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few¡¡yards'¡¡distance£»¡¡walking¡¡slowly¡¡towards¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡short
and¡¡quaint¡¡lady¡¡he¡¡recognized¡¡Charlotte¡¡De¡¡Stancy£»¡¡whom¡¡he
remembered¡¡not¡¡to¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡for¡¡several¡¡days¡£

She¡¡slightly¡¡blushed¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡'O£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡pleasant£»¡¡Mr¡£
Somerset£¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡present¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡to¡¡you£»¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy
of¡¡the¡¡Royal¡¡Horse¡¡Artillery¡£'

Her¡¡brother¡¡came¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡hands¡¡heartily¡¡with
Somerset£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡three¡¡rambled¡¡on¡¡together£»¡¡talking¡¡of
the¡¡season£»¡¡the¡¡place£»¡¡the¡¡fishing£»¡¡the¡¡shooting£»¡¡and¡¡whatever
else¡¡came¡¡uppermost¡¡in¡¡their¡¡minds¡£

Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡was¡¡a¡¡personage¡¡who¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡called
interesting¡¡by¡¡women¡¡well¡¡out¡¡of¡¡their¡¡teens¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡ripe£»
without¡¡having¡¡declined¡¡a¡¡digit¡¡towards¡¡fogeyism¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was
sufficiently¡¡old¡¡and¡¡experienced¡¡to¡¡suggest¡¡a¡¡goodly
accumulation¡¡of¡¡touching¡¡amourettes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡chambers¡¡of¡¡his
memory£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡too¡¡old¡¡for¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡increasing¡¡the
store¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡apparently¡¡about¡¡eight¡­and¡­thirty£»¡¡less¡¡tall
than¡¡his¡¡father¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡but¡¡admirably¡¡made£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡every
movement¡¡exhibited¡¡a¡¡fine¡¡combination¡¡of¡¡strength¡¡and
flexibility¡¡of¡¡limb¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡face¡¡was¡¡somewhat¡¡thin¡¡and
thoughtful£»¡¡its¡¡complexion¡¡being¡¡naturally¡¡pale£»¡¡though
darkened¡¡by¡¡exposure¡¡to¡¡a¡¡warmer¡¡sun¡¡than¡¡ours¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡features
were¡¡somewhat¡¡striking£»¡¡his¡¡moustache¡¡and¡¡hair¡¡raven¡¡black£»
and¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡denied¡¡the¡¡attributes¡¡of¡¡military¡¡keenness¡¡by
reason¡¡of¡¡the¡¡largeness¡¡and¡¡darkness¡¡of¡¡their¡¡aspect£»¡¡acquired
thereby¡¡a¡¡softness¡¡of¡¡expression¡¡that¡¡was¡¡in¡¡part¡¡womanly¡£
His¡¡mouth¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡reproduced¡¡this
characteristic£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡called¡¡weakness£»¡¡or
goodness£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mental¡¡attitude¡¡of¡¡the¡¡observer¡£
It¡¡was¡¡large¡¡but¡¡well¡¡formed£»¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡an¡¡unimpaired¡¡line¡¡of
teeth¡¡within¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡dress¡¡at¡¡present¡¡was¡¡a¡¡heather¡­coloured
rural¡¡suit£»¡¡cut¡¡close¡¡to¡¡his¡¡figure¡£

'You¡¡knew¡¡my¡¡cousin£»¡¡Jack¡¡Ravensbury£¿'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Somerset£»¡¡as
they¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡¡'Poor¡¡Jack£º¡¡¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡good¡¡fellow¡£'

'He¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡good¡¡fellow¡£'

'He¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡made¡¡a¡¡parson¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡livedit¡¡was¡¡his
great¡¡wish¡£¡¡¡¡I£»¡¡as¡¡his¡¡senior£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡as¡¡I
thought¡¡myself£»¡¡used¡¡to¡¡chaff¡¡him¡¡about¡¡it¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡boy£»
and¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡milksop£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡enter¡¡the¡¡army¡£¡¡¡¡But
I¡¡think¡¡Jack¡¡was¡¡rightthe¡¡parsons¡¡have¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡I¡¡see
now¡£'

'They¡¡would¡¡hardly¡¡admit¡¡that£»'¡¡said¡¡Somerset£»¡¡laughing¡£¡¡¡¡'Nor
can¡¡I¡£'

