'Won'tyousayanythingmoreexplicit?'
  'Iwouldrathernot。'
  Somersetemittedhalfasigh:hewishedshehadbeenmoredemonstrative,yetfeltthatthispassivewayofassentingwasasmuchashecouldhopefor。Hadtherebeenanythingcoldinherpassivityhemighthavefeltrepressed;butherstillnesssuggestedthestillnessofmotionimperceptiblefromitsintensity。
  'Wemustgoin,'saidshe。'Therainisalmostover,andthereisnolongeranyexcuseforthis。'
  Somersetbenthislipstowardhers。'No,'saidthefairPuritandecisively。
  'Whynot?'heasked。
  'Nobodyeverhas。'
  'But!——'expostulatedSomerset。
  'Toeverythingthereisaseason,andtheseasonforthisisnotjustnow,'sheanswered,walkingaway。
  Theycrossedthewetandglisteninglawn,steppedunderthetentandparted。Shevanished,hedidnotknowwhither;and,standingwithhisgazefixedonthedancers,theyoungmanwaited,till,beinginnomoodtojointhem,hewentslowlythroughtheartificialpassagelinedwithflowers,andenteredthedrawingroom。Mrs。Goodmanwasthere,biddinggood-nighttotheearlygoers,andPaulawasjustbehindher,apparentlyinherusualmood。Hispartingwithherwasquiteformal,butthathedidnotmind,forhercolourrosedecidedlyhigherasheapproached,andthelightinhereyeswasliketherayofadiamond。
  WhenhereachedthedoorhefoundthathisbroughamfromtheQuantockArms,whichhadbeenwaitingmorethananhour,couldnotbeheardof。Thatvagrancyofspiritwhichloveinduceswouldnotpermithimtowait;and,leavingwordthatthemanwastofollowhimwhenhereturned,hewentpasttheglareofcarriage-lampsrankedintheward,andundertheouterarch。
  Thenightwasnowclearandbeautiful,andhestrolledalonghiswayfullofmysteriouselationtillthevehicleovertookhim,andhegotin。
  UptothispointSomerset'sprogressinhissuithadbeen,thoughincomplete,souninterrupted,thathealmostfearedthegoodchanceheenjoyed。Howshoulditbeinamortalofhiscalibretocommandsuccesswithsuchasweetwomanforlong?
  Hemight,indeed,turnouttobeoneofthesingularexceptionswhicharesaidtoproverules;butwhenfortunemeanstomenmostgood,observesthebard,shelooksuponthemwithathreateningeye。Somersetwouldevenhavebeencontentthatalittledisapprovalofhiscourseshouldhaveoccurredinsomequarter,soastomakehiswooingmorelikeordinarylife。ButPaulawasnotclearlywon,andthatwasdrawbacksufficient。InthesepleasingagoniesandpainfuldelightshepassedthejourneytoMarkton。
  BOOKTHESECOND。DAREANDHAVILL。
  I。
  YoungDaresatthoughtfullyatthewindowofthestudioinwhichSomersethadlefthim,tillthegayscenebeneathbecameembrownedbythetwilight,andthebrilliantredstripesofthemarquees,thebrightsunshades,themany-tintedcostumesoftheladies,wereindistinguishablefromtheblacksandgreysofthemasculinecontingentmovingamongthem。Hehadoccasionallyglancedawayfromtheoutwardprospecttostudyasmalloldvolumethatlaybeforehimonthedrawing-board。
  Nearscrutinyrevealedthebooktobearthetitle'Moivre'sDoctrineofChances。'
  TheeveninghadbeensostillthatDarehadheardconversationsfrombelowwithaclearnessunsuspectedbythespeakersthemselves;andamongthedialogueswhichthusreachedhisearswasthatbetweenSomersetandHavillontheirprofessionalrivalry。Whentheyparted,andSomersethadmingledwiththethrong,Havillwenttoaseatatadistance。
  Afterwardsherose,andwalkedaway;butonthebenchhehadquittedthereremainedasmallobjectresemblingabookorleathercase。
