OR TO EDITH EITHER THEY ARE BOTH PERFECTLY DEVOTED TO HARVARD AND THEY EXPECT THEIR PARTY TO GIVE GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE HARVARD TEAM WHY BELLE I CANNOT IMAGINE YOUR DOING ANYTHING ELSE I'M NOT A CHILD RESPONDED BELLE VERY CROSSLY


WALKING AWAY FROM NORA AND BRENDA I DO NOT NEED TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO WHAT NORA OR BRENDA MIGHT HAVE ANSWERED I CANNOT SAY FOR HARDLY HAD BELLE DISAPPEARED WITHIN THE HOUSE WHEN EDITH HERSELF APPEARED WITH JULIA AND RUTH


RUTH WAS A PRETTY AND AMIABLE GIRL ABOUT JULIA'S AGE AND THEREFORE A LITTLE OLDER THAN THE FOUR SHE HAD BEEN IN THE SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE THE COMING OF JULIA BUT IN ALL THAT TIME SHE HAD HAD ONLY A SPEAKING ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE OTHER GIRLS


THAT THEY WERE VERY SELFISH IN LEAVING THEIR SCHOOLMATE SO ENTIRELY TO HERSELF IT WAS NOT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIKE HER THEY WERE MERELY SO VERY MUCH WRAPPED UP IN THEIR OWN AFFAIRS THAT THEY HARDLY NOTICED THAT SHE WAS OFTEN LEFT TO HERSELF


RUTH LIVED IN THE SUBURBS AND AS BELLE HAD SAID OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THE OTHER GIRLS SELDOM SAW HER AT RECESS EACH LITTLE GROUP HAD SO MANY PERSONAL THINGS TO TALK ABOUT THAT AN OUTSIDER WOULD HAVE BEEN DECIDEDLY IN THE WAY


AND WOULD PERHAPS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE IN JOINING THEM NO ONE GETS A GREAT DEAL OF ENJOYMENT FROM READING A SINGLE CHAPTER IN THE MIDDLE OF A BOOK AND SO IT IS OFTEN HARD TO BE A MERE LISTENER


WHEN THE TONGUES OF HALF A DOZEN GIRLS ARE VIGOROUSLY DISCUSSING PEOPLE AND EVENTS OF WHICH THE LISTENER HAS NOT THE SLIGHTEST KNOWLEDGE RUTH HERSELF WAS VERY INDEPENDENT


SHE HAD ACQUIRED THE HABIT OF STUDYING DURING RECESS SINCE AFTER SCHOOL SHE SPENT MORE TIME THAN MOST GIRLS OF HER AGE IN OUTDOOR SPORTS IT DID HER NO GREAT HARM TO PASS THE HALF HOUR OF RECESS IN THIS WAY RUTH AS WELL AS JULIA


HAD UNDERTAKEN TO PREPARE FOR COLLEGE AND IT HAD BEEN A GREAT DELIGHT TO HER TO HAVE THE LATTER PLACED WITH HER IN ONE OR TWO SPECIAL CLASSES JULIA'S LIKING FOR HER HAD MADE EDITH TAKE A LITTLE MORE INTEREST IN HER THAN WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN THE CASE


NO ONE WHO SAW THE HEARTY WAY IN WHICH NORA AND BRENDA GREETED RUTH AS SHE CAME UP WITH EDITH AND JULIA COULD FOR A MOMENT HAVE IMAGINED THAT SHE HAD BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION THE MERCURIAL BRENDA FOR THE MOMENT


WAS SO ANNOYED BY BELLE'S PROPOSED CHAMPIONSHIP OF PRINCETON THAT SHE WAS UNEXPECTEDLY CORDIAL TO RUTH AND ALMOST TO HER OWN SURPRISE FOUND HERSELF URGING RUTH TO COME TO TOWN EARLY ON THE SATURDAY OF THE GAME TO TAKE LUNCHEON WITH HER AND JULIA


THE LATTER EXPRESSED HER THANKS IN A GLANCE TOWARDS HER COUSIN AS RUTH ACCEPTED VERY GRACEFULLY AND NORA EXCLAIMED WHAT FUN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE


OH DEAR I CAN HARDLY WAIT FOR SATURDAY I KNOW IT REPLIED BRENDA IT'S LESS THAN A WEEK TOO BUT IT SEEMS AN AWFULLY LONG TIME


HE WAS A HARVARD SOPHOMORE AND REALIZED HIS OWN IMPORTANCE QUITE AS MUCH AS THE GIRLS DID BUT STILL THERE WAS ALWAYS THE CHANCE THAT HE WOULD COME INTO THE ROOM JUST FOR A MINUTE AND TELL THEM SOME OF THE LATEST CAMBRIDGE NEWS


HE WOULD HAVE SCORNED TO CALL IT GOSSIP IF THERE WAS ANY ONE THING IN THE WORLD HE HATED SO HE SAID IT WAS GIRLS TALK THIS JABBERING ABOUT NOTHING FOR HIS PART HE WOULDN'T WASTE HIS TIME THAT WAY


YET WHEN HE HAD AN APPRECIATIVE AUDIENCE AND GIRLS GENERALLY APPRECIATED WHAT PHILIP SAID HE WOULD OFTEN SPEND AS MUCH AS HALF AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT THE FELLOWS


AND HE WOULD GROW ALMOST ENTHUSIASTIC WHEN DESCRIBING THE TUSSLE BETWEEN NED BROWN AND STANLEY HOOPER OVER THE RESPECTIVE MERITS OF BOSTON AND NEW YORK IN WHICH HOOPER THE NEW YORKER WAS TERRIBLY BEATEN AND UPON MY WORD HE CONCLUDED


I WASN'T SORRY FOR THE NEW YORK SET IS GETTING JUST UNBEARABLE I WOULDN'T SO MUCH MIND FIGHTING STANLEY HOOPER MYSELF ABOUT NEW YORK AND BOSTON I GUESS I'D SHOW HIM THAT NEW YORK ISN'T THE WHOLE WORLD


I SHOULD SAY NOT EXCLAIMED NORA BUT BELLE WHO HAD SOME NEW YORK COUSINS WAS SILENT BRENDA HOWEVER NOTICING BELLE'S EXPRESSION AND NOT FEELING DISPOSED TO SIDE COMPLETELY WITH NORA SAID


YOU'RE TERRIBLY NARROW NORA TO THINK THAT NOBODY'S ANY GOOD UNLESS HE COMES FROM BOSTON I DIDN'T SAY SO REPLIED NORA NO BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN AND I'M SURPRISED PHILIP BLAIR


WELL YOU'D BETTER TALK BRENDA BARLOW BROKE IN NORA AGAIN JUST SEE THE WAY YOU TREAT JULIA IF SHE'D BEEN BORN IN BOSTON I DON'T TREAT HER INTERRUPTED BRENDA


NO THAT'S JUST IT YOU DON'T TREAT HER DECENTLY


HOW QUEER GIRLS ARE DO YOU ALWAYS FIGHT LIKE THIS WHEN YOU'RE TOGETHER WE DON'T FIGHT LIKE YOU BOYS ANSWERED EDITH GOOD HUMOREDLY WE DON'T KNOCK EACH OTHER DOWN AND RUN THE RISK OF BREAKING ONE ANOTHER'S NOSES


PHILIP LOOKED OVER HIS SHOULDER IN THE GLASS THERE WAS NOTHING THE MATTER WITH HIS OWN SHAPELY NOSE AND I DOUBT THAT HE WOULD HAVE RUN ANY SUCH RISK AS EDITH SUGGESTED PERHAPS THIS WAS THE REASON WHY PHILIP WAS NOT A FIGHTER


THERE WAS ONE GOOD THING ABOUT THE LITTLE DISPUTES IN WHICH BRENDA AND BELLE INDULGED THEY VERY SELDOM LASTED LONG IN THE PRESENT INSTANCE THE GIRLS WERE ASHAMED OF HAVING SHOWN TEMPER BEFORE PHILIP


OH SAY DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TIME WILL HARDON HAD WITH THE DICKY LAST WEEK HE ASKED NORA NODDED SHE TOO HAD A BROTHER IN COLLEGE WHAT WAS IT ASKED EDITH YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME PHILIP


HOW FUNNY YOU ARE EDITH SAID BELLE YOU NEVER HEAR ANYTHING HASN'T ANYONE TOLD YOU HOW THE OTHER FELLOWS MADE HIM RUN BLINDFOLDED IN HIS SHIRT SLEEVES DOWN BEACON STREET NO REALLY


AND EVERYBODY LOOKING AT HIM OH SAID ONE GIRL AND AH SAID ANOTHER AND HOW SILLY THEY ALL CRIED TOGETHER IF GIRLS AMUSED THEMSELVES LIKE THAT WHAT FUN YOU'D MAKE OF US SAID THE PRACTICAL NORA


OH IT GIVES A FELLOW A CHANCE TO SHOW WHAT KIND OF STUFF HE'S MADE OF EXPLAINED PHILIP WHETHER HE HAS GOOD MANNERS AND WHETHER HE'S CLEVER AND ALL THAT THERE MUST BE BETTER WAYS OF SHOWING BRAVERY


SAID THE PRACTICAL EDITH I DON'T BELIEVE YOU KNOW A BIT MORE ABOUT WILL HARDON'S BRAVERY THAN YOU DID BEFORE WE KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT HIS MANNERS WHAT WHY WHEN HE SAW WHERE HE WAS HE DIDN'T RUN AWAY OR FLUNK OUT


HE ONLY LOOKED A LITTLE SHEEPISH THE OTHER FELLOWS SAID


HE WALKED OFF AS NICE AS YOU PLEASE WASN'T HE MAD AT THE TWO FELLOWS FOR TAKING HIM THERE OF COURSE NOT THAT'S A PART OF THE THING WHY THERE ARE FELLOWS IN CAMBRIDGE WHO WOULD GO THROUGH FIRE AND WATER


OR STAND ON THEIR HEADS IN FRONT OF A PULPIT FOR THE SAKE OF GETTING INTO THE DICKY I TELL YOU WE MAKE SOME OF THEM SUFFER


ALTHOUGH HE HAD BELONGED TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS ORGANIZATION A VERY SHORT TIME WELL I THINK YOU'RE PERFECTLY HORRID CRIED BRENDA I MEAN THE DICKY I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE WAY YOU MAKE PEOPLE SUFFER BRANDING THEM WITH HOT CIGARS AND MAKING THEM RUN BAREFOOT WINTER NIGHTS AND


THERE ARE A LOT OF GIRLS STUDYING IN CAMBRIDGE NOW AT THE ANNEX AND THE FELLOWS DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL WELL I DECLARE EXCLAIMED NORA I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT DIFFERENCE IT MAKES TO THEM


OH THEY HATE TO SEE THESE GIRLS GOING ABOUT WITH BOOKS AND TRYING TO GET INTO HARVARD YES TRYING TO BREAK DOWN THE WALLS SAID NORA SARCASTICALLY


OH SEE HERE IT WOULD JUST SPOIL EVERYTHING TO HAVE WOMEN IN THE CLASSES WITH US ARE YOU AFRAID THEY'D GET AHEAD OF YOU ASKED EDITH GENTLY NOW LOOK HERE EDITH


INTERRUPTED PHILIP I'VE HEARD THAT SOME PROFESSORS SAY THAT THEIR ANNEX CLASSES DO BETTER WORK THAN OURS BUT ANYBODY CAN TELL THAT THAT'S ALL ROT I BELIEVE IT'S ALL PERFECTLY TRUE SAID NORA


WELL I WISH MYSELF THAT OUR ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR HADN'T SUCH A FONDNESS FOR READING THEMES TO US THAT THE GIRLS HAVE WRITTEN HE MAKES OUT THAT THEY ARE BETTER THAN OURS BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT I SEE IT MYSELF WHO GETS THE BEST MARKS


DOES JULIA WEAR GLASSES OR LOOK GREEN I BEG YOUR PARDON BRENDA NO SHE DOESN'T SAID NORA SHORTLY SHE'S ABOUT THE NICEST GIRL I KNOW OH SHE IS LOVELY ADDED EDITH


A MATTER OF OPINION MURMURED BELLE UNDER HER BREATH YOU DON'T MEAN TO SAY YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HER CRIED BRENDA IN SURPRISE NO I HAVEN'T HAPPENED TO ANSWERED PHILIP


SHE'S INVITED TO MY COOKING PARTY NEXT WEEK SAID NORA YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE ACCEPTED TOO SO YOU'LL SEE HER OH YES BY THE WAY SAID PHILIP WHAT EVENING IS IT FRIDAY OF COURSE REPLIED NORA


SO WE CAN SIT UP LATE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL THE NEXT DAY WELL YOU'LL SEE ME SURE SAID PHILIP BUT SEE HERE IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK NOW AND I HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT DOWN TOWN


PHILIP HURRIED OFF BOWING IN A VERY GROWN UP WAY TO THE GROUP OF GIRLS FOR WHATEVER CRITICISMS ANY ONE MIGHT MAKE ABOUT PHILIP'S INDOLENCE AND DISINCLINATION TO STUDY NO ONE COULD DENY THAT HE HAD VERY GOOD MANNERS


THOUGH ONLY ABOUT FOUR YEARS THEIR SENIOR HE SEEMED MUCH OLDER THAN BRENDA AND HER FRIENDS YEARS BEFORE THEY HAD ALL BEEN PLAYMATES TOGETHER BUT HIS TWO YEARS IN COLLEGE HAD TAKEN HIM AWAY FROM THEM


AND IT WAS NOT OFTEN THAT HE CONDESCENDED TO SPEND AS LONG A TIME IN THEIR PRESENCE AS HAD BEEN THE CASE THIS AFTERNOON DO YOU THINK THAT PHILIP LOOKS VERY WELL EDITH


REPLIED PHILIP'S SISTER IT SEEMED TO ME HE WAS JUST A LITTLE PALE HE IS ALWAYS PALE SAID EDITH DO YOU SUPPOSE HE SITS UP TOO LATE ASKED BRENDA I'LL WARRANT HE DOESN'T STUDY TOO MUCH SAID BELLE


HOW CAN YOU CRITICISE EDITH'S BROTHER DON'T LET HER DO IT EDITH IT DOESN'T TROUBLE ME ANSWERED THE PLACID EDITH I KNOW ALL ABOUT PHILIP AND HE'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME THAT'S RIGHT SAID NORA


HE SAYS THERE ARE TWO OR THREE FELLOWS JUST SPONGING OFF OF PHILIP ALL THE TIME AND PHILIP IS TOO GOOD NATURED TO SAY ANYTHING I WONDER HOW HE'LL LIKE JULIA SAID EDITH


HASTILY INTERPOSED BELLE BOYS NEVER LIKE A GIRL WHO STUDIES ESPECIALLY ONE WHO IS GOING TO COLLEGE WELL JULIA IS JUST THE NICEST GIRL I KNOW SAID NORA REPEATING THE WORDS SHE HAD USED TO PHILIP


FIVE TIMES MISTER THOMAS HARMON VAINLY RANG THE BELL OF THE REMSEN MANSION WHILE ENGAGED UPON THE SIXTH VARIATION HE BECAME AWARE OF A FACE IN THE WINDOW SCRUTINIZING HIM ALL RIGHT CALLED THE FACE


LAID UP INQUIRED MISTER HARMON SHAKING HANDS BOTTLED UP ANSWERED THE YOUNG MAN GLOOMILY CAN I HELP POSSIBLY DID YOU EVER KILL A SUBPOENA SERVER


NOT YET CARE TO TRY WHAT DOES THE THING LOOK LIKE CAST YOUR EYES TOWARD THE AVENUE AND YOU'LL SEE ONE


HE NEVER ASKS QUESTIONS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S TROUBLES HE NOW BUSIED HIMSELF IN THOUGHT HAVEN'T YOU ANY OF YOUR AMATEUR THEATRICAL DUDS HERE WAS THE OUTCOME OF HIS COGITATIONS ALL OF'EM


WHY NOT DRESS A PART AND WALK AWAY INCOGNITO OH CERTAINLY ASSENTED THE OTHER WITH BITTERNESS PUT ON A SUIT OF TIGHTS AND DIVE OUT OF THE CONSERVATORY WINDOW DISGUISED AS ANNETTE KELLERMAN I SUPPOSE


WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH AN OLD MAN MAKEUP AND THE FRONT DOOR JUST THIS FRIEND MURPHY ON WATCH HAULS OUT HIS LITTLE PAPER AND ON THE CHANCE OF ITS BEING ME SLAPS THE WRIST OF ANYBODY WHO APPEARS ON THOSE STEPS


MERELY A MATTER OF DISTRACTING FRIEND MURPHY'S ATTENTION FOR TEN SECONDS AT THE END OF THE TEN SECONDS YOU WILL BE SEEN GOING UP THE STEPS TO THE FRONT DOOR


PRESENTLY YOU WILL BE SEEN COMING DOWN AGAIN UNABLE TO EFFECT AN ENTRANCE AGAINST THE WATCHFULNESS OF THE FAITHFUL CONNOR


I GET YOU I'M TO BE IN DISGUISE BUT HOW SHALL WE GET THE PROCESS SERVER OFF GUARD LEAVE THAT TO ME THE TWO CONSPIRATORS ELABORATED THEIR PLAN BUILT IT UP REVISED IT


TESTED IT AT EVERY POINT AND PRONOUNCED IT PERFECT BUT WE'VE FORGOTTEN ONE POINT SAID REMSEN AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION WHAT'S THAT WHERE DO I GO WHEN I GET OUT WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO


PLUMB IN THE DEAD CENTER OF NOWHERE THIRTEEN MILES FROM A RAILROAD FISHING AND HUNTING ON THE PREMISES READS LIKE A REAL ESTATE MAN'S PROSPECTUS OBSERVED REMSEN THIS YEAR PURSUED HARMON


I'M KEEPING OPEN HOUSE FOR A SPECIAL REASON TWO FELLOWS I KNOW ARE GETTING MARRIED TO MORROW IT'S A DOUBLE WEDDING IT'S ALSO A DOUBLE HONEYMOON BUT THEY AREN'T ONTO THAT YET HARMON'S CLEAR BROWN EYES TWINKLED


ONE HALF WON'T KNOW HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES TILL THEY GET THERE I'VE LOANED THE PLACE TO BOTH COUPLES FOR A FORTNIGHT IT'S A DEAD SECRET NEITHER COUPLE KNOWS WHERE THE OTHER IS GOING THEY'RE ON OATH


THEY WON'T THANK YOU WHEN THEY MEET ACROSS THE DINNER TABLE OH IT ISN'T AS BAD AS THAT THEY'LL BE A MILE APART THE LEES WILL BE AT THE COTTAGE THEY GET OFF AT MEREDITH AND GO IN ON THE TRUCK THE WOODS I'M SENDING TO THE ISLAND


THEY CLIMB OUT AT ASHLAND AND GO OVER BY BOAT UNLESS THEY ALL HAPPEN TO TAKE THE SAME TRAIN ONE PAIR WON'T EVEN KNOW THE OTHER IS AROUND UNTIL THEY MEET UP ON THE LAKE OR IN THE WOODS SOUNDS LIKE A PARTY DOESN'T IT WANT TO JOIN


GET YOURSELF A CAR FROM THE GARAGE AND MOTOR TO THE BUNGALOW THAT'S AT THE THIRD CORNER OF MY LITTLE TRIANGULAR PIECE OF MOUNTAIN AND FOREST