'Nor¡¡I£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡captain's¡¡sister¡£¡¡¡¡'See¡¡how¡¡lovely¡¡you¡¡all
looked¡¡with¡¡your¡¡big¡¡guns¡¡and¡¡uniform¡¡when¡¡you¡¡entered
Markton£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡see¡¡how¡¡stupid¡¡the¡¡parsons¡¡look¡¡by
comparison£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡flock¡¡into¡¡Markton¡¡at¡¡a¡¡Visitation¡£'

'Ah£»¡¡yes£»'¡¡said¡¡De¡¡Stancy£»

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'¡¨Doubtless¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡masquerade£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡when¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡you've¡¡had¡¡your¡¡fill£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡pallsat¡¡least¡¡it¡¡does¡¡so¡¡upon¡¡me£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡paradise¡¡of¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡ennui¡£¡¨

When¡¡one¡¡is¡¡getting¡¡on¡¡for¡¡forty£»

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡we¡¡have¡¡made¡¡our¡¡love£»¡¡and¡¡gamed¡¡our¡¡gaming£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dressed£»¡¡voted£»¡¡shone£»¡¡and¡¡maybe£»¡¡something¡¡more£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡dandies¡¡dined£»¡¡heard¡¡senators¡¡declaiming£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Seen¡¡beauties¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡market¡¡by¡¡the¡¡score£»¡¨

and¡¡so¡¡on£»¡¡there¡¡arises¡¡a¡¡strong¡¡desire¡¡for¡¡a¡¡quiet¡¡old¡­
fashioned¡¡country¡¡life£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡incessant¡¡movement¡¡is¡¡not¡¡a
necessary¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡programme¡£'

'But¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡forty£»¡¡Will£¿'¡¡said¡¡Charlotte¡£

'My¡¡dear£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thirty¡­nine¡¡last¡¡January¡£'

'Well£»¡¡men¡¡about¡¡here¡¡are¡¡youths¡¡at¡¡that¡¡age¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡India
used¡¡you¡¡up¡¡so£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡served¡¡in¡¡the¡¡line£»¡¡was¡¡it¡¡not£¿¡¡¡¡I
wish¡¡you¡¡had¡¡never¡¡gone¡¡there£¡'

'So¡¡do¡¡I£»'¡¡said¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡drily¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡a¡¡youth
again£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡rest£»¡¡now¡¡I¡¡am¡¡in¡¡my¡¡native¡¡air¡£'

They¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡brook£»¡¡not¡¡wider¡¡than¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡stride£»
and¡¡Miss¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡halted¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡£

'Why£»¡¡Lottie£»¡¡you¡¡used¡¡to¡¡jump¡¡it¡¡easily¡¡enough£»'¡¡said¡¡her
brother¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡we¡¡won't¡¡make¡¡her¡¡do¡¡it¡¡now¡£'¡¡¡¡He¡¡took¡¡her¡¡in
his¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡lifted¡¡her¡¡over£»¡¡giving¡¡her¡¡a¡¡gratuitous¡¡ride
for¡¡some¡¡additional¡¡yards£»¡¡and¡¡saying£»¡¡'You¡¡are¡¡not¡¡a¡¡pound
heavier£»¡¡Lott£»¡¡than¡¡you¡¡were¡¡at¡¡ten¡¡years¡¡old¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡do
you¡¡think¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡here£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Somerset£¿¡¡¡¡Are¡¡you¡¡going¡¡to
stay¡¡long£¿'

'I¡¡think¡¡very¡¡well¡¡of¡¡it£»'¡¡said¡¡Somerset¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡I¡¡leave¡¡to¡­
morrow¡¡morning£»¡¡which¡¡makes¡¡it¡¡necessary¡¡that¡¡I¡¡turn¡¡back¡¡in¡¡a
minute¡¡or¡¡two¡¡from¡¡walking¡¡with¡¡you¡£'

'That's¡¡a¡¡disappointment¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡hoped¡¡you¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to
finish¡¡out¡¡the¡¡autumn¡¡with¡¡shooting¡£¡¡¡¡There's¡¡some£»¡¡very¡¡fair£»
to¡¡be¡¡got¡¡here¡¡on¡¡reasonable¡¡terms£»¡¡I've¡¡just¡¡heard¡£'