  Dareputawaythedrawing-boardandplotting-scaleswhichhehadkeptbeforehimduringtheeveningasareasonforhispresenceatthatpostofespial,lockedupthedoor,andwentdownstairs。NotwithstandinghisdismissalbySomerset,hewassosereneincountenanceandeasyingaitastomakeitafairconjecturethatprofessionalservitude,howeverprofitable,wasnonecessitywithhim。ThegloomnowrendereditpracticableforanyunbiddenguesttojoinPaula'sassemblagewithoutcriticism,andDarewalkedboldlyoutuponthelawn。
  Thecrowdonthegrasswasrapidlydiminishing;thetennis-
  playershadrelinquishedsport;manypeoplehadgoneintodinnerorsupper;andmanyothers,attractedbythecheerfulradianceofthecandles,weregatheringinthelargetentthathadbeenlightedupfordancing。
  Darewenttothegarden-chaironwhichHavillhadbeenseated,andfoundthearticleleftbehindtobeapocket-book。
  Whetherbecauseitwasunclaspedandfellopeninhishand,orotherwise,hedidnothesitatetoexaminethecontents。Amongamassofarchitect'scustomarymemorandaoccurredadraftoftheletterabusingPaulaasaniconoclastorVandalbyblood,whichhadappearedinthenewspaper:thedraftwassointerlinedandalteredastobearevidenceofbeingtheoriginalconceptionofthatungentlemanlyattack。
  Theladreadtheletter,smiled,andstrolledaboutthegrounds,onlymetbyanoccasionalpairofindividualsofoppositesexindeepconversation,thestateofwhoseemotionsledthemtoprefertheeveningshadetothepublicityandglareofthetentsandrooms。Atlastheobservedthewhitewaistcoatofthemanhesought。
  'Mr。Havill,thearchitect,Ibelieve?'saidDare。'Theauthorofmostofthenoteworthybuildingsinthisneighbourhood?'
  Havillassentedblandly。
  'Ihavelongwishedforthepleasureofyouracquaintance,andnowanaccidenthelpsmetomakeit。Thispocket-book,I
  think,isyours?'
  Havillclappedhishandtohispocket,examinedthebookDareheldouttohim,andtookitwiththanks。'IseeIamspeakingtotheartist,archaeologist,Gothicphotographer——
  Mr。Dare。'
  'ProfessorDare。'
  'Professor?Pardonme,Ishouldnothaveguessedit——soyoungasyouare。'
  'Well,itismerelyornamental;andintruth,IdropthetitleinEngland,particularlyunderpresentcircumstances。'
  'Ah——theyarepeculiar,perhaps?Ah,Iremember。Ihaveheardthatyouareassistingagentlemaninpreparingadesigninoppositiontomine——adesign——'
  '"Thatheisnotcompetenttopreparehimself,"youwereperhapsgoingtoadd?'
  'Notpreciselythat。'
  'Youcouldhardlybeblamedforsuchwords。However,youaremistaken。Ididassisthimtogainalittlefurtherinsightintotheworkingofarchitecturalplans;butourviewsonartareantagonistic,andIassisthimnomore。Mr。Havill,itmustbeveryprovokingtoawell-establishedprofessionalmantohavearivalsprungathiminagrandundertakingwhichhehadarighttoexpectashisown。'
  Professionalsympathyisoftenacceptedfromthosewhosecondolenceonanydomesticmatterwouldbeconsideredintrusive。HavillwalkedupanddownbesideDareforafewmomentsinsilence,andatlastshowedthatthewordshadtold,bysaying:'Everyonemayhavehisopinion。HadIbeenastrangertothePowerfamily,thecasewouldhavebeendifferent;buthavingbeenspeciallyelectedbythelady'sfatherasacompetentadviserinsuchmatters,andthentobedegradedtothepositionofamerecompetitor,itwoundsmetothequick——'
  'Bothinpurseandinperson,liketheill-usedhostessoftheGarter。'
  'AladytowhomIhavebeenastaunchfriend,'continuedHavill,notheedingtheinterruption。
  AtthatmomentsoundsseemedtocomefromDarewhichborearemarkableresemblancetothewords,'Ho,ho,Havill!'Itwashardlycredible,andyet,couldhebemistaken?Havillturned。Dare'seyewastwistedcomicallyupward。
  'Whatdoesthatmean?'saidHavillcoldly,andwithsomeamazement。
  'Ho,ho,Havill!"Staunchfriend"isgood——especiallyafter"aniconoclastandVandalbyblood"——"monstrosityintheformofaGreektemple,"andsoon,eh!'
