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trouble him no further； she took her leave with an engaging
smile； and ascended the staircase alone。
For more than an hour the young lady remained closeted with
Mr。 Jones； and at the end of that time； the night being now
come completely； they left the house in company。 This was
the first time since the arrival of his lodger； that Somerset
had found himself alone with the Irish widow； and without the
loss of any more time than was required by decency； he
stepped to the foot of the stairs and hailed her by her name。
She came instantly； wreathed in weak smiles and with a
nodding head； and when the young man politely offered to
introduce her to the treasures of his art； she swore that
nothing could afford her greater pleasure； for； though she
had never crossed the threshold； she had frequently observed
his beautiful pictures through the door。 On entering the
dining…room； the sight of a bottle and two glasses prepared
her to be a gentle critic； and as soon as the pictures had
been viewed and praised； she was easily persuaded to join the
painter in a single glass。 'Here；' she said； 'are my
respects； and a pleasure it is； in this horrible house； to
see a gentleman like yourself； so affable and free； and a
very nice painter； I am sure。' One glass so agreeably
prefaced； was sure to lead to the acceptance of a second； at
the third； Somerset was free to cease from the affectation of
keeping her company； and as for the fourth； she asked it of
her own accord。 'For indeed；' said she； 'what with all these
clocks and chemicals； without a drop of the creature life
would be impossible entirely。 And you seen yourself that
even M'Guire was glad to beg for it。 And even himself； when
he is downhearted with all these cruel disappointments；
though as temperate a man as any child； will be sometimes
crying for a glass of it。 And I'll thank you for a
thimbleful to settle what I got。' Soon after； she began with
tears to narrate the deathbed dispositions and lament the
trifling assets of her husband。 Then she declared she heard
'the master' calling her； rose to her feet； made but one
lurch of it into the still…life rockery； and with her head
upon the lobster； fell into stertorous slumbers。
Somerset mounted at once to the first story； and opened the
door of the drawing…room； which was brilliantly lit by
several lamps。 It was a great apartment； looking on the
square with three tall windows； and joined by a pair of ample
folding…doors to the next room； elegant in proportion；
papered in sea…green； furnished in velvet of a delicate blue；
and adorned with a majestic mantelpiece of variously tinted
marbles。 Such was the room that Somerset remembered； that
which he now beheld was changed in almost every feature： the
furniture covered with a figured chintz； the walls hung with
a rhubarb…coloured paper； and diversified by the curtained
recesses for no less than seven windows。 It seemed to
himself that he must have entered； without observing the
transition； into the adjoining house。 Presently from these
more specious changes； his eye condescended to the many
curious objects with which the floor was littered。 Here were
the locks of dismounted pistols； clocks and clockwork in
every stage of demolition； some still busily ticking； some
reduced to their dainty elements； a great company of carboys；
jars and bottles； a carpenter's bench and a laboratory…table。
The back drawing…room； to which Somerset proceeded； had
likewise undergone a change。 It was transformed to the exact
appearance of a common lodging…house bedroom； a bed with
green curtains occupied one corner； and the window was
blocked by the regulation table and mirror。 The door of a
small closet here attracted the young man's attention； and
striking a vesta； he opened it and entered。 On a table
several wigs and beards were lying spread； about the walls
hung an incongruous display of suits and overcoats； and
conspicuous among the last the young man observed a large
overall of the most costly sealskin。 In a flash his mind
reverted to the advertisement in the STANDARD newspaper。 The
great height of his lodger； the disproportionate breadth of
his shoulders； and the strange particulars of his instalment；
all pointed to the same conclusion。
The vesta had now burned to his fingers； and taking the coat
upon his arm； Somerset hastily returned to the lighted
drawing…room。 There； with a mixture of fear and admiration；
he pored upon its goodly proportions and the regularity and
softness of the pile。 The sight of a large pier…glass put
another fancy in his head。 He donned the fur…coat； and
standing before the mirror in an attitude suggestive of a
Russian prince； he thrust his hands into the ample pockets。
There his fingers encountered a folded journal。 He drew it
out； and recognised the type and paper of the STANDARD； and
at the same instant； his eyes alighted on the offer of two
hundred pounds。 Plainly then； his lodger； now no longer
mysterious； had laid aside his coat on the very day of the
appearance of the advertisement。
He was thus standing； the tell…tale coat upon his back； the
incriminating paper in his hand； when the door opened and the
tall lodger； with a firm but somewhat pallid face； stepped
into the room and closed the door again behind him。 For some
time； the two looked upon each other in perfect silence； then
Mr。 Jones moved forward to the table； took a seat； and still
without once changing the direction of his eyes； addressed
the young man。
'You are right；' he said。 'It is for me the blood money is
offered。 And now what will you do？'
It was a question to which Somerset was far from being able
to reply。 Taken as he was at unawares； masquerading in the
man's own coat； and surrounded by a whole arsenal of
diabolical explosives； the keeper of the lodging…house was
silenced。
'Yes；' resumed the other； 'I am he。 I am that man； whom with
impotent hate and fear； they still hunt from den to den； from
disguise to disguise。 Yes； my landlord； you have it in your
power； if you be poor； to lay the basis of your fortune； if
you be unknown； to capture honour at one snatch。 You have
hocussed an innocent widow； and I find you here in my
apartment； for whose use I pay you in stamped money；
searching my wardrobe； and your hand … shame； sir！ … your
hand in my very pocket。 You can now complete the cycle of
your ignominious acts； by what will be at once the simplest；
the safest； and the most remunerative。' The speaker paused
as if to emphasise his words； and then； with a great change
of tone and manner； thus resumed： 'And yet； sir； when I look
upon your face； I feel certain that I cannot be deceived：
certain that in spite of all； I have the honour and pleasure
of speaking to a gentleman。 Take off my coat； sir … which
but cumbers you。 Divest yourself of this confusion： that
which is but thought upon； thank God； need be no burthen to
the conscience； we have all harboured guilty thoughts： and
if it flashed into your mind to sell my flesh and blood； my
a