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can do nothing。 Still； it has been a great relief just to tell you about it and
get it off my mind。 I suppose we can only hope that something may put a
stop to it allwe must just leave it to chance。〃
This sentiment amused me not a little。 Leave it to chance indeed！
Had she not caused me to grow stronger and larger by every word she
uttered？ And had not the conversation revealed to me Mr。 Blackthorn's
one vulnerable part？ I knew well enough that I should be able to
dominate his thoughts as I had done hers。 Finding me burdensome； she
had passed me on to somebody else with additions that vastly increased
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
my working powers； and then she talked of leaving it to chance！ The
way in which mortals practise pious frauds on themselves is really
delightful！ And yet Lena Houghton was a good sort of girl； and had from
her childhood repeated the catechism words which proclaim that； 〃My
duty to my neighbour is to love him as myself 。 。 。 To keep my tongue
from evil…speaking； lying； and slandering。〃 What is more； she took great
pains to teach these words to a big class of Sunday School children； and
went； rain or shine； to spend two hours each Sunday in a stuffy school…
room for that purpose。 It was strange that she should be so ready to
believe evil of her neighbour； and so eager to spread the story。 But my
progenitor is clever； and doubtless knows very well； whom to select as his
tools。
By this time they had reached a comfortable…looking； red…brick house
with white stone facings； and in the discussion of the arrangements for the
choir treat I was entirely forgotten。
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
MY THIRD STAGE
Alas！ such is our weakness； that we often more readily believe and
speak of another that which is evil than that which is good。 But perfect
men do not easily give credit to every report； because they know man's
weakness； which is very prone to evil； and very subject to fail in words。
THOMAS A KEMPIS。
All through that evening； and through the first part of the succeeding
day； I was crowded out of the curate's mind by a host of thoughts with
which I had nothing in common； and though I hovered about him as he
taught in the school； and visited several sick people； and argued with an
habitual drunkard； and worked at his Sunday sermon； a Power； which I felt
but did not understand； baffled all my attempts to gain an entrance and
attract his notice。 I made a desperate attack on him after lunch as he sat
smoking and enjoying a well…earned rest； but it was of no avail。 I
followed him to a large garden…party later on； but to my great annoyance
he went about talking to every one in the pleasantest way imaginable；
though I perceived that he was longing to play tennis instead。
At length； however； my opportunity came。 Mr。 Blackthorne was
talking to the lady of the house； Mrs。 Courtenay； when she suddenly
exclaimed：…
〃Ah； here is Mr。 Zaluski just arriving。 I began to be afraid that he
had forgotten the day； and he is always such an acquisition。 How do you
do； Mr。 Zaluski？〃 she said； greeting my victim warmly as he stepped on to
the terrace。 〃So glad you were able to come。 You know Mr。
Blackthorne； I think。〃
Zaluski greeted the curate pleasantly； and his dark eyes lighted up with
a gleam of amusement。
〃Oh； we are great friends；〃 he said laughingly。 〃Only； you know； I
sometimes shock him a littlejust a very little。〃
〃That is very unkind of you； I am sure；〃 said Mrs。 Courtenay； smiling。
〃No； not at all；〃 said Zaluski； with the audacity of a privileged being。
〃It is just my little amusement； very harmless； verywhat you call
innocent。 Mr。 Blackthorne cannot make up his mind about me。 One
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SLANDER
day I appear to him to be Catholic； the next Comtist； the next Orthodox
Greek； the next a convert to the Anglican communion。 I am a mystery； you
see！ And mysteries are as indispensable in life as in a romance。〃
He laughed。 Mrs。 Courtenay laughed too； and a little friendly banter
was carried on between them； while the curate stood by feeling rather out
of it。
I drew nearer to him； perceiving that my prospects bid fair to improve。
For very few people can feel out of it without drifting into a self…regarding
mood； and then they are the easiest prey imaginable。 Undoubtedly a man
like Zaluski； with his easy nonchalance； his knowledge of the world； his
genuine good…nature； and the background of sterling qualities which came
upon you as a surprise because he loved to make himself seem a mere
idler； was apt to eclipse an ordinary mortal like James Blackthorne。 The
curate perceived this and did not like to be eclipsedas a matter of fact；
nobody does。 It seemed to him a little unfair that he； who had hitherto
been made much of； should be called to play second fiddle to this rich
Polish fellow who had never done anything for Muddleton or the
neighbourhood。 And then； too； Sigismund Zaluski had a way of poking
fun at him which he resented； and would not take in good part。
Something of this began to stir in his mind； and he cordially hated the
Pole when Jim Courtenay； who arranged the tennis； came up and asked
him to play in the next set； passing the curate by altogether。
Then I found no difficulty at all in taking possession of him； indeed he
was delighted to have me brought back to his memory； he positively
gloated over me； and I grew apace。
Zaluski； in the seventh heaven of happiness； was playing with
Gertrude Morley； and his play was so good and so graceful that every one
was watching it with pleasure。 His partner； too； played well； she was a
pretty； fair…haired girl； with soft grey eyes like the eyes of a dove；