\"SirJohnChobham,themanwhoisopposingme,\"answeredRobert;
\"thatishishouseawaythereamongthetreesontheright。\"
Sotherewasanuprightman,possiblyaveryHugoincharacter,whowasthwartinganddefyingtheevildoerinhisnefariouscareer,andtherewasadastardlyplotafoottobreakhisneck!Possiblytheattemptwouldbemadewithinthenextfewhours。Hemustcertainlybewarned。AlethiarememberedhowLadySylviaBroomgate,inNightshadeCourt,hadpretendedtobeboltedwithbyherhorseuptothefrontdoorofathreatenedcountymagnate,andhadwhisperedawarninginhisearwhichsavedhimfrombeingthevictimoffoulmurder。Shewonderediftherewasaquietponyinthestablesonwhichshewouldbeallowedtorideoutalone。Thechanceswerethatshewouldbewatched。RobertwouldcomespurringafterherandseizeherbridlejustasshewasturninginatSirJohn\'sgates。
Agroupofmenthattheypassedinavillagestreetgavethemnoveryfriendlylooks,andAlethiathoughtsheheardafurtivehiss;amomentlatertheycameuponanerrandboyridingabicycle。Hehadthefrankopencountenance,neatlybrushedhairandtidyclothesthatbetokenaclearconscienceandagoodmother。Hestaredstraightattheoccupantsofthecar,and,afterhehadpassedthem,sanginhisclear,boyishvoice:
\"We\'llhangBobbyBludwardonthesourappletree。\"
Robertmerelylaughed。Thatwashowhetookthescornandcondemnationofhisfellow-men。Hehadgoadedthemtodesperationwithhisshamelessdepravitytilltheyspokeopenlyofputtinghimtoaviolentdeath,andhelaughed。
Mrs。BludwardprovedtobeofthetypethatAlethiahadsuspected,thin-lipped,cold-eyed,andobviouslydevotedtoherworthlessson。
Fromhernohelpwastobeexpected。Alethialockedherdoorthatnight,andplacedsuchrampartsoffurnitureagainstitthatthemaidhadgreatdifficultyinbreakinginwiththeearlyteainthemorning。
AfterbreakfastAlethia,onthepretextofgoingtolookatanoutlyingrose-garden,slippedawaytothevillagethroughwhichtheyhadpassedonthepreviousevening。SherememberedthatRoberthadpointedouttoherapublicreading-room,andheresheconsidereditpossiblethatshemightmeetSirJohnChobham,orsomeonewhoknewhimwellandwouldcarryamessagetohim。Theroomwasemptywhensheenteredit;aGraphictwelvedaysold,ayetoldercopyofPunch,andoneortwolocalpaperslayuponthecentraltable;theothertableswerestackedforthemostpartwithchessanddraughts-
boards,andwoodenboxesofchessmenanddominoes。Listlesslyshepickeduponeofthepapers,theSentinel,andglancedatitscontents。Suddenlyshestarted,andbegantoreadwithbreathlessattentionaprominentlyprintedarticle,headed\"ALittleLimelightonSirJohnChobham。\"Thecolourebbedawayfromherface,alookoffrighteneddespaircreptintohereyes。Never,inanynovelthatshehadread,hadadefencelessyoungwomanbeenconfrontedwithasituationlikethis。SirJohn,theHugoofherimagination,was,ifanything,rathermoredepravedanddespicablethanRobertBludward。
Hewasmean,evasive,callouslyindifferenttohiscountry\'sinterests,acheat,amanwhohabituallybrokehisword,andwhowasresponsible,withhisassociates,formostofthepoverty,misery,crime,andnationaldegradationwithwhichthecountrywasafflicted。HewasalsoacandidateforParliament,itseemed,andastherewasonlyoneseatinthisparticularlocality,itwasobviousthatthesuccessofeitherRobertorSirJohnwouldmeanachecktotheambitionsoftheother,hence,nodoubt,therivalryandenmitybetweentheseotherwisekindredsouls。Onewasseekingtohavehisenemydonetodeath,theotherwasapparentlytryingtostiruphissupporterstoanactof\"Lynchlaw\"。Allthisinorderthattheremightbeanunopposedelection,thatoneorotherofthecandidatesmightgointoParliamentwithhoneyedeloquenceonhislipsandbloodonhisheart。Weremenreallysovile?