WOULDN'T KNOW THEM IF I DID ANY OTHER AGREEABLE SURPRISES ABOUT THE RESORT NO OH YES I NEARLY FORGOT THERE'S A LITTLE FRIEND OF GLORIA GREENE'S GIRL TIRED OUT


TOO MUCH GAYETY OR SOMETHING DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS OR WHO SHE IS BUT SHE'S UP AGAINST IT FOR A MONTH'S REST SO MISS GREENE WISHED HER ON BOULDER BROOK AND WELCOME WHERE DOES SHE GO INQUIRED REMSEN SUSPICIOUSLY


TO THE CAVE OR THE CASTLE ON THE CRAGS OR THE HAUNTED MANOR HOUSE OR THE CO EDUCATIONAL CLUB OR WHICH ONE OF THE NUMEROUS INSTITUTIONS YOU MAINTAIN IN YOUR PRIVATE CITY SHE GOES TO THE FARMHOUSE


MISSUS BOND MY HOUSEKEEPER IS LOOKING AFTER HER SECLUSION IS HER WATCHWORD IF YOU SEE HER MAKE A NOISE LIKE A DRY LEAF AND BLOW AWAY YOU'LL GO WON'T YOU REMSEN MEDITATED


IT CERTAINLY SEEMS MADE TO ORDER AND IT'S MIGHTY GOOD OF YOU OLD MAN YES I'LL JUST TAKE YOU UP ON THAT THERE'S A TRAIN AT NINE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING TO MORROW MAKE IT THE DAY AFTER


I'VE GOT SOME THINGS TO ATTEND TO NOW ABOUT OUR JAIL BREAKING SCHEME I'VE GOT AN AMENDMENT HOW WOULD IT BE IF THE TAXI I ARRIVE IN SHOULD CATCH FIRE AT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL MOMENT CAN IT BE DONE


EASILY I'M NOT A MANUFACTURER OF CHEMICALS FOR NOTHING GREAT KEEP IT GOING FOR TEN SECONDS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WATCHFUL MURPHY AND IF YOU LOOK UP AFTER THAT


YOU'LL SEE THE ENGLISHEST LOOKING ENGLISHMAN YOU EVER SAT EYES ON OUTSIDE THE PAGES OF PUNCH TRYING TO TEAR MY OLD FASHIONED DOORBELL OUT BY THE ROOTS THAT'S YOUR BEST MAKE UP IS IT REMSEN


FORTIFIED BY MY ACCENT IT IS MOST CONVINCING THAT'LL BE CARTERET WHO RODNEY CARTERET AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW HIM RATHER


NOT KNOW A MAN WITH WHOM YOU TOURED FOR TWO MONTHS IN JAPAN SAID REMSEN REPROACHFULLY STUPID OF ME CONFESSED HARMON GRINNING CARTERET GOOD OLD RODDY CERTAINLY THEN I'D BETTER CAPTURE YOU


HIM I MEAN AND TAKE HIM TO THE NINE O'CLOCK TRAIN FOR BOULDER BROOK IN MY TAXI RIGHT O OLD THING BE HERE AT EIGHT THIRTY CHEERY O SAID HIS HOST BRITISHLY


FROM ITS WINDOW EMERGED A HEAVY PUFF OF SMOKE FROM ITS DOOR EMERGED MISTER THOMAS HARMON WHO ROLLED UPON THE PAVEMENT APPARENTLY STRANGLING MISTER MURPHY RUSHED TO HIS AID


WHEN HE WAS RESTORED TO HIS FEET AND HIS BREATH AND THE TAXI HAD CEASED TO IMITATE FAFNIR THE DRAGON A TALL FIGURE IN AN EXTREMELY ENGLISH ULSTER WHICH HAD HASTILY EMERGED FROM THE REMSEN FRONT DOOR RUSHED DOWN TEN STEPS


AND LEISURELY CLIMBED THEM AGAIN WAS WRENCHING VIOLENTLY AT THE BELL FOR A TIME MISTER MURPHY REGARDED HIM DISDAINFULLY THEN CROSSED OVER HELD BRIEF COLLOQUY AND RETURNED HOT CHANCE HE'S GOT OF BREAKING IN


HE OBSERVED TO MISTER HARMON WHAT IS HE MAKING ALL THE FUSS ABOUT INQUIRED THAT GENTLEMAN AS THE VISITOR AGAIN APPLIED HIMSELF FORCEFULLY TO THE BELL WANTS TO SEE MISTER REMSEN


BUT THE OLD BULLDOG OF A BUTLER WON'T LET HIM PUT HIS NOSE INSIDE THE DOOR SAYS HIS NAME IS CARTERET AND HE'S COME ALL THE WAY FROM ENGLAND TO SEE HIM ENGLAND NOT RODDY CARTERET


IT WAS DONE ALMOST AS WELL AS THAT ACCOMPLISHED ACTOR MISTER JACOB REMSEN COULD HAVE DONE IT HARMON SPRANG ACROSS THE STREET


HE CALLED WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING OVER HERE THE BELL RINGER ADJUSTED A MONOCLE AND AMBLED DOWN THE STEPS TO SHAKE HANDS


PERHAPS YOU CAN TELL ME WHAT'S AMISS WITH THIS BEASTLY HOUSE I'LL TELL YOU PROFFERED THE OBLIGING AND INNOCENT MISTER MURPHY HE DID SO THEN I'LL JUST GO BACK AND JOLLY WELL CAMP THERE TILL SOMEBODY JOLLY WELL LETS ME IN


DECIDED THE CALLER ARGUMENT FOLLOWED WHILE THE CHAUFFEUR BURROWED INTO THE MECHANISM OF HIS CAR IT ENDED BY THE ENGLISHMAN BESTOWING TWO DOLLARS UPON MISTER MURPHY TO GET A MESSAGE TO MISTER REMSEN CONTAINING A PROTEST AND AN ADDRESS


THE TWO GENTLEMEN THEN MOVED AWAY IN THE EXTINGUISHED TAXI TICKETS HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY THE FORETHOUGHTFUL HARMON THE FUGITIVE WAS THE FIRST MAN IN THE PARLOR CAR


AND WERE SHOWN INTO DRAWING ROOM A AT THE UPPER END OF THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER ANOTHER COUPLE ALSO GLISTENING AS TO GARB ENTERED AND TOOK POSSESSION OF DRAWING ROOM B AT THE LOWER END OF THE CAR


THE ELUDER OF JUSTICE EYED THEM AND DREW HIS OWN CONCLUSIONS HERE WE ARE ALL OF US HE SAID TO HIMSELF RETIRING DISCREETLY BEHIND HIS NEWSPAPER


THE FLYING STARS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CRIME I EVER COMMITTED FLAMBEAU WOULD SAY IN HIS HIGHLY MORAL OLD AGE


WAS ALSO BY A SINGULAR COINCIDENCE MY LAST IT WAS COMMITTED AT CHRISTMAS AS AN ARTIST


I HAD ALWAYS ATTEMPTED TO PROVIDE CRIMES SUITABLE TO THE SPECIAL SEASON OR LANDSCAPES IN WHICH I FOUND MYSELF CHOOSING THIS OR THAT TERRACE OR GARDEN FOR A CATASTROPHE AS IF FOR A STATUARY GROUP


THUS SQUIRES SHOULD BE SWINDLED IN LONG ROOMS PANELLED WITH OAK WHILE JEWS ON THE OTHER HAND SHOULD RATHER FIND THEMSELVES UNEXPECTEDLY PENNILESS


AMONG THE LIGHTS AND SCREENS OF THE CAFE RICHE THUS IN ENGLAND IF I WISHED TO RELIEVE A DEAN OF HIS RICHES WHICH IS NOT SO EASY AS YOU MIGHT SUPPOSE I WISHED TO FRAME HIM


IF I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR IN THE GREEN LAWNS AND GREY TOWERS OF SOME CATHEDRAL TOWN SIMILARLY IN FRANCE WHEN I HAD GOT MONEY OUT OF A RICH AND WICKED PEASANT


WHICH IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE IT GRATIFIED ME TO GET HIS INDIGNANT HEAD RELIEVED AGAINST A GREY LINE OF CLIPPED POPLARS AND THOSE SOLEMN PLAINS OF GAUL OVER WHICH BROODS THE MIGHTY SPIRIT OF MILLET


WELL MY LAST CRIME WAS A CHRISTMAS CRIME A CHEERY COSY ENGLISH MIDDLE CLASS CRIME A CRIME OF CHARLES DICKENS


I DID IT IN A GOOD OLD MIDDLE CLASS HOUSE NEAR PUTNEY A HOUSE WITH A CRESCENT OF CARRIAGE DRIVE A HOUSE WITH A STABLE BY THE SIDE OF IT A HOUSE WITH THE NAME ON THE TWO OUTER GATES


A HOUSE WITH A MONKEY TREE ENOUGH YOU KNOW THE SPECIES I REALLY THINK MY IMITATION OF DICKENS'S STYLE WAS DEXTEROUS AND LITERARY IT SEEMS ALMOST A PITY


I REPENTED THE SAME EVENING FLAMBEAU WOULD THEN PROCEED TO TELL THE STORY FROM THE INSIDE AND EVEN FROM THE INSIDE IT WAS ODD SEEN FROM THE OUTSIDE


IT WAS PERFECTLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND IT IS FROM THE OUTSIDE THAT THE STRANGER MUST STUDY IT FROM THIS STANDPOINT THE DRAMA MAY BE SAID TO HAVE BEGUN WHEN THE FRONT DOORS OF THE HOUSE WITH THE STABLE


OPENED ON THE GARDEN WITH THE MONKEY TREE AND A YOUNG GIRL CAME OUT WITH BREAD TO FEED THE BIRDS ON THE AFTERNOON OF BOXING DAY SHE HAD A PRETTY FACE WITH BRAVE BROWN EYES


BUT HER FIGURE WAS BEYOND CONJECTURE FOR SHE WAS SO WRAPPED UP IN BROWN FURS THAT IT WAS HARD TO SAY WHICH WAS HAIR AND WHICH WAS FUR BUT FOR THE ATTRACTIVE FACE SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SMALL TODDLING BEAR


THE WINTER AFTERNOON WAS REDDENING TOWARDS EVENING AND ALREADY A RUBY LIGHT WAS ROLLED OVER THE BLOOMLESS BEDS FILLING THEM AS IT WERE WITH THE GHOSTS OF THE DEAD ROSES


ON ONE SIDE OF THE HOUSE STOOD THE STABLE ON THE OTHER AN ALLEY OR CLOISTER OF LAURELS LED TO THE LARGER GARDEN BEHIND THE YOUNG LADY HAVING SCATTERED BREAD FOR THE BIRDS


FOR THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME THAT DAY BECAUSE THE DOG ATE IT PASSED UNOBTRUSIVELY DOWN THE LANE OF LAURELS AND INTO A GLIMMERING PLANTATION OF EVERGREENS BEHIND


HERE SHE GAVE AN EXCLAMATION OF WONDER REAL OR RITUAL AND LOOKING UP AT THE HIGH GARDEN WALL ABOVE HER BEHELD IT FANTASTICALLY BESTRIDDEN BY A SOMEWHAT FANTASTIC FIGURE


OH DON'T JUMP MISTER CROOK SHE CALLED OUT IN SOME ALARM IT'S MUCH TOO HIGH THE INDIVIDUAL RIDING THE PARTY WALL LIKE AN AERIAL HORSE


WAS A TALL ANGULAR YOUNG MAN WITH DARK HAIR STICKING UP LIKE A HAIR BRUSH INTELLIGENT AND EVEN DISTINGUISHED LINEAMENTS BUT A SALLOW AND ALMOST ALIEN COMPLEXION


THIS SHOWED THE MORE PLAINLY BECAUSE HE WORE AN AGGRESSIVE RED TIE THE ONLY PART OF HIS COSTUME OF WHICH HE SEEMED TO TAKE ANY CARE PERHAPS IT WAS A SYMBOL


HE TOOK NO NOTICE OF THE GIRL'S ALARMED ADJURATION BUT LEAPT LIKE A GRASSHOPPER TO THE GROUND BESIDE HER WHERE HE MIGHT VERY WELL HAVE BROKEN HIS LEGS I THINK I WAS MEANT TO BE A BURGLAR


HE SAID PLACIDLY AND I HAVE NO DOUBT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN IF I HADN'T HAPPENED TO BE BORN IN THAT NICE HOUSE NEXT DOOR I CAN'T SEE ANY HARM IN IT ANYHOW


HOW CAN YOU SAY SUCH THINGS SHE REMONSTRATED WELL SAID THE YOUNG MAN IF YOU'RE BORN ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE WALL I CAN'T SEE THAT IT'S WRONG TO CLIMB OVER IT


I NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL SAY OR DO NEXT SHE SAID I DON'T OFTEN KNOW MYSELF REPLIED MISTER CROOK BUT THEN I AM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WALL NOW


AND WHICH IS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WALL ASKED THE YOUNG LADY SMILING WHICHEVER SIDE YOU ARE ON SAID THE YOUNG MAN NAMED CROOK


AS THEY WENT TOGETHER THROUGH THE LAURELS TOWARDS THE FRONT GARDEN A MOTOR HORN SOUNDED THRICE COMING NEARER AND NEARER AND A CAR OF SPLENDID SPEED GREAT ELEGANCE


AND STOOD THROBBING HULLO HULLO SAID THE YOUNG MAN WITH THE RED TIE HERE'S SOMEBODY BORN ON THE RIGHT SIDE ANYHOW I DIDN'T KNOW MISS ADAMS THAT YOUR SANTA CLAUS WAS SO MODERN AS THIS


OH THAT'S MY GODFATHER SIR LEOPOLD FISCHER HE ALWAYS COMES ON BOXING DAY THEN AFTER AN INNOCENT PAUSE WHICH UNCONSCIOUSLY BETRAYED SOME LACK OF ENTHUSIASM


RUBY ADAMS ADDED HE IS VERY KIND JOHN CROOK JOURNALIST HAD HEARD OF THAT EMINENT CITY MAGNATE AND IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT IF THE CITY MAGNATE


HAD NOT HEARD OF HIM FOR IN CERTAIN ARTICLES IN THE CLARION OR THE NEW AGE SIR LEOPOLD HAD BEEN DEALT WITH AUSTERELY BUT HE SAID NOTHING AND GRIMLY WATCHED THE UNLOADING OF THE MOTOR CAR


WHICH WAS RATHER A LONG PROCESS A LARGE NEAT CHAUFFEUR IN GREEN GOT OUT FROM THE FRONT AND A SMALL NEAT MANSERVANT IN GREY GOT OUT FROM THE BACK AND BETWEEN THEM THEY DEPOSITED SIR LEOPOLD ON THE DOORSTEP


AND BEGAN TO UNPACK HIM LIKE SOME VERY CAREFULLY PROTECTED PARCEL RUGS ENOUGH TO STOCK A BAZAAR FURS OF ALL THE BEASTS OF THE FOREST AND SCARVES OF ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW


WERE UNWRAPPED ONE BY ONE TILL THEY REVEALED SOMETHING RESEMBLING THE HUMAN FORM THE FORM OF A FRIENDLY BUT FOREIGN LOOKING OLD GENTLEMAN WITH A GREY GOAT LIKE BEARD AND A BEAMING SMILE


WHO RUBBED HIS BIG FUR GLOVES TOGETHER LONG BEFORE THIS REVELATION WAS COMPLETE THE TWO BIG DOORS OF THE PORCH HAD OPENED IN THE MIDDLE AND COLONEL ADAMS FATHER OF THE FURRY YOUNG LADY


HAD COME OUT HIMSELF TO INVITE HIS EMINENT GUEST INSIDE HE WAS A TALL SUNBURNT AND VERY SILENT MAN WHO WORE A RED SMOKING CAP LIKE A FEZ MAKING HIM LOOK LIKE ONE OF THE ENGLISH SIRDARS


OR PASHAS IN EGYPT WITH HIM WAS HIS BROTHER IN LAW LATELY COME FROM CANADA A BIG AND RATHER BOISTEROUS YOUNG GENTLEMAN FARMER WITH A YELLOW BEARD BY NAME JAMES BLOUNT


WITH HIM ALSO WAS THE MORE INSIGNIFICANT FIGURE OF THE PRIEST FROM THE NEIGHBOURING ROMAN CHURCH FOR THE COLONEL'S LATE WIFE HAD BEEN A CATHOLIC AND THE CHILDREN AS IS COMMON IN SUCH CASES HAD BEEN TRAINED TO FOLLOW HER


EVERYTHING SEEMED UNDISTINGUISHED ABOUT THE PRIEST EVEN DOWN TO HIS NAME WHICH WAS BROWN YET THE COLONEL HAD ALWAYS FOUND SOMETHING COMPANIONABLE ABOUT HIM AND FREQUENTLY ASKED HIM TO SUCH FAMILY GATHERINGS


IN THE LARGE ENTRANCE HALL OF THE HOUSE THERE WAS AMPLE ROOM EVEN FOR SIR LEOPOLD AND THE REMOVAL OF HIS WRAPS PORCH AND VESTIBULE INDEED


WERE UNDULY LARGE IN PROPORTION TO THE HOUSE AND FORMED AS IT WERE A BIG ROOM WITH THE FRONT DOOR AT ONE END AND THE BOTTOM OF THE STAIRCASE AT THE OTHER IN FRONT OF THE LARGE HALL FIRE


OVER WHICH HUNG THE COLONEL'S SWORD THE PROCESS WAS COMPLETED AND THE COMPANY INCLUDING THE SATURNINE CROOK PRESENTED TO SIR LEOPOLD FISCHER THAT VENERABLE FINANCIER HOWEVER


STILL SEEMED STRUGGLING WITH PORTIONS OF HIS WELL LINED ATTIRE AND AT LENGTH PRODUCED FROM A VERY INTERIOR TAIL COAT POCKET A BLACK OVAL CASE WHICH HE RADIANTLY EXPLAINED TO BE HIS CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR HIS GOD DAUGHTER


WITH AN UNAFFECTED VAIN GLORY THAT HAD SOMETHING DISARMING ABOUT IT HE HELD OUT THE CASE BEFORE THEM ALL IT FLEW OPEN AT A TOUCH AND HALF BLINDED THEM


IT WAS JUST AS IF A CRYSTAL FOUNTAIN HAD SPURTED IN THEIR EYES IN A NEST OF ORANGE VELVET LAY LIKE THREE EGGS THREE WHITE AND VIVID DIAMONDS THAT SEEMED TO SET THE VERY AIR ON FIRE ALL ROUND THEM


FISCHER STOOD BEAMING BENEVOLENTLY AND DRINKING DEEP OF THE ASTONISHMENT AND ECSTASY OF THE GIRL THE GRIM ADMIRATION AND GRUFF THANKS OF THE COLONEL THE WONDER OF THE WHOLE GROUP


I HAD TO BE CAREFUL OF EM COMING DOWN THEY'RE THE THREE GREAT AFRICAN DIAMONDS CALLED THE FLYING STARS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN STOLEN SO OFTEN ALL THE BIG CRIMINALS ARE ON THE TRACK


BUT EVEN THE ROUGH MEN ABOUT IN THE STREETS AND HOTELS COULD HARDLY HAVE KEPT THEIR HANDS OFF THEM I MIGHT HAVE LOST THEM ON THE ROAD HERE IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE QUITE NATURAL I SHOULD SAY


GROWLED THE MAN IN THE RED TIE I SHOULDN'T BLAME EM IF THEY HAD TAKEN EM WHEN THEY ASK FOR BREAD AND YOU DON'T EVEN GIVE THEM A STONE I THINK THEY MIGHT TAKE THE STONE FOR THEMSELVES


