a laodicean-第23章

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few　days。'

'O；　she　goes　awaythat's　better。　　Our　lover　will　be　working
here　at　his　drawings；　and　she　not　present。'

'Exactly。　　Perhaps　she　is　a　little　ashamed　of　the　intimacy。'

'And　if　your　design　is　considered　best　by　the　committee；　he
will　have　no　further　reason　for　staying；　assuming　that　they
are　not　definitely　engaged　to　marry　by　that　time？'

'I　suppose　so；'　murmured　Havill　discontentedly。　　'The
conditions；　as　sent　to　me；　state　that　the　designs　are　to　be
adjudicated　on　by　three　members　of　the　Institute　called　in　for
the　purpose；　so　that　she　may　return；　and　have　seemed　to　show
no　favour。'

'Then　it　amounts　to　this：　　your　design　MUST　be　best。　　It　must
combine　the　excellences　of　your　invention　with　the　excellences
of　his。　　Meanwhile　a　coolness　should　be　made　to　arise　between
her　and　him：　　and　as　there　would　be　no　artistic　reason　for　his
presence　here　after　the　verdict　is　pronounced；　he　would
perforce　hie　back　to　town。　　Do　you　see？'

'I　see　the　ingenuity　of　the　plan；　but　I　also　see　two
insurmountable　obstacles　to　it。　　The　first　is；　I　cannot　add
the　excellences　of　his　design　to　mine　without　knowing　what
those　excellences　are；　which　he　will　of　course　keep　a　secret。
Second；　it　will　not　be　easy　to　promote　a　coolness　between　such
hot　ones　as　they。'

'You　make　a　mistake。　　It　is　only　he　who　is　so　ardent。　　She　is
only　lukewarm。　　If　we　had　any　spirit；　a　bargain　would　be
struck　between　us：　　you　would　appropriate　his　design；　I　should
cause　the　coolness。'

'How　could　I　appropriate　his　design？'

'By　copying　it；　I　suppose。'

'Copying　it？'

'By　going　into　his　studio　and　looking　it　over。'

Havill　turned　to　Dare；　and　stared。　　'By　George；　you　don't
stick　at　trifles；　young　man。　　You　don't　suppose　I　would　go
into　a　man's　rooms　and　steal　his　inventions　like　that？'

'I　scarcely　suppose　you　would；'　said　Dare　indifferently；　as　he
rose。

'And　if　I　were　to；'　said　Havill　curiously；　'how　is　the
coolness　to　be　caused？'

'By　the　second　man。'

'Who　is　to　produce　him？'

'Her　Majesty's　Government。'

Havill　looked　meditatively　at　his　companion；　and　shook　his
head。　　'In　these　idle　suppositions　we　have　been　assuming
conduct　which　would　be　quite　against　my　principles　as　an
honest　man。'



II。

A　few　days　after　the　party　at　Stancy　Castle；　Dare　was　walking
down　the　High　Street　of　Markton；　a　cigarette　between　his　lips
and　a　silver…topped　cane　in　his　hand。　　His　eye　fell　upon　a
brass　plate　on　an　opposite　door；　bearing　the　name　of　Mr。
Havill；　Architect。　　He　crossed　over；　and　rang　the　office　bell。

The　clerk　who　admitted　him　stated　that　Mr。　Havill　was　in　his
private　room；　and　would　be　disengaged　in　a　short　time。　　While
Dare　waited　the　clerk　affixed　to　the　door　a　piece　of　paper
bearing　the　words　'Back　at　2；'　and　went　away　to　his　dinner；
leaving　Dare　in　the　room　alone。

Dare　looked　at　the　different　drawings　on　the　boards　about　the
room。　　They　all　represented　one　subject；　which；　though
unfinished　as　yet；　and　bearing　no　inscription；　was　recognized
by　the　visitor　as　the　design　for　the　enlargement　and
restoration　of　Stancy　Castle。　　When　he　had　glanced　it　over
Dare　sat　down。

The　doors　between　the　office　and　private　room　were　double；　but
the　one　towards　the　office　being　only　ajar　Dare　could　hear　a
conversation　in　progress　within。　　It　presently　rose　to　an
altercation；　the　tenor　of　which　was　obvious。　　Somebody　had
come　for　money。

'Really　I　can　stand　it　no　longer；　Mr。　Havillreally　I　will
not！'　said　the　creditor　excitedly。　　'Now　this　bill　overdue
againwhat　can　you　expect？　　Why；　I　might　have　negotiated　it；
and　where　would　you　have　been　then？　　Instead　of　that；　I　have
locked　it　up　out　of　consideration　for　you；　and　what　do　I　get
for　my　considerateness？　　I　shall　let　the　law　take　its　course！'

