"Shegavemealookattheword'republicans'whichIimaginedfullofundyinghate。Butanhourorsoafterwards，aswedrewuptoletthebaggagemulesgofirstalonganarrowpathskirtingaprecipice，shelookedatmewithsuchawhite，troubledfacethatIfeltagreatpityforher。
　　"'Senorofficer，'shesaid，'Iamweak，Itremble。Itisaninsensatefear。'Andindeedherlipsdidtremblewhileshetriedtosmile，glancingatthebeginningofthenarrowpathwhichwasnotsodangerousafterall。'IamafraidIshalldropthechild。Gasparsavedyourlife，youremember……Takeherfromme。'
　　"Itookthechildoutofherextendedarms。'Shutyoureyes，senora，andtrusttoyourmule，'Irecom-
　　mended。
　　"Shedidso，andwithherpallorandherwasted，thinfaceshelookeddeathlike。Ataturnofthepathwhereagreatcragofpurpleporphyryclosestheviewofthelowlands，Isawheropenhereyes。I
　　rodejustbehindherholdingthelittlegirlwithmyrightarm。'Thechildisallright，'Icriedencourag-
　　ingly。
　　"'Yes，'sheanswered，faintly；andthen，tomyintenseterror，Isawherstanduponthefoot-rest，staringhorribly，andthrowherselfforwardintothechasmonourright。
　　"Icannotdescribetoyouthesuddenandabjectfearthatcameovermeatthatdreadfulsight。Itwasadreadoftheabyss，thedreadofthecragswhichseemedtonoduponme。Myheadswam。Ipressedthechildtomysideandsatmyhorseasstillasastatue。Iwasspeechlessandcoldallover。Hermulestaggered，sidlingclosetotherock，andthenwenton。Myhorseonlyprickeduphisearswithaslightsnort。Myheartstoodstill，andfromthedepthsoftheprecipicethestonesrattlinginthebedofthefuriousstreammademealmostinsanewiththeirsound。
　　"Nextmomentwewereroundtheturnandonabroadandgrassyslope。AndthenIyelled。Mymencamerunningbacktomeingreatalarm。ItseemsthatatfirstIdidnothingbutshout，'Shehasgiventhechildintomyhands!Shehasgiventhechildintomyhands!'TheescortthoughtIhadgonemad。"
　　GeneralSantierraceasedandgotupfromthetable。
　　"Andthatisall，senores，"heconcluded，withacourte-
　　ousglanceathisrisingguests。
　　"Butwhatbecameofthechild。General?"weasked。
　　"Ah，thechild，thechild。"
　　Hewalkedtooneofthewindowsopeningonhisbeautifulgarden，therefugeofhisolddays。Itsfamewasgreatintheland。Keepingusbackwitharaisedarm，hecalledout，"Erminia，Erminia!"andwaited。
　　Thenhiscautioningarmdropped，andwecrowdedtothewindows。
　　Fromaclumpoftreesawomanhadcomeuponthebroadwalkborderedwithflowers。Wecouldheartherustleofherstarchedpetticoatsandobservedtheamplespreadofherold-fashionedblacksilkskirt。Shelookedup，andseeingalltheseeyesstaringatherstopped，frowned，smiled，shookherfingerattheGen-
　　eral，whowaslaughingboisterously，anddrawingtheblacklaceonherheadsoastopartlyconcealherhaughtyprofile，passedoutofoursight，walkingwithstiffdignity。
　　"Youhavebeheldtheguardianangeloftheoldman——andhertowhomyouoweallthatisseemlyandcomfortableinmyhospitality。Somehow，senores，thoughtheflameoflovehasbeenkindledearlyinmybreast，Ihavenevermarried。Andbecauseofthatperhapsthesparksofthesacredfirearenotyetex-
　　tincthere。"Hestruckhisbroadchest。"Stillalive，stillalive，"hesaid，withserio-comicemphasis。"ButIshallnotmarrynow。SheisGeneralSantierra'sadopteddaughterandheiress。"
　　Oneofourfellow-guests，ayoungnavalofficer，describedherafterwardsasa"short，stout，oldgirloffortyorthereabouts。"Wehadallnoticedthatherhairwasturninggrey，andthatshehadveryfineblackeyes。
　　"And，"GeneralSantierracontinued，"neitherwouldsheeverhearofmarryinganyone。Arealcalamity!