\"ImustgobacktoWebblehintonatonce,\"Alethiainformedherastonishedhostessatlunchtime;\"Ihavehadatelegram。AfriendisveryseriouslyillandIhavebeensentfor。\"
Itwasdreadfultohavetoconcoctlies,butitwouldbemoredreadfultohavetospendanothernightunderthatroof。
Alethiareadsnovelsnowwithevengreaterappreciationthanbefore。
ShehasbeenherselfintheworldoutsideWebblehinton,theworldwherethegreatdramasofsinandvillainyareplayedunceasingly。
Shehadcomeunscathedthroughit,butwhatmighthavehappenedifshehadgoneunsuspectinglytovisitSirJohnChobhamandwarnhimofhisdanger?Whatindeed!ShehadbeensavedbythefearlessoutspokennessofthelocalPress。
THEINTERLOPERS
InaforestofmixedgrowthsomewhereontheeasternspursoftheKarpathians,amanstoodonewinternightwatchingandlistening,asthoughhewaitedforsomebeastofthewoodstocomewithintherangeofhisvision,and,later,ofhisrifle。Butthegameforwhosepresencehekeptsokeenanoutlookwasnonethatfiguredinthesportsman\'scalendaraslawfulandproperforthechase;UlrichvonGradwitzpatrolledthedarkforestinquestofahumanenemy。
TheforestlandsofGradwitzwereofwideextentandwellstockedwithgame;thenarrowstripofprecipitouswoodlandthatlayonitsoutskirtwasnotremarkableforthegameitharbouredortheshootingitafforded,butitwasthemostjealouslyguardedofallitsowner\'sterritorialpossessions。Afamouslawsuit,inthedaysofhisgrandfather,hadwresteditfromtheillegalpossessionofaneighbouringfamilyofpettylandowners;thedispossessedpartyhadneveracquiescedinthejudgmentoftheCourts,andalongseriesofpoachingaffraysandsimilarscandalshadembitteredtherelationshipsbetweenthefamiliesforthreegenerations。TheneighbourfeudhadgrownintoapersonalonesinceUlrichhadcometobeheadofhisfamily;iftherewasamanintheworldwhomhedetestedandwishedilltoitwasGeorgZnaeym,theinheritorofthequarrelandthetirelessgame-snatcherandraiderofthedisputedborder-forest。Thefeudmight,perhaps,havedieddownorbeencompromisedifthepersonalill-willofthetwomenhadnotstoodintheway;asboystheyhadthirstedforoneanother\'sblood,asmeneachprayedthatmisfortunemightfallontheother,andthiswind-
scourgedwinternightUlrichhadbandedtogetherhisforesterstowatchthedarkforest,notinquestoffour-footedquarry,buttokeepalook-outfortheprowlingthieveswhomhesuspectedofbeingafootfromacrossthelandboundary。Theroebuck,whichusuallykeptintheshelteredhollowsduringastorm-wind,wererunninglikedriventhingsto-night,andtherewasmovementandunrestamongthecreaturesthatwerewonttosleepthroughthedarkhours。Assuredlytherewasadisturbingelementintheforest,andUlrichcouldguessthequarterfromwhenceitcame。
Hestrayedawaybyhimselffromthewatcherswhomhehadplacedinambushonthecrestofthehill,andwanderedfardownthesteepslopesamidthewildtangleofundergrowth,peeringthroughthetreetrunksandlisteningthroughthewhistlingandskirlingofthewindandtherestlessbeatingofthebranchesforsightandsoundofthemarauders。Ifonlyonthiswildnight,inthisdark,lonespot,hemightcomeacrossGeorgZnaeym,mantoman,withnonetowitness——
thatwasthewishthatwasuppermostinhisthoughts。Andashesteppedroundthetrunkofahugebeechhecamefacetofacewiththemanhesought。
Thetwoenemiesstoodglaringatoneanotherforalongsilentmoment。Eachhadarifleinhishand,eachhadhateinhisheartandmurderuppermostinhismind。Thechancehadcometogivefullplaytothepassionsofalifetime。Butamanwhohasbeenbroughtupunderthecodeofarestrainingcivilisationcannoteasilynervehimselftoshootdownhisneighbourincoldbloodandwithoutwordspoken,exceptforanoffenceagainsthishearthandhonour。AndbeforethemomentofhesitationhadgivenwaytoactionadeedofNature\'sownviolenceoverwhelmedthemboth。Afierceshriekofthestormhadbeenansweredbyasplittingcrashovertheirheads,anderetheycouldleapasideamassoffallingbeechtreehadthundereddownonthem。UlrichvonGradwitzfoundhimselfstretchedontheground,onearmnumbbeneathhimandtheotherheldalmostashelplesslyinatighttangleofforkedbranches,whilebothlegswerepinnedbeneaththefallenmass。Hisheavyshooting-bootshadsavedhisfeetfrombeingcrushedtopieces,butifhisfractureswerenotasseriousastheymighthavebeen,atleastitwasevidentthathecouldnotmovefromhispresentpositiontillsomeonecametoreleasehim。Thedescendingtwighadslashedtheskinofhisface,andhehadtowinkawaysomedropsofbloodfromhiseyelashesbeforehecouldtakeinageneralviewofthedisaster。Athisside,sonearthatunderordinarycircumstanceshecouldalmosthavetouchedhim,layGeorgZnaeym,aliveandstruggling,butobviouslyashelplesslypinioneddownashimself。Allroundthemlayathick-