  'Sir,youhavetheadvantageofme。Perhapsyoualludetothatanonymousletter?'
  'O-ho,Havill!'repeatedtheboy-man,turninghiseyesyetfurthertowardsthezenith。'Toanoutsidersuchconductwouldbenatural;buttoafriendwhofindsyourpocket-book,andlooksintoitbeforereturningit,andkindlyremovesaleafbearingthedraftofaletterwhichmightinjureyouifdiscoveredthere,andcarefullyconcealsitinhisownpocket——
  why,suchconductisunkind!'Darehelduptheabstractedleaf。
  Havilltrembled。'Icanexplain,'hebegan。
  'Itisnotnecessary:wearefriends,'saidDareassuringly。
  Havilllookedasifhewouldliketosnatchtheleafaway,butalteringhismind,hesaidgrimly:'Well,Itakeyouatyourword:wearefriends。ThatletterwasconcoctedbeforeI
  knewofthecompetition:itwasduringmyfirstdisgust,whenIbelievedmyselfentirelysupplanted。'
  'Iamnotintheleastsurprised。ButifsheknewYOUtobethewriter!'
  'Ishouldberuinedasfarasthiscompetitionisconcerned,'
  saidHavillcarelessly。'HadIknownIwastobeinvitedtocompete,Ishouldnothavewrittenit,ofcourse。Tobesupplantedishard;andtherebyhangsatale。'
  'Anothertale?Youastonishme。'
  'Thenyouhavenotheardthescandal,thougheverybodyistalkingaboutit。'
  'Ascandalimpliesindecorum。'
  'Well,'tisindecorous。Herinfatuatedpartialityforhimispatenttotheeyesofachild;amanshehasonlyknownafewweeks,andonewhoobtainedadmissiontoherhouseinthemostirregularmanner!Hadsheawatchfulfriendbesideher,insteadofthatmoonstruckMrs。Goodman,shewouldbecautionedagainstbestowingherfavoursonthefirstadventurerwhoappearsatherdoor。Itisapity,agreatpity!'
  'O,thereislove-makinginthewind?'saidDareslowly。
  'Thataltersthecaseforme。Butitisnotproved?'
  'Itcaneasilybeproved。'
  'Iwishitwere,ordisproved。'
  'Youhaveonlytocomethiswaytoclearupalldoubts。'
  Havilltooktheladtowardsthetent,fromwhichthestrainsofawaltznowproceeded,andonwhosesidesflittingshadowstoldoftheprogressofthedance。Thecompanionslookedin。
  Therosysilkliningofthemarquee,andthenumerouscoronasofwaxlights,formedacanopytoaradiantscenewhich,fortwoatleastofthosewhocomposedit,wasanintoxicatingone。PaulaandSomersetweredancingtogether。
  'Thatprovesnothing,'saidDare。
  'Lookattheirraptfaces,andsayifitdoesnot,'sneeredHavill。
  Dareobjectedtoajudgmentbasedonlooksalone。
  'Verywell——timewillshow,'saidthearchitect,droppingthetent-curtain……'GoodGod!agirlworthfiftythousandandmoreayeartothrowherselfawayuponafellowlikethat——
  sheoughttobewhipped。'
  'TimemustNOTshow!'saidDare。
  'Youspeakwithemphasis。'
  'Ihavereason。Iwouldgivesomethingtobesureonthispoint,onewayortheother。Letuswaittillthedanceisover,andobservethemmorecarefully。Horensagenisthalbgelogen!Hearsayishalflies。'
  Sheet-lightningsincreasedinthenorthernsky,followedbythunderliketheindistinctnoiseofabattle。HavillandDareretiredtothetrees。WhenthedanceendedSomersetandhispartneremergedfromthetent,andslowlymovedtowardsthetea-house。DiviningtheirgoalDareseizedHavill'sarm;
  andthetwoworthiesenteredthebuildingunseen,byfirstpassingroundbehindit。Theyseatedthemselvesinthebackpartoftheinterior,wheredarknessprevailed。
  Asbeforerelated,PaulaandSomersetcameandstoodwithinthedoor。Whentherainincreasedtheydrewthemselvesfurtherinward,theirformsbeingdistinctlyoutlinedtothegazeofthoselurkingbehindbythelightfromthetentbeyond。Butthehissofthefallingrainandthelownessoftheirtonespreventedtheirwordsfrombeingheard。
  'Iwishmyselfoutofthis!'breathedHavilltoDare,ashebuttonedhiscoatoverhiswhitewaistcoat。'Itoldyouitwastrue,butyouwouldn'tbelieve。Iwouldn'tsheshouldcatchmehereeavesdroppingfortheworld!'