　　Good，patient，devotedtotheoldman。Asimplesoul。
　　ButIwouldnotadviseanyofyoutoaskforherhand，forifshetookyoursintohersitwouldbeonlytocrushyourbones。Ah!shedoesnotjestonthatsubject。Andsheistheowndaughterofherfather，thestrongmanwhoperishedthroughhisownstrength:
　　thestrengthofhisbody，ofhissimplicity——ofhislove!"
　　ANIRONICTALE
　　THEINFORMER
　　MR。Xcametome，precededbyaletterofintro-
　　ductionfromagoodfriendofmineinParis，spe-
　　cificallytoseemycollectionofChinesebronzesandporcelain。
　　MyfriendinParisisacollector，too。Hecollectsneitherporcelain，norbronzes，norpictures，normedals，norstamps，noranythingthatcouldbeprofitablydis-
　　persedunderanauctioneer'shammer。Hewouldreject，withgenuinesurprise，thenameofacollector。Never-
　　theless，that'swhatheisbytemperament。Hecollectsacquaintances。Itisdelicatework。Hebringstoitthepatience，thepassion，thedeterminationofatruecol-
　　lectorofcuriosities。Hiscollectiondoesnotcontainanyroyalpersonages。Idon'tthinkheconsidersthemsufficientlyrareandinteresting；but，withthatexcep-
　　tion，hehasmetwithandtalkedtoeveryoneworthknowingonanyconceivableground。Heobservesthem，listenstothem，penetratesthem，measuresthem，andputsthememoryawayinthegalleriesofhismind。
　　Hehasschemed，plotted，andtravelledalloverEuropeinordertoaddtohiscollectionofdistinguishedpersonalacquaintances。
　　Asheiswealthy，wellconnected，andunprejudiced，hiscollectionisprettycomplete，includingobjectsorshouldIsaysubjects?whosevalueisunappreciatedbythevulgar，andoftenunknowntopopularfame。Oftrevolteofmoderntimes。Theworldknowshimasarevolutionarywriterwhosesavageironyhaslaidbaretherottennessofthemostrespectableinstitutions。Hehasscalpedeveryveneratedhead，andhasmangledatthestakeofhiswiteveryreceivedopinionandeveryrecognizedprincipleofconductandpolicy。Whodoesnotrememberhisflamingredrevolutionarypamph-
　　lets?TheirsuddenswarmingsusedtooverwhelmthepowersofeveryContinentalpolicelikeaplagueofcrimsongadflies。Butthisextremewriterhasbeenalsotheactiveinspirerofsecretsocieties，themysteriousunknownNumberOneofdesperateconspiraciessus-
　　pectedandunsuspected，maturedorbaffled。Andtheworldatlargehasneverhadaninklingofthatfact!
　　Thisaccountsforhimgoingaboutamongstustothisday，aveteranofmanysubterraneancampaigns，stand-
　　ingasidenow，safewithinhisreputationofmerelythegreatestdestructivepublicistthateverlived。"
　　Thuswrotemyfriend，addingthatMr。Xwasanen-
　　lightenedconnoisseurofbronzesandchina，andaskingmetoshowhimmycollection。
　　Xturnedupinduecourse。Mytreasuresaredis-
　　posedinthreelargeroomswithoutcarpetsandcurtains。
　　Thereisnootherfurniturethantheetagresandtheglasscaseswhosecontentsshallbeworthafortunetomyheirs。Iallownofirestobelighted，forfearofaccidents，andafire-proofdoorseparatesthemfromtherestofthehouse。
　　Itwasabittercoldday。Wekeptonourovercoatsandhats。Middle-sizedandspare，hiseyesalertinalong，Roman-nosedcountenance，Xwalkedonhisneatlittlefeet，withshortsteps，andlookedatmycollectionintelligently。IhopeIlookedathimintelligently，too。
　　Asnow-whitemoustacheandimperialmadehisnut-
　　browncomplexionappeardarkerthanitreallywas。Inhisfurcoatandshinytallhatthatterriblemanlookedfashionable。Ibelievehebelongedtoanoblefamily，andcouldhavecalledhimselfVicomteXdelaZifhechose。Wetalkednothingbutbronzesandporcelain。
　　Hewasremarkablyappreciative。Wepartedoncordialterms。
　　WherehewasstayingIdon'tknow。Iimaginehemusthavebeenalonelyman。Anarchists，Isuppose，havenofamilies——not，atanyrate，asweunderstandthatsocialrelation。Organizationintofamiliesmayanswertoaneedofhumannature，butinthelastin-
　　stanceitisbasedonlaw，andthereforemustbesome-
　　thingodiousandimpossibletoananarchist。But，in-
　　deed，Idon'tunderstandanarchists。Doesamanofthat——ofthat——persuasionstillremainananarchistwhenalone，quitealoneandgoingtobed，forinstance?