I WON'T HAVE YOU TALKING LIKE THAT CRIED THE GIRL WHO WAS IN A CURIOUS GLOW YOU'VE ONLY TALKED LIKE THAT SINCE YOU BECAME A HORRID WHAT'S HIS NAME YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN


A SAINT SAID FATHER BROWN I THINK SAID SIR LEOPOLD WITH A SUPERCILIOUS SMILE THAT RUBY MEANS A SOCIALIST


A RADICAL DOES NOT MEAN A MAN WHO LIVES ON RADISHES REMARKED CROOK WITH SOME IMPATIENCE AND A CONSERVATIVE DOES NOT MEAN A MAN WHO PRESERVES JAM NEITHER I ASSURE YOU


DOES A SOCIALIST MEAN A MAN WHO DESIRES A SOCIAL EVENING WITH THE CHIMNEY SWEEP A SOCIALIST MEANS A MAN WHO WANTS ALL THE CHIMNEYS SWEPT AND ALL THE CHIMNEY SWEEPS PAID FOR IT BUT WHO WON'T ALLOW YOU


PUT IN THE PRIEST IN A LOW VOICE TO OWN YOUR OWN SOOT CROOK LOOKED AT HIM WITH AN EYE OF INTEREST AND EVEN RESPECT DOES ONE WANT TO OWN SOOT HE ASKED ONE MIGHT


WITH SPECULATION IN HIS EYE I'VE HEARD THAT GARDENERS USE IT AND I ONCE MADE SIX CHILDREN HAPPY AT CHRISTMAS WHEN THE CONJUROR DIDN'T COME ENTIRELY WITH SOOT APPLIED EXTERNALLY


OH SPLENDID CRIED RUBY OH I WISH YOU'D DO IT TO THIS COMPANY THE BOISTEROUS CANADIAN MISTER BLOUNT WAS LIFTING HIS LOUD VOICE IN APPLAUSE


AND THE ASTONISHED FINANCIER HIS IN SOME CONSIDERABLE DEPRECATION WHEN A KNOCK SOUNDED AT THE DOUBLE FRONT DOORS THE PRIEST OPENED THEM AND THEY SHOWED AGAIN THE FRONT GARDEN OF EVERGREENS MONKEY TREE AND ALL


NOW GATHERING GLOOM AGAINST A GORGEOUS VIOLET SUNSET THE SCENE THUS FRAMED WAS SO COLOURED AND QUAINT LIKE A BACK SCENE IN A PLAY THAT THEY FORGOT A MOMENT THE INSIGNIFICANT FIGURE STANDING IN THE DOOR


HE WAS DUSTY LOOKING AND IN A FRAYED COAT EVIDENTLY A COMMON MESSENGER ANY OF YOU GENTLEMEN MISTER BLOUNT HE ASKED AND HELD FORWARD A LETTER DOUBTFULLY


MISTER BLOUNT STARTED AND STOPPED IN HIS SHOUT OF ASSENT RIPPING UP THE ENVELOPE WITH EVIDENT ASTONISHMENT HE READ IT HIS FACE CLOUDED A LITTLE AND THEN CLEARED AND HE TURNED TO HIS BROTHER IN LAW AND HOST


I'M SICK AT BEING SUCH A NUISANCE COLONEL HE SAID WITH THE CHEERY COLONIAL CONVENTIONS BUT WOULD IT UPSET YOU IF AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE CALLED ON ME HERE TONIGHT ON BUSINESS IN POINT OF FACT IT'S FLORIAN


THAT FAMOUS FRENCH ACROBAT AND COMIC ACTOR I KNEW HIM YEARS AGO OUT WEST HE WAS A FRENCH CANADIAN BY BIRTH AND HE SEEMS TO HAVE BUSINESS FOR ME THOUGH I HARDLY GUESS WHAT


OF COURSE OF COURSE REPLIED THE COLONEL CARELESSLY MY DEAR CHAP ANY FRIEND OF YOURS NO DOUBT HE WILL PROVE AN ACQUISITION


HE'LL BLACK HIS FACE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN CRIED BLOUNT LAUGHING I DON'T DOUBT HE'D BLACK EVERYONE ELSE'S EYES I DON'T CARE I'M NOT REFINED


I LIKE THE JOLLY OLD PANTOMIME WHERE A MAN SITS ON HIS TOP HAT NOT ON MINE PLEASE SAID SIR LEOPOLD FISCHER WITH DIGNITY WELL WELL OBSERVED CROOK AIRILY


DON'T LET'S QUARREL THERE ARE LOWER JOKES THAN SITTING ON A TOP HAT DISLIKE OF THE RED TIED YOUTH BORN OF HIS PREDATORY OPINIONS AND EVIDENT INTIMACY WITH THE PRETTY GODCHILD


LED FISCHER TO SAY IN HIS MOST SARCASTIC MAGISTERIAL MANNER NO DOUBT YOU HAVE FOUND SOMETHING MUCH LOWER THAN SITTING ON A TOP HAT WHAT IS IT PRAY


LETTING A TOP HAT SIT ON YOU FOR INSTANCE SAID THE SOCIALIST NOW NOW NOW CRIED THE CANADIAN FARMER WITH HIS BARBARIAN BENEVOLENCE DON'T LET'S SPOIL A JOLLY EVENING


WHAT I SAY IS LET'S DO SOMETHING FOR THE COMPANY TONIGHT NOT BLACKING FACES OR SITTING ON HATS IF YOU DON'T LIKE THOSE BUT SOMETHING OF THE SORT WHY COULDN'T WE HAVE A PROPER OLD ENGLISH PANTOMIME


CLOWN COLUMBINE AND SO ON I SAW ONE WHEN I LEFT ENGLAND AT TWELVE YEARS OLD AND IT'S BLAZED IN MY BRAIN LIKE A BONFIRE EVER SINCE I CAME BACK TO THE OLD COUNTRY ONLY LAST YEAR


AND I FIND THE THING'S EXTINCT NOTHING BUT A LOT OF SNIVELLING FAIRY PLAYS I WANT A HOT POKER AND A POLICEMAN MADE INTO SAUSAGES AND THEY GIVE ME PRINCESSES MORALISING BY MOONLIGHT BLUE BIRDS


OR SOMETHING BLUE BEARD'S MORE IN MY LINE AND HIM I LIKE BEST WHEN HE TURNED INTO THE PANTALOON I'M ALL FOR MAKING A POLICEMAN INTO SAUSAGES SAID JOHN CROOK


IT'S A BETTER DEFINITION OF SOCIALISM THAN SOME RECENTLY GIVEN BUT SURELY THE GET UP WOULD BE TOO BIG A BUSINESS NOT A SCRAP CRIED BLOUNT QUITE CARRIED AWAY


A HARLEQUINADE'S THE QUICKEST THING WE CAN DO FOR TWO REASONS FIRST ONE CAN GAG TO ANY DEGREE AND SECOND ALL THE OBJECTS ARE HOUSEHOLD THINGS


TABLES AND TOWEL HORSES AND WASHING BASKETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT'S TRUE ADMITTED CROOK NODDING EAGERLY AND WALKING ABOUT BUT I'M AFRAID I CAN'T HAVE MY POLICEMAN'S UNIFORM


HAVEN'T KILLED A POLICEMAN LATELY BLOUNT FROWNED THOUGHTFULLY A SPACE AND THEN SMOTE HIS THIGH YES WE CAN HE CRIED I'VE GOT FLORIAN'S ADDRESS HERE


AND HE KNOWS EVERY COSTUMIER IN LONDON I'LL PHONE HIM TO BRING A POLICE DRESS WHEN HE COMES AND HE WENT BOUNDING AWAY TO THE TELEPHONE OH IT'S GLORIOUS GODFATHER


ALMOST DANCING I'LL BE COLUMBINE AND YOU SHALL BE PANTALOON THE MILLIONAIRE HELD HIMSELF STIFF WITH A SORT OF HEATHEN SOLEMNITY I THINK MY DEAR HE SAID


YOU MUST GET SOMEONE ELSE FOR PANTALOON I WILL BE PANTALOON IF YOU LIKE SAID COLONEL ADAMS TAKING HIS CIGAR OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND SPEAKING FOR THE FIRST AND LAST TIME


YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A STATUE CRIED THE CANADIAN AS HE CAME BACK RADIANT FROM THE TELEPHONE THERE WE ARE ALL FITTED MISTER CROOK SHALL BE CLOWN


HE'S A JOURNALIST AND KNOWS ALL THE OLDEST JOKES I CAN BE HARLEQUIN THAT ONLY WANTS LONG LEGS AND JUMPING ABOUT MY FRIEND FLORIAN PHONES HE'S BRINGING THE POLICE COSTUME HE'S CHANGING ON THE WAY


WE CAN ACT IT IN THIS VERY HALL THE AUDIENCE SITTING ON THOSE BROAD STAIRS OPPOSITE ONE ROW ABOVE ANOTHER THESE FRONT DOORS CAN BE THE BACK SCENE EITHER OPEN OR SHUT SHUT


YOU SEE AN ENGLISH INTERIOR OPEN A MOONLIT GARDEN IT ALL GOES BY MAGIC AND SNATCHING A CHANCE PIECE OF BILLIARD CHALK FROM HIS POCKET HE RAN IT ACROSS THE HALL FLOOR


HALF WAY BETWEEN THE FRONT DOOR AND THE STAIRCASE TO MARK THE LINE OF THE FOOTLIGHTS HOW EVEN SUCH A BANQUET OF BOSH WAS GOT READY IN THE TIME REMAINED A RIDDLE


BUT THEY WENT AT IT WITH THAT MIXTURE OF RECKLESSNESS AND INDUSTRY THAT LIVES WHEN YOUTH IS IN A HOUSE AND YOUTH WAS IN THAT HOUSE THAT NIGHT THOUGH NOT ALL MAY HAVE ISOLATED THE TWO FACES AND HEARTS FROM WHICH IT FLAMED


AS ALWAYS HAPPENS THE INVENTION GREW WILDER AND WILDER THROUGH THE VERY TAMENESS OF THE BOURGEOIS CONVENTIONS FROM WHICH IT HAD TO CREATE THE COLUMBINE LOOKED CHARMING IN AN OUTSTANDING SKIRT


THAT STRANGELY RESEMBLED THE LARGE LAMP SHADE IN THE DRAWING ROOM THE CLOWN AND PANTALOON MADE THEMSELVES WHITE WITH FLOUR FROM THE COOK AND RED WITH ROUGE FROM SOME OTHER DOMESTIC WHO REMAINED


LIKE ALL TRUE CHRISTIAN BENEFACTORS ANONYMOUS THE HARLEQUIN ALREADY CLAD IN SILVER PAPER OUT OF CIGAR BOXES WAS WITH DIFFICULTY


PREVENTED FROM SMASHING THE OLD VICTORIAN LUSTRE CHANDELIERS THAT HE MIGHT COVER HIMSELF WITH RESPLENDENT CRYSTALS IN FACT HE WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE DONE SO HAD NOT RUBY UNEARTHED SOME OLD PANTOMIME PASTE JEWELS


SHE HAD WORN AT A FANCY DRESS PARTY AS THE QUEEN OF DIAMONDS INDEED HER UNCLE JAMES BLOUNT WAS GETTING ALMOST OUT OF HAND IN HIS EXCITEMENT HE WAS LIKE A SCHOOLBOY


HE PUT A PAPER DONKEY'S HEAD UNEXPECTEDLY ON FATHER BROWN WHO BORE IT PATIENTLY AND EVEN FOUND SOME PRIVATE MANNER OF MOVING HIS EARS HE EVEN ESSAYED TO PUT THE PAPER DONKEY'S TAIL


TO THE COAT TAILS OF SIR LEOPOLD FISCHER THIS HOWEVER WAS FROWNED DOWN UNCLE IS TOO ABSURD CRIED RUBY TO CROOK ROUND WHOSE SHOULDERS SHE HAD SERIOUSLY PLACED A STRING OF SAUSAGES


WHY IS HE SO WILD HE IS HARLEQUIN TO YOUR COLUMBINE SAID CROOK I AM ONLY THE CLOWN WHO MAKES THE OLD JOKES I WISH YOU WERE THE HARLEQUIN


SHE SAID AND LEFT THE STRING OF SAUSAGES SWINGING FATHER BROWN THOUGH HE KNEW EVERY DETAIL DONE BEHIND THE SCENES AND HAD EVEN EVOKED APPLAUSE BY HIS TRANSFORMATION OF A PILLOW INTO A PANTOMIME BABY


WENT ROUND TO THE FRONT AND SAT AMONG THE AUDIENCE WITH ALL THE SOLEMN EXPECTATION OF A CHILD AT HIS FIRST MATINEE THE SPECTATORS WERE FEW RELATIONS ONE OR TWO LOCAL FRIENDS


LAURA WENT DOWN STAIRS KNOCKED AT THE STUDY DOOR AND ENTERED SCARCELY WAITING FOR THE RESPONSE SENATOR DILWORTHY WAS ALONE WITH AN OPEN BIBLE IN HIS HAND UPSIDE DOWN LAURA SMILED AND SAID FORGETTING HER ACQUIRED CORRECTNESS OF SPEECH IT IS ONLY ME


AH COME IN SIT DOWN AND THE SENATOR CLOSED THE BOOK AND LAID IT DOWN I WANTED TO SEE YOU


AND THE SENATOR BEAMED WITH HIS OWN CONGRESSIONAL WIT IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THINGS ARE WORKING VERY WELL WE HAVE MADE EVER SO MUCH PROGRESS IN A WEEK I BELIEVE THAT YOU AND I TOGETHER COULD RUN THIS GOVERNMENT BEAUTIFULLY UNCLE THE SENATOR BEAMED AGAIN


HE LIKED TO BE CALLED UNCLE BY THIS BEAUTIFUL WOMAN DID YOU SEE HOPPERSON LAST NIGHT AFTER THE CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER MEETING YES HE CAME HE'S A KIND OF EH HE IS ONE OF MY FRIENDS LAURA HE'S A FINE MAN A VERY FINE MAN


I DON'T KNOW ANY MAN IN CONGRESS I'D SOONER GO TO FOR HELP IN ANY CHRISTIAN WORK WHAT DID HE SAY OH HE BEAT AROUND A LITTLE HE SAID HE SHOULD LIKE TO HELP THE NEGRO HIS HEART WENT OUT TO THE NEGRO AND ALL THAT PLENTY OF THEM SAY THAT BUT HE WAS A LITTLE AFRAID OF THE TENNESSEE LAND BILL


IF SENATOR DILWORTHY WASN'T IN IT HE SHOULD SUSPECT THERE WAS A FRAUD ON THE GOVERNMENT HE SAID THAT DID HE YES AND HE SAID HE FELT HE COULDN'T VOTE FOR IT HE WAS SHY NOT SHY CHILD CAUTIOUS HE'S A VERY CAUTIOUS MAN


I HAVE BEEN WITH HIM A GREAT DEAL ON CONFERENCE COMMITTEES HE WANTS REASONS GOOD ONES DIDN'T YOU SHOW HIM HE WAS IN ERROR ABOUT THE BILL I DID I WENT OVER THE WHOLE THING I HAD TO TELL HIM SOME OF THE SIDE ARRANGEMENTS SOME OF THE YOU DIDN'T MENTION ME


OH NO I TOLD HIM YOU WERE DAFT ABOUT THE NEGRO AND THE PHILANTHROPY PART OF IT AS YOU ARE DAFT IS A LITTLE STRONG LAURA BUT YOU KNOW THAT I WOULDN'T TOUCH THIS BILL


AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE COLORED RACE MUCH AS I AM INTERESTED IN THE HEIRS OF THIS PROPERTY AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM SUCCEED LAURA LOOKED A LITTLE INCREDULOUS AND THE SENATOR PROCEEDED DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME I DON'T DENY THAT IT IS FOR THE INTEREST OF ALL OF US THAT THIS BILL SHOULD GO THROUGH AND IT WILL


I HAVE NO CONCEALMENTS FROM YOU BUT I HAVE ONE PRINCIPLE IN MY PUBLIC LIFE WHICH I SHOULD LIKE YOU TO KEEP IN MIND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY GUIDE I NEVER PUSH A PRIVATE INTEREST IF IT IS NOT JUSTIFIED AND ENNOBLED BY SOME LARGER PUBLIC GOOD


IF IT WAS NOT TO AID IN THE SALVATION OF HIS FELLOW MEN THE SENATOR SPOKE WITH FEELING AND THEN ADDED I HOPE YOU SHOWED HOPPERSON THAT OUR MOTIVES WERE PURE YES AND HE SEEMED TO HAVE A NEW LIGHT ON THE MEASURE I THINK WILL VOTE FOR IT


I HOPE SO HIS NAME WILL GIVE TONE AND STRENGTH TO IT I KNEW YOU WOULD ONLY HAVE TO SHOW HIM THAT IT WAS JUST AND PURE IN ORDER TO SECURE HIS CORDIAL SUPPORT I THINK I CONVINCED HIM YES I AM PERFECTLY SURE HE WILL VOTE RIGHT NOW


THAT'S GOOD THAT'S GOOD SAID THE SENATOR SMILING AND RUBBING HIS HANDS IS THERE ANYTHING MORE YOU'LL FIND SOME CHANGES IN THAT I GUESS HANDING THE SENATOR A PRINTED LIST OF NAMES THOSE CHECKED OFF ARE ALL RIGHT AH M M


RUNNING HIS EYE DOWN THE LIST THAT'S ENCOURAGING WHAT IS THE C BEFORE SOME OF THE NAMES AND THE B B THOSE ARE MY PRIVATE MARKS THAT C STANDS FOR CONVINCED WITH ARGUMENT


I EXPECT TO SEE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE TO DAY MISTER BUCKSTONE


BUT HE HAS CHARITABLE IMPULSES IF WE SECURE HIM WE SHALL HAVE A FAVORABLE REPORT BY THE COMMITTEE


OH I SAW SENATOR BALLOON HE WILL HELP US I SUPPOSE BALLOON IS A WHOLE HEARTED FELLOW I CAN'T HELP LOVING THAT MAN FOR ALL HIS DROLLERY AND WAGGISHNESS HE PUTS ON AN AIR OF LEVITY SOMETIMES BUT THERE AINT A MAN IN THE SENATE KNOWS THE SCRIPTURES AS HE DOES


HE DID NOT MAKE ANY OBJECTIONS NOT EXACTLY HE SAID SHALL I TELL YOU WHAT HE SAID ASKED LAURA GLANCING FURTIVELY AT HIM CERTAINLY HE SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT IT WAS A GOOD THING IF SENATOR DILWORTHY WAS IN IT IT WOULD PAY TO LOOK INTO IT


THE SENATOR LAUGHED BUT RATHER FEEBLY AND SAID BALLOON IS ALWAYS FULL OF HIS JOKES I EXPLAINED IT TO HIM HE SAID IT WAS ALL RIGHT HE ONLY WANTED A WORD WITH YOU CONTINUED LAURA HE IS A HANDSOME OLD GENTLEMAN AND HE IS GALLANT FOR AN OLD MAN


MY DAUGHTER SAID THE SENATOR WITH A GRAVE LOOK I TRUST THERE WAS NOTHING FREE IN HIS MANNER FREE REPEATED LAURA WITH INDIGNATION IN HER FACE WITH ME THERE THERE CHILD I MEANT NOTHING BALLOON TALKS A LITTLE FREELY SOMETIMES WITH MEN