  'Courage,ManFriday,'saidhiscoolercomrade。
  Paulaandherloverbackedyetfurther,tillthehemofherskirttouchedHavill'sfeet。TheirattitudesweresufficienttoprovetheirrelationstothemostobstinateDidymuswhoshouldhavewitnessedthem。Tenderemotionsseemedtopervadethesummer-houselikeanaroma。Thecalmecstasyoftheconditionofatleastoneofthemwasnotwithoutacoerciveeffectuponthetwoinvidiousspectators,sothattheymustneedhaveremainedpassivehadtheycometheretodisturborannoy。TheserenityofPaulawasevenmoreimpressivethanthehushedardourofSomerset:shedidnotsatisfycuriosityasSomersetsatisfiedit;shepiquedit。PoorSomersethadreachedaperfectlyintelligibledepth——onewhichhadasingleblissfulwayoutofit,andninecalamitousones;butPaularemainedanenigmaallthroughthescene。
  Therainceased,andthepairmovedaway。Theenchantmentworkedbytheirpresencevanished,thedetailsofthemeetingsettleddowninthewatchers'minds,andtheirtongueswereloosened。Dare,turningtoHavill,said,'Thankyou;youhavedonemeatimelyturnto-day。'
  'What!hadyouhopesthatway?'askedHavillsatirically。
  'I!Thewomanthatinterestsmyhearthasyettobeborn,'
  saidDare,withasteelycoldnessstrangeinsuchajuvenile,andyetalmostconvincing。'ButthoughIhavenotpersonalhopes,Ihaveanobjectiontothiscourtship。NowIthinkwemayaswellfraternize,thesituationbeingwhatitis?'
  'Whatisthesituation?"
  'Heisinyourwayasherarchitect;heisinmywayasherlover:wedon'twanttohurthim,butwewishhimcleanoutoftheneighbourhood。'
  'I'llgoasfarasthat,'saidHavill。
  'Ihavecomehereatsometroubletomyself,merelytoobserve:IfindIoughttostaytoact。'
  'Ifyouweremyself,amarriedmanwithpeopledependentonhim,whohashadaprofessionalcertaintyturnedtoamiserablyremotecontingencybytheseevents,youmightsayyououghttoact;butwhatconceivabledifferenceitcanmaketoyouwhoitistheyoungladytakestoherheartandhome,I
  failtounderstand。'
  'Well,I'lltellyou——thismuchatleast。Iwanttokeeptheplacevacantforanotherman。'
  'Theplace?'
  'TheplaceofhusbandtoMissPower,andproprietorofthatcastleanddomain。'
  'That'saschemewithavengeance。Whoistheman?'
  'Itismysecretatpresent。'
  'Certainly。'Havilldrewadeepbreath,anddroppedintoatoneofdepression。'Well,schemeasyouwill,therewillbesmalladvantagetome,'hemurmured。'Thecastlecommissionisasgoodasgone,andabillfortwohundredpoundsfallsduenextweek。'
  'Cheerup,heart!Myposition,ifyouonlyknewit,hastentimesthedifficultiesofyours,sincethisdisagreeablediscovery。Letusconsiderifwecanassisteachother。Thecompetitiondrawingsaretobesentin——when?'