strewnwreckageofsplinteredbranchesandbrokentwigs。
Reliefatbeingaliveandexasperationathiscaptiveplightbroughtastrangemedleyofpiousthank-offeringsandsharpcursestoUlrich\'slips。Georg,whowasearlyblindedwiththebloodwhichtrickledacrosshiseyes,stoppedhisstrugglingforamomenttolisten,andthengaveashort,snarlinglaugh。
\"Soyou\'renotkilled,asyououghttobe,butyou\'recaught,anyway,\"hecried;\"caughtfast。Ho,whatajest,UlrichvonGradwitzsnaredinhisstolenforest。There\'srealjusticeforyou!\"
Andhelaughedagain,mockinglyandsavagely。
\"I\'mcaughtinmyownforest-land,\"retortedUlrich。\"Whenmymencometoreleaseusyouwillwish,perhaps,thatyouwereinabetterplightthancaughtpoachingonaneighbour\'sland,shameonyou。\"
Georgwassilentforamoment;thenheansweredquietly:
\"Areyousurethatyourmenwillfindmuchtorelease?Ihavemen,too,intheforestto-night,closebehindme,andTHEYwillbeherefirstanddothereleasing。Whentheydragmeoutfromunderthesedamnedbranchesitwon\'tneedmuchclumsinessontheirparttorollthismassoftrunkrightoveronthetopofyou。Yourmenwillfindyoudeadunderafallenbeechtree。Forform\'ssakeIshallsendmycondolencestoyourfamily。\"
\"Itisausefulhint,\"saidUlrichfiercely。\"Mymenhadorderstofollowintenminutestime,sevenofwhichmusthavegonebyalready,andwhentheygetmeout——Iwillrememberthehint。OnlyasyouwillhavemetyourdeathpoachingonmylandsIdon\'tthinkI
candecentlysendanymessageofcondolencetoyourfamily。\"
\"Good,\"snarledGeorg,\"good。Wefightthisquarrelouttothedeath,youandIandourforesters,withnocursedinterloperstocomebetweenus。Deathanddamnationtoyou,UlrichvonGradwitz。\"
\"Thesametoyou,GeorgZnaeym,forest-thief,game-snatcher。\"
Bothmenspokewiththebitternessofpossibledefeatbeforethem,foreachknewthatitmightbelongbeforehismenwouldseekhimoutorfindhim;itwasabarematterofchancewhichpartywouldarrivefirstonthescene。
Bothhadnowgivenuptheuselessstruggletofreethemselvesfromthemassofwoodthatheldthemdown;Ulrichlimitedhisendeavourstoanefforttobringhisonepartiallyfreearmnearenoughtohisoutercoat-pockettodrawouthiswine-flask。Evenwhenhehadaccomplishedthatoperationitwaslongbeforehecouldmanagetheunscrewingofthestopperorgetanyoftheliquiddownhisthroat。
ButwhataHeaven-sentdraughtitseemed!Itwasanopenwinter,andlittlesnowhadfallenasyet,hencethecaptivessufferedlessfromthecoldthanmighthavebeenthecaseatthatseasonoftheyear;nevertheless,thewinewaswarmingandrevivingtothewoundedman,andhelookedacrosswithsomethinglikeathrobofpitytowherehisenemylay,justkeepingthegroansofpainandwearinessfromcrossinghislips。
\"CouldyoureachthisflaskifIthrewitovertoyou?\"askedUlrichsuddenly;\"thereisgoodwineinit,andonemayaswellbeascomfortableasonecan。Letusdrink,evenifto-nightoneofusdies。\"
\"No,Icanscarcelyseeanything;thereissomuchbloodcakedroundmyeyes,\"saidGeorg,\"andinanycaseIdon\'tdrinkwinewithanenemy。\"
Ulrichwassilentforafewminutes,andlaylisteningtothewearyscreechingofthewind。Anideawasslowlyformingandgrowinginhisbrain,anideathatgainedstrengtheverytimethathelookedacrossatthemanwhowasfightingsogrimlyagainstpainandexhaustion。InthepainandlanguorthatUlrichhimselfwasfeelingtheoldfiercehatredseemedtobedyingdown。
\"Neighbour,\"hesaidpresently,\"doasyoupleaseifyourmencomefirst。Itwasafaircompact。Butasforme,I\'vechangedmymind。
Ifmymenarethefirsttocomeyoushallbethefirsttobehelped,asthoughyouweremyguest。Wehavequarrelledlikedevilsallourlivesoverthisstupidstripofforest,wherethetreescan\'tevenstanduprightinabreathofwind。Lyinghereto-nightthinkingI\'vecometothinkwe\'vebeenratherfools;therearebetterthingsinlifethangettingthebetterofaboundarydispute。Neighbour,ifyouwillhelpmetoburytheoldquarrelI——Iwillaskyoutobemyfriend。\"
GeorgZnaeymwassilentforsolongthatUlrichthought,perhaps,hehadfaintedwiththepainofhisinjuries。Thenhespokeslowlyandinjerks。