　　Doeshelayhisheadonthepillow，pullhisbedclothesoverhim，andgotosleepwiththenecessityofthechambardementgeneral，astheFrenchslanghasit，ofthegeneralblow-up，alwayspresenttohismind?Andifsohowcanhe?IamsurethatifsuchafaithorsuchafanaticismoncemasteredmythoughtsIwouldneverbeabletocomposemyselfsufficientlytosleeporeatorperformanyoftheroutineactsofdailylife。Iwouldwantnowife，nochildren；Icouldhavenofriends，itseemstome；andastocollectingbronzesorchina，that，Ishouldsay，wouldbequiteoutofthequestion。ButIdon'tknow。AllIknowisthatMr。XtookhismealsinaverygoodrestaurantwhichIfrequentedalso。
　　Withhisheaduncovered，thesilvertop-knotofhisbrushed-uphaircompletedthecharacterofhisphysi-
　　ognomy，allbonyridgesandsunkenhollows，clothedinaperfectimpassivenessofexpression。Hismeagrebrownhandsemergingfromlargewhitecuffscameandwentbreakingbread，pouringwine，andsoon，withquietmechanicalprecision。Hisheadandbodyabovethetableclothhadarigidimmobility。Thisfirebrand，thisgreatagitator，exhibitedtheleastpossibleamountofwarmthandanimation。Hisvoicewasrasping，cold，andmonotonousinalowkey。Hecouldnotbecalledatalkativepersonality；butwithhisdetachedcalmmannerheappearedasreadytokeeptheconversationgoingastodropitatanymoment。
　　Andhisconversationwasbynomeanscommon-
　　place。Tome，Iown，therewassomeexcitementintalkingquietlyacrossadinner-tablewithamanwhosevenomouspen-stabshadsappedthevitalityofatleastonemonarchy。Thatmuchwasamatterofpublicknowledge。ButIknewmore。Iknewofhim——
　　frommyfriend——asacertaintywhattheguardiansofsocialorderinEuropehadatmostonlysuspected，ordimlyguessedat。
　　HehadhadwhatImaycallhisundergroundlife。
　　AndasIsat，eveningafterevening，facinghimatdinner，acuriosityinthatdirectionwouldnaturallyariseinmymind。Iamaquietandpeaceableproductofcivilization，andknownopassionotherthanthepassionforcollectingthingswhicharerare，andmustremainexquisiteevenifapproachingtothemonstrous。
　　SomeChinesebronzesaremonstrouslyprecious。Andhereoutofmyfriend'scollection，hereIhadbeforemeakindofraremonster。Itistruethatthismonsterwaspolishedandinasenseevenexquisite。Hisbeauti-
　　fulunruffledmannerwasthat。Butthenhewasnotofbronze。HewasnotevenChinese，whichwouldhaveenabledonetocontemplatehimcalmlyacrossthegulfofracialdifference。HewasaliveandEuropean；hehadthemannerofgoodsociety，woreacoatandhatlikemine，andhadprettynearthesametasteincook-
　　ing。Itwastoofrightfultothinkof。
　　Oneeveningheremarked，casually，inthecourseofconversation，"There'snoamendmenttobegotoutofmankindexceptbyterrorandviolence。"
　　Youcanimaginetheeffectofsuchaphraseoutofsuchaman'smouthuponapersonlikemyself，whosewholeschemeoflifehadbeenbaseduponasuaveanddelicatediscriminationofsocialandartisticvalues。
　　Justimagine!Uponme，towhomallsortsandformsofviolenceappearedasunrealasthegiants，ogres，andseven-headedhydraswhoseactivitiesaffect，fantasti-
　　cally，thecourseoflegendsandfairy-tales!
　　Iseemedsuddenlytohearabovethefestivebustleandclatterofthebrilliantrestaurantthemutterofahungryandseditiousmultitude。
　　IsupposeIamimpressionableandimaginative。I
　　hadadisturbingvisionofdarkness，fullofleanjawsandwildeyes，amongstthehundredelectriclightsoftheplace。Butsomehowthisvisionmademeangry，too。
　　Thesightofthatman，socalm，breakingbitsofwhitebread，exasperatedme。AndIhadtheaudacitytoaskhimhowitwasthatthestarvingproletariatofEuropetowhomhehadbeenpreachingrevoltandviolencehadnotbeenmadeindignantbyhisopenlyluxuriouslife。
　　"Atallthis，"Isaid，pointedly，withaglanceroundtheroomandatthebottleofchampagnewegenerallysharedbetweenusatdinner。
　　Heremainedunmoved。
　　"DoIfeedontheirtoilandtheirheart'sblood?