'But¡¡you¡¡need¡¡not¡¡hire¡¡any£¡'¡¡spoke¡¡up¡¡Charlotte¡£¡¡¡¡'Paula¡¡would
let¡¡you¡¡shoot¡¡anything£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡has¡¡not¡¡been¡¡here¡¡long
enough¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡much¡¡game£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡poachers¡¡had¡¡it¡¡all¡¡in
Mr¡£¡¡Wilkins'¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡what¡¡there¡¡is¡¡you¡¡might¡¡kill¡¡with
pleasure¡¡to¡¡her¡£'

'No£»¡¡thank¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡grimly¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡prefer¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡a
stranger¡¡to¡¡Miss¡¡PowerMiss¡¡Steam¡­Power£»¡¡she¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be
calledand¡¡to¡¡all¡¡her¡¡possessions¡£'

Charlotte¡¡was¡¡subdued£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡not¡¡insist¡¡further£»¡¡while
Somerset£»¡¡before¡¡he¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡himself¡¡able¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡on¡¡the
mood¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡gallant¡¡captain's¡¡joke¡¡at¡¡Paula's¡¡expense
should¡¡be¡¡taken£»¡¡wondered¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡married¡¡man¡¡or¡¡a
bachelor¡¡who¡¡uttered¡¡it¡£

He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡question¡¡of¡¡De¡¡Stancy's
domestic¡¡state¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡head¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡seeing
him¡£¡¡¡¡Assuming¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡husband£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡there¡¡might
be¡¡some¡¡excuse¡¡for¡¡his¡¡remark£»¡¡if¡¡unmarried£»¡¡Somerset¡¡liked
the¡¡satire¡¡still¡¡better£»¡¡in¡¡such¡¡circumstances¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a
relief¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy's¡¡prejudices
might¡¡be¡¡infinitely¡¡stronger¡¡than¡¡those¡¡of¡¡his¡¡sister¡¡or
father¡£

'Going¡¡to¡­morrow£»¡¡did¡¡you¡¡say£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Somerset£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Miss¡¡De
Stancy¡£¡¡¡¡'Then¡¡will¡¡you¡¡dine¡¡with¡¡us¡¡to¡­day£¿¡¡¡¡My¡¡father¡¡is
anxious¡¡that¡¡you¡¡should¡¡do¡¡so¡¡before¡¡you¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sorry¡¡there
will¡¡be¡¡only¡¡our¡¡own¡¡family¡¡present¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡can
leave¡¡as¡¡early¡¡as¡¡you¡¡wish¡£'

Her¡¡brother¡¡seconded¡¡the¡¡invitation£»¡¡and¡¡Somerset¡¡promised£»
though¡¡his¡¡leisure¡¡for¡¡that¡¡evening¡¡was¡¡short¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡in
truth¡¡somewhat¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡like¡¡De¡¡Stancy£»¡¡for¡¡though¡¡the
captain¡¡had¡¡said¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡any¡¡value¡¡either¡¡on¡¡war£»¡¡commerce£»
science£»¡¡or¡¡art£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seemed¡¡attractive¡¡to¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡man¡£
Beyond¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡interest¡¡a¡¡soldier¡¡has¡¡for¡¡imaginative
minds¡¡in¡¡the¡¡civil¡¡walks¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡De¡¡Stancy's¡¡occasional
manifestations¡¡of¡¡taedium¡¡vitae¡¡were¡¡too¡¡poetically¡¡shaped¡¡to
be¡¡repellent¡£¡¡¡¡Gallantry¡¡combined¡¡in¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of
ascetic¡¡self¡­repression¡¡in¡¡a¡¡way¡¡that¡¡was¡¡curious¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡a
dozen¡¡years¡¡older¡¡than¡¡Somerset£º¡¡¡¡his¡¡life¡¡had¡¡been¡¡passed¡¡in
grooves¡¡remote¡¡from¡¡those¡¡of¡¡Somerset's¡¡own¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡the
latter¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡artillery
officer¡¡again¡£

Bidding¡¡them¡¡a¡¡temporary¡¡farewell£»¡¡he¡¡went¡¡away¡¡to¡¡Markton¡¡by
a¡¡shorter¡¡path¡¡than¡¡that¡¡pursued¡¡by¡¡the¡¡De¡¡Stancys£»¡¡and¡¡after
spending¡¡the¡¡remainder¡¡of¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡preparing¡¡for
departure£»¡¡he¡¡sallied¡¡forth¡¡just¡¡before¡¡the¡¡dinner¡­hour
towards¡¡the¡¡suburban¡¡villa¡£