\"Howthewholeregionwouldstareandgabbleifwerodeintothemarket-squaretogether。NoonelivingcanrememberseeingaZnaeymandavonGradwitztalkingtooneanotherinfriendship。Andwhatpeacetherewouldbeamongtheforesterfolkifweendedourfeudto-night。Andifwechoosetomakepeaceamongourpeoplethereisnoneothertointerfere,nointerlopersfromoutside……YouwouldcomeandkeeptheSylvesternightbeneathmyroof,andIwouldcomeandfeastonsomehighdayatyourcastle……Iwouldneverfireashotonyourland,savewhenyouinvitedmeasaguest;andyoushouldcomeandshootwithmedowninthemarsheswherethewildfowlare。Inallthecountrysidetherearenonethatcouldhinderifwewilledtomakepeace。Ineverthoughttohavewantedtodootherthanhateyouallmylife,butIthinkIhavechangedmymindaboutthingstoo,thislasthalf-hour。Andyouofferedmeyourwineflask……UlrichvonGradwitz,Iwillbeyourfriend。\"
Foraspacebothmenweresilent,turningoverintheirmindsthewonderfulchangesthatthisdramaticreconciliationwouldbringabout。Inthecold,gloomyforest,withthewindtearinginfitfulguststhroughthenakedbranchesandwhistlingroundthetree-
trunks,theylayandwaitedforthehelpthatwouldnowbringreleaseandsuccourtobothparties。Andeachprayedaprivateprayerthathismenmightbethefirsttoarrive,sothathemightbethefirsttoshowhonourableattentiontotheenemythathadbecomeafriend。
Presently,asthewinddroppedforamoment,Ulrichbrokesilence。
\"Let\'sshoutforhelp,\"hesaid;hesaid;\"inthislullourvoicesmaycarryalittleway。\"
\"Theywon\'tcarryfarthroughthetreesandundergrowth,\"saidGeorg,\"butwecantry。Together,then。\"
Thetworaisedtheirvoicesinaprolongedhuntingcall。
\"Togetheragain,\"saidUlrichafewminuteslater,afterlisteninginvainforanansweringhalloo。
\"Iheardnothingbutthepestilentialwind,\"saidGeorghoarsely。
Therewassilenceagainforsomeminutes,andthenUlrichgaveajoyfulcry。
\"Icanseefigurescomingthroughthewood。TheyarefollowinginthewayIcamedownthehillside。\"
Bothmenraisedtheirvoicesinasloudashoutastheycouldmuster。
\"Theyhearus!They\'vestopped。Nowtheyseeus。They\'rerunningdownthehilltowardsus,\"criedUlrich。
\"Howmanyofthemarethere?\"askedGeorg。
\"Ican\'tseedistinctly,\"saidUlrich;\"nineorten,\"
\"Thentheyareyours,\"saidGeorg;\"Ihadonlysevenoutwithme。\"
\"Theyaremakingallthespeedtheycan,bravelads,\"saidUlrichgladly。
\"Aretheyyourmen?\"askedGeorg。\"Aretheyyourmen?\"herepeatedimpatientlyasUlrichdidnotanswer。
\"No,\"saidUlrichwithalaugh,theidioticchatteringlaughofamanunstrungwithhideousfear。
\"Whoarethey?\"askedGeorgquickly,straininghiseyestoseewhattheotherwouldgladlynothaveseen。
\"Wolves。\"
QUAILSEED
\"Theoutlookisnotencouragingforussmallerbusinesses,\"saidMr。
Scarricktotheartistandhissister,whohadtakenroomsoverhissuburbangrocerystore。\"Thesebigconcernsareofferingallsortsofattractionstotheshoppingpublicwhichwecouldn\'taffordtoimitate,evenonasmallscale——reading-roomsandplay-roomsandgramophonesandHeavenknowswhat。Peopledon\'tcaretobuyhalfapoundofsugarnowadaysunlesstheycanlistentoHarryLauderandhavethelatestAustraliancricketscorestickedoffbeforetheireyes。WiththebigChristmasstockwe\'vegotinweoughttokeephalfadozenassistantshardatwork,butasitismynephewJimmyandmyselfcanprettywellattendtoitourselves。It\'sanicestockofgoods,too,ifIcouldonlyrunitoffinafewweekstime,butthere\'snochanceofthat——notunlesstheLondonlinewastogetsnowedupforafortnightbeforeChristmas。IdidhaveasortofideaofengagingMissLuffcombetogiverecitationsduringafternoons;shemadeagreathitatthePostOfficeentertainmentwithherrenderingof\'LittleBeatrice\'sResolve\'。\"
\"AnythinglesslikelytomakeyourshopafashionableshoppingcentreIcan\'timagine,\"saidtheartist,withaverygenuineshudder;\"ifIweretryingtodecidebetweenthemeritsofCarlsbadplumsandconfectedfigsasawinterdessertitwouldinfuriatemetohavemytrainofthoughtentangledwithlittleBeatrice\'sresolvetobeanAngelofLightoragirlscout。No,\"hecontinued,\"thedesiretogetsomethingthrowninfornothingisarulingpassionwiththefeminineshopper,butyoucan\'taffordtopandereffectivelytoit。Whynotappealtoanotherinstinct;whichdominatesnotonlythewomanshopperbutthemaleshopper——infact,theentirehumanrace?\"
\"Whatisthatinstinct,sir?\"saidthegrocer。
***
Mrs。GreyesandMissFrittenhadmissedthe2。18toTown,andastherewasnotanothertraintill3。12theythoughtthattheymightaswellmaketheirgrocerypurchasesatScarrick\'s。Itwouldnotbesensational,theyagreed,butitwouldstillbeshopping。