　　AmIaspeculatororacapitalist?DidIstealmyfortunefromastarvingpeople?No!Theyknowthisverywell。Andtheyenvymenothing。Themiserablemassofthepeopleisgeneroustoitsleaders。WhatI
　　haveacquiredhascometomethroughmywritings；notfromthemillionsofpamphletsdistributedgratistothehungryandtheoppressed，butfromthehundredsofthousandsofcopiessoldtothewell-fedbourgeoisie。Youknowthatmywritingswereatonetimetherage，thefashion——thethingtoreadwithwonderandhorror，toturnyoureyesupatmypathos……orelse，tolaughinecstasiesatmywit。"
　　"Yes，"Iadmitted。"Iremember，ofcourse；andI
　　confessfranklythatIcouldneverunderstandthatinfatuation。"
　　"Don'tyouknowyet，"hesaid，"thatanidleandselfishclasslovestoseemischiefbeingmade，evenifitismadeatitsownexpense?Itsownlifebeingallamatterofposeandgesture，itisunabletorealizethepowerandthedangerofarealmovementandofwordsthathavenoshammeaning。Itisallfunandsenti-
　　ment。Itissufficient，forinstance，topointouttheattitudeoftheoldFrencharistocracytowardsthephilosopherswhosewordswerepreparingtheGreatRevolution。EveninEngland，whereyouhavesomecommon-sense，ademagoguehasonlytoshoutloudenoughandlongenoughtofindsomebackingintheveryclassheisshoutingat。You，too，liketoseemis-
　　chiefbeingmade。Thedemagoguecarriestheamateursofemotionwithhim。Amateurisminthis，that，andtheotherthingisadelightfullyeasywayofkillingtime，andfeedingone'sownvanity——thesillyvanityofbeingabreastwiththeideasofthedayafterto-morrow。
　　Justasgoodandotherwiseharmlesspeoplewilljoinyouinecstasiesoveryourcollectionwithouthavingtheslightestnotioninwhatitsmarvellousnessreallycon-
　　sists。"
　　Ihungmyhead。Itwasacrushingillustrationofthesadtruthheadvanced。Theworldisfullofsuchpeople。AndthatinstanceoftheFrencharistocracybeforetheRevolutionwasextremelytelling，too。I
　　couldnottraversehisstatement，thoughitscynicism——alwaysadistastefultrait——tookoffmuchofitsvaluetomymind。However，IadmitIwasimpressed。I
　　felttheneedtosaysomethingwhichwouldnotbeinthenatureofassentandyetwouldnotinvitediscussion。
　　"Youdon'tmeantosay，"Iobserved，airily，"thatextremerevolutionistshaveeverbeenactivelyassistedbytheinfatuationofsuchpeople?"
　　"IdidnotmeanexactlythatbywhatIsaidjustnow。Igeneralized。Butsinceyouaskme，Imaytellyouthatsuchhelphasbeengiventorevolutionaryactivities，moreorlessconsciously，invariouscountries。
　　Andeveninthiscountry。"
　　"Impossible!"Iprotestedwithfirmness。"Wedon'tplaywithfiretothatextent。"
　　"Andyetyoucanbetterafforditthanothers，perhaps。Butletmeobservethatmostwomen，ifnotalwaysreadytoplaywithfire，aregenerallyeagertoplaywithaloosesparkorso。"
　　"Isthisajoke?"Iasked，smiling。
　　"Ifitis，Iamnotawareofit，"hesaid，woodenly。
　　"Iwasthinkingofaninstance。Oh!mildenoughinaway……"
　　Ibecameallexpectationatthis。Ihadtriedmanytimestoapproachhimonhisundergroundside，sotospeak。Theverywordhadbeenpronouncedbetweenus。Buthehadalwaysmetmewithhisimpenetrablecalm。
　　"Andatthesametime，"Mr。Xcontinued，"itwillgiveyouanotionofthedifficultiesthatmayariseinwhatyouarepleasedtocallundergroundwork。Itissometimesdifficulttodealwiththem。Ofcoursethereisnohierarchyamongsttheaffiliated。Norigidsystem。"
　　Mysurprisewasgreat，butshort-lived。Clearly，amongstextremeanarchiststherecouldbenohier-
　　archy；nothinginthenatureofalawofprecedence。
　　Theideaofanarchyrulingamonganarchistswascomforting，too。Itcouldnotpossiblymakeforefficiency。
　　Mr。Xstartledmebyasking，abruptly，"YouknowHermioneStreet?"