BUT HE IS RIGHT AT HEART HIS TERM EXPIRES NEXT YEAR AND I FEAR WE SHALL LOSE HIM HE SEEMED TO BE PACKING THE DAY I WAS THERE HIS ROOMS WERE FULL OF DRY GOODS BOXES INTO WHICH HIS SERVANT WAS CROWDING ALL MANNER OF OLD CLOTHES AND STUFF


I SUPPOSE HE WILL PAINT PUB DOCS ON THEM AND FRANK THEM HOME THAT'S GOOD ECONOMY ISN'T IT YES YES BUT CHILD ALL CONGRESSMEN DO THAT IT MAY NOT BE STRICTLY HONEST INDEED IT IS NOT UNLESS HE HAD SOME PUBLIC DOCUMENTS MIXED IN WITH THE CLOTHES


IT'S A FUNNY WORLD GOOD BYE UNCLE I'M GOING TO SEE THAT CHAIRMAN AND HUMMING A CHEERY OPERA AIR SHE DEPARTED TO HER ROOM TO DRESS FOR GOING OUT BEFORE SHE DID THAT HOWEVER SHE TOOK OUT HER NOTE BOOK AND WAS SOON DEEP IN ITS CONTENTS MARKING DASHING


ERASING FIGURING AND TALKING TO HERSELF FREE I WONDER WHAT DILWORTHY DOES THINK OF ME ANYWAY ONE TWO EIGHT SEVENTEEN


WOULDN'T DILWORTHY OPEN HIS EYES IF HE KNEW SOME OF THE THINGS BALLOON DID SAY TO ME THERE HOPPERSON'S INFLUENCE OUGHT TO COUNT TWENTY THE SANCTIMONIOUS OLD CURMUDGEON SON IN LAW SINECURE IN THE NEGRO INSTITUTION THAT ABOUT GAUGES HIM THE THREE COMMITTEEMEN


SONS IN LAW NOTHING LIKE A SON IN LAW HERE IN WASHINGTON OR A BROTHER IN LAW AND EVERYBODY HAS EM LET'S SEE SIXTY ONE WITH PLACES TWENTY FIVE PERSUADED IT IS GETTING ON WE'LL HAVE TWO THIRDS OF CONGRESS IN TIME DILWORTHY MUST SURELY KNOW I UNDERSTAND HIM


UNCLE DILWORTHY UNCLE BALLOON TELLS VERY AMUSING STORIES WHEN LADIES ARE NOT PRESENT I SHOULD THINK SO M M EIGHTY FIVE THERE I MUST FIND THAT CHAIRMAN QUEER BUCKSTONE ACTS


SEEMED TO BE IN LOVE I WAS SURE OF IT HE PROMISED TO COME HERE AND HE HASN'T STRANGE VERY STRANGE I MUST CHANCE TO MEET HIM TO DAY LAURA DRESSED AND WENT OUT THINKING SHE WAS PERHAPS TOO EARLY FOR MISTER BUCKSTONE TO COME FROM THE HOUSE


BUT AS HE LODGED NEAR THE BOOKSTORE SHE WOULD DROP IN THERE AND KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR HIM WHILE LAURA IS ON HER ERRAND TO FIND MISTER BUCKSTONE IT MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE WAY TO REMARK THAT SHE KNEW QUITE AS MUCH OF WASHINGTON LIFE AS SENATOR DILWORTHY GAVE HER CREDIT FOR


AND MORE THAN SHE THOUGHT PROPER TO TELL HIM SHE WAS ACQUAINTED BY THIS TIME WITH A GOOD MANY OF THE YOUNG FELLOWS OF NEWSPAPER ROW AND EXCHANGED GOSSIP WITH THEM TO THEIR MUTUAL ADVANTAGE


THEY WERE ALWAYS TALKING IN THE ROW EVERLASTINGLY GOSSIPING BANTERING AND SARCASTICALLY PRAISING THINGS AND GOING ON IN A STYLE WHICH WAS A CURIOUS COMMINGLING OF EARNEST AND PERSIFLAGE COLONEL SELLERS LIKED THIS TALK AMAZINGLY THOUGH HE WAS SOMETIMES A LITTLE AT SEA IN IT


AND PERHAPS THAT DIDN'T LESSEN THE RELISH OF THE CONVERSATION TO THE CORRESPONDENTS IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAD GOT HOLD OF THE DRY GOODS BOX PACKING STORY ABOUT BALLOON ONE DAY AND WERE TALKING IT OVER WHEN THE COLONEL CAME IN THE COLONEL WANTED TO KNOW ALL ABOUT IT AND HICKS TOLD HIM


AND THEN HICKS WENT ON WITH A SERIOUS AIR COLONEL IF YOU REGISTER A LETTER IT MEANS THAT IT IS OF VALUE DOESN'T IT AND IF YOU PAY FIFTEEN CENTS FOR REGISTERING IT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO TAKE EXTRA CARE OF IT AND EVEN PAY YOU BACK ITS FULL VALUE IF IT IS LOST ISN'T THAT SO


YES I SUPPOSE IT'S SO WELL SENATOR BALLOON PUT FIFTEEN CENTS WORTH OF STAMPS ON EACH OF THOSE SEVEN HUGE BOXES OF OLD CLOTHES AND SHIPPED THAT TON OF SECOND HAND RUBBISH OLD BOOTS AND PANTALOONS AND WHAT NOT THROUGH THE MAILS AS REGISTERED MATTER


IT WAS AN INGENIOUS THING AND IT HAD A GENUINE TOUCH OF HUMOR ABOUT IT TOO I THINK THERE IS MORE REAL TALENT AMONG OUR PUBLIC MEN OF TO DAY THAN THERE WAS AMONG THOSE OF OLD TIMES A FAR MORE FERTILE FANCY A MUCH HAPPIER INGENUITY


NOW COLONEL CAN YOU PICTURE JEFFERSON OR WASHINGTON OR JOHN ADAMS FRANKING THEIR WARDROBES THROUGH THE MAILS AND ADDING THE FACETIOUS IDEA OF MAKING THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARGO FOR THE SUM OF ONE DOLLAR AND FIVE CENTS STATESMEN WERE DULL CREATURES IN THOSE DAYS


I HAVE A MUCH GREATER ADMIRATION FOR SENATOR BALLOON YES BALLOON IS A MAN OF PARTS THERE IS NO DENYING IT I THINK SO HE IS SPOKEN OF FOR THE POST OF MINISTER TO CHINA OR AUSTRIA AND I HOPE WILL BE APPOINTED


WHAT WE WANT ABROAD IS GOOD EXAMPLES OF THE NATIONAL CHARACTER JOHN JAY AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WERE WELL ENOUGH IN THEIR DAY BUT THE NATION HAS MADE PROGRESS SINCE THEN BALLOON IS A MAN WE KNOW AND CAN DEPEND ON TO BE TRUE TO HIMSELF


YES AND BALLOON HAS HAD A GOOD DEAL OF PUBLIC EXPERIENCE HE IS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE HE WAS GOVERNOR OF ONE OF THE TERRITORIES A WHILE AND WAS VERY SATISFACTORY INDEED HE WAS HE WAS EX OFFICIO INDIAN AGENT TOO


WHOSE LAND HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THEM BY THE WHITE MAN IN THE INTERESTS OF CIVILIZATION BUT BALLOON KNEW THEIR NEEDS BETTER HE BUILT A GOVERNMENT SAW MILL ON THE RESERVATION WITH THE MONEY AND THE LUMBER SOLD FOR ENORMOUS PRICES A RELATIVE OF HIS DID ALL THE WORK FREE OF CHARGE


THAT IS TO SAY HE CHARGED NOTHING MORE THAN THE LUMBER WOULD BRING BUT THE POOR INJUNS NOT THAT I CARE MUCH FOR INJUNS WHAT DID HE DO FOR THEM GAVE THEM THE OUTSIDE SLABS TO FENCE IN THE RESERVATION WITH GOVERNOR BALLOON WAS NOTHING LESS THAN A FATHER TO THE POOR INDIANS BUT BALLOON IS NOT ALONE


WE HAVE MANY TRULY NOBLE STATESMEN IN OUR COUNTRY'S SERVICE LIKE BALLOON THE SENATE IS FULL OF THEM DON'T YOU THINK SO COLONEL WELL I DUNNO I HONOR MY COUNTRY'S PUBLIC SERVANTS AS MUCH AS ANY ONE CAN I MEET THEM SIR EVERY DAY AND THE MORE I SEE OF THEM


OF SECURING THEIR SERVICES FEW LANDS ARE SO BLEST THAT IS TRUE COLONEL TO BE SURE YOU CAN BUY NOW AND THEN A SENATOR OR A REPRESENTATIVE BUT THEY DO NOT KNOW IT IS WRONG AND SO THEY ARE NOT ASHAMED OF IT THEY ARE GENTLE AND CONFIDING AND CHILDLIKE


AND IN MY OPINION THESE ARE QUALITIES THAT ENNOBLE THEM FAR MORE THAN ANY AMOUNT OF


I QUITE AGREE WITH YOU COLONEL SELLERS WELL HESITATED THE COLONEL I AM AFRAID SOME OF THEM DO BUY THEIR SEATS YES I AM AFRAID THEY DO BUT AS SENATOR DILWORTHY HIMSELF SAID TO ME IT IS SINFUL IT IS VERY WRONG IT IS SHAMEFUL


HEAVEN PROTECT ME FROM SUCH A CHARGE THAT IS WHAT DILWORTHY SAID AND YET WHEN YOU COME TO LOOK AT IT YOU CANNOT DENY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO GO WITHOUT THE SERVICES OF SOME OF OUR ABLEST MEN SIR IF THE COUNTRY WERE OPPOSED TO TO BRIBERY IT IS A HARSH TERM I DO NOT LIKE TO USE IT


THE CARS CAME SCUDDING IN TOWARDS DUBLIN RUNNING EVENLY LIKE PELLETS IN THE GROOVE OF THE NAAS ROAD


CAREERING HOMEWARD AND THROUGH THIS CHANNEL OF POVERTY AND INACTION THE CONTINENT SPED ITS WEALTH AND INDUSTRY NOW AND AGAIN THE CLUMPS OF PEOPLE RAISED THE CHEER OF THE GRATEFULLY OPPRESSED THEIR SYMPATHY HOWEVER WAS FOR THE BLUE CARS


THE CARS OF THEIR FRIENDS THE FRENCH THE FRENCH MOREOVER WERE VIRTUAL VICTORS THEIR TEAM HAD FINISHED SOLIDLY THEY HAD BEEN PLACED SECOND AND THIRD AND THE DRIVER OF THE WINNING GERMAN CAR WAS REPORTED A BELGIAN


EACH BLUE CAR THEREFORE RECEIVED A DOUBLE MEASURE OF WELCOME AS IT TOPPED THE CREST OF THE HILL AND EACH CHEER OF WELCOME WAS ACKNOWLEDGED WITH SMILES AND NODS BY THOSE IN THE CAR IN ONE OF THESE TRIMLY BUILT CARS WAS A PARTY OF FOUR YOUNG MEN WHOSE SPIRITS SEEMED TO BE AT PRESENT


IN FACT THESE FOUR YOUNG MEN WERE ALMOST HILARIOUS THEY WERE CHARLES SEGOUIN THE OWNER OF THE CAR ANDRE RIVIERE A YOUNG ELECTRICIAN OF CANADIAN BIRTH A HUGE HUNGARIAN NAMED VILLONA


AND A NEATLY GROOMED YOUNG MAN NAMED DOYLE SEGOUIN WAS IN GOOD HUMOUR BECAUSE HE HAD UNEXPECTEDLY RECEIVED SOME ORDERS IN ADVANCE HE WAS ABOUT TO START A MOTOR ESTABLISHMENT IN PARIS


AND RIVIERE WAS IN GOOD HUMOUR BECAUSE HE WAS TO BE APPOINTED MANAGER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THESE TWO YOUNG MEN WHO WERE COUSINS WERE ALSO IN GOOD HUMOUR BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FRENCH CARS VILLONA WAS IN GOOD HUMOUR BECAUSE HE HAD HAD A VERY SATISFACTORY LUNCHEON


AND BESIDES HE WAS AN OPTIMIST BY NATURE THE FOURTH MEMBER OF THE PARTY HOWEVER WAS TOO EXCITED TO BE GENUINELY HAPPY HE WAS ABOUT TWENTY SIX YEARS OF AGE WITH A SOFT LIGHT BROWN MOUSTACHE AND RATHER INNOCENT LOOKING GREY EYES


HIS FATHER WHO HAD BEGUN LIFE AS AN ADVANCED NATIONALIST HAD MODIFIED HIS VIEWS EARLY HE HAD MADE HIS MONEY AS A BUTCHER IN KINGSTOWN AND BY OPENING SHOPS IN DUBLIN AND IN THE SUBURBS HE HAD MADE HIS MONEY MANY TIMES OVER


HE HAD ALSO BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SECURE SOME OF THE POLICE CONTRACTS AND IN THE END HE HAD BECOME RICH ENOUGH TO BE ALLUDED TO IN THE DUBLIN NEWSPAPERS AS A MERCHANT PRINCE HE HAD SENT HIS SON TO ENGLAND TO BE EDUCATED IN A BIG CATHOLIC COLLEGE


AND HAD AFTERWARDS SENT HIM TO DUBLIN UNIVERSITY TO STUDY LAW JIMMY DID NOT STUDY VERY EARNESTLY AND TOOK TO BAD COURSES FOR A WHILE HE HAD MONEY AND HE WAS POPULAR AND HE DIVIDED HIS TIME CURIOUSLY BETWEEN MUSICAL AND MOTORING CIRCLES


HIS FATHER REMONSTRATIVE BUT COVERTLY PROUD OF THE EXCESS HAD PAID HIS BILLS AND BROUGHT HIM HOME


WHO HAD SEEN SO MUCH OF THE WORLD AND WAS REPUTED TO OWN SOME OF THE BIGGEST HOTELS IN FRANCE SUCH A PERSON AS HIS FATHER AGREED WAS WELL WORTH KNOWING EVEN IF HE HAD NOT BEEN THE CHARMING COMPANION HE WAS


VILLONA WAS ENTERTAINING ALSO A BRILLIANT PIANIST BUT UNFORTUNATELY VERY POOR THE CAR RAN ON MERRILY WITH ITS CARGO OF HILARIOUS YOUTH THE TWO COUSINS SAT ON THE FRONT SEAT JIMMY AND HIS HUNGARIAN FRIEND SAT BEHIND


DECIDEDLY VILLONA WAS IN EXCELLENT SPIRITS HE KEPT UP A DEEP BASS HUM OF MELODY FOR MILES OF THE ROAD THE FRENCHMEN FLUNG THEIR LAUGHTER AND LIGHT WORDS OVER THEIR SHOULDERS AND OFTEN JIMMY HAD TO STRAIN FORWARD TO CATCH THE QUICK PHRASE


THIS WAS NOT ALTOGETHER PLEASANT FOR HIM AS HE HAD NEARLY ALWAYS TO MAKE A DEFT GUESS AT THE MEANING AND SHOUT BACK A SUITABLE ANSWER IN THE FACE OF A HIGH WIND BESIDES VILLONA'S HUMMING WOULD CONFUSE ANYBODY THE NOISE OF THE CAR TOO


RAPID MOTION THROUGH SPACE ELATES ONE SO DOES NOTORIETY SO DOES THE POSSESSION OF MONEY THESE WERE THREE GOOD REASONS FOR JIMMY'S EXCITEMENT HE HAD BEEN SEEN BY MANY OF HIS FRIENDS THAT DAY IN THE COMPANY OF THESE CONTINENTALS


AT THE CONTROL SEGOUIN HAD PRESENTED HIM TO ONE OF THE FRENCH COMPETITORS AND IN ANSWER TO HIS CONFUSED MURMUR OF COMPLIMENT THE SWARTHY FACE OF THE DRIVER HAD DISCLOSED A LINE OF SHINING WHITE TEETH


IT WAS PLEASANT AFTER THAT HONOUR TO RETURN TO THE PROFANE WORLD OF SPECTATORS AMID NUDGES AND SIGNIFICANT LOOKS THEN AS TO MONEY HE REALLY HAD A GREAT SUM UNDER HIS CONTROL


BUT JIMMY WHO IN SPITE OF TEMPORARY ERRORS WAS AT HEART THE INHERITOR OF SOLID INSTINCTS KNEW WELL WITH WHAT DIFFICULTY IT HAD BEEN GOT TOGETHER THIS KNOWLEDGE HAD PREVIOUSLY KEPT HIS BILLS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF REASONABLE RECKLESSNESS


AND IF HE HAD BEEN SO CONSCIOUS OF THE LABOUR LATENT IN MONEY WHEN THERE HAD BEEN QUESTION MERELY OF SOME FREAK OF THE HIGHER INTELLIGENCE HOW MUCH MORE SO NOW WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO STAKE THE GREATER PART OF HIS SUBSTANCE IT WAS A SERIOUS THING FOR HIM


JIMMY HAD A RESPECT FOR HIS FATHER'S SHREWDNESS IN BUSINESS MATTERS AND IN THIS CASE IT HAD BEEN HIS FATHER WHO HAD FIRST SUGGESTED THE INVESTMENT MONEY TO BE MADE IN THE MOTOR BUSINESS POTS OF MONEY MOREOVER SEGOUIN HAD THE UNMISTAKABLE AIR OF WEALTH


JIMMY SET OUT TO TRANSLATE INTO DAYS WORK THAT LORDLY CAR IN WHICH HE SAT HOW SMOOTHLY IT RAN IN WHAT STYLE THEY HAD COME CAREERING ALONG THE COUNTRY ROADS THE JOURNEY LAID A MAGICAL FINGER ON THE GENUINE PULSE OF LIFE


AND GALLANTLY THE MACHINERY OF HUMAN NERVES STROVE TO ANSWER THE BOUNDING COURSES OF THE SWIFT BLUE ANIMAL THEY DROVE DOWN DAME STREET THE STREET WAS BUSY WITH UNUSUAL TRAFFIC LOUD WITH THE HORNS OF MOTORISTS AND THE GONGS OF IMPATIENT TRAM DRIVERS


NEAR THE BANK SEGOUIN DREW UP AND JIMMY AND HIS FRIEND ALIGHTED A LITTLE KNOT OF PEOPLE COLLECTED ON THE FOOTPATH TO PAY HOMAGE TO THE SNORTING MOTOR THE PARTY WAS TO DINE TOGETHER THAT EVENING IN SEGOUIN'S HOTEL AND MEANWHILE JIMMY AND HIS FRIEND WHO WAS STAYING WITH HIM


WERE TO GO HOME TO DRESS THE CAR STEERED OUT SLOWLY FOR GRAFTON STREET WHILE THE TWO YOUNG MEN PUSHED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE KNOT OF GAZERS THEY WALKED NORTHWARD WITH A CURIOUS FEELING OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE EXERCISE WHILE THE CITY HUNG ITS PALE GLOBES OF LIGHT ABOVE THEM


IN A HAZE OF SUMMER EVENING IN JIMMY'S HOUSE THIS DINNER HAD BEEN PRONOUNCED AN OCCASION A CERTAIN PRIDE MINGLED WITH HIS PARENTS TREPIDATION A CERTAIN EAGERNESS ALSO TO PLAY FAST AND LOOSE FOR THE NAMES OF GREAT FOREIGN CITIES HAVE AT LEAST THIS VIRTUE