Forsomeminutestheyhadtheshopalmosttothemselves,asfarascustomerswereconcerned,butwhiletheyweredebatingtherespectivevirtuesandblemishesoftwocompetingbrandsofanchovypastetheywerestartledbyanorder,givenacrossthecounter,forsixpomegranatesandapacketofquailseed。Neithercommoditywasingeneraldemandinthatneighbourhood。Equallyunusualwasthestyleandappearanceofthecustomer;aboutsixteenyearsold,withdarkoliveskin,largeduskyeyes,andthink,low-growing,blue-
blackhair,hemighthavemadehislivingasanartist\'smodel。Asamatteroffacthedid。Thebowlofbeatenbrassthatheproducedforthereceptionofhispurchaseswasdistinctlythemostastonishingvariationonthestringbagormarketingbasketofsuburbancivilisationthathisfellow-shoppershadeverseen。Hethrewagoldpiece,apparentlyofsomeexoticcurrency,acrossthecounter,anddidnotseemdisposedtowaitforanychangethatmightbeforthcoming。
\"Thewineandfigswerenotpaidforyesterday,\"hesaid;\"keepwhatisoverofthemoneyforourfuturepurchases。\"
\"Averystrange-lookingboy?\"saidMrs。Greyesinterrogativelytothegrocerassoonashiscustomerhadleft。
\"Aforeigner,Ibelieve,\"saidMr。Scarrick,withashortnessthatwasentirelyoutofkeepingwithhisusuallycommunicativemanner。
\"Iwishforapoundandahalfofthebestcoffeeyouhave,\"saidanauthoritativevoiceamomentortwolater。Thespeakerwasatall,authoritative-lookingmanofratheroutlandishaspect,remarkableamongotherthingsforafullblackbeard,worninastylemoreinvogueinearlyAssyriathaninaLondonsuburbofthepresentday。
\"Hasadark-facedboybeenherebuyingpomegranates?\"heaskedsuddenly,asthecoffeewasbeingweighedouttohim。
Thetwoladiesalmostjumpedonhearingthegrocerreplywithanunblushingnegative。
\"Wehaveafewpomegranatesinstock,\"hecontinued,\"buttherehasbeennodemandforthem。\"
\"Myservantwillfetchthecoffeeasusual,\"saidthepurchaser,producingacoinfromawonderfulmetal-workpurse。Asanapparentafterthoughthefiredoutthequestion:\"Haveyou,perhaps,anyquailseed?\"
\"No,\"saidthegrocer,withouthesitation,\"wedon\'tstockit。\"
\"Whatwillhedenynext?\"askedMrs。Greyesunderherbreath。WhatmadeitseemsomuchworsewasthefactthatMr。ScarrickhadquiterecentlypresidedatalectureonSavonarola。
Turningupthedeepastrachancollarofhislongcoat,thestrangersweptoutoftheshop,withtheair,MissFrittenafterwardsdescribedit,ofaSatrapproroguingaSanhedrim。WhethersuchapleasantfunctioneverfelltoaSatrap\'slotshewasnotquitecertain,butthesimilefaithfullyconveyedhermeaningtoalargecircleofacquaintances。
\"Don\'tlet\'sbotheraboutthe3。12,\"saidMrs。Greyes;\"let\'sgoandtalkthisoveratLauraLipping\'s。It\'sherday。\"
Whenthedark-facedboyarrivedattheshopnextdaywithhisbrassmarketingbowltherewasquiteafairgatheringofcustomers,mostofwhomseemedtobespinningouttheirpurchasingoperationswiththeairofpeoplewhohadverylittletodowiththeirtime。Inavoicethatwasheardallovertheshop,perhapsbecauseeverybodywasintentlylistening,heaskedforapoundofhoneyandapacketofquailseed。
\"Morequailseed!\"saidMissFritten。\"Thosequailsmustbevoracious,orelseitisn\'tquailseedatall。\"
\"Ibelieveit\'sopium,andthebeardedmanisadetective,\"saidMrs。Greyesbrilliantly。
\"Idon\'t,\"saidLauraLipping;\"I\'msureit\'ssomethingtodowiththePortugueseThrone。\"
\"MorelikelytobeaPersianintrigueonbehalfoftheex-Shah,\"
saidMissFritten;\"thebeardedmanbelongstotheGovernmentParty。
Thequail-seedisacountersign,ofcourse;PersiaisalmostnextdoortoPalestine,andquailscomeintotheOldTestament,youknow。\"
\"Onlyasamiracle,\"saidherwell-informedyoungersister;\"I\'vethoughtallalongitwaspartofaloveintrigue。\"
TheboywhohadsomuchinterestandspeculationcentredonhimwasonthepointofdepartingwithhispurchaseswhenhewaswaylaidbyJimmy,thenephew-apprentice,who,fromhispostatthecheeseandbaconcounter,commandedagoodviewofthestreet。
\"WehavesomeveryfineJaffaoranges,\"hesaidhurriedly,pointingtoacornerwheretheywerestored,behindahighrampartofbiscuittins。Therewasevidentlymoreintheremarkthanmettheear。Theboyflewattheorangeswiththeenthusiasmofaferretfindingarabbitfamilyathomeafteralongdayoffruitlesssubterraneanresearch。Almostatthesamemomentthebeardedstrangerstalkedintotheshop,andflunganorderforapoundofdatesandatinofthebestSmyrnahalvaacrossthecounter。Themostadventuroushousewifeinthelocalityhadneverheardofhalva,butMr。ScarrickwasapparentlyabletoproducethebestSmyrnavarietyofitwithoutamoment\'shesitation。
