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his extremity。 It was not merely ruin and dishonor； nor merely a
legal condemnation； that the unhappy man had brought upon his head。
It seems he could have gone to prison with a light heart。 What he
feared； what kept him awake at night or recalled him from slumber
into frenzy； was some secret； sudden； and unlawful attempt upon his
life。 Hence； he desired to bury his existence and escape to one of
the islands in the South Pacific； and it was in Northmour's yacht；
the 〃Red Earl；〃 that he designed to go。 The yacht picked them up
clandestinely upon the coast of Wales； and had once more deposited
them at Graden； till she could be refitted and provisioned for the
longer voyage。 Nor could Clara doubt that her hand had been
stipulated as the price of passage。 For； although Northmour was
neither unkind； nor even discourteous； he had shown himself in
several instances somewhat overbold in speech and manner。
I listened； I need not say； with fixed attention； and put many
questions as to the more mysterious part。 It was in vain。 She had
no clear idea of what the blow was； nor of how it was expected to
fall。 Her father's alarm was unfeigned and physically prostrating；
and he had thought more than once of making an unconditional
surrender to the police。 But the scheme was finally abandoned； for
he was convinced that not even the strength of our English prisons
could shelter him from his pursuers。 He had had many affairs in
Italy； and with Italians resident in London； in the latter years of
his business； and these last； as Clara fancied； were somehow
connected with the doom that threatened him。 He had shown great
terror at the presence of an Italian seaman on board the 〃Red
Earl；〃 and had bitterly and repeatedly accused Northmour in
consequence。 The latter had protested that Beppo （that was the
seaman's name） was a capital fellow； and could be trusted to the
death； but Mr。 Huddlestone had continued ever since to declare that
all was lost； that it was only a question of days； and that Beppo
would be the ruin of him yet。
I regarded the whole story as the hallucination of a mind shaken by
calamity。 He had suffered heavy loss by his Italian transactions；
and hence the sight of an Italian was hateful to him； and the
principal part in his nightmare would naturally enough be played by
one of that nation。
〃What your father wants；〃 I said； 〃is a good doctor and some
calming medicine。〃
〃But Mr。 Northmour？〃 objected Clara。 〃He is untroubled by losses；
and yet he shares in this terror。〃
I could not help laughing at what I considered her simplicity。
〃My dear；〃 said I； 〃you have told me yourself what reward he has to
look for。 All is fair in love； you must remember； and if Northmour
foments your father's terrors； it is not at all because he is
afraid of any Italian man； but simply because he is infatuated with
a charming English woman。〃
She reminded me of his attack upon myself on the night of the
disembarkation； and this I was unable to explain。 In short； and
from one thing to another； it was agreed between us that I should
set out at once for the fisher village； Graden Wester； as it was
called； look up all the newspapers I could find； and see for myself
if there seemed any basis of fact for these continued alarms。 The
next morning； at the same hour and place； I was to make my report
to Clara。 She said no more on that occasion about my departure；
nor； indeed； did she make it a secret that she clung to the thought
of my proximity as something helpful and pleasant； and； for my
part； I could not have left her； if she had gone upon her knees to
ask it。
I reached Graden Wester before ten in the forenoon； for in those
days I was an excellent pedestrian； and the distance； as I think I
have said； was little over seven miles； fine walking all the way
upon the springy turf。 The village is one of the bleakest on that
coast； which is saying much： there is a church in the hollow； a
miserable haven in the rocks； where many boats have been lost as
they returned from fishing； two or three score of stone houses
arranged along the beach and in two streets； one leading from the
harbor； and another striking out from it at right angles； and； at
the corner of these two； a very dark and cheerless tavern； by way
of principal hotel。
I had dressed myself somewhat more suitably to my station in life；
and at once called upon the minister in his little manse beside the
graveyard。 He knew me； although it was more than nine years since
we had met； and when I told him that I had been long upon a walking
tour； and was behind with the news； readily lent me an armful of
newspapers； dating from a month back to the day before。 With these
I sought the tavern； and； ordering some breakfast； sat down to
study the 〃Huddlestone Failure。〃
It had been； it appeared； a very flagrant case。 Thousands of
persons were reduced to poverty； and one in particular had blown
out his brains as soon as payment was suspended。 It was strange to
myself that； while I read these details； I continued rather to
sympathize with Mr。 Huddlestone than with his victims； so complete
already was the empire of my love for my wife。 A price was
naturally set upon the banker's head； and； as the case was
inexcusable and the public indignation thoroughly aroused； the
unusual figure of 750 pounds was offered for his capture。 He was
reported to have large sums of money in his possession。 One day；
he had been heard of in Spain； the next； there was sure
intelligence that he was still lurking between Manchester and
Liverpool； or along the border of Wales； and the day after； a
telegram would announce his arrival in Cuba or Yucatan。 But in all
this there was no word of an Italian； nor any sign of mystery。
In the very last paper； however； there was one item not so clear。
The accountants who were charged to verify the failure had； it
seemed； come upon the traces of a very large number of thousands；
which figured for some time in the transactions of the house of
Huddlestone； but which came from nowhere； and disappeared in the
same mysterious fashion。 It was only once referred to by name； and
then under the initials 〃X。 X。〃； but it had plainly been floated
for the first time into the business at a period of great
depression some six years ago。 The name of a distinguished royal
personage had been mentioned by rumor in connection with this sum。
〃The cowardly desperado〃such； I remember； was the editorial
expressionwas supposed to have escaped with a large part of this
mysterious fund still in his possession。
I was still brooding over the fact； and trying to torture it into
some connection with Mr。 Huddlestone's danger； when a man entered
the tavern and asked for some bread and cheese with a decided
foreign accent。
〃Siete Italiano？〃 said I。
〃Si； Signor；〃 was his reply。
I said it was unusually far north to find one of his compatriot