； my dear；〃 I said； advancing to meet Lucilla。 〃We
were passing the house； and Oscar ran out to stop us and bring us in。〃
My excuses roused a new alarm in her。
〃Us？〃 she repeated。 〃Who is with you？〃
〃Nugent is with me。〃
The result of the deplorable misunderstanding which had taken place；
instantly declared itself。 She turned deadly pale under the horror of
feeling that she was in the presence of the man with the blue face。
〃Take me near enough to speak to him； but not to touch him；〃 she
whispered。 〃I have heard what he is like。 （Oh； if you saw him； as I see
him； _in the dark！_） I must control myself。 I must speak to Oscar's
brother； for Oscar's sake。〃
She seized my arm and held me close to her。 What ought I to have said？
What ought I to have done？ I neither knew what to say or what to do。 I
looked from Lucilla to the twin brothers。 There was Oscar the Weak；
overwhelmed by the humiliating position in which he had placed himself
towards the woman whom he was to marry； towards the brother whom he
loved！ And there was Nugent the Strong； master of himself； with his arm
round his brother； with his head erect； with his hand signing to me to
keep silence。 He was right。 I had only to look back at Lucilla's face to
see that the delicate and perilous work of undeceiving her； was not work
to be done at a moment's notice； on the sp