'You'll　do　me　inexpressible　harm；　and　get　nothing　whatever；'
said　Havill。　　'If　you　would　renew　for　another　three　months
there　would　be　no　difficulty　in　the　matter。'

'You　have　said　so　before：　　I　will　do　no　such　thing。'

There　was　a　silence；　whereupon　Dare　arose　without　hesitation；
and　walked　boldly　into　the　private　office。　　Havill　was
standing　at　one　end；　as　gloomy　as　a　thundercloud；　and　at　the
other　was　the　unfortunate　creditor　with　his　hat　on。　　Though
Dare's　entry　surprised　them；　both　parties　seemed　relieved。

'I　have　called　in　passing　to　congratulate　you；　Mr。　Havill；'
said　Dare　gaily。　　'Such　a　commission　as　has　been　entrusted　to
you　will　make　you　famous！'

'How　do　you　do？I　wish　it　would　make　me　rich；'　said　Havill
drily。

'It　will　be　a　lift　in　that　direction；　from　what　I　know　of　the
profession。　　What　is　she　going　to　spend？'

'A　hundred　thousand。'

'Your　commission　as　architect；　five　thousand。　　Not　bad；　for
making　a　few　sketches。　　Consider　what　other　great　commissions
such　a　work　will　lead　to。'

'What　great　work　is　this？'　asked　the　creditor。

'Stancy　Castle；'　said　Dare；　since　Havill　seemed　too　agape　to
answer。　　'You　have　not　heard　of　it；　then？　　Those　are　the
drawings；　I　presume；　in　the　next　room？'

Havill　replied　in　the　affirmative；　beginning　to　perceive　the
manoeuvre。　　'Perhaps　you　would　like　to　see　them？'　he　said　to
the　creditor。

The　latter　offered　no　objection；　and　all　three　went　into　the
drawing…office。

'It　will　certainly　be　a　magnificent　structure；'　said　the
creditor；　after　regarding　the　elevations　through　his
spectacles。　　'Stancy　Castle：　　I　had　no　idea　of　it！　and　when　do
you　begin　to　build；　Mr。　Havill？'　he　inquired　in　mollified
tones。

'In　three　months；　I　think？'　said　Dare；　looking　to　Havill。

Havill　assented。

'Five　thousand　pounds　commission；'　murmured　the　creditor。
'Paid　down；　I　suppose？'

Havill　nodded。

'And　the　works　will　not　linger　for　lack　of　money　to　carry　them
out；　I　imagine；'　said　Dare。　　'Two　hundred　thousand　will
probably　be　spent　before　the　work　is　finished。'

'There　is　not　much　doubt　of　it；'　said　Havill。

'You　said　nothing　to　me　about　this？'　whispered　the　creditor　to
Havill；　taking　him　aside；　with　a　look　of　regret。

'You　would　not　listen！'

'It　alters　the　case　greatly。'　　The　creditor　retired　with
Havill　to　the　door；　and　after　a　subdued　colloquy　in　the
passage　he　went　away；　Havill　returning　to　the　office。

'What　the　devil　do　you　mean　by　hoaxing　him　like　this；　when　the
job　is　no　more　mine　than　Inigo　Jones's？'

'Don't　be　too　curious；'　said　Dare；　laughing。　　'Rather　thank　me
for　getting　rid　of　him。'

'But　it　is　all　a　vision！'　said　Havill；　ruefully　regarding　the
pencilled　towers　of　Stancy　Castle。　　'If　the　competition　were
really　the　commission　that　you　have　represented　it　to　be　there
might　be　something　to　laugh　at。'

'It　must　be　made　a　commission；　somehow；'　returned　Dare
carelessly。　　'I　am　come　to　lend　you　a　little　assistance。　　I
must　stay　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　I　have　nothing　else　to
do。'

A　carriage　slowly　passed　the　window；　and　Havill　recognized　the
Power　liveries。　　'Hulloshe's　coming　here！'　he　said　under　his
breath；　as　the　carriage　stopped　by　the　kerb。　　'What　does　she
want；　I　wonder？　　Dare；　does　she　know　you？'

'I　would　just　as　soon　be　out　of　the　way。'

'Then　go　into　the　garden。'

Dare　went　out　through　the　back　office　as　Paula　was　shown　in　at
the　front。　　She　wore　a　grey　travelling　costume；　and　seemed　to
be　in　some　haste。

'I　am　on　my　way　to　the　railway…station；'　she　said　to　Havill。
'I　shall　be　absent　from　home　for　several　weeks；　and　since　you
requested　it；　I　have　called　to　inquire　how　you　are　getting　on
with　the　design。'