\"WemightbelivingintheArabianNights,\"saidMissFritten,excitedly。
\"Hush!Listen,\"beseechedMrs。Greyes。
\"Hasthedark-facedboy,ofwhomIspokeyesterday,beenhereto-
day?\"askedthestranger。
\"We\'vehadrathermorepeoplethanusualintheshopto-day,\"saidMr。Scarrick,\"butIcan\'trecallaboysuchasyoudescribe。\"
Mrs。GreyesandMissFrittenlookedroundtriumphantlyattheirfriends。Itwas,ofcourse,deplorablethatanyoneshouldtreatthetruthasanarticletemporarilyandexcusablyoutofstock,buttheyfeltgratifiedthatthevividaccountstheyhadgivenofMr。
Scarrick\'strafficinfalsehoodsshouldreceiveconfirmationatfirsthand。
\"Ishallneveragainbeabletobelievewhathetellsmeabouttheabsenceofcolouringmatterinthejam,\"whisperedanauntofMrs。
Greyestragically。
Themysteriousstrangertookhisdeparture;LauraLippingdistinctlysawasnarlofbaffledragerevealitselfbehindhisheavymoustacheandupturnedastrachancollar。Afteracautiousintervaltheseekerafterorangesemergedfrombehindthebiscuittins,havingapparentlyfailedtofindanyindividualorangethatsatisfiedhisrequirements。He,too,tookhisdeparture,andtheshopwasslowlyemptiedofitsparcelandgossipladencustomers。ItwasEmilyYorling\'s\"day\",andmostoftheshoppersmadetheirwaytoherdrawing-room。Togodirectfromashoppingexpeditiontoateapartywaswhatwasknownlocallyas\"livinginawhirl\"。
Twoextraassistantshadbeenengagedforthefollowingafternoon,andtheirserviceswereinbriskdemand;theshopwascrowded。
Peopleboughtandbought,andneverseemedtogettotheendoftheirlists。Mr。Scarrickhadneverhadsolittledifficultyinpersuadingcustomerstoembarkonnewexperiencesingrocerywares。
Eventhosewomenwhosepurchaseswereofmodestproportionsdawdledoverthemasthoughtheyhadbrutal,drunkenhusbandstogohometo。
Theafternoonhaddraggeduneventfullyon,andtherewasadistinctbuzzofunpentexcitementwhenadark-eyedboycarryingabrassbowlenteredtheshop。TheexcitementseemedtohavecommunicateditselftoMr。Scarrick;abruptlydesertingaladywhowasmakinginsincereinquiriesaboutthehomelifeoftheBombayduck,heinterceptedthenewcomeronhiswaytotheaccustomedcounterandinformedhim,amidadeathlikehush,thathehadrunoutofquailseed。
Theboylookednervouslyroundtheshop,andturnedhesitatinglytogo。Hewasagainintercepted,thistimebythenephew,whodartedoutfrombehindhiscounterandsaidsomethingaboutabetterlineoforanges。Theboy\'shesitationvanished;healmostscuttledintotheobscurityoftheorangecorner。Therewasanexpectantturnofpublicattentiontowardsthedoor,andthetall,beardedstrangermadeareallyeffectiveentrance。TheauntofMrs。Greyesdeclaredafterwardsthatshefoundherselfsub-consciouslyrepeating\"TheAssyriancamedownlikeawolfonthefold\"underherbreath,andshewasgenerallybelieved。
Thenewcomer,too,wasstoppedbeforehereachedthecounter,butnotbyMr。Scarrickorhisassistant。Aheavilyveiledlady,whomnoonehadhithertonoticed,roselanguidlyfromaseatandgreetedhiminaclear,penetratingvoice。
\"YourExcellencydoeshisshoppinghimself?\"shesaid。
\"Iorderthethingsmyself,\"heexplained;\"Ifinditdifficulttomakemyservantsunderstand。\"
Inalower,butstillperfectlyaudible,voicetheveiledladygavehimapieceofcasualinformation。
\"TheyhavesomeexcellentJaffaorangeshere。\"Thenwithatinklinglaughshepassedoutoftheshop。
Themanglaredallroundtheshop,andthen,fixinghiseyesinstinctivelyonthebarrierofbiscuittins,demandedloudlyofthegrocer:\"Youhave,perhaps,somegoodJaffaoranges?\"
EveryoneexpectedaninstantdenialonthepartofMr。Scarrickofanysuchpossession。Beforehecouldanswer,however,theboyhadbrokenforthfromhissanctuary。Holdinghisemptybrassbowlbeforehimhepassedoutintothestreet。Hisfacewasvariouslydescribedafterwardsasmaskedwithstudiedindifference,overspreadwithghastlypallor,andblazingwithdefiance。Somesaidthathisteethchattered,othersthathewentoutwhistlingthePersianNationalHymn。Therewasnomistaking,however,theeffectproducedbytheencounteronthemanwhohadseemedtoforceit。Ifarabiddogorarattlesnakehadsuddenlythrustitscompanionshiponhimhecouldscarcelyhavedisplayedagreateraccessofterror。Hisairofauthorityandassertivenesshadgone,hismasterfulstridehadgivenwaytoafurtivepacingtoandfro,asofananimalseekinganoutletforescape。Inadazedperfunctorymanner,alwayswithhiseyesturningtowatchtheshopentrance,hegaveafewrandomorders,whichthegrocermadeashowofenteringinhisbook。Nowandthenhewalkedoutintothestreet,lookedanxiouslyinalldirections,andhurriedbacktokeepuphispretenceofshopping。