　　Inoddeddoubtfulassent。HermioneStreethasbeen，withinthelastthreeyears，improvedoutofanyman'sknowledge。Thenameexistsstill，butnotonebrickorstoneoftheoldHermioneStreetisleftnow。
　　Itwastheoldstreethemeant，forhesaid:
　　"Therewasarowoftwo-storiedbrickhousesontheleft，withtheirbacksagainstthewingofagreatpublicbuilding——youremember。Woulditsurpriseyouverymuchtohearthatoneofthesehouseswasforatimethecentreofanarchistpropagandaandofwhatyouwouldcallundergroundaction?"
　　"Notatall，"Ideclared。HermioneStreethadneverbeenparticularlyrespectable，asIrememberedit。
　　"Thehousewasthepropertyofadistinguishedgovernmentofficial，"headded，sippinghischampagne。
　　"Oh，indeed!"Isaid，thistimenotbelievingawordofit。
　　"Ofcoursehewasnotlivingthere，"Mr。Xcontinued。
　　"Butfromtentillfourhesatnextdoortoit，thedearman，inhiswell-appointedprivateroominthewingofthepublicbuildingI'vementioned。Tobestrictlyaccurate，ImustexplainthatthehouseinHermioneStreetdidnotreallybelongtohim。Itbelongedtohisgrown-upchildren——adaughterandason。Thegirl，afinefigure，wasbynomeansvulgarlypretty。Tomorepersonalcharmthanmereyouthcouldaccountfor，sheaddedtheseductiveappearanceofenthusiasm，ofindependence，ofcourageousthought。Isupposesheputontheseappearancesassheputonherpicturesquedressesandforthesamereason:toassertherindividu-
　　alityatanycost。Youknow，womenwouldgotoanylengthalmostforsuchapurpose。Shewenttoagreatlength。Shehadacquiredalltheappropriategesturesofrevolutionaryconvictions——thegesturesofpity，ofanger，ofindignationagainsttheanti-humanitarianvicesofthesocialclasstowhichshebelongedherself。
　　Allthissatonherstrikingpersonalityaswellasherslightlyoriginalcostumes。Veryslightlyoriginal；justenoughtomarkaprotestagainstthephilistinismoftheoverfedtaskmastersofthepoor。Justenough，andnomore。Itwouldnothavedonetogotoofarinthatdirection——youunderstand。Butshewasofage，andnothingstoodinthewayofherofferingherhousetotherevolutionaryworkers。"
　　"Youdon'tmeanit!"Icried。
　　"Iassureyou，"heaffirmed，"thatshemadethatverypracticalgesture。Howelsecouldtheyhavegotholdofit?Thecauseisnotrich。And，moreover，therewouldhavebeendifficultieswithanyordinaryhouse-
　　agent，whowouldhavewantedreferencesandsoon。
　　Thegroupshecameincontactwithwhileexploringthepoorquartersofthetownyouknowthegestureofcharityandpersonalservicewhichwassofashionablesomeyearsagoacceptedwithgratitude。ThefirstadvantagewasthatHermioneStreetis，asyouknow，wellawayfromthesuspectpartofthetown，speciallywatchedbythepolice。
　　"ThegroundfloorconsistedofalittleItalianrestau-
　　rant，oftheflyblownsort。Therewasnodifficultyinbuyingtheproprietorout。Awomanandamanbelongingtothegrouptookiton。Themanhadbeenacook。Thecomradescouldgettheirmealsthere，unnoticedamongsttheothercustomers。Thiswasanotheradvantage。ThefirstfloorwasoccupiedbyashabbyVarietyArtists'Agency——anagencyforper-
　　formersininferiormusic-halls，youknow。Afellow-
　　calledBomm，Iremember。Hewasnotdisturbed。Itwasratherfavourablethanotherwisetohavealotofforeign-lookingpeople，jugglers，acrobats，singersofbothsexes，andsoon，goinginandoutalldaylong。
　　Thepolicepaidnoattentiontonewfaces，yousee。Thetopfloorhappened，mostconveniently，tostandemptythen。"
　　Xinterruptedhimselftoattackimpassively，withmeasuredmovements，abombeglaceewhichthewaiterhadjustsetdownonthetable。Heswallowedcarefullyafewspoonfulsoftheicedsweet，andaskedme，"DidyoueverhearofStone'sDriedSoup?"