  'Insomethingoversixweeks——afortnightbeforeshereturnsfromtheScillyIsles,forwhichplacesheleaveshereinafewdays。'
  'O,shegoesaway——that'sbetter。Ourloverwillbeworkinghereathisdrawings,andshenotpresent。'
  'Exactly。Perhapssheisalittleashamedoftheintimacy。'
  'Andifyourdesignisconsideredbestbythecommittee,hewillhavenofurtherreasonforstaying,assumingthattheyarenotdefinitelyengagedtomarrybythattime?'
  'Isupposeso,'murmuredHavilldiscontentedly。'Theconditions,assenttome,statethatthedesignsaretobeadjudicatedonbythreemembersoftheInstitutecalledinforthepurpose;sothatshemayreturn,andhaveseemedtoshownofavour。'
  'Thenitamountstothis:yourdesignMUSTbebest。Itmustcombinetheexcellencesofyourinventionwiththeexcellencesofhis。Meanwhileacoolnessshouldbemadetoarisebetweenherandhim:andastherewouldbenoartisticreasonforhispresencehereaftertheverdictispronounced,hewouldperforcehiebacktotown。Doyousee?'
  'Iseetheingenuityoftheplan,butIalsoseetwoinsurmountableobstaclestoit。Thefirstis,Icannotaddtheexcellencesofhisdesigntominewithoutknowingwhatthoseexcellencesare,whichhewillofcoursekeepasecret。
  Second,itwillnotbeeasytopromoteacoolnessbetweensuchhotonesasthey。'
  'Youmakeamistake。Itisonlyhewhoissoardent。Sheisonlylukewarm。Ifwehadanyspirit,abargainwouldbestruckbetweenus:youwouldappropriatehisdesign;Ishouldcausethecoolness。'
  'HowcouldIappropriatehisdesign?'
  'Bycopyingit,Isuppose。'
  'Copyingit?'
  'Bygoingintohisstudioandlookingitover。'
  HavillturnedtoDare,andstared。'ByGeorge,youdon'tstickattrifles,youngman。Youdon'tsupposeIwouldgointoaman'sroomsandstealhisinventionslikethat?'
  'Iscarcelysupposeyouwould,'saidDareindifferently,asherose。
  'AndifIwereto,'saidHavillcuriously,'howisthecoolnesstobecaused?'
  'Bythesecondman。'
  'Whoistoproducehim?'
  'HerMajesty'sGovernment。'
  Havilllookedmeditativelyathiscompanion,andshookhishead。'Intheseidlesuppositionswehavebeenassumingconductwhichwouldbequiteagainstmyprinciplesasanhonestman。'
  II。
  AfewdaysafterthepartyatStancyCastle,DarewaswalkingdowntheHighStreetofMarkton,acigarettebetweenhislipsandasilver-toppedcaneinhishand。Hiseyefelluponabrassplateonanoppositedoor,bearingthenameofMr。
  Havill,Architect。Hecrossedover,andrangtheofficebell。
  TheclerkwhoadmittedhimstatedthatMr。Havillwasinhisprivateroom,andwouldbedisengagedinashorttime。WhileDarewaitedtheclerkaffixedtothedoorapieceofpaperbearingthewords'Backat2,'andwentawaytohisdinner,leavingDareintheroomalone。
  Darelookedatthedifferentdrawingsontheboardsabouttheroom。Theyallrepresentedonesubject,which,thoughunfinishedasyet,andbearingnoinscription,wasrecognizedbythevisitorasthedesignfortheenlargementandrestorationofStancyCastle。WhenhehadglanceditoverDaresatdown。
  Thedoorsbetweentheofficeandprivateroomweredouble;buttheonetowardstheofficebeingonlyajarDarecouldhearaconversationinprogresswithin。Itpresentlyrosetoanaltercation,thetenorofwhichwasobvious。Somebodyhadcomeformoney。
  'ReallyIcanstanditnolonger,Mr。Havill——reallyIwillnot!'saidthecreditorexcitedly。'Nowthisbilloverdueagain——whatcanyouexpect?Why,Imighthavenegotiatedit;
  andwherewouldyouhavebeenthen?Insteadofthat,Ihavelockeditupoutofconsiderationforyou;andwhatdoIgetformyconsiderateness?Ishallletthelawtakeitscourse!'