Fromoneofthesesortieshedidnotreturn;hehaddashedawayintothedusk,andneitherhenorthedark-facedboynortheveiledladywereseenagainbytheexpectantcrowdsthatcontinuedtothrongtheScarrickestablishmentfordaystocome。
***
\"Icanneverthankyouandyoursistersufficiently,\"saidthegrocer。
\"Weenjoyedthefunofit,\"saidtheartistmodestly,\"andasforthemodel,itwasawelcomevariationonposingforhoursfor\'TheLostHylas\'。\"
\"Atanyrate,\"saidthegrocer,\"Iinsistonpayingforthehireoftheblackbeard。\"
CANOSSA
DemosthenesPlatterbaff,theeminentUnrestInducer,stoodonhistrialforaseriousoffence,andtheeyesofthepoliticalworldwerefocussedonthejury。Theoffence,itshouldbestated,wasseriousfortheGovernmentratherthanfortheprisoner。HehadblownuptheAlbertHallontheeveofthegreatLiberalFederationTangoTea,theoccasiononwhichtheChancelloroftheExchequerwasexpectedtopropoundhisnewtheory:\"Dopartridgesspreadinfectiousdiseases?\"Platterbaffhadchosenhistimewell;theTangoTeahadbeenhurriedlypostponed,buttherewereotherpoliticalfixtureswhichcouldnotbeputoffunderanycircumstances。Thedayafterthetrialtherewastobeaby-
electionatNemesis-on-Hand,andithadbeenopenlyannouncedinthedivisionthatifPlatterbaffwerelanguishingingaolonpollingdaytheGovernmentcandidatewouldbe\"outed\"toacertainty。
Unfortunately,therecouldbenodoubtormisconceptionastoPlatterbaff\'sguilt。Hehadnotonlypleadedguilty,buthadexpressedhisintentionofrepeatinghisescapadeinotherdirectionsassoonascircumstancespermitted;throughoutthetrialhewasbusyexaminingasmallmodeloftheFreeTradeHallinManchester。ThejurycouldnotpossiblyfindthattheprisonerhadnotdeliberatelyandintentionallyblownuptheAlbertHall;thequestionwas:Couldtheyfindanyextenuatingcircumstanceswhichwouldpermitofanacquittal?Ofcourseanysentencewhichthelawmightfeelcompelledtoinflictwouldbefollowedbyanimmediatepardon,butitwashighlydesirable,fromtheGovernment\'spointofview,thatthenecessityforsuchanexerciseofclemencyshouldnotarise。Aheadlongpardon,ontheeveofabye-election,withthreatsofaheavyvotingdefectionifitwerewithheldorevendelayed,wouldnotnecessarilybeasurrender,butitwouldlooklikeone。Opponentswouldbeonlytooreadytoattributeungenerousmotives。HencetheanxietyinthecrowdedCourt,andinthelittlegroupsgatheredroundthetape-machinesinWhitehallandDowningStreetandotheraffectedcentres。
Thejuryreturnedfromconsideringtheirverdict;therewasaflutter,anexcitedmurmur,adeath-likehush。Theforemandeliveredhismessage:
\"ThejuryfindtheprisonerguiltyofblowinguptheAlbertHall。
Thejurywishtoaddariderdrawingattentiontothefactthataby-electionispendingintheParliamentarydivisionofNemesis-on-
Hand。\"
\"That,ofcourse,\"saidtheGovernmentProsecutor,springingtohisfeet,\"isequivalenttoanacquittal?\"
\"Ihardlythinkso,\"saidtheJudge,coldly;\"Ifeelobligedtosentencetheprisonertoaweek\'simprisonment。\"
\"AndmaytheLordhavemercyonthepoll,\"aJuniorCounselexclaimedirreverently。
Itwasascandaloussentence,butthentheJudgewasnotontheMinisterialsideinpolitics。
Theverdictandsentenceweremadeknowntothepublicattwentyminutespastfiveintheafternoon;athalf-pastfiveadensecrowdwasmassedoutsidethePrimeMinister\'sresidencelustilysinging,totheairof\"Trelawney\":
\"AndshouldourHerorotingaol,Fore\'enasingleday,There\'sFifteenHundredVotingMenWillvotetheotherway。\"
\"Fifteenhundred,\"saidthePrimeMinister,withashudder;\"it\'stoohorribletothinkof。Ourmajoritylasttimewasonlyathousandandseven。\"
\"Thepollopensateightto-morrowmorning,\"saidtheChiefOrganiser;\"wemusthavehimoutby7a。m。\"
\"Seven-thirty,\"amendedthePrimeMinister;\"wemustavoidanyappearanceofprecipitancy。\"
\"Notlaterthanseven-thirty,then,\"saidtheChiefOrganiser;\"I
havepromisedtheagentdowntherethatheshallbeabletodisplaypostersannouncing\'PlatterbaffisOut,\'beforethepollopens。Hesaiditwasouronlychanceofgettingatelegram\'RadpropisIn\'
to-night。\"
Athalf-pastseventhenextmorningthePrimeMinisterandtheChiefOrganisersatatbreakfast,makingaperfunctorymeal,andawaitingthereturnoftheHomeSecretary,whohadgoneinpersontosuperintendthereleasingofPlatterbaff。Despitetheearlinessofthehourasmallcrowdhadgatheredinthestreetoutside,andthehorriblemenacingTrelawneyrefrainofthe\"FifteenHundredVotingMen\"cameinasteady,monotonouschant。
