a laodicean-第67章
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sufficiently natural that he should lean persistently on
Paula； if only with a view of keeping himself linked to her
memory； without thinking too profoundly of his own dignity。
That the esteem in which she had held Somerset up to that hour
suffered a tremendous blow by his apparent scrape was clearly
visible in her； reticent as she was； and De Stancy； while
pitying Somerset； thanked him in his mind for having
gratuitously given a rival an advantage which that rival's
attentions had never been able to gain of themselves。
After a little further conversation she had said： 'Since you
are to be my messenger； I must tell you that I have decided to
send the hundred pounds asked for； and you will please to
deliver them into no hands but his own。' A curious little
blush crept over her sobered faceperhaps it was a blush of
shame at the conduct of the young man in whom she had of late
been suspiciously interestedas she added； 'He will be on the
Pont…Neuf at four this afternoon and again at eleven tomorrow。
Can you meet him there？'
'Certainly；' De Stancy replied。
She then asked him； rather anxiously； how he could account for
Mr。 Somerset knowing that he； Captain De Stancy； was about to
return to Nice？
De Stancy informed her that he left word at the hotel of his
intention to return； which was quite true； moreover； there did
not lurk in his mind at the moment of speaking the faintest
suspicion that Somerset had seen Dare。
She then tied the bag and handed it to him； leaving him with a
serene and impenetrable bearing； which he hoped for his own
sake meant an acquired indifference to Somerset and his
fortunes。 Her sending the architect a sum of money which she
could easily spare might be set down to natural generosity
towards a man with whom she was artistically co…operating for
the improvement of her home。
She came back to him again for a moment。 'Could you possibly
get there before four this afternoon？' she asked； and he
informed her that he could just do so by leaving almost at
once； which he was very willing to do； though by so
forestalling his time he would lose the projected morning with
her and the rest at the Palazzo Doria。
'I may tell you that I shall not go to the Palazzo Doria
either； if it is any consolation to you to know it；' was her
reply。 'I shall sit indoors and think of you on your
journey。'
The answer admitted of two translations； and conjectures
thereon filled the gallant soldier's mind during the greater
part of the journey。 He arrived at the hotel they had all
stayed at in succession about six hours after Somerset had
left it for a little excursion to San Remo and its
neighbourhood； as a means of passing a few days till Paula
should write again to inquire why he had not come on。 De
Stancy saw no one he knew； and in obedience to Paula's
commands he promptly set off on foot for the Pont…Neuf。
Though opposed to the architect as a lover； De Stancy felt for
him as a poor devil in need of money； having had experiences
of that sort himself； and he was really anxious that the
needful supply entrusted to him should reach Somerset's hands。
He was on the bridge five minutes before the hour； and when
the clock struck a hand was laid on his shoulder： turning he
beheld Dare。
Knowing that the youth was loitering somewhere along the
coast； for they had frequently met together on De Stancy's
previous visit； the latter merely said； 'Don't bother me for
the present； Willy； I have an engagement。 You can see me at
the hotel this evening。'
'When you have given me the hundred pounds I will fly like a
rocket； captain；' said the young gentleman。 'I keep the
appointment instead of the other man。'
De Stancy looked hard at him。 'Howdo you know about this？'
he asked breathlessly。
'I have seen him。'
De Stancy took the young man by the two shoulders and gazed
into his eyes。 The scrutiny seemed not altogether to remove
the suspicion which had suddenly started up in his mind。 'My
soul；' he said； dropping his arms； 'can this be true？'
'What？'
'You know。'
Dare shrugged his shoulders； 'Are you going to hand over the
money or no？' he said。
'I am going to make inquiries；' said De Stancy； walking away
with a vehement tread。
'Captain； you are without natural affection；' said Dare；
walking by his side； in a tone which showed his fear that he
had over…estimated that emotion。 'See what I have done for
you。 You have been my constant care and anxiety for I can't
tell how long。 I have stayed awake at night thinking how I
might best give you a good start in the world by arranging
this judicious marriage； when you have been sleeping as sound
as a top with no cares upon your mind at all； and now I have
got into a scrapeas the most thoughtful of us may sometimes…
…you go to make inquiries。'
'I have promised the lady to whom this money belongswhose
generosity has been shamefully abused in some waythat I will
deliver it into no hands but those of one man； and he has not
yet appeared。 I therefore go to find him。'
Dare laid his hand upon De Stancy's arm。 'Captain； we are
both warm； and punctilious on points of honour； this will come
to a split between us if we don't mind。 So； not to bring
matters to a crisis； lend me ten pounds here to enable me to
get home； and I'll disappear。'
In a state bordering on distraction； eager to get the young
man out of his sight before worse revelations should rise up
between them； De Stancy without pausing in his walk gave him
the sum demanded。 He soon reached the post…office； where he
inquired if a Mr。 Somerset had left any directions for
forwarding letters。
It was just what Somerset had done。 De Stancy was told that
Mr。 Somerset had commanded that any letters should be sent on
to him at the Hotel Victoria； San Remo。
It was now evident that the scheme of getting money from Paula
was either of Dare's invention； or that Somerset； ashamed of
his first impulse； had abandoned it as speedily as it had been
formed。 De Stancy turned and went out。 Dare； in keeping with
his promise； had vanished。 Captain De Stancy resolved to do
nothing in the case till further events should enlighten him；
beyond sending a line to Miss Power to inform her that
Somerset had not appeared； and that he therefore retained the
money for further instructions。
BOOK THE FIFTH。 DE STANCY AND PAULA。
I。
Miss Power was reclining on a red velvet couch in the bedroom
of an old…fashioned red hotel at Strassburg； and her friend
Miss De Stancy was sitting by a window of the same apartment。
They were both rather wearied by a long journey of the
previous day。 The hotel overlooked the large open Kleber
Platz； erect in the midst of which the bronze statue of
General Kleber received the rays of a warm sun that was
powerless to brighten him。 The whole square； with its people
and vehicles going to and fro as if they had plenty of time；
was visible to Charlotte in her chair； but Paula from her
horizontal position could see nothing below the level of the
many dormered house…tops on the opposite side of the Platz。
After watching this upper storey of the city for some time in
silence； she asked Charlotte to hand her a binocular lying on
the table； through which instrument she quietly regarded the
distant roofs。
'What strange and philosophical creatures storks are；' she
said。 'They give a taciturn； ghostly character to the whole
town。'
The birds were crossing and recrossing the field of the glass
in their flight hither and thither between the Strassburg
chimneys； their sad grey forms sharply outlined against the
sky； and their skinny legs showing beneath like the limbs of
dead martyrs in Crivelli's emaciated imaginings。 The
indifference of these birds to all that was going on beneath
them impressed her： to harmonize with their solemn and silent
movements the houses beneath should have been deserted； and
grass growing in the streets。
Behind the long roofs thus visible to Paula over the window…
sill； with their tiers of dormer…windows； rose the cathedral
spire in airy openwork； forming the highest object in the
scene； it suggested something which for a long time she