AND AS HE STOOD IN THE HALL GIVING A LAST EQUATION TO THE BOWS OF HIS DRESS TIE HIS FATHER MAY HAVE FELT EVEN COMMERCIALLY SATISFIED AT HAVING SECURED FOR HIS SON QUALITIES OFTEN UNPURCHASEABLE HIS FATHER THEREFORE WAS UNUSUALLY FRIENDLY WITH VILLONA


AND HIS MANNER EXPRESSED A REAL RESPECT FOR FOREIGN ACCOMPLISHMENTS BUT THIS SUBTLETY OF HIS HOST WAS PROBABLY LOST UPON THE HUNGARIAN WHO WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE A SHARP DESIRE FOR HIS DINNER THE DINNER WAS EXCELLENT EXQUISITE


SEGOUIN JIMMY DECIDED HAD A VERY REFINED TASTE THE PARTY WAS INCREASED BY A YOUNG ENGLISHMAN NAMED ROUTH WHOM JIMMY HAD SEEN WITH SEGOUIN AT CAMBRIDGE THE YOUNG MEN SUPPED IN A SNUG ROOM LIT BY ELECTRIC CANDLE LAMPS


THEY TALKED VOLUBLY AND WITH LITTLE RESERVE JIMMY WHOSE IMAGINATION WAS KINDLING CONCEIVED THE LIVELY YOUTH OF THE FRENCHMEN TWINED ELEGANTLY UPON THE FIRM FRAMEWORK OF THE ENGLISHMAN'S MANNER A GRACEFUL IMAGE OF HIS HE THOUGHT AND A JUST ONE


HE ADMIRED THE DEXTERITY WITH WHICH THEIR HOST DIRECTED THE CONVERSATION THE FIVE YOUNG MEN HAD VARIOUS TASTES AND THEIR TONGUES HAD BEEN LOOSENED VILLONA WITH IMMENSE RESPECT BEGAN TO DISCOVER TO THE MILDLY SURPRISED ENGLISHMAN THE BEAUTIES OF THE ENGLISH MADRIGAL


RIVIERE NOT WHOLLY INGENUOUSLY UNDERTOOK TO EXPLAIN TO JIMMY THE TRIUMPH OF THE FRENCH MECHANICIANS THE RESONANT VOICE OF THE HUNGARIAN WAS ABOUT TO PREVAIL IN RIDICULE OF THE SPURIOUS LUTES OF THE ROMANTIC PAINTERS


WHEN SEGOUIN SHEPHERDED HIS PARTY INTO POLITICS HERE WAS CONGENIAL GROUND FOR ALL JIMMY UNDER GENEROUS INFLUENCES FELT THE BURIED ZEAL OF HIS FATHER WAKE TO LIFE WITHIN HIM HE AROUSED THE TORPID ROUTH AT LAST


THE ROOM GREW DOUBLY HOT AND SEGOUIN'S TASK GREW HARDER EACH MOMENT THERE WAS EVEN DANGER OF PERSONAL SPITE THE ALERT HOST AT AN OPPORTUNITY LIFTED HIS GLASS TO HUMANITY AND WHEN THE TOAST HAD BEEN DRUNK HE THREW OPEN A WINDOW SIGNIFICANTLY


THAT NIGHT THE CITY WORE THE MASK OF A CAPITAL THE FIVE YOUNG MEN STROLLED ALONG STEPHEN'S GREEN IN A FAINT CLOUD OF AROMATIC SMOKE THEY TALKED LOUDLY AND GAILY AND THEIR CLOAKS DANGLED FROM THEIR SHOULDERS THE PEOPLE MADE WAY FOR THEM


AT THE CORNER OF GRAFTON STREET A SHORT FAT MAN WAS PUTTING TWO HANDSOME LADIES ON A CAR IN CHARGE OF ANOTHER FAT MAN THE CAR DROVE OFF AND THE SHORT FAT MAN CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE PARTY ANDRE IT'S FARLEY


A TORRENT OF TALK FOLLOWED FARLEY WAS AN AMERICAN NO ONE KNEW VERY WELL WHAT THE TALK WAS ABOUT VILLONA AND RIVIERE WERE THE NOISIEST BUT ALL THE MEN WERE EXCITED THEY GOT UP ON A CAR SQUEEZING THEMSELVES TOGETHER AMID MUCH LAUGHTER


TO A MUSIC OF MERRY BELLS


THEY WERE WALKING OUT OF KINGSTOWN STATION THE TICKET COLLECTOR SALUTED JIMMY HE WAS AN OLD MAN FINE NIGHT SIR IT WAS A SERENE SUMMER NIGHT THE HARBOUR LAY LIKE A DARKENED MIRROR AT THEIR FEET


THEY PROCEEDED TOWARDS IT WITH LINKED ARMS SINGING CADET ROUSSEL IN CHORUS STAMPING THEIR FEET AT EVERY HO HO HOHE VRAIMENT THEY GOT INTO A ROWBOAT AT THE SLIP AND MADE OUT FOR THE AMERICAN'S YACHT THERE WAS TO BE SUPPER MUSIC CARDS


VILLONA SAID WITH CONVICTION IT IS DELIGHTFUL THERE WAS A YACHT PIANO IN THE CABIN VILLONA PLAYED A WALTZ FOR FARLEY AND RIVIERE FARLEY ACTING AS CAVALIER AND RIVIERE AS LADY


THEN AN IMPROMPTU SQUARE DANCE THE MEN DEVISING ORIGINAL FIGURES WHAT MERRIMENT JIMMY TOOK HIS PART WITH A WILL THIS WAS SEEING LIFE AT LEAST THEN FARLEY GOT OUT OF BREATH AND CRIED STOP


A MAN BROUGHT IN A LIGHT SUPPER AND THE YOUNG MEN SAT DOWN TO IT FOR FORM'S SAKE THEY DRANK HOWEVER IT WAS BOHEMIAN THEY DRANK IRELAND ENGLAND FRANCE HUNGARY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JIMMY MADE A SPEECH A LONG SPEECH


VILLONA SAYING HEAR HEAR WHENEVER THERE WAS A PAUSE THERE WAS A GREAT CLAPPING OF HANDS WHEN HE SAT DOWN IT MUST HAVE BEEN A GOOD SPEECH FARLEY CLAPPED HIM ON THE BACK AND LAUGHED LOUDLY WHAT JOVIAL FELLOWS WHAT GOOD COMPANY THEY WERE CARDS CARDS


THE TABLE WAS CLEARED VILLONA RETURNED QUIETLY TO HIS PIANO AND PLAYED VOLUNTARIES FOR THEM THE OTHER MEN PLAYED GAME AFTER GAME FLINGING THEMSELVES BOLDLY INTO THE ADVENTURE THEY DRANK THE HEALTH OF THE QUEEN OF HEARTS AND OF THE QUEEN OF DIAMONDS


JIMMY FELT OBSCURELY THE LACK OF AN AUDIENCE THE WIT WAS FLASHING PLAY RAN VERY HIGH AND PAPER BEGAN TO PASS JIMMY DID NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHO WAS WINNING BUT HE KNEW THAT HE WAS LOSING BUT IT WAS HIS OWN FAULT FOR HE FREQUENTLY MISTOOK HIS CARDS


THEY WERE DEVILS OF FELLOWS BUT HE WISHED THEY WOULD STOP IT WAS GETTING LATE SOMEONE GAVE THE TOAST OF THE YACHT THE BELLE OF NEWPORT AND THEN SOMEONE PROPOSED ONE GREAT GAME FOR A FINISH THE PIANO HAD STOPPED VILLONA MUST HAVE GONE UP ON DECK


IT WAS A TERRIBLE GAME THEY STOPPED JUST BEFORE THE END OF IT TO DRINK FOR LUCK JIMMY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE GAME LAY BETWEEN ROUTH AND SEGOUIN WHAT EXCITEMENT JIMMY WAS EXCITED TOO HE WOULD LOSE OF COURSE HOW MUCH HAD HE WRITTEN AWAY


THE MEN ROSE TO THEIR FEET TO PLAY THE LAST TRICKS TALKING AND GESTICULATING ROUTH WON THE CABIN SHOOK WITH THE YOUNG MEN'S CHEERING AND THE CARDS WERE BUNDLED TOGETHER THEY BEGAN THEN TO GATHER IN WHAT THEY HAD WON FARLEY AND JIMMY WERE THE HEAVIEST LOSERS


HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD REGRET IN THE MORNING BUT AT PRESENT HE WAS GLAD OF THE REST GLAD OF THE DARK STUPOR THAT WOULD COVER UP HIS FOLLY HE LEANED HIS ELBOWS ON THE TABLE AND RESTED HIS HEAD BETWEEN HIS HANDS COUNTING THE BEATS OF HIS TEMPLES


THE CABIN DOOR OPENED AND HE SAW THE HUNGARIAN STANDING IN A SHAFT OF GREY LIGHT


IN THIS MISERABLE STATE THEY CAME TO THE FIRST VILLAGE THE PEASANTS WIVES FLOCKED ABOUT THEM AND AS IT APPEARED THROUGH THEIR DISGUISE THAT THEY WERE PEOPLE OF SOME CONDITION ASKED THEM WHAT WAS THE OCCASION OF THEIR TRAVELLING IN A HABIT THAT DID NOT SEEM TO BELONG TO THEM


INSTEAD OF ANSWERING THE QUESTION THEY FELL TO WEEPING WHICH ONLY SERVED TO HEIGHTEN THE CURIOSITY OF THE PEASANTS AND TO MOVE THEIR COMPASSION GANEM'S MOTHER TOLD THEM WHAT SHE AND HER DAUGHTER HAD ENDURED AT WHICH THE GOOD COUNTRYWOMEN WERE SENSIBLY AFFLICTED


AND ENDEAVOURED TO COMFORT THEM THEY TREATED THEM AS WELL AS THEIR POVERTY WOULD PERMIT TOOK OFF THEIR HORSE HAIR SHIFTS WHICH WERE VERY UNEASY TO THEM AND PUT ON THEM OTHERS WHICH THEY GAVE THEM WITH SHOES AND SOMETHING TO COVER THEIR HEADS AND SAVE THEIR HAIR


JALIB AL KOOLLOOB AND HER MOTHER DEPARTED FROM THAT VILLAGE TAKING SHORT JOURNEYS TOWARDS ALEPPO THEY USED AT DUSK TO RETIRE NEAR OR INTO THE MOSQUES WHERE THEY PASSED THE NIGHT ON THE MAT IF THERE WAS ANY


OR ELSE ON THE BARE PAVEMENT AND SOMETIMES RESTED IN THE PUBLIC PLACES APPOINTED FOR THE USE OF TRAVELLERS AS FOR SUSTENANCE THEY DID NOT WANT FOR THEY OFTEN CAME TO PLACES WHERE BREAD BOILED RICE AND OTHER PROVISIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL TRAVELLERS WHO DESIRE IT


AT LENGTH THEY CAME TO ALEPPO BUT WOULD NOT STAY THERE AND CONTINUING THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS THE EUPHRATES CROSSED THE RIVER


THENCE NOTWITHSTANDING ALL THEY HAD ENDURED THEY PROCEEDED TO BAGDAD THAT WAS THE PLACE THEY HAD FIXED THEIR THOUGHTS UPON


BUT THEY HOPED BECAUSE THEY WISHED IT THEIR AFFECTION FOR HIM INCREASING INSTEAD OF DIMINISHING WITH THEIR MISFORTUNES THEIR CONVERSATION WAS GENERALLY ABOUT HIM AND THEY INQUIRED FOR HIM OF ALL THEY MET BUT LET US LEAVE JALIB AL KOOLLOOB AND HER MOTHER


AND RETURN TO FETNAH SHE WAS STILL CONFINED CLOSELY IN THE DARK TOWER SINCE THE DAY THAT HAD BEEN SO FATAL TO GANEM AND HERSELF HOWEVER DISAGREEABLE AS HER PRISON WAS TO HER IT WAS MUCH LESS GRIEVOUS THAN THE THOUGHTS OF GANEM'S MISFORTUNE


THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHOSE FATE WAS A KILLING AFFLICTION THERE WAS SCARCELY A MOMENT IN WHICH SHE DID NOT LAMENT HIM


AND SOMETIMES BY THOSE NIGHT WALKS CAME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN HIS COURT WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE NEVER HAVE REACHED HIS EAR ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS IN HIS WALK HE HAPPENED TO PASS BY THE DARK TOWER AND FANCYING HE HEARD SOMEBODY TALK


STOPS AND DRAWING NEAR THE DOOR TO LISTEN DISTINCTLY HEARD THESE WORDS WHICH FETNAH WHOSE THOUGHTS WERE ALWAYS ON GANEM UTTERED WITH A LOUD VOICE O GANEM TOO UNFORTUNATE GANEM WHERE ARE YOU AT THIS TIME


WHITHER HAS THY CRUEL FATE LED THEE ALAS IT IS I THAT HAVE MADE YOU WRETCHED WHY DID YOU NOT LET ME PERISH MISERABLY RATHER THAN AFFORD ME YOUR GENEROUS RELIEF WHAT MELANCHOLY RETURN HAVE YOU RECEIVED FOR YOUR CARE AND RESPECT


THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL WHO OUGHT TO HAVE REWARDED PERSECUTES YOU AND IN REQUITAL FOR HAVING ALWAYS REGARDED ME AS A PERSON RESERVED FOR HIS BED YOU LOSE YOUR FORTUNE AND ARE OBLIGED TO SEEK FOR SAFETY IN FLIGHT


HOW CAN YOU EXCULPATE YOURSELF WHEN YOU SHALL APPEAR WITH GANEM BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL OF THE SUPREME JUDGE AND THE ANGELS SHALL TESTIFY THE TRUTH BEFORE YOUR FACE ALL THE POWER YOU ARE NOW INVESTED WITH AND WHICH MAKES ALMOST THE WHOLE WORLD TREMBLE


WILL NOT PREVENT YOUR BEING CONDEMNED AND PUNISHED FOR YOUR VIOLENT AND UNJUST PROCEEDINGS HERE FETNAH CEASED HER COMPLAINTS HER SIGHS AND TEARS PUTTING A STOP TO HER UTTERANCE


HE PLAINLY PERCEIVED THAT IF WHAT HE HAD HEARD WAS TRUE HIS FAVOURITE MUST BE INNOCENT AND THAT HE HAD BEEN TOO HASTY IN GIVING SUCH ORDERS AGAINST GANEM AND HIS FAMILY


HE WAS OVERJOYED AT THE THOUGHT FOR HE RESPECTED FETNAH AND HAD BEEN MUCH CONCERNED AT HER DISGRACE THEREFORE FLYING INSTANTLY TO THE TOWER MADAM SAID HE TO THE FAVOURITE WITH SUCH AN AIR AS EXPRESSED HIS SATISFACTION BE PLEASED TO FOLLOW ME


I HOPE YOU WILL NEVER MORE RETURN TO THIS MELANCHOLY ABODE THE COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL WISHES TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND I DRAW FROM THIS A HAPPY OMEN


SHE PROSTRATED HERSELF BEFORE HIM AND SO CONTINUED HER FACE BATHED IN TEARS


I THINK YOU CHARGE ME WITH VIOLENCE AND INJUSTICE WHO IS HE THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE REGARD AND RESPELL HE HAD FOR ME IS IN A MISERABLE CONDITION SPEAK FREELY


YOU KNOW THE NATURAL GOODNESS OF MY DISPOSITION AND THAT I LOVE TO DO JUSTICE BY THESE WORDS


COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS SAID SHE IF I HAVE LET FALL ANY WORD THAT IS NOT AGREEABLE TO YOUR MAJESTY I MOST HUMBLY BESEECH YOU TO FORGIVE ME BUT HE WHOSE INNOCENCE AND WRETCHED STATE YOU DESIRE TO BE INFORMED OF


IS GANEM THE UNHAPPY SON OF ABOU AYOUB LATE A RICH MERCHANT OF DAMASCUS HE SAVED MY LIFE FROM A GRAVE AND AFFORDED ME A SANCTUARY IN HIS HOUSE


I MUST OWN THAT FROM THE FIRST MOMENT HE SAW ME HE PERHAPS DESIGNED TO DEVOTE HIMSELF TO ME AND CONCEIVED HOPES OF ENGAGING ME TO ADMIT HIS LOVE I GUESSED AT THIS BY THE EAGERNESS WHICH HE SHEWED IN ENTERTAINING ME


AND DOING ME ALL THE GOOD OFFICES I SO MUCH WANTED UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES I WAS THEN IN BUT AS SOON AS HE HEARD THAT I HAD THE HONOUR TO BELONG TO YOU AH MADAM SAID HE THAT WHICH BELONGS TO THE MASTER IS FORBIDDEN TO THE SLAVE FROM THAT MOMENT


I OWE THIS JUSTICE TO HIS VIRTUE TO DECLARE HIS BEHAVIOUR WAS ALWAYS SUITABLE TO HIS WORDS YOU COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS WELL KNOW WITH WHAT RIGOUR YOU HAVE TREATED HIM AND YOU WILL ANSWER FOR IT BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL OF GOD


I MUST MAKE A CONFESSION WHICH PERHAPS MAY DISPLEASE YOU BUT I BEG PARDON OF YOUR MAJESTY BEFOREHAND SPEAK DAUGHTER SAID HAROON AL RUSHEED I FORGIVE YOU ALL PROVIDED YOU CONCEAL NOTHING FROM ME WELL THEN REPLIED FETNAH


LET ME INFORM YOU THAT GANEM'S RESPECTFUL BEHAVIOUR JOINED TO ALL THE GOOD OFFICES HE DID ME GAINED HIM MY ESTEEM I WENT FURTHER YET YOU KNOW THE TYRANNY OF LOVE I FELT SOME TENDER INCLINATION RISING IN MY BREAST


HE PERCEIVED IT BUT FAR FROM AVAILING HIMSELF OF MY FRAILTY AND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FLAME WHICH CONSUMED HIM HE STILL REMAINED STEADY IN HIS DUTY AND ALL THAT HIS PASSION COULD FORCE FROM HIM WERE THE WORDS I HAVE ALREADY REPEATED TO YOUR MAJESTY


THAT WHICH BELONGS TO THE MASTER IS FORBIDDEN TO THE SLAVE THIS INGENUOUS CONFESSION


AND ENLARGING ON THE OBLIGATIONS SHE OWED TO GANEM BUT ABOVE ALL SHE HIGHLY EXTOLLED HIS DISCRETION


WHEN SHE HAD DONE SPEAKING


I BELIEVE ALL YOU HAVE TOLD ME BUT WHY WAS IT SO LONG BEFORE YOU LET ME HEAR FROM YOU WAS THERE ANY NEED OF STAYING A WHOLE MONTH AFTER MY RETURN BEFORE YOU SENT ME WORD WHERE YOU WERE COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS ANSWERED FETNAH


GANEM WENT ABROAD SO VERY SELDOM THAT YOU NEED NOT WONDER WE WERE NOT THE FIRST THAT HEARD OF YOUR RETURN BESIDES GANEM WHO TOOK UPON HIM TO DELIVER THE LETTER I WROTE TO NOURON NIHAR


WAS A LONG TIME BEFORE HE COULD FIND AN OPPORTUNITY OF PUTTING IT INTO HER OWN HANDS IT IS ENOUGH FETNAH


I ACKNOWLEDGE MY FAULT AND WOULD WILLINGLY MAKE AMENDS FOR IT BY HEAPING FAVOURS ON THE YOUNG MERCHANT OF DAMASCUS CONSIDER THEREFORE WHAT I CAN DO FOR HIM ASK WHAT YOU THINK FIT AND I WILL GRANT IT