'Please　look　it　over；'　said　Havill；　placing　a　seat　for　her。

'No；'　said　Paula。　　'I　think　it　would　be　unfair。　　I　have　not
looked　at　Mr。the　other　architect's　plans　since　he　has　begun
to　design　seriously；　and　I　will　not　look　at　yours。　　Are　you
getting　on　quite　well；　and　do　you　want　to　know　anything　more？
If　so；　go　to　the　castle；　and　get　anybody　to　assist　you。　　Why
would　you　not　make　use　of　the　room　at　your　disposal　in　the
castle；　as　the　other　architect　has　done？'

In　asking　the　question　her　face　was　towards　the　window；　and
suddenly　her　cheeks　became　a　rosy　red。　　She　instantly　looked
another　way。

'Having　my　own　office　so　near；　it　was　not　necessary；　thank
you；'　replied　Havill；　as；　noting　her　countenance；　he　allowed
his　glance　to　stray　into　the　street。　　Somerset　was　walking
past　on　the　opposite　side。

'The　time　isthe　time　fixed　for　sending　in　the　drawings　is
the　first　of　November；　I　believe；'　she　said　confusedly；　'and
the　decision　will　be　come　to　by　three　gentlemen　who　are
prominent　members　of　the　Institute　of　Architects。'

Havill　then　accompanied　her　to　the　carriage；　and　she　drove
away。

Havill　went　to　the　back　window　to　tell　Dare　that　he　need　not
stay　in　the　garden；　but　the　garden　was　empty。　　The　architect
remained　alone　in　his　office　for　some　time；　at　the　end　of　a
quarter　of　an　hour；　when　the　scream　of　a　railway　whistle　had
echoed　down　the　still　street；　he　beheld　Somerset　repassing　the
window　in　a　direction　from　the　railway；　with　somewhat　of　a　sad
gait。　　In　another　minute　Dare　entered；　humming　the　latest　air
of　Offenbach。

''Tis　a　mere　piece　of　duplicity！'　said　Havill。

'What　is？'

'Her　pretending　indifference　as　to　which　of　us　comes　out
successful　in　the　competition；　when　she　colours　carmine　the
moment　Somerset　passes　by。'　　He　described　Paula's　visit；　and
the　incident。

'It　may　not　mean　Cupid's　Entire　XXX　after　all；'　said　Dare
judicially。　　'The　mere　suspicion　that　a　certain　man　loves　her
would　make　a　girl　blush　at　his　unexpected　appearance。　　Well；
she's　gone　from　him　for　a　time；　the　better　for　you。'

'He　has　been　privileged　to　see　her　off　at　any　rate。'

'Not　privileged。'

'How　do　you　know　that？'

'I　went　out　of　your　garden　by　the　back　gate；　and　followed　her
carriage　to　the　railway。　　He　simply　went　to　the　first　bridge
outside　the　station；　and　waited。　　When　she　was　in　the　train；
it　moved　forward；　he　was　all　expectation；　and　drew　out　his
handkerchief　ready　to　wave；　while　she　looked　out　of　the　window
towards　the　bridge。　　The　train　backed　before　it　reached　the
bridge；　to　attach　the　box　containing　her　horses；　and　the
carriage…truck。　　Then　it　started　for　good；　and　when　it　reached
the　bridge　she　looked　out　again；　he　waving　his　handkerchief　to
her。'

'And　she　waving　hers　back？'

'No；　she　didn't。'

'Ah！'

'She　looked　at　himnothing　more。　　I　wouldn't　give　much　for
his　chance。'　　After　a　while　Dare　added　musingly：　　'You　are　a
mathematician：　　did　you　ever　investigate　the　doctrine　of
expectations？'

'Never。'

Dare　drew　from　his　pocket　his　'Book　of　Chances；'　a　volume　as
well　thumbed　as　the　minister's　Bible。　　'This　is　a　treatise　on
the　subject；'　he　said。　　'I　will　teach　it　to　you　some　day。'



The　same　evening　Havill　asked　Dare　to　dine　with　him。　　He　was
just　at　this　time　living　en　garcon；　his　wife　and　children
being　away　on　a　visit。　　After　dinner　they　sat　on　till　their
faces　were　rather　flushed。　　The　talk　turned；　as　before；　on　the
castle…competition。

'To　know　his　design　is　to　win；'　said　Dare。　　'And　to　win　is　to
send　him　back　to　London　where　he　came　from。'

Havill　inquired　if　Dare　had　seen　any　sketch　of　the　design
while　with　Somerset？

'Not　a　line。　　I　was　concerned　only　with　the　old　building。'

'Not　to　know　it　is　to　lose；　undoubtedly；'　murmured　Havill。

'Suppose　we　go　for　a　walk　that　way；　in