  'You'lldomeinexpressibleharm,andgetnothingwhatever,'
  saidHavill。'Ifyouwouldrenewforanotherthreemonthstherewouldbenodifficultyinthematter。'
  'Youhavesaidsobefore:Iwilldonosuchthing。'
  Therewasasilence;whereuponDarearosewithouthesitation,andwalkedboldlyintotheprivateoffice。Havillwasstandingatoneend,asgloomyasathundercloud,andattheotherwastheunfortunatecreditorwithhishaton。ThoughDare'sentrysurprisedthem,bothpartiesseemedrelieved。
  'Ihavecalledinpassingtocongratulateyou,Mr。Havill,'
  saidDaregaily。'Suchacommissionashasbeenentrustedtoyouwillmakeyoufamous!'
  'Howdoyoudo?——Iwishitwouldmakemerich,'saidHavilldrily。
  'Itwillbealiftinthatdirection,fromwhatIknowoftheprofession。Whatisshegoingtospend?'
  'Ahundredthousand。'
  'Yourcommissionasarchitect,fivethousand。Notbad,formakingafewsketches。Considerwhatothergreatcommissionssuchaworkwillleadto。'
  'Whatgreatworkisthis?'askedthecreditor。
  'StancyCastle,'saidDare,sinceHavillseemedtooagapetoanswer。'Youhavenotheardofit,then?Thosearethedrawings,Ipresume,inthenextroom?'
  Havillrepliedintheaffirmative,beginningtoperceivethemanoeuvre。'Perhapsyouwouldliketoseethem?'hesaidtothecreditor。
  Thelatterofferednoobjection,andallthreewentintothedrawing-office。
  'Itwillcertainlybeamagnificentstructure,'saidthecreditor,afterregardingtheelevationsthroughhisspectacles。'StancyCastle:Ihadnoideaofit!andwhendoyoubegintobuild,Mr。Havill?'heinquiredinmollifiedtones。
  'Inthreemonths,Ithink?'saidDare,lookingtoHavill。
  Havillassented。
  'Fivethousandpoundscommission,'murmuredthecreditor。
  'Paiddown,Isuppose?'
  Havillnodded。
  'Andtheworkswillnotlingerforlackofmoneytocarrythemout,Iimagine,'saidDare。'Twohundredthousandwillprobablybespentbeforetheworkisfinished。'
  'Thereisnotmuchdoubtofit,'saidHavill。
  'Yousaidnothingtomeaboutthis?'whisperedthecreditortoHavill,takinghimaside,withalookofregret。
  'Youwouldnotlisten!'
  'Italtersthecasegreatly。'ThecreditorretiredwithHavilltothedoor,andafterasubduedcolloquyinthepassagehewentaway,Havillreturningtotheoffice。
  'Whatthedevildoyoumeanbyhoaxinghimlikethis,whenthejobisnomoreminethanInigoJones's?'
  'Don'tbetoocurious,'saidDare,laughing。'Ratherthankmeforgettingridofhim。'
  'Butitisallavision!'saidHavill,ruefullyregardingthepencilledtowersofStancyCastle。'Ifthecompetitionwerereallythecommissionthatyouhaverepresentedittobetheremightbesomethingtolaughat。'
  'Itmustbemadeacommission,somehow,'returnedDarecarelessly。'Iamcometolendyoualittleassistance。I
  muststayintheneighbourhood,andIhavenothingelsetodo。'
  Acarriageslowlypassedthewindow,andHavillrecognizedthePowerliveries。'Hullo——she'scominghere!'hesaidunderhisbreath,asthecarriagestoppedbythekerb。'Whatdoesshewant,Iwonder?Dare,doessheknowyou?'