AND RISING AGAIN SAID COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS AFTER RETURNING YOUR MAJESTY THANKS FOR GANEM I MOST HUMBLY ENTREAT YOU TO CAUSE IT TO BE PUBLISHED THROUGHOUT YOUR DO MINIONS THAT YOU PARDON THE SON OF ABOU AYOUB AND THAT HE MAY SAFELY COME TO YOU


I MUST DO MORE REJOINED THE PRINCE IN REQUITAL FOR HAVING SAVED YOUR LIFE AND THE RESPECT HE HAS STREWN FOR ME TO MAKE AMENDS FOR THE LOSS OF HIS FORTUNE IN SHORT TO REPAIR THE WRONG I HAVE DONE TO HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY


I GIVE HIM TO YOU FOR A HUSBAND


SHE THEN WITHDREW INTO THE APARTMENT SHE HAD OCCUPIED BEFORE HER MELANCHOLY ADVENTURE


SHE SPEND THE WHOLE DAY AND THE THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD IN GIVING ALMS AT THE MOSQUES AND RETURNED TO THE PALACE IN THE EVENING


THE NEXT DAY SHE TOOK ANOTHER PURSE OF THE SAME VALUE AND IN THE LIKE EQUIPAGE AS THE DAY BEFORE WENT TO THE SQUARE OF THE JEWELLERS SHOPS AND STOPPING AT THE GATEWAY WITHOUT ALIGHTING SENT ONE OF HER BLACK EUNUCHS FOR THE SYNDIC OR CHIEF OF THEM


THE SYNDIC WHO WAS A MOST CHARITABLE MAN AND SPENT ABOVE TWO THIRDS OF HIS INCOME IN RELIEVING POOR STRANGERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS DID NOT MAKE FETNAH WAIT KNOWING BY HER DRESS THAT SHE WAS A LADY BELONGING TO THE PALACE I APPLY MYSELF TO YOU SAID SHE


PUTTING THE PURSE INTO HIS HANDS AS A PERSON WHOSE PIETY IS CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY I DESIRE YOU TO DISTRIBUTE THAT GOLD AMONG THE POOR STRANGERS YOU RELIEVE FOR I KNOW YOU MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS TO ASSIST THOSE WHO APPLY TO YOUR CHARITY


I AM ALSO SATISFIED THAT YOU PREVENT THEIR WANTS AND THAT NOTHING IS MORE GRATEFUL TO YOU THAN TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF RELIEVING THEIR MISERY MADAM ANSWERED THE SYNDIC I SHALL OBEY YOUR COMMANDS WITH PLEASURE BUT IF YOU DESIRE TO EXERCISE YOUR CHARITY IN PERSON


AND WILL BE PLEASED TO STEP TO MY HOUSE


I MET THEM YESTERDAY AS THEY WERE COMING INTO THE CITY THEY WERE IN A DEPLORABLE CONDITION AND IT MOVED ME THE MORE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE PERSONS OF RANK THROUGH ALL THE RAGS THAT COVERED THEM NOTWITHSTANDING THE IMPRESSION THE SUN HAS MADE ON THEIR FACES


WHILST SHE HERSELF LED THEM TO OUR WARM BATH AND GAVE THEM CLEAN LINEN


BECAUSE WE WISH TO LET THEM TAKE SOME REST BEFORE WE TROUBLE THEM WITH OUR QUESTIONS FETNAH WITHOUT KNOWING WHY FELT A CURIOSITY TO SEE THEM THE SYNDIC WOULD HAVE CONDUCTED HER TO HIS HOUSE


FOR THEY WERE THE PERSONS THE SYNDIC HAD BEEN SPEAKING OF TO FETNAH THE SYNDIC'S WIFE BEING INFORMED BY THE SLAVE THAT A LADY FROM THE PALACE WAS IN HER HOUSE WAS HASTENING TO MEET HER BUT FETNAH WHO HAD FOLLOWED THE SLAVE DID NOT GIVE HER TIME


ON HER COMING INTO THE CHAMBER THE SYNDIC'S WIFE PROSTRATED HERSELF BEFORE HER


FETNAH RAISED HER UP AND SAID MY GOOD LADY


MADAM ANSWERED THE SYNDIC'S WIFE THEY LIE IN THOSE BEDS YOU SEE BY EACH OTHER


GOOD WOMAN SAID SHE I COME TO OFFER YOU MY ASSISTANCE I HAVE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THIS CITY AND MAY BE OF SERVICE TO YOU AND YOUR COMPANION MADAM ANSWERED GANEM'S MOTHER


THAT FETNAH AND THE SYNDIC'S WIFE COULD NOT FORBEAR LETTING FALL SOME TEARS


SAID TO GANEM'S MOTHER BE SO KIND AS TO TELL US YOUR MISFORTUNES AND RECOUNT YOUR STORY YOU CANNOT MAKE THE RELATION TO ANY PERSONS BETTER DISPOSED TO USE ALL POSSIBLE MEANS TO COMFORT YOU


MADAM REPLIED ABOU AYOUB'S DISCONSOLATE WIDOW A FAVOURITE OF THE COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS A LADY WHOSE NAME IS FETNAH IS THE OCCASION OF ALL OUR MISFORTUNES THESE WORDS WERE LIKE A THUNDERBOLT TO THE FAVOURITE


BUT SUPPRESSING HER AGITATION AND CONCERN SHE SUFFERED GANEM'S MOTHER TO PROCEED IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER


I HAD A SON CALLED GANEM WHO COMING TO TRADE AT BAGDAD HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF CARRYING OFF FETNAH


AND THEN TO BANISH US OUT OF SYRIA FOR EVER BUT HOW UNWORTHY SOEVER OUR USAGE HAS BEEN


WHAT A PLEASURE WOULD IT BE FOR HIS SISTER AND ME TO SEE HIM AGAIN EMBRACING HIM WE SHOULD FORGET THE LOSS OF OUR PROPERTY AND ALL THE EVILS WE HAVE SUFFERED ON HIS ACCOUNT ALAS


NO DOUBT OF IT SAID FETNAH INTERRUPTING HER THERE HE IS NO MORE GUILTY THAN YOU ARE I CAN ASSURE YOU OF HIS INNOCENCE FOR I AM THAT VERY FETNAH YOU SO MUCH COMPLAIN OF WHO THROUGH SOME FATALITY IN MY STARS


HAVE OCCASIONED YOU SO MANY MISFORTUNES TO ME YOU MUST IMPUTE THE LOSS OF YOUR SON IF HE IS NO MORE BUT IF I HAVE OCCASIONED YOUR MISFORTUNE I CAN IN SOME MEASURE RELIEVE IT


AND DOUBT NOT HE WILL DO YOU AS MUCH GOOD AS HE HAS DONE YOU INJURY YOU ARE NO LONGER HIS ENEMIES HE WAITS FOR GANEM TO REQUITE THE SERVICE HE HAS DONE ME BY UNITING OUR FORTUNES HE GIVES ME TO HIM FOR HIS CONSORT


THEREFORE LOOK ON ME AS YOUR DAUGHTER AND PERMIT ME TO VOW ETERNAL DUTY AND AFFECTION HAVING SO SAID SHE BOWED DOWN ON GANEM'S MOTHER WHO WAS SO ASTONISHED THAT SHE COULD RETURN NO ANSWER


FETNAH HELD HER LONG IN HER ARMS AND ONLY LEFT HER TO EMBRACE THE DAUGHTER WHO SITTING UP


THE WEALTH GANEM HAD IN THIS CITY IS NOT LOST IT IS IN MY APARTMENT IN THE PALACE BUT I KNOW ALL THE TREASURE OF THE WORLD CANNOT COMFORT YOU WITHOUT GANEM IF I MAY JUDGE OF YOU BY MYSELF BLOOD IS NO LESS POWERFUL THAN LOVE IN GREAT MINDS


BUT WHY SHOULD WE DESPAIR OF SEEING HIM AGAIN WE SHALL FIND HIM THE HAPPINESS OF MEETING WITH YOU MAKES ME CONCEIVE FRESH HOPES PERHAPS THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF YOUR SUFFERINGS AND THE BEGINNING OF A GREATER FELICITY THAN YOU ENJOYED IN DAMASCUS


WHEN GANEM WAS WITH YOU FETNAH WOULD HAVE PROCEEDED BUT THE SYNDIC OF THE JEWELLERS COMING IN INTERRUPTED HER MADAM SAID HE TO HER I COME FROM SEEING A VERY MOVING OBJECT IT IS A YOUNG MAN WHOM A CAMEL DRIVER HAD JUST CARRIED TO AN HOSPITAL


HE WAS BOUND WITH CORDS ON A CAMEL BECAUSE HE HAD NOT STRENGTH ENOUGH TO SIT THEY HAD ALREADY UNBOUND HIM AND WERE CARRYING HIM INTO THE HOSPITAL WHEN I HAPPENED TO PASS BY I WENT UP TO THE YOUNG MAN VIEWED HIM ATTENTIVELY


AND FANCIED HIS COUNTENANCE WAS NOT ALTOGETHER UNKNOWN TO ME I ASKED HIM SOME QUESTIONS CONCERNING HIS FAMILY AND HIS COUNTRY BUT ALL THE ANSWERS I COULD GET WERE SIGHS AND TEARS I TOOK PITY ON HIM


PERCEIVED THAT HE HAD NEED TO HAVE PARTICULAR CARE TAKEN OF HIM I WOULD NOT PERMIT HIM TO BE PUT INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR I AM TOO WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THEIR WAY OF MANAGING THE SICK AND AM SENSIBLE OF THE INCAPACITY OF THE PHYSICIANS


I HAVE CAUSED HIM TO BE BROUGHT TO MY OWN HOUSE BY MY SLAVES AND THEY ARE NOW IN A PRIVATE ROOM WHERE I PLACED HIM PUTTING ON SOME OF MY OWN LINEN AND TREATING HIM AS THEY WOULD DO MYSELF FETNAH'S HEART BEAT AT THESE WORDS OF THE JEWELLER


AND SHE FELT A SUDDEN EMOTION FOR WHICH SHE COULD NOT ACCOUNT SHEW ME SAID SHE TO THE SYNDIC INTO THE SICK MAN'S ROOM I SHOULD BE GLAD TO SEE HIM THE SYNDIC CONDUCTED HER AND WHILST SHE WAS GOING THITHER


WHOSE EYES WERE CLOSED HIS COUNTENANCE PALE DISFIGURED AND BATHED IN TEARS SHE GAZED EARNESTLY ON HIM HER HEART BEAT AND SHE FANCIED SHE BEHELD GANEM BUT YET SHE WOULD NOT BELIEVE HER EYES


THOUGH SHE FOUND SOMETHING OF GANEM IN THE OBJETS SHE BEHELD YET IN OTHER RESPECTS HE APPEARED SO DIFFERENT THAT SHE DURST NOT IMAGINE IT WAS HE THAT LAY BEFORE HER UNABLE HOWEVER TO WITHSTAND THE EARNEST DESIRE OF BEING SATISFIED


GANEM SAID SHE WITH A TREMBLING VOICE IS IT YOU I BEHOLD HAVING SPOKEN THESE WORDS SHE STOPPED TO GIVE THE YOUNG MAN TIME TO ANSWER BUT OBSERVING THAT HE SEEMED INSENSIBLE ALAS GANEM ADDED SHE


IT IS NOT YOU THAT I ADDRESS MY IMAGINATION BEING OVERCHARGED WITH YOUR IMAGE HAS GIVEN TO A STRANGER A DECEITFUL RESEMBLANCE


HOWEVER INDISPOSED WOULD KNOW THE VOICE OF FETNAH AT THE NAME OF FETNAH GANEM FOR IT WAS REALLY HE


AH MADAM SAID HE BY WHAT MIRACLE HE COULD SAY NO MORE SUCH A SUDDEN TRANSPORT OF JOY SEIZED HIM THAT HE FAINTED AWAY FETNAH AND THE SYNDIC DID ALL THEY COULD TO BRING HIM TO HIMSELF


BUT AS SOON AS THEY PERCEIVED HE BEGAN TO REVIVE THE SYNDIC DESIRED THE LADY TO WITHDRAW LEST THE SIGHT OF HER SHOULD HEIGHTEN HIS DISORDER THE YOUNG MAN HAVING RECOVERED LOOKED ALL AROUND AND NOT SEEING WHAT HE SOUGHT EXCLAIMED


WHAT IS BECOME OF YOU CHARMING FETNAH DID YOU REALLY APPEAR BEFORE MY EYES OR WAS IT ONLY AN ILLUSION NO SIR SAID THE SYNDIC IT WAS NO ILLUSION IT WAS I THAT CAUSED THE LADY TO WITHDRAW


BUT YOU SHALL SEE HER AGAIN AS SOON AS YOU ARE IN A CONDITION TO BEAR THE INTERVIEW YOU NOW STAND IN NEED OF REST AND NOTHING OUGHT TO OBSTRUCT YOUR TAKING IT THE SITUATION OF YOUR AFFAIRS IS ALTERED SINCE YOU ARE AS I SUPPOSE THAT GANEM


IN FAVOUR OF WHOM THE COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS HAS CAUSED A PROCLAMATION TO BE MADE IN BAGDAD DECLARING THAT HE FORGIVES HIM WHAT IS PASSED BE SATISFIED FOR THE PRESENT WITH KNOWING SO MUCH


THE LADY WHO JUST NOW SPOKE TO YOU WILL ACQUAINT YOU WITH THE REST THEREFORE THINK OF NOTHING BUT RECOVERING YOUR HEALTH I WILL CONTRIBUTE ALL IN MY POWER TOWARDS IT HAVING SPOKE THESE WORDS HE LEFT GANEM TO TAKE HIS REST


EXHAUSTED BY HARD LIVING AND TOIL


THERE WAS NO OCCASION FOR THE SYNDIC'S SAYING ANY MORE TO GANEM'S MOTHER AS SOON AS SHE WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT CONVERSE WITH HER SON WITHOUT HAZARDING HIS LIFE SHE CEASED INSISTING TO GO AND SEE HIM


FETNAH THEN SAID LET US BLESS HEAVEN FOR HAVING BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER


AND TOMORROW MORNING I WILL RETURN TO YOU THIS SAID SHE EMBRACED THE MOTHER AND THE DAUGHTER AND WENT AWAY AS SOON AS SHE CAME TO THE PALACE


WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY GRANTED AND BEING BROUGHT INTO THE PRINCE'S CLOSET WHERE HE WAS ALONE SHE PROSTRATED HERSELF AT HIS FEET WITH HER FACE ON THE GROUND ACCORDING TO CUSTOM HE COMMANDED HER TO RISE AND HAVING MADE HER SIT DOWN ASKED WHETHER SHE HAD HEARD ANY NEWS OF GANEM


COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS SAID SHE I HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT I HAVE FOUND HIM AND ALSO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER


AND SHE SATISFIED HIS INQUIRIES SAYING SO MANY THINGS IN COMMENDATION OF GANEM'S MOTHER AND SISTER HE DESIRED TO SEE THEM AS WELL AS THE YOUNG MERCHANT THOUGH HAROON AL RUSHEED WAS PASSIONATE AND IN HIS HEAT SOMETIMES GUILTY OF CRUEL ACTIONS


HAVING THEREFORE NO LONGER CAUSE TO DOUBT BUT THAT HE HAD UNJUSTLY PERSECUTED GANEM AND HIS FAMILY AND HAD PUBLICLY WRONGED THEM HE RESOLVED TO MAKE THEM PUBLIC SATISFACTION


THAT YOUR SEARCH HAS PROVED SO SUCCESSFUL IT IS A REAL SATISFACTION TO ME NOT SO MUCH FOR YOUR SAKE AS FOR MY OWN I WILL KEEP THE PROMISE I HAVE MADE YOU YOU SHALL MARRY GANEM AND I HERE DECLARE YOU ARE NO LONGER MY SLAVE YOU ARE FREE


GO BACK TO THAT YOUNG MERCHANT AND AS SOON AS HE HAS RECOVERED HIS HEALTH YOU SHALL BRING HIM TO ME WITH HIS MOTHER AND SISTER THE NEXT MORNING EARLY FETNAH REPAIRED TO THE SYNDIC OF THE JEWELLERS BEING IMPATIENT TO HEAR OF GANEM'S HEALTH AND TELL THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER THE GOOD NEWS SHE HAD FOR THEM


WHO TOLD HER THAT GANEM HAD RESTED WELL THAT NIGHT AND THAT HIS DISORDER PROCEEDING ALTOGETHER FROM MELANCHOLY THE CAUSE BEING REMOVED HE WOULD SOON RECOVER HIS HEALTH


REST AND THE GOOD MEDICINES HE HAD TAKEN BUT ABOVE ALL THE DIFFERENT SITUATION OF HIS MIND HAD WROUGHT SO GOOD AN EFFECT THAT THE SYNDIC THOUGHT HE MIGHT WITHOUT DANGER SEE HIS MOTHER HIS SISTER AND HIS MISTRESS PROVIDED HE WAS PREPARED TO RECEIVE THEM


BECAUSE THERE WAS GROUND TO FEAR THAT NOT KNOWING HIS MOTHER AND SISTER WERE AT BAGDAD THE SIGHT OF THEM MIGHT OCCASION TOO GREAT SURPRISE AND JOY IT WAS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT FETNAH SHOULD FIRST GO ALONE INTO GANEM'S CHAMBER


WHEN SHE THOUGHT IT WAS PROPER MATTERS BEING SO ORDERED THE SYNDIC ANNOUNCED FETNAH'S COMING TO THE SICK MAN WHO WAS SO TRANSPORTED TO SEE HER THAT HE WAS AGAIN NEAR FAINTING AWAY WELL GANEM SAID SHE DRAWING NEAR TO HIS BED


YOU HAVE AGAIN FOUND YOUR FETNAH WHOM YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD LOST FOR EVER


WHAT MIRACLE HAS RESTORED YOU TO MY SIGHT


HE HAS DOUBTLESS LISTENED TO YOU YOU HAVE DISPELLED HIS JEALOUSY AND HE HAS RESTORED YOU TO HIS FAVOUR YES MY DEAR GANEM ANSWERED FETNAH I HAVE CLEARED MYSELF BEFORE THE COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS WHO TO MAKE AMENDS FOR THE WRONG HE HAS DONE YOU


BEAUTIFUL FETNAH MAY I GIVE CREDIT TO WHAT YOU TELL ME


NOTHING IS MORE CERTAIN ANSWERED THE LADY


WHO BEFORE CAUSED SEARCH TO BE MADE FOR YOU TO TAKE AWAY YOUR LIFE AND WHO IN HIS FURY CAUSED YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR SISTER TO SUFFER A THOUSAND INDIGNITIES DESIRES NOW TO SEE YOU THAT HE MAY REWARD THE RESPECT YOU HAD FOR HIM


AND THERE IS NO QUESTION BUT THAT HE WILL LOAD YOUR FAMILY WITH FAVOURS


AND HE COULD NOT FORBEAR LETTING FALL SOME TEARS AT THE RELATION NOTWITHSTANDING THE THOUGHTS WHICH AROSE IN HIS MIND AT THE PROSPECT OF BEING MARRIED TO HIS MISTRESS BUT WHEN FETNAH INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY IN BAGDAD AND IN THE SAME HOUSE WITH HIM


