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than when I had left him； and his voice shook a little。
〃Could you see what he was like？〃 he asked。
〃He kept his back turned；〃 I replied。
〃Let us get into the house； Frank。 I don't think I'm a coward； but
I can stand no more of this；〃 he whispered。
All was still and sunshiny about the pavilion； as we turned to
reenter it； even the gulls had flown in a wider circuit； and were
seen flickering along the beach and sand hills； and this loneliness
terrified me more than a regiment under arms。 It was not until the
door was barricaded that I could draw a full inspiration and
relieve the weight that lay upon my bosom。 Northmour and I
exchanged a steady glance； and I suppose each made his own
reflections on the white and startled aspect of the other。
〃You were right；〃 I said。 〃All is over。 Shake hands； old man； for
the last time。〃
〃Yes；〃 replied he； 〃I will shake hands； for； as sure as I am here；
I bear no malice。 But； remember； if； by some impossible accident；
we should give the slip to these blackguards； I'll take the upper
hand of you by fair or foul。〃
〃Oh；〃 said I； 〃you weary me！〃
He seemed hurt； and walked away in silence to the foot of the
stairs； where he paused。
〃You do not understand；〃 said he。 〃I am not a swindler； and I
guard myself； that is all。 I may weary you or not； Mr。 Cassilis； I
do not care a rush； I speak for my own satisfaction； and not for
your amusement。 You had better go upstairs and court the girl； for
my part； I stay here。〃
〃And I stay with you；〃 I returned。 〃Do you think I would steal a
march； even with your permission？〃
〃Frank；〃 he said； smiling； 〃it's a pity you are an ass； for you
have the makings of a man。 I think I must be fey to…day； you
cannot irritate me even when you try。 Do you know；〃 he continued
softly； 〃I think we are the two most miserable men in England； you
and I？ we have got on to thirty without wife or child； or so much
as a shop to look afterpoor； pitiful； lost devils； both！ And now
we clash about a girl！ As if there were not several millions in
the United Kingdom！ Ah； Frank； Frank； the one who loses his throw；
be it you or me； he has my pity！ It were better for himhow does
the Bible say？that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he
were cast into the depth of the sea。 Let us take a drink；〃 he
concluded suddenly； but without any levity of tone。
I was touched by his words； and consented。 He sat down on the
table in the dining…room； and held up the glass of sherry to his
eye。
〃If you beat me； Frank；〃 he said； 〃I shall take to drink。 What
will you do； if it goes the other way？〃
〃God knows；〃 I returned。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃here is a toast in the meantime： 'Italia
irredenta！'〃
The remainder of the day was passed in the same dreadful tedium and
suspense。 I laid the table for dinner； while Northmour and Clara
prepared the meal together in the kitchen。 I could hear their talk
as I went to and fro； and was surprised to find it ran all the time
upon myself。 Northmour again bracketed us together； and rallied
Clara on a choice of husbands； but he continued to speak of me with
some feeling； and uttered nothing to my prejudice unless he
included himself in the condemnation。 This awakened a sense of
gratitude in my heart； which combined with the immediateness of our
peril to fill my eyes with tears。 After all； I thoughtand
perhaps the thought was laughably vainwe were here three very
noble human beings to perish in defense of a thieving banker。
Before we sat down to table； I looked forth from an upstairs
window。 The day was beginning to decline； the links were utterly
deserted； the dispatch box still lay untouched where we had left it
hours before。
Mr。 Huddlestone； in a long yellow dressing gown； took one end of
the table； Clara the other； while Northmour and I faced each other
from the sides。 The lamp was brightly trimmed； the wine was good；
the viands； although mostly cold； excellent of their sort。 We
seemed to have agreed tacitly； all reference to the impending
catastrophe was carefully avoided； and； considering our tragic
circumstances； we made a merrier party than could have been
expected。 From time to time； it is true； Northmour or I would rise
from table and make a round of the defenses； and； on each of these
occasions； Mr。 Huddlestone was recalled to a sense of his tragic
predicament； glanced up with ghastly eyes； and bore for an instant
on his countenance the stamp of terror。 But he hastened to empty
his glass； wiped his forehead with his handkerchief； and joined
again in the conversation。
I was astonished at the wit and information he displayed。 Mr。
Huddlestone's was certainly no ordinary character； he had read and
observed for himself； his gifts were sound； and； though I could
never have learned to love the man； I began to understand his
success in business； and the great respect in which he had been
held before his failure。 He had； above all； the talent of society；
and though I never heard him speak but on this one and most
unfavorable occasion； I set him down among the most brilliant
conversationalists I ever met。
He was relating with great gusto； and seemingly no feeling of
shame； the maneuvers of a scoundrelly commission merchant whom he
had known and studied in his youth； and we were all listening with
an odd mixture of mirth and embarrassment； when our little party
was brought abruptly to an end in the most startling manner。
A noise like that of a wet finger on the window pane interrupted
Mr。 Huddlestone's tale； and in an instant we were all four as white
as paper； and sat tongue…tied and motionless round the table。
〃A snail；〃 I said at last； for I had heard that these animals make
a noise somewhat similar in character。
〃Snail be dd！〃 said Northmour。 〃Hush！〃
The same sound was repeated twice at regular intervals； and then a
formidable voice shouted through the shutters the Italian word；
〃Traditore！〃
Mr。 Huddlestone threw his head in the air； his eyelids quivered；
next moment he fell insensible below the table。 Northmour and I
had each run to the armory and seized a gun。 Clara was on her feet
with her hand at her throat。
So we stood waiting； for we thought the hour of attack was
certainly come； but second passed after second； and all but the
surf remained silent in the neighborhood of the pavilion。
〃Quick；〃 said Northmour； 〃upstairs with him before they come。〃
VIII
Somehow or other； by hook and crook； and between the three of us；
we got Bernard Huddlestone bundled upstairs and laid upon the bed
in My Uncle's Room。 During the whole process； which was rough
enough； he gave no sign of consciousness； and he remained； as we
had thrown him； without changing the position of a finger。 His
daughter opened his shirt and began to wet his head and bosom；
while Northmour and I ran to the window。 The w