  'Iwouldjustassoonbeoutoftheway。'
  'Thengointothegarden。'
  DarewentoutthroughthebackofficeasPaulawasshowninatthefront。Sheworeagreytravellingcostume,andseemedtobeinsomehaste。
  'Iamonmywaytotherailway-station,'shesaidtoHavill。
  'Ishallbeabsentfromhomeforseveralweeks,andsinceyourequestedit,Ihavecalledtoinquirehowyouaregettingonwiththedesign。'
  'Pleaselookitover,'saidHavill,placingaseatforher。
  'No,'saidPaula。'Ithinkitwouldbeunfair。IhavenotlookedatMr——theotherarchitect'splanssincehehasbeguntodesignseriously,andIwillnotlookatyours。Areyougettingonquitewell,anddoyouwanttoknowanythingmore?
  Ifso,gotothecastle,andgetanybodytoassistyou。Whywouldyounotmakeuseoftheroomatyourdisposalinthecastle,astheotherarchitecthasdone?'
  Inaskingthequestionherfacewastowardsthewindow,andsuddenlyhercheeksbecamearosyred。Sheinstantlylookedanotherway。
  'Havingmyownofficesonear,itwasnotnecessary,thankyou,'repliedHavill,as,notinghercountenance,heallowedhisglancetostrayintothestreet。Somersetwaswalkingpastontheoppositeside。
  'Thetimeis——thetimefixedforsendinginthedrawingsisthefirstofNovember,Ibelieve,'shesaidconfusedly;'andthedecisionwillbecometobythreegentlemenwhoareprominentmembersoftheInstituteofArchitects。'
  Havillthenaccompaniedhertothecarriage,andshedroveaway。
  HavillwenttothebackwindowtotellDarethatheneednotstayinthegarden;butthegardenwasempty。Thearchitectremainedaloneinhisofficeforsometime;attheendofaquarterofanhour,whenthescreamofarailwaywhistlehadechoeddownthestillstreet,hebeheldSomersetrepassingthewindowinadirectionfromtherailway,withsomewhatofasadgait。InanotherminuteDareentered,hummingthelatestairofOffenbach。
  ''Tisamerepieceofduplicity!'saidHavill。
  'Whatis?'
  'Herpretendingindifferenceastowhichofuscomesoutsuccessfulinthecompetition,whenshecolourscarminethemomentSomersetpassesby。'HedescribedPaula'svisit,andtheincident。
  'ItmaynotmeanCupid'sEntireXXXafterall,'saidDarejudicially。'Themeresuspicionthatacertainmanlovesherwouldmakeagirlblushathisunexpectedappearance。Well,she'sgonefromhimforatime;thebetterforyou。'
  'Hehasbeenprivilegedtoseeheroffatanyrate。'
  'Notprivileged。'
  'Howdoyouknowthat?'
  'Iwentoutofyourgardenbythebackgate,andfollowedhercarriagetotherailway。Hesimplywenttothefirstbridgeoutsidethestation,andwaited。Whenshewasinthetrain,itmovedforward;hewasallexpectation,anddrewouthishandkerchiefreadytowave,whileshelookedoutofthewindowtowardsthebridge。Thetrainbackedbeforeitreachedthebridge,toattachtheboxcontainingherhorses,andthecarriage-truck。Thenitstartedforgood,andwhenitreachedthebridgeshelookedoutagain,hewavinghishandkerchieftoher。'
  'Andshewavinghersback?'
  'No,shedidn't。'
  'Ah!'
  'Shelookedathim——nothingmore。Iwouldn'tgivemuchforhischance。'AfterawhileDareaddedmusingly:'Youareamathematician:didyoueverinvestigatethedoctrineofexpectations?'
  'Never。'
  Daredrewfromhispockethis'BookofChances,'avolumeaswellthumbedastheminister'sBible。'Thisisatreatiseonthesubject,'hesaid。'Iwillteachittoyousomeday。'
  ThesameeveningHavillaskedDaretodinewithhim。Hewasjustatthistimelivingengarcon,hiswifeandchildrenbeingawayonavisit。Afterdinnertheysatontilltheirfaceswereratherflushed。Thetalkturned,asbefore,onthecastle-competition。
  'Toknowhisdesignistowin,'saidDare。'AndtowinistosendhimbacktoLondonwherehecamefrom。'
  HavillinquiredifDarehadseenanysketchofthedesignwhilewithSomerset?