HE APPEARED SO IMPATIENT TO SEE THEM THAT THE FAVOURITE COULD NO LONGER DEFER GIVING HIM THE SATISFACTION AND ACCORDINGLY CALLED THEM IN THEY WERE AT THE DOOR WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT THEY ENTERED WENT UP TO GANEM AND EMBRACING HIM IN THEIR TURNS


THE SYNDIC HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE WERE SO MOVED AT THE SPECTACLE THAT THEY COULD NOT FORBEAR WEEPING NOR SUFFICIENTLY ADMIRE THE SECRET WORKINGS OF PROVIDENCE WHICH HAD BROUGHT TOGETHER INTO THEIR HOUSE FOUR PERSONS WHOM FORTUNE HAD SO CRUELLY PERSECUTED


WHEN THEY HAD DRIED UP THEIR TEARS GANEM DREW THEM AFRESH BY THE RECITAL OF WHAT HE HAD SUFFERED FROM THE DAY HE LEFT FETNAH TILL THE MOMENT THE SYNDIC BROUGHT HIM TO HIS HOUSE HE TOLD THEM THAT HAVING TAKEN REFUGE IN A SMALL VILLAGE HE THERE FELL SICK


THAT SOME CHARITABLE PEASANTS HAD TAKEN CARE OF HIM BUT FINDING HE DID NOT RECOVER A CAMEL DRIVER HAD UNDERTAKEN TO CARRY HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AT BAGDAD


AND HOW SHE HAD CLEARED HERSELF IN CONCLUSION WHEN THEY HAD RELATED WHAT ACCIDENTS HAD BEFALLEN THEM FETNAH SAID LET US BLESS HEAVEN WHICH HAS BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER AGAIN AND LET US THINK OF NOTHING BUT THE HAPPINESS THAT AWAITS US


AS SOON AS GANEM HAS RECOVERED HIS HEALTH


BUT I WILL GO AND MAKE SOME PROVISION FOR THEM THIS SAID SHE WENT TO THE PALACE AND SOON RETURNED WITH A PURSE CONTAINING A THOUSAND PIECES OF GOLD WHICH SHE DELIVERED TO THE SYNDIC DESIRING HIM TO BUY APPAREL FOR THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER


THE SYNDIC WHO WAS A MAN OF A GOOD TASTE CHOSE SUCH AS WERE VERY HANDSOME AND HAD THEM MADE UP WITH ALL EXPEDITION THEY WERE FINISHED IN THREE DAYS AND GANEM FINDING HIMSELF STRONG ENOUGH PREPARED TO GO ABROAD


WHILE HE WAS MAKING READY WITH HIS MOTHER AND SISTER THE GRAND VIZIER JAAFFIER CAME TO THE SYNDIC'S HOUSE HE HAD COME ON HORSEBACK ATTENDED BY A GREAT NUMBER OF OFFICERS SIR SAID HE TO GANEM AS SOON AS HE ENTERED


I AM COME FROM THE COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS MY MASTER AND YOURS THE ORDERS I HAVE DIFFER MUCH FROM THOSE WHICH I DO NOT WISH TO REVIVE IN YOUR MEMORY I AM TO BEAR YOU COMPANY


GANEM RETURNED NO OTHER ANSWER TO THE VIZIER'S COMPLIMENT THAN BY PROFOUNDLY BOWING HIS HEAD


WHICH HE MANAGED VERY GRACEFULLY THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER WERE MOUNTED ON MULES BELONGING TO THE PALACE AND WHILST FETNAH ON ANOTHER MULE LED THEM BY A BYE WAY TO THE PRINCE'S COURT JAAFFIER CONDUCTED GANEM AND BROUGHT HIM INTO THE HALL OF AUDIENCE


ARABS PERSIANS EGYPTIANS AFRICANS AND SYRIANS OF HIS OWN DOMINIONS NOT TO MENTION STRANGERS WHEN THE VIZIER HAD CONDUCTED GANEM TO THE FOOT OF THE THRONE


I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU AND DESIRE TO HEAR FROM YOUR OWN MOUTH WHERE YOU FOUND MY FAVOURITE AND ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR HER GANEM OBEYED


AFTER WHICH HE SAID TO HIM GANEM I WILL HAVE YOU LIVE IN MY COURT COMMANDER OF THE TRUE BELIEVERS ANSWERED THE YOUNG MERCHANT A SLAVE HAS NO WILL BUT HIS MASTER'S ON WHOM HIS LIFE AND FORTUNE DEPEND


AND ASSIGNED HIM A CONSIDERABLE PENSION HE THEN DESCENDED FROM HIS THRONE AND CAUSING ONLY GANEM AND THE GRAND VIZIER FOLLOW HIM RETIRED INTO HIS OWN APARTMENT


NOT QUESTIONING BUT THAT FETNAH WAS IN WAITING WITH ABOU AYOUB'S WIDOW AND DAUGHTER HE CAUSED THEM TO BE CALLED IN THEY PROSTRATED THEMSELVES BEFORE HIM HE MADE THEM RISE AND WAS SO CHARMED BY JALIB AL KOOLLOOB'S BEAUTY


THAT AFTER VIEWING HER VERY ATTENTIVELY HE SAID I AM SO SORRY FOR HAVING TREATED YOUR CHARMS SO UNWORTHILY THAT I OWE THEM SUCH A SATISFACTION AS MAY SURPASS THE INJURY I HAVE DONE I TAKE YOU TO WIFE


WHO SHALL BECOME THE FIRST CAUSE OF YOUR GOOD FORTUNE AS SHE WAS OF YOUR PAST SUFFERINGS THIS IS NOT ALL ADDED HE TURNING TOWARDS GANEM'S MOTHER YOU ARE STILL YOUNG I BELIEVE YOU WILL NOT DISDAIN TO BE ALLIED TO MY GRAND VIZIER


I GIVE YOU TO JAAFFIER AND YOU FETNAH TO GANEM LET A CAUZEE AND WITNESSES BE CALLED AND THE THREE CONTRACTS BE DRAWN UP AND SIGNED IMMEDIATELY


BUT HE WAS RESOLVED TO MARRY HER HAROON THOUGHT THIS SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY THAT HE ORDERED HIS HISTORIOGRAPHER TO COMMIT IT TO WRITING WITH ALL ITS CIRCUMSTANCES


AFTER THE SERMON AS THE SERMON DREW TO A CLOSE AND THE MIST OF HIS EMOTION BEGAN TO DISPERSE INDIVIDUAL FACES OF HIS AUDIENCE AGAIN DAWNED OUT ON THE PREACHER'S KEN


MISTER DREW'S HEAD WAS DOWN AS I HAVE ALWAYS SAID CERTAIN THINGS HE HAD BEEN TAUGHT IN HIS YOUTH AND HAD PRACTISED IN HIS MANHOOD CERTAIN MEAN WAYS COUNTED HONEST ENOUGH IN THE TRADE HAD BECOME TO HIM


REGARDED FROM THE IDEAL POINT OF THE DIVINE IN


OF THE ADVANTAGES HE TOOK FOR HE KNEW THAT HE HAD KNOWN THEM SUCH AS SHRUNK FROM THE LIGHT NOT COMING


HE WAS NOW DOING HIS BEST TO BANISH THEM FROM HIS BUSINESS AND YET THEY WERE A PAINFUL PRESENCE TO HIS SPIRIT SO GRIEVOUS TO BE BORNE


FROM THEM BY THE INDWELLING PRESENCE OF THE GOD OF ALL LIVING MEN AND TRUE MERCHANTS WAS A BLESSEDNESS UNSPEAKABLE SMALL WAS THE SUSPICION IN THE ABBEY CHURCH OF OLASTON THAT MORNING


BATTERY OF SIN SPRUNG SUFFERING WITHSTANDING AND ENDURING AND STILLING THE RECOIL OF THE AWFUL FORCE WHEREWITH HIS FATHER HAD LAUNCHED THE WORLDS AND GIVEN BIRTH TO HUMAN SOULS


WITH WILLS THAT MIGHT BECOME FREE AS HIS OWN WHILE WINGFOLD HAD BEEN SPEAKING IN GENERAL TERMS WITH THE RACE IN HIS MIND'S AND THE CONGREGATION IN HIS BODY'S EYE HE HAD YET THOUGHT MORE OF ONE SOUL WITH ITS ONE CRIME AND ITS INTOLERABLE BURDEN


THAN ALL THE REST LEOPOLD WAS EVER PRESENT TO HIM AND WHILE HE STROVE TO AVOID ABSORPTION IN A PERSONAL INTEREST HOWEVER JUSTIFIABLE IT WAS OF NECESSITY


OF HIS UTTERANCE AT TIMES INDEED HE FELT AS IF HE WERE SPEAKING TO HIM IMMEDIATELY AND TO HIM ONLY AT OTHERS ALTHOUGH THEN HE SAW HER NO MORE THAN HIM


THAT HE WAS COMFORTING THE SISTER INDIVIDUALLY IN HOLDING OUT TO HER BROTHER THE MIGHTY HOPE OF A RESTORED PURITY AND WHEN ONCE MORE HIS MIND COULD RECEIVE THE MESSAGES


AND THE FIRM MOUTH HAD FORGOTTEN ITSELF INTO A TREMULOUS FORM WHICH THE STILLNESS OF ABSORPTION HAD THERE FOR THE MOMENT FIXED BUT EVEN ALREADY ALTHOUGH HE COULD NOT YET READ IT UPON HER


COUNTENANCE A SNAKE HAD BEGUN TO LIFT ITS HEAD FROM THE CHAOTIC SWAMP WHICH RUNS A CREEK AT LEAST INTO EVERY SOUL THE RUDIMENTARY DESOLATION A REMNANT OF THE TIME


WHEN THE WORLD WAS WITHOUT FORM AND VOID AND THE SNAKE SAID WHY THEN DID HE NOT SPEAK LIKE THAT TO MY LEOPOLD WHY DID HE NOT COMFORT HIM WITH SUCH A GOOD HOPE


WELL BECOMING A PRIEST OF THE GENTLE JESUS OR IF HE FANCIED HE MUST SPEAK OF CONFESSION WHY DID HE NOT SPEAK OF IT IN PLAIN HONEST TERMS INSTEAD OF SUGGESTING THE IDEA OF IT SO THAT THE POOR BOY


IMAGINED IT CAME FROM HIS OWN SPIRIT AND MUST THEREFORE BE OBEYED AS THE WILL OF GOD SO SAID THE SNAKE AND BY THE TIME HELEN HAD WALKED HOME WITH HER AUNT THE GLOW HAD SUNK FROM HER SOUL AND


A GRAY WINTRY MIST HAD SETTLED DOWN UPON HER SPIRIT AND SHE SAID TO HERSELF THAT IF THIS LAST HOPE IN GEORGE SHOULD FAIL HER SHE WOULD NOT ALLOW THE MATTER TO TROUBLE HER ANY FARTHER


SHE WAS A FREE WOMAN AND AS LEOPOLD HAD CHOSEN OTHER COUNSELLORS HAD THUS DECLARED HER UNWORTHY OF CONFIDENCE AND AFTER ALL THAT SHE HAD SUFFERED AND DONE FOR LOVE OF HIM


HAD SHE NOT DONE ENOUGH WOULD EVEN HER FATHER REQUIRE MORE OF HER THAN SHE HAD ALREADY DONE AND ENDURED


FROM THE COUCH SHE TOOK NO NOTICE THAT HE HAD GOT UP AND DRESSED WHILE SHE WAS AT CHURCH AND HE KNEW THAT A CLOUD HAD COME BETWEEN THEM AND THAT AFTER ALL SHE HAD BORNE AND DONE FOR HIM HE AND HIS SISTER WERE NOW FARTHER APART


FOR THE TIME AT LEAST THAN WHEN OCEANS LAY BETWIXT THEIR BIRTH AND THEIR MEETING AND HE FOUND HIMSELF LOOKING BACK WITH VAGUE LONGING EVEN TO THE TERRIBLE OLD HOUSE OF GLASTON


AND THE SHARING OF THEIR AGONY THEREIN HIS EYES FOLLOWED HER AS SHE WALKED ACROSS TO THE DRESSING ROOM AND THE TEARS ROSE AND FILLED THEM BUT HE SAID NOTHING AND THE SISTER WHO ALL THE TIME OF THE SERMON


HAD BEEN FILLED WITH WAVE UPON WAVE OF WISHING THAT POLDIE COULD HEAR THIS COULD HEAR THAT COULD HAVE SUCH A THOUGHT TO COMFORT HIM SUCH A LOVELY WORD TO DRIVE THE HORROR FROM HIS SOUL


NOW CAST ON HIM A CHILLY GLANCE AND SAID NEVER A WORD OF THE THINGS TO WHICH SHE HAD LISTENED WITH SUCH HEAVINGS OF THE SPIRIT OCEAN FOR SHE FELT WITH AN INSTINCT MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN HER WILL


THAT THEY WOULD BUT STRENGTHEN HIM IN HIS DETERMINATION TO DO WHATEVER THE TEACHER OF THEM MIGHT APPROVE AS SHE REPASSED HIM TO GO TO THE DRAWING ROOM SHE DID INDEED SAY A WORD OF KINDNESS BUT IT WAS IN A FORCED TONE


AND WAS ONLY ABOUT HIS DINNER HIS EYES OVER FLOWED BUT HE SHUT HIS LIPS SO TIGHT THAT HIS MOUTH GREW GRIM WITH DETERMINATION AND NO MORE TEARS CAME TO THE FRIEND WHO JOINED HER AT THE CHURCH DOOR AND IN GEORGE


IN ORDER THEREBY TO ATTAIN TO A BETTER INNOCENCE THAN WITHOUT IT COULD EVER BE THEIRS HOW FAR SHE MISTOOK OR HOW FAR SHE KNEW OR SUSPECTED THAT SHE SPOKE FALSELY I WILL NOT PRETEND TO KNOW BUT ALTHOUGH SHE SPOKE AS SHE DID


THERE WAS SOMETHING EITHER IN THE CURATE OR IN THE SERMON THAT HAD QUIETED HER A LITTLE AND SHE WAS LESS CONTEMPTUOUS IN HER CONDEMNATION OF HIM THAN USUAL HAPPILY BOTH FOR HIMSELF AND OTHERS THE CURATE


WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE WHO CRIPPLE THE TRUTH AND BLIND THEIR OWN SOULS


OCCASION TO THE DISHONEST TO CAVIL AND CONDEMN IMAGINE SAINT PAUL HAVING A PREVISION OF HOW HE WOULD BE MISUNDERSTOOD AND HEEDING IT WHAT WOULD THEN HAVE BECOME OF ALL THOSE HIS MOST MAGNIFICENT OUTBURSTS AND WOULD ANY AMOUNT OF


APOSTOLIC CAREFULNESS HAVE PROTECTED HIM I SUSPECT IT WOULD ONLY HAVE GIVEN RISE TO MORE VULGAR MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND MISREPRESENTATIONS STILL TO EXPLAIN TO HIM WHO LOVES NOT IS BUT TO GIVE HIM THE MORE


PLENTIFUL MATERIAL FOR MISINTERPRETATION LET A MAN HAVE TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS AND OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS HEART LET HIS MOUTH SPEAK IF THEN HE SHOULD HAVE GROUND TO FEAR HONEST MISUNDERSTANDING


LET HIM PREACH AGAIN TO ENFORCE THE TRUTH FOR WHICH HE IS JEALOUS AND IF IT SHOULD SEEM TO ANY THAT THE TWO UTTERANCES NEED RECONCILING LET THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE THEM CONSISTENT RECONCILE THEM FOR THEMSELVES


THAT AFTER AN EARLY BREAKFAST HE HAD MOUNTED HELEN'S MARE AND SET OUT TO CALL ON MISTER HOOKER


THE GROOM TOOK HIS HORSE IN THE STREET AND HE CAME INTO THE DRAWING ROOM HELEN HASTENED TO MEET HIM WELL GEORGE SHE SAID ANXIOUSLY OH IT'S ALL RIGHT WILL BE AT LEAST I AM SURE


I WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT IN THE GARDEN AFTER DINNER AUNT HAS THE GOOD SENSE NEVER TO INTERRUPT US THERE HE ADDED I'LL JUST RUN AND SHOW MYSELF TO LEOPOLD HE MUST NOT SUSPECT THAT I AM OF YOUR PARTY AND


WERE BEFORE HIM IT WAS A PART OF HIS DESTINY TO BECOME THE CHAMPION OF THE ANTI SLAVERY CAUSE IN THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE


WAS TO PRESENT FIFTEEN PETITIONS SIGNED NUMEROUSLY BY CITIZENS OF PENNSYLVANIA PRAYING FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY AND THE SLAVE TRADE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HE SIMPLY MOVED THEIR REFERENCE TO THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA


THAT HE HAD ALWAYS CHERISHED AN ABHORRENCE OF SLAVERY AND A BITTER ANTIPATHY TO SLAVE HOLDERS AS A CLASS IS SUFFICIENTLY INDICATED BY MANY CHANCE REMARKS SCATTERED


MULTIPLYING FOR THE PURPOSE OF SPREADING AND INCREASING A POPULAR HOSTILITY TOWARDS THE GREAT


AS WOULD INSURE DEFINITE RESULTS INSTEAD OF BEING WASTED IN ENDEAVORS WHICH AS YET WERE IMPOSSIBLE OF ACHIEVEMENT DRAWING HIS DUTY FROM HIS SITUATION AND SURROUNDINGS HE LEFT TO OTHERS TO YOUNGER MEN AND


OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF CONGRESS THE BUSINESS OF FIRING THE PEOPLE AND STIRRING POPULAR OPINION AND SYMPATHY HE WAS SET TO DO THAT PORTION OF THE WORK OF ABOLITION WHICH WAS TO BE DONE IN CONGRESS


TO ENCOUNTER THE MIGHTY EFFORTS WHICH WERE MADE TO STIFLE THE GREAT HUMANITARIAN CRY IN THE HALLS OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE THIS WAS QUITE AS MUCH AS ONE MAN WAS EQUAL TO


OVERAWE HIM NOR LONELINESS DISPIRIT HIM HE WAS PROBABLY THE MOST FORMIDABLE FIGHTER IN DEBATE OF WHOM PARLIAMENTARY RECORDS PRESERVE THE MEMORY


THE LEADING LAWYERS THE RICH MERCHANTS THE SUCCESSFUL MANUFACTURERS NOT ONLY OPPOSED TO HIM BUT ENTERTAINING TOWARDS HIM SENTIMENTS OF PERSONAL DISLIKE AND EVEN VINDICTIVENESS THIS STRATUM OF THE COMMUNITY


HAVING A NATURAL DISTASTE FOR DISQUIETING AGITATION AND INFLUENCED BY CLASS FEELING THE GENTLEMEN OF THE NORTH SYMPATHIZING WITH THE ARISTOCRACY OF THE SOUTH COULD NOT MAKE COMMON CAUSE WITH ANTI SLAVERY PEOPLE FORTUNATELY


WAS AFTER ALL OF TRIFLING CONSEQUENCE TO HIM AND OF NO SERIOUS INFLUENCE UPON THE COURSE OF HISTORY THE OLD NEW ENGLAND INSTINCT WAS IN HIM AS IT WAS IN THE MASS OF THE PEOPLE THAT INSTINCT MADE HIM THE REAL EXPONENT OF NEW ENGLAND THOUGHT


WHEN HIS FELLOW REPRESENTATIVES ALMOST TO A MAN DESERTED HIM HE WAS SUSTAINED BY MANY A TOKEN OF SYMPATHY AND ADMIRATION COMING FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE AT LARGE