\"Theywillcheerpresentlywhentheyhearthenews,\"saidthePrimeMinisterhopefully;\"hark!Theyarebooingsomeonenow!ThatmustbeMcKenna。\"
TheHomeSecretaryenteredtheroomamomentlater,disasterwrittenonhisface。
\"Hewon\'tgo!\"heexclaimed。
\"Won\'tgo?Won\'tleavegaol?\"
\"Hewon\'tgounlesshehasabrassband。Hesaysheneverhasleftprisonwithoutabrassbandtoplayhimout,andhe\'snotgoingtogowithoutonenow。\"
\"Butsurelythatsortofthingisprovidedbyhissupportersandadmirers?\"saidthePrimeMinister;\"wecanhardlybesupposedtosupplyareleasedprisonerwithabrassband。HowonearthcouldwedefenditontheEstimates?\"
\"Hissupporterssayitisuptoustoprovidethemusic,\"saidtheHomeSecretary;\"theysayweputhiminprison,andit\'souraffairtoseethatheleavesitinarespectablemanner。Anyway,hewon\'tgounlesshehasaband。\"
Thetelephonesquealedshrilly;itwasatrunkcallfromNemesis。
\"Pollopensinfiveminutes。IsPlatterbaffoutyet?InHeaven\'sname,why——\"
TheChiefOrganiserrangoff。
\"Thisisnotamomentforstandingondignity,\"heobservedbluntly;
\"musiciansmustbesuppliedatonce。Platterbaffmusthavehisband。\"
\"Whereareyougoingtofindthemusicians?\"askedtheHomeSecretarywearily;\"wecan\'temployamilitaryband,infact,I
don\'tthinkhe\'dhaveoneifweofferedit,andthereain\'tanyothers。There\'samusicians\'strikeon,Isupposeyouknow。\"
\"Can\'tyougetastrikepermit?\"askedtheOrganiser。
\"I\'lltry,\"saidtheHomeSecretary,andwenttothetelephone。
Eighto\'clockstruck。Thecrowdoutsidechantedwithanincreasingvolumeofsound:
\"Willvotetheotherway。\"
Atelegramwasbroughtin。ItwasfromthecentralcommitteeroomsatNemesis。\"Losingtwentyvotesperminute,\"wasitsbriefmessage。
Teno\'clockstruck。ThePrimeMinister,theHomeSecretary,theChiefOrganiser,andseveralearnesthelpfulfriendsweregatheredintheinnergatewayoftheprison,talkingvolublytoDemosthenesPlatterbaff,whostoodwithfoldedarmsandsquarelyplantedfeet,silentintheirmidst。Golden-tonguedlegislatorswhoseeloquencehadswayedtheMarconiInquiryCommittee,oratanyratethegreaterpartofit,expendedtheirartsoforatoryinvainonthisstubbornunyieldingman。Withoutabandhewouldnotgo;andtheyhadnoband。
Aquarterpastten,half-past。Aconstantstreamoftelegraphboyspouredinthroughtheprisongates。
\"Yamley\'sfactoryhandsjustvotedyoucanguesshow,\"ranadespairingmessage,andtheotherswereallofthesametenour。
NemesiswasgoingthewayofReading。
\"Haveyouanybandinstrumentsofaneasynaturetoplay?\"demandedtheChiefOrganiserofthePrisonGovernor;\"drums,cymbals,thosesortofthings?\"
\"Thewardershaveaprivatebandoftheirown,\"saidtheGovernor,\"butofcourseIcouldn\'tallowthementhemselves——\"
\"Lendustheinstruments,\"saidtheChiefOrganiser。
Oneoftheearnesthelpfulfriendswasaskilledperformeronthecornet,theCabinetMinisterswereabletoclashcymbalsmoreorlessintune,andtheChiefOrganiserhassomeknowledgeofthedrum。
\"Whattunewouldyouprefer?\"heaskedPlatterbaff。
\"Thepopularsongofthemoment,\"repliedtheAgitatorafteramoment\'sreflection。
Itwasatunetheyhadallheardhundredsoftimes,sotherewasnodifficultyinturningoutapassableimitationofit。Totheimprovisedstrainsof\"Ididn\'twanttodoit\"theprisonerstrodeforthtofreedom。Thewordofthesonghadreference,itwasunderstood,totheincarceratingGovernmentandnottothedestroyeroftheAlbertHall。
Theseatwaslost,afterall,byanarrowmajority。ThelocalTradeUnioniststookoffenceatthefactofCabinetMinistershavingpersonallyactedasstrike-breakers,andeventhereleaseofPlatterbafffailedtopacifythem。
Theseatwaslost,butMinistershadscoredamoralvictory。Theyhadshownthattheyknewwhenandhowtoyield。
THETHREAT
SirLulworthQuaynesatintheloungeofhisfavouriterestaurant,theGallusBankiva,discussingtheweaknessesoftheworldwithhisnephew,whohadlatelyreturnedfromamuch-enlivenedexileinthewildsofMexico。Itwasthatblessedseasonoftheyearwhentheasparagusandtheplover\'seggareabroadintheland,andtheoysterhasnotyetwithdrawnintoit\'ssummerentrenchments,andSirLulworthandhisnephewwereinthatenlightenedafter-dinnermoodwhenpoliticsareseenintheirrightperspective,eventhepoliticsofMexico。
\"Mostoftherevolutionsthattakeplaceinthiscountrynowadays,\"
saidSirLulworth,\"aretheproductofmomentsoflegislativepanic。