  'Notaline。Iwasconcernedonlywiththeoldbuilding。'
  'Nottoknowitistolose,undoubtedly,'murmuredHavill。
  'Supposewegoforawalkthatway,insteadofconsultinghere?'
  Theywentdownthetown,andalongthehighway。Whentheyreachedtheentrancetotheparkamandrivingabasket-
  carriagecameoutfromthegateandpassedthembyinthegloom。
  'Thatwashe,'saidDare。'Hesometimesdrivesoverfromthehotel,andsometimeswalks。Hehasbeenworkinglatethisevening。'
  Strollingonunderthetreestheymetthreemasculinefigures,laughingandtalkingloudly。
  'Thosearethethreefirst-classLondondraughtsmen,Bowles,Knowles,andCockton,whomhehasengagedtoassisthim,regardlessofexpense,'continuedDare。
  'OLord!'groanedHavill。'There'snochanceforme。'
  Thecastlenowarosebeforethem,endowedbytheraylessshadewithamoremassivemajestythaneithersunlightormoonlightcouldimpart;andHavillsighedagainashethoughtofwhathewaslosingbySomerset'srivalry。'Well,whatwastheuseofcominghere?'heasked。
  'Ithoughtitmightsuggestsomething——somewayofseeingthedesign。Theservantswouldletusintohisroom,Idaresay。'
  'Idon'tcaretoask。Letuswalkthroughthewards,andthenhomeward。'
  Theysaunteredonsmoking,Dareleadingthewaythroughthegate-houseintoacorridorwhichwasnotinclosed,alamphangingatthefurtherend。
  'Wearegettingintotheinhabitedpart,Ithink,'saidHavill。
  Dare,however,hadgoneon,andknowingthetortuouspassagesfromhisfewdays'experienceinmeasuringthemwithSomerset,hecametothebutler'spantry。Dareknocked,andnobodyansweringheentered,tookdownakeywhichhungbehindthedoor,andrejoinedHavill。'Itisallright,'hesaid。'Thecat'saway;andthemiceareatplayinconsequence。'
  Proceedingupastonestaircaseheunlockedthedoorofaroominthedark,struckalightinside,andreturningtothedoorcalledinawhispertoHavill,whohadremainedbehind。'ThisisMr。Somerset'sstudio,'hesaid。
  'Howdidyougetpermission?'inquiredHavill,notknowingthatDarehadseennoone。
  'Anyhow,'saidDarecarelessly。'Wecanexaminetheplansatleisure;foriftheplacidMrs。Goodman,whoistheonlyoneathome,seesthelight,shewillonlythinkitisSomersetstillatwork。'
  Dareuncoveredthedrawings,andyoungSomerset'sbrain-workforthelastsixweekslayundertheireyes。ToDare,whowastoocursorytotroublehimselfbyenteringintosuchdetails,ithadverylittlemeaning;butthedesignshoneintoHavill'sheadlikealightintoadarkplace。Itwasoriginal;anditwasfascinating。ItsoriginalitylaypartlyinthecircumstancethatSomersethadnotattemptedtoadaptanoldbuildingtothewantsofthenewcivilization。Hehadplacedhisnewerectionbesideitasaslightlyattachedstructure,harmonizingwiththeold;heighteningandbeautifying,ratherthansubduingit。Hisworkformedapalace,witharuinouscastleannexedasacuriosity。ToHavilltheconceptionhadmorecharmthanitcouldhavetothemostappreciativeoutsider;forwhenamediocreandjealousmindthathasbeencudgellingitselfoveraproblemcapableofmanysolutions,lightsonthesolutionofarival,allpossibilitiesinthatkindseemtomergeintheonebeheld。
  Darewasstruckbythearrestedexpressionofthearchitect'sface。'Isitrathergood?'heasked。
  'Yes,rather,'saidHavill,subduinghimself。
  'Morethanrather?'