QUITE IN THE WRONG AND PREDESTINED TO WELL MERITED DEFEAT


MISTER ADAMS AGAIN PRESENTED TWO PETITIONS FOR THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BUT WITHOUT GIVING RISE TO MUCH EXCITEMENT THE


AT THE NEXT SESSION OF CONGRESS THEY CONCLUDED TO TRY TO STOP IT AND THEIR INGENIOUS SCHEME WAS TO MAKE CONGRESS SHOT PROOF SO TO SPEAK AGAINST SUCH MISSILES ON JANUARY FOURTH EIGHTEEN THIRTY SIX MISTER ADAMS PRESENTED AN ABOLITION PETITION


BUT IN A MOMENT MISTER GLASCOCK OF GEORGIA MOVED THAT THE PETITION BE NOT RECEIVED DEBATE SPRANG UP ON A POINT OF ORDER AND TWO DAYS LATER BEFORE THE QUESTION OF RECEPTION WAS DETERMINED A RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY MISTER JARVIS OF MAINE


DECLARING THAT THE HOUSE WOULD NOT ENTERTAIN ANY PETITIONS FOR THE ABOLITION


ONE THAT CONGRESS HAD NO POWER TO INTERFERE WITH SLAVERY IN ANY STATE TWO THAT CONGRESS OUGHT NOT TO INTERFERE WITH SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA


THAT WHEREAS THE AGITATION OF THE SUBJECT WAS DISQUIETING AND OBJECTIONABLE ALL PETITIONS


THEY HAD ASSUMED AN UNTENABLE POSITION HENCEFORTH


MISTER ADAMS HAD A SUPPORT AMONG THE PEOPLE AT LARGE VASTLY GREATER THAN HE COULD HAVE ENJOYED AS THE OPPONENT OF SLAVERY AS HIS ADVERSARIES HAD SHAPED THE ISSUE HE WAS PREDESTINED TO VICTORY IN A FREE COUNTRY


HAVING CONSTITUTED A VOTE MISTER ADAMS CALLED ATTENTION TO THE OMISSION THE CLERK BY DIRECTION OF THE SPEAKER THEREUPON CALLED HIS NAME


THAT IT WAS NOT IN ORDER MIGHT BE ENTERED ON THE JOURNAL


HE BROUGHT UP THE MATTER AGAIN ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS MADE A FALSE STEP AND MISTER ADAMS BANTERED HIM UPON IT UNTIL THE OTHER WAS PROVOKED INTO SAYING THAT IF THE QUESTION EVER CAME TO THE ISSUE OF WAR THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE


NO ONE EVER GAINED MUCH IN A WAR OF WORDS WITH THIS EVER READY AND MERCILESS TONGUE


INCIPIENT STAGE OF SUCH A CONFLICT THAT TESTS THE METTLE OF THE LITTLE BAND OF INNOVATORS WHEN IT GROWS INTO A GREAT PARTY QUESTION MUCH LESS COURAGE IS DEMANDED THE MERE PRESENTATION OF AN


AS THEN MADE UP THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WORE HARDLY EVEN UPON THE IRON TEMPER AND INFLEXIBLE DISPOSITION OF MISTER ADAMS THE MOST INSIGNIFICANT ERROR OF CONDUCT IN ME AT THIS TIME HE WRITES IN APRIL


EIGHTEEN THIRTY SEVEN WOULD BE MY IRREDEEMABLE RUIN IN THIS WORLD AND BOTH THE RULING POLITICAL PARTIES ARE WATCHING WITH INTENSE ANXIETY FOR SOME OVERT ACT BY ME TO SET THE WHOLE PACK OF THEIR HIRELING PRESSES UPON ME


THE EXTREMISTS WHO HAD CAST ASIDE ALL REGARD FOR WHAT WAS PRACTICABLE AND WHO UTTERLY SCORNED TO CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF MEASURES


URGING HIM TO ACTION WHICH WOULD ONLY HAVE DESTROYED HIM FOREVER IN POLITICAL LIFE WOULD HAVE STRIPPED HIM OF HIS INFLUENCE EXILED HIM FROM THAT POSITION IN CONGRESS WHERE HE COULD RENDER THE MOST EFFICIENT SERVICE THAT WAS IN HIM


I HAVE GONE HE SAID AS FAR UPON THIS ARTICLE THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY AS THE PUBLIC OPINION OF THE FREE PORTION OF THE UNION WILL BEAR


AND SO FAR THAT SCARCELY A SLAVE HOLDING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE DARES TO VOTE WITH ME UPON ANY QUESTION I HAVE AS YET BEEN THOROUGHLY SUSTAINED BY MY OWN STATE BUT ONE STEP FURTHER AND I HAZARD MY OWN STANDING AND INFLUENCE THERE


MY OWN FINAL OVERTHROW AND THE CAUSE OF LIBERTY ITSELF FOR AN INDEFINITE TIME CERTAINLY FOR MORE THAN MY REMNANT OF LIFE WERE THERE IN THE HOUSE ONE MEMBER CAPABLE OF TAKING THE LEAD IN THIS CAUSE OF UNIVERSAL EMANCIPATION


WHICH IS MOVING ONWARD IN THE WORLD AND IN THIS COUNTRY I WOULD WITHDRAW FROM THE CONTEST WHICH WILL RAGE WITH INCREASING FURY AS IT DRAWS TO ITS CRISIS BUT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WHICH MY AGE INFIRMITIES AND APPROACHING END


TOTALLY DISQUALIFY ME THERE IS NO SUCH MAN IN THE HOUSE SEPTEMBER FIFTEENTH EIGHTEEN THIRTY SEVEN HE SAYS I HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME OCCUPIED DAY AND NIGHT


NO RETURNED TO MY REQUEST FROM THE SERVILE SIDE OF THE HOUSE THE NEXT DAY HE PRESENTED FIFTY ONE MORE LIKE DOCUMENTS AND NOTES HAVING PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MORE


IN DECEMBER EIGHTEEN THIRTY SEVEN STILL AT THIS SAME WORK HE MADE A HARD BUT FRUITLESS EFFORT


ALL LAID ON THE TABLE JANUARY FIFTEENTH HE PRESENTED FIFTY MORE JANUARY TWENTY EIGHTH HE RECEIVED THIRTY ONE PETITIONS AND SPENT THAT DAY AND THE NEXT IN ASSORTING AND FILING THESE AND OTHERS WHICH HE PREVIOUSLY HAD AMOUNTING IN ALL TO ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY


FEBRUARY FOURTEENTH IN THE SAME YEAR WAS A FIELD DAY IN THE PETITION CAMPAIGN HE PRESENTED THEN NO LESS THAN THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PETITIONS ALL BUT THREE OR FOUR OF WHICH BORE MORE OR LESS


I SAID THAT IN ANOTHER PART OF THE CAPITOL IT HAD BEEN THREATENED THAT IF A NORTHERN ABOLITIONIST SHOULD GO TO NORTH CAROLINA AND UTTER A PRINCIPLE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE' HERE A LOUD CRY OF ORDER ORDER BURST FORTH IN WHICH THE SPEAKER YELLED THE LOUDEST


I WAITED TILL IT SUBSIDED AND THEN RESUMED THAT IF THEY COULD CATCH HIM THEY WOULD HANG HIM I SAID THIS SO AS TO BE DISTINCTLY HEARD THROUGHOUT THE HALL THE RENEWED


ORDER NOTWITHSTANDING THE SPEAKER THEN SAID THE GENTLEMAN FROM MASSACHUSETTS WILL TAKE HIS SEAT


AND PRESENTED ANOTHER PETITION HE DID NOT DARE TELL ME


LET US ENTER THE ELEGANT BUILDING OCCUPIED BY HIS NEWSPAPER EVERY PORTION IS INTERESTING THE ROOMS WHERE EDITORS AND ASSISTANTS WORK ARE LARGE LIGHT AND AIRY AND AS TASTEFUL AS PARLORS ALAS HOW UNHOMELIKE AND BARREN


NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION HAD FORMERLY SANCTIONED A REDUCTION AND NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE REDUCED SCALE WAS OPERATIVE IN EVERY PRINTING OFFICE IN PHILADELPHIA EXCEPT HIS OWN HE SAID MY BUSINESS IS PROSPEROUS WHY SHOULD NOT MY MEN SHARE IN MY PROSPERITY


WAS COMMENTED ON MOST FAVORABLY AT HOME


AMOUNTING OF COURSE TO MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY MISTER CHILDS HAS TAKEN CARE OF MANY WHO HAVE BECOME OLD OR DISABLED IN HIS SERVICE THE FOREMAN OF HIS COMPOSING ROOM HAD WORKED FOR HIM LESS THAN TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE HE FAILED IN HEALTH


FOR YEARS THIS MAN HAS DRAWN HIS WEEKLY PAY THOUGH NEVER GOING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT THIS IS INDEED PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY BESIDES CARING FOR THE LIVING IN EIGHTEEN SIXTY EIGHT THIS WISE EMPLOYER OF LABOR


PURCHASED TWO THOUSAND FEET IN WOODLANDS FOR A PRINTERS CEMETERY AND GAVE IT TO THE PHILADELPHIA TYPOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY WITH A SUM OF MONEY TO KEEP THE GROUNDS IN GOOD ORDER YEARLY THE FIRST PERSON BURIED BEYOND THE HANDSOME MARBLE GOTHIC GATEWAY WAS A DESTITUTE AND AGED PRINTER


WHO HAD DIED AT THE ALMSHOUSE AND WHOSE DYING MESSAGE TO MISTER CHILDS WAS THAT HE COULD NOT BEAR TO FILL A PAUPER'S GRAVE HIS WISH WAS CORDIALLY GRANTED BUT AFTER SEEING THE ADMIRABLE PROVISION MADE FOR HIS WORKMEN WE MUST ENTER THE PRIVATE OFFICE OF MISTER CHILDS


HE IS MOST ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WITH NO AIRS OF SUPERIOR POSITION WELCOMING PERSONS FROM EVERY CLIME DAILY


HE LISTENS COURTEOUSLY TO ANY REQUESTS AND THEN BIDS YOU MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME IN THIS ELEGANT OFFICE THAT CERTAINLY HAS NO SUPERIOR IN THE WORLD PERHAPS NO RIVAL


THE ROOM ITSELF IN THE QUEEN ANNE STYLE WITH EXQUISITE WOOD CARVING MARBLE TILES BRASS ORNAMENTS AND PAINTED GLASS IS A GEM HERE IS HIS MOTTO A NOBLE ONE AND THOROUGHLY AMERICAN


WARWICKSHIRE THE SEAT OF THE EARLS CRAVEN FITTED UP BY ONE OF ITS LORDS FOR THE RECEPTION OF QUEEN ELIZABETH OVER A DOZEN VALUABLE CLOCKS ARE SEEN ONE MADE IN AMSTERDAM OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO


WHICH BESIDES THE TIME OF DAY GIVES THE PHASES OF THE MOON THE DAYS OF THE WEEK AND THE MONTH ANOTHER A CLOCK CONSTRUCTED BY DAVID RITTENHOUSE THE ASTRONOMER OF THE REVOLUTION IN THE OLD COLONIAL DAYS WHICH PLAYS A GREAT VARIETY OF MUSIC


HAS A LITTLE PLANETARIUM ATTACHED AND NEARLY SIX THOUSAND TEETH IN WHEELS IT WAS MADE FOR JOSEPH POTTS WHO PAID SIX HUNDRED AND FORTY DOLLARS FOR IT THE SPANISH MINISTER IN SEVENTEEN SEVENTY EIGHT OFFERED EIGHT HUNDRED FOR IT THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIS SOVEREIGN


AND WERE TAKEN BY HIM TO THE HERMITAGE HERE ALSO IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF OLD IRONSIDES STEWART IN A FRAME MADE FROM THE FRIGATE CONSTITUTION IN WHICH GREAT VICTORIES WERE ACHIEVED BESIDES MANY PORTRAITS GIVEN BY FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH THEIR AUTOGRAPHS


MISTER CHILDS BIDS US TAKE OUR CHOICE OF SOME RARE CHINA CUPS AND SAUCERS WE CHOOSE ONE DAINTY WITH RED BIRDS AND CARRY IT AWAY AS A PLEASANT REMEMBRANCE OF A PRINCELY GIVER IN A PRINCELY APARTMENT


WHERE THE WELL KNOWN NEWSPAPER THE PUBLIC LEDGER WAS PUBLISHED HE WAS AMBITIOUS AS WHO IS NOT THAT COMES TO PROMINENCE AND ONE DAY HE MADE THE RESOLUTION THAT HE WOULD SOMETIME BE THE OWNER OF THIS GREAT PAPER AND ITS BUILDING


HIS HABITS WERE THE BEST AND WHY SHOULD NOT SUCH A BOY SUCCEED IN THREE YEARS WHEN HE WAS TWENTY ONE HE HAD BECOME THE HEAD OF A PUBLISHING HOUSE


ALLIBONE DEDICATED HIS GREAT WORK DICTIONARY OF ENGLISH AND AMERICAN AUTHORS TO THE ENERGETIC AND APPRECIATIVE YOUNG PUBLISHER HE HAD NOW ACQUIRED WEALTH SOONER ALMOST THAN HE COULD HAVE HOPED BEFORE HIM WERE BRIGHT PROSPECTS


AS A PUBLISHER BUT THE PRIZE THAT HE HAD SET OUT TO WIN WAS TO OWN THE PUBLIC LEDGER THE OPPORTUNITY CAME IN DECEMBER EIGHTEEN SIXTY FOUR BUT HIS PAPER WAS LOSING MONEY HIS FRIENDS ADVISED AGAINST TAKING SUCH A BURDEN HE WOULD SURELY FAIL


HE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY DOUBLED THE SUBSCRIPTION RATES LOWERED THE ADVERTISING EXCLUDED EVERYTHING QUESTIONABLE FROM THE COLUMNS OF HIS PAPER MADE HIS EDITORIALS BRIEF YET COMPREHENSIVE UNTIL UNDER HIS JUDICIOUS MANAGEMENT THE JOURNAL REACHED THE LARGE CIRCULATION


OF NINETY THOUSAND DAILY FOR TEN YEARS HE HAS GIVEN THE LEDGER ALMANAC TO EVERY SUBSCRIBER COSTING FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY THE YEARLY PROFITS IT IS STATED HAVE BEEN FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS


ALL THIS HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT THOUGHT AND LABOR FORTUNE OF COURSE HAD COME AND FAME HE BUILT HOMES ELEGANT ONES IN PHILADELPHIA AND AT NEWPORT BUT THESE ARE NOT SIMPLY PLACES IN WHICH TO SPEND MONEY BUT CENTRES


OF HOSPITALITY AND CULTURE HIS LIBRARY IS ONE OF THE MOST CHARMING PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY THE WOOD WORK IS CARVED EBONY WITH GOLD THE BOOKSHELVES SIX FEET HIGH ON EVERY SIDE AND THE CEILING BUILT IN SUNKEN PANELS


BLUE AND GOLD IN THE CENTRE IS A TABLE MADE FROM EBONY BROUGHT FROM AFRICA BY PAUL DU CHAILLU


OF THE STANDARD AUTHORS BUT OTHER THINGS ARE OF DEEPER INTEREST


JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL'S JUNE IDYL BEGUN IN EIGHTEEN FIFTY AND FINISHED EIGHTEEN YEARS AFTERWARD THE MANUSCRIPT OF JAMES FENIMORE COOPER'S LIFE OF CAPTAIN RICHARD SOMERS AND EDGAR ALLAN POE'S


ENOUGH TO FILL TWO LARGE VOLUMES ON THE TERMS WHICH YOU ALLOWED ME BEFORE THAT IS YOU RECEIVE ALL PROFITS AND ALLOW ME TWENTY COPIES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO FRIENDS FROM THIS IT SEEMS THAT POE HAD THE USUAL STRUGGLES OF LITERARY PEOPLE


WRITTEN OVER WITH DARK BLUE INK WITH MANY ERASURES AND CHANGES HERE ARE ALSO FIFTY SIX VOLUMES OF DICKENS WORKS WITH AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER IN EACH FROM THE AUTHOR TO MISTER CHILDS


DON JUAN NOW WE LOOK UPON THE SMALLEST BOOK EVER PRINTED DANTE'S DIVINA COMMEDIA BOUND IN TURKEY GILT LESS THAN TWO AND ONE FOURTH INCHES LONG BY ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES WIDE THE COLLECTION OF MISTER AND MISSUS S C HALL


LETTERS AND MANUSCRIPTS FROM LAMB HAWTHORNE MARY SOMERVILLE HARRIET


COLERIDGE WORDSWORTH BROWNING AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IS OF ALMOST PRICELESS VALUE IN EIGHTEEN SEVENTY NINE MISSUS HALL GAVE THE BIBLE


AS THE BEST AND MOST VALUABLE OFFERING SHE COULD MAKE TO HIM AS A GRATEFUL TRIBUTE OF RESPECT REGARD AND ESTEEM ANOTHER VALUABLE BOOK IS MADE UP OF THE PORTRAITS OF THE PRESIDENTS WITH AN AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM EACH


IN EIGHTEEN SEVENTY SIX A WORK ON HIS EMPIRE WITH HIS PICTURE AND HIS AUTOGRAPH GEORGE PEABODY SAT FOR A FULL LENGTH PORTRAIT FOR MISTER CHILDS THE ALBUM OF MISSUS CHILDS CONTAINS THE AUTOGRAPHS OF A GREAT NUMBER OF THE LEADING MEN AND WOMEN


OF THE WORLD ONE COULD LINGER HERE FOR DAYS BUT WE MUST SEE THE LOVELY COUNTRY SEAT CALLED WOOTTON SOME DISTANCE OUT FROM THE CITY


AND EXQUISITE PLANTS BROUGHT OVER FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND AFRICA THE FARM ADJOINING IS A DELIGHT TO SEE HERE IS THE DAIRY BUILT OF WHITE FLINTSTONE WHILE THE MILKROOM HAS STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AS THOUGH IT WERE A CHAPEL


LORD DUFFERIN SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE HERBERT SPENCER JOHN WALLER M P OF THE LONDON TIMES DEAN STANLEY THOMAS HUGHES DICKENS GRANT EVARTS


THE PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM AND THE SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ARTS HE GAVE TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION HE HAS BEEN ONE OF GENERAL GRANT'S MOST GENEROUS HELPERS YET WHILE DOING FOR THE GREAT HE DOES NOT FORGET THE UNKNOWN


HE GIVES FREE EXCURSIONS TO POOR CHILDREN A DINNER ANNUALLY TO THE NEWSBOYS AND AIDS HUNDREDS WHO ARE IN NEED OF AN EDUCATION HE HAS PLACED A STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY IN COMMEMORATION OF GEORGE HERBERT AND WILLIAM


INTEGRITY AND TRUE FAITH IN HIMSELF


HIS ABILITY TO APPLY THE POWER OF MONEY IN ADVANCING THE WELL BEING OF HIS FELLOW MEN IS UNRIVALLED HE IS NATURALLY KIND AND SYMPATHETIC AND THESE GENEROUS FEELINGS ARE EXALTED NOT DEPRESSED BY HIS SUCCESS IN ACCUMULATING A FORTUNE


LIKE MAN IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS HE FORMS A GENUS IN HIMSELF HE STANDS ALONE THERE IS NOT ANOTHER IN THE WIDE WORLD LIKE HIM