He¡¡had¡¡become¡¡yet¡¡more¡¡curious¡¡whether¡¡a¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡De¡¡Stancy
existed£»¡¡if¡¡there¡¡were¡¡one¡¡he¡¡would¡¡probably¡¡see¡¡her¡¡to¡­night¡£
He¡¡had¡¡an¡¡irrepressible¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡there¡¡might¡¡be¡¡such¡¡a¡¡lady¡£
On¡¡entering¡¡the¡¡drawing¡­room¡¡only¡¡the¡¡father£»¡¡son£»¡¡and
daughter¡¡were¡¡assembled¡£¡¡¡¡Somerset¡¡fell¡¡into¡¡talk¡¡with
Charlotte¡¡during¡¡the¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡before¡¡dinner£»¡¡and¡¡his
thought¡¡found¡¡its¡¡way¡¡out¡£

'There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡De¡¡Stancy£¿'¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡an¡¡undertone¡£

'None£»'¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡'my¡¡brother¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bachelor¡£'

The¡¡dinner¡¡having¡¡been¡¡fixed¡¡at¡¡an¡¡early¡¡hour¡¡to¡¡suit
Somerset£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡drawing¡­room¡¡at¡¡eight
o'clock¡£¡¡¡¡About¡¡nine¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aiming¡¡to¡¡get¡¡away¡£

'You¡¡are¡¡not¡¡off¡¡yet£¿'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡captain¡£

'There¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡no¡¡hurry£»'¡¡said¡¡Somerset£»¡¡'had¡¡I¡¡not
just¡¡remembered¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡left¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡undone¡¡which¡¡I¡¡want
to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡before¡¡my¡¡departure¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡see¡¡the¡¡chief
constable¡¡to¡­night¡£'

'Cunningham¡¡Haze£¿he¡¡is¡¡the¡¡very¡¡man¡¡I¡¡too¡¡want¡¡to¡¡see¡£¡¡¡¡But
he¡¡went¡¡out¡¡of¡¡town¡¡this¡¡afternoon£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡hardly¡¡think¡¡you
will¡¡see¡¡him¡¡to¡­night¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡return¡¡has¡¡been¡¡delayed¡£'

'Then¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡must¡¡wait¡£'

'I¡¡have¡¡left¡¡word¡¡at¡¡his¡¡house¡¡asking¡¡him¡¡to¡¡call¡¡here¡¡if¡¡he
gets¡¡home¡¡before¡¡half¡­past¡¡ten£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡see
him¡¡to¡­morrow¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡Can¡¡I¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡for¡¡you£»¡¡since¡¡you
are¡¡leaving¡¡early£¿'

Somerset¡¡replied¡¡that¡¡the¡¡business¡¡was¡¡of¡¡no¡¡great¡¡importance£»
and¡¡briefly¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡suspected¡¡intrusion¡¡into¡¡his¡¡studio£»
that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡with¡¡him¡¡a¡¡photograph¡¡of¡¡the¡¡suspected¡¡young¡¡man¡£
'If¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mistake£»'¡¡added¡¡Somerset£»¡¡'I¡¡should¡¡regret¡¡putting
my¡¡draughtsman's¡¡portrait¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the¡¡police£»¡¡since
it¡¡might¡¡injure¡¡his¡¡character£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡unfair¡¡to
him¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡likeness¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡hands£»¡¡and
merely¡¡to¡¡show¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Haze¡£¡¡¡¡That's¡¡why¡¡I¡¡prefer¡¡not¡¡to
send¡¡it¡£'

'My¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡Haze¡¡is¡¡that¡¡the¡¡barrack¡¡furniture¡¡does¡¡not
correspond¡¡with¡¡the¡¡inventories¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡like£»¡¡I'll¡¡ask¡¡your
question¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡with¡¡pleasure¡£'

Thereupon¡¡Somerset¡¡gave¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡an¡¡unfastened
envelope¡¡containing¡¡the¡¡portrait£»¡¡asking¡¡him¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡it¡¡if
the¡¡constable¡¡should¡¡declare¡¡it¡¡not¡¡to¡¡correspond¡¡with¡¡the
face¡¡that¡¡met¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡at¡¡the¡¡window¡£¡¡¡¡Soon¡¡after£»¡¡Somerset
took¡¡his¡¡leave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡household¡£

He¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡absent¡¡ten¡¡minutes¡¡when¡¡other¡¡wheels¡¡were
heard¡¡on¡¡the¡¡gravel¡¡without£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡servant¡¡announced¡¡Mr¡£
Cunningham¡¡Haze£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡returned¡¡earlier¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had
expected£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡called¡¡as¡¡requested¡£

They¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dining¡­room¡¡to¡¡discuss¡¡their¡¡business¡£
When¡¡the¡¡barrack¡¡matter¡¡had¡¡been¡¡arranged¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡said£»¡¡'I
have¡¡a¡¡little¡¡commission¡¡to¡¡execute¡¡for¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡Mr¡£
Somerset¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡if¡¡this¡¡portrait¡¡of¡¡the¡¡person¡¡he
suspects¡¡of¡¡unlawfully¡¡entering¡¡his¡¡room¡¡is¡¡like¡¡the¡¡man¡¡you
saw¡¡there£¿'

The¡¡speaker¡¡was¡¡seated¡¡on¡¡one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dining¡­table¡¡and¡¡Mr¡£
Haze¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡envelope
from¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡and¡¡half¡¡drew¡¡out¡¡the¡¡photograph£»¡¡which¡¡he
had¡¡not¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡looked¡¡at£»¡¡to¡¡hand¡¡it¡¡over¡¡to¡¡the¡¡constable¡£
In¡¡the¡¡act¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡portrait£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡uncertain
expression¡¡of¡¡age£»¡¡assured¡¡look£»¡¡and¡¡hair¡¡worn¡¡in¡¡a¡¡fringe
like¡¡a¡¡girl's¡£

Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy's¡¡face¡¡became¡¡strained£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡leant¡¡back¡¡in
his¡¡chair£»¡¡having¡¡previously¡¡had¡¡sufficient¡¡power¡¡over¡¡himself
to¡¡close¡¡the¡¡envelope¡¡and¡¡return¡¡it¡¡to¡¡his¡¡pocket¡£

'Good¡¡heavens£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡ill£»¡¡Captain¡¡De¡¡Stancy£¿'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡chief
constable¡£

'It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡momentary£»'¡¡said¡¡De¡¡Stancy£»¡¡'better¡¡in¡¡a¡¡minute
a¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡water¡¡will¡¡put¡¡me¡¡right¡£'

Mr¡£¡¡Haze¡¡got¡¡him¡¡a¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡water¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sideboard¡£

'These¡¡spasms¡¡occasionally¡¡overtake¡¡me£»'¡¡said¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡when
he¡¡had¡¡drunk¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡already¡¡better¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡were¡¡we¡¡saying£¿¡¡¡¡O£»
this¡¡affair¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Somerset's¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡find¡¡that¡¡this¡¡envelope¡¡is
not¡¡the¡¡right¡¡one¡£'¡¡¡¡He¡¡ostensibly¡¡searched¡¡his¡¡pocket¡¡again¡£
'I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡mislaid¡¡it£»'¡¡he¡¡continued£»¡¡rising¡£¡¡¡¡'I'll¡¡be¡¡with
you¡¡again¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moment¡£'

De¡¡Stancy¡¡went¡¡into¡¡the¡¡room¡¡adjoining£»¡¡opened¡¡an¡¡album¡¡of
portraits¡¡that¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡and¡¡selected¡¡one¡¡of¡¡a¡¡young
man¡¡quite¡¡unknown¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡whose¡¡age¡¡was¡¡somewhat¡¡akin¡¡to
Dare's£»¡¡but¡¡who¡¡in¡¡no¡¡other¡¡attribute¡¡resembled¡¡him¡£

De¡¡Stancy¡¡placed¡¡this¡¡picture¡¡in¡¡the¡¡original¡¡envelope£»¡¡and
returned¡¡with¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡constable£»¡¡saying¡¡he¡¡had¡¡found
it¡¡at¡¡last¡£

'Thank¡¡you£»¡¡thank¡¡you£»'¡¡said¡¡Cunningham¡¡Haze£»¡¡looking¡¡it¡¡ov

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