　　"Hearofwhat?"
　　"Itwas，"Xpursued，evenly，"acomestiblearticleonceratherprominentlyadvertisedinthedailies，butwhichnever，somehow，gainedthefavourofthepublic。
　　Theenterprisefizzledout，asyousayhere。Parcelsoftheirstockcouldbepickedupatauctionsatconsider-
　　ablylessthanapennyapound。Thegroupboughtsomeofit，andanagencyforStone'sDriedSoupwasstartedonthetopfloor。Aperfectlyrespectablebusi-
　　ness。Thestuff，ayellowpowderofextremelyunappe-
　　tizingaspect，wasputupinlargesquaretins，ofwhichsixwenttoacase。Ifanybodyevercametogiveanorder，itwas，ofcourse，executed。Buttheadvantageofthepowderwasthis，thatthingscouldbeconcealedinitveryconveniently。Nowandthenaspecialcasegotputonavanandsentofftobeexportedabroadundertheverynoseofthepolicemanondutyatthecorner。
　　Youunderstand?"
　　"IthinkIdo，"Isaid，withanexpressivenodattheremnantsofthebombemeltingslowlyinthedish。
　　"Exactly。Butthecaseswereusefulinanotherway，too。Inthebasement，orinthecellarattheback，rather，twoprinting-presseswereestablished。AlotofrevolutionaryliteratureofthemostinflammatorykindwasgotawayfromthehouseinStone'sDriedSoupcases。Thebrotherofouranarchistyoungladyfoundsomeoccupationthere。Hewrotearticles，helpedtosetuptypeandpulloffthesheets，andgenerallyas-
　　sistedthemanincharge，averyableyoungfellowcalledSevrin。
　　"Theguidingspiritofthatgroupwasafanaticofsocialrevolution。Heisdeadnow。Hewasanengraverandetcherofgenius。Youmusthaveseenhiswork。Itismuchsoughtafterbycertainamateursnow。Hebeganbybeingrevolutionaryinhisart，andendedbybecomingarevolutionist，afterhiswifeandchildhaddiedinwantandmisery。Heusedtosaythatthebourgeoisie，thesmug，overfedlot，hadkilledthem。
　　Thatwashisrealbelief。Hestillworkedathisartandledadoublelife。Hewastall，gaunt，andswarthy，withalong，brownbeardanddeep-seteyes。Youmusthaveseenhim。HisnamewasHorne。"
　　AtthisIwasreallystartled。OfcourseyearsagoI
　　usedtomeetHorneabout。Helookedlikeapowerful，roughgipsy，inanoldtophat，witharedmufflerroundhisthroatandbuttonedupinalong，shabbyovercoat。
　　Hetalkedofhisartwithexaltation，andgaveonetheimpressionofbeingstrunguptothevergeofinsanity。
　　Asmallgroupofconnoisseursappreciatedhiswork。
　　Whowouldhavethoughtthatthisman……
　　Amazing!Andyetitwasnot，afterall，sodifficulttobelieve。
　　"Asyousee，"Xwenton，"thisgroupwasinaposi-
　　tiontopursueitsworkofpropaganda，andtheotherkindofwork，too，underveryadvantageousconditions。
　　Theywereallresolute，experiencedmenofasuperiorstamp。AndyetwebecamestruckatlengthbythefactthatplanspreparedinHermioneStreetalmostinvariablyfailed。"
　　"Whowere'we'?"Iasked，pointedly。
　　"SomeofusinBrussels——atthecentre，"hesaid，hastily。"WhatevervigorousactionoriginatedinHermioneStreetseemeddoomedtofailure。Somethingalwayshappenedtobafflethebestplannedmanifesta-
　　tionsineverypartofEurope。Itwasatimeofgeneralactivity。Youmustnotimaginethatallourfailuresareofaloudsort，witharrestsandtrials。Thatisnotso。Oftenthepoliceworkquietly，almostsecretly，defeatingourcombinationsbyclevercounter-plotting。
　　Noarrests，nonoise，noalarmingofthepublicmindandinflamingthepassions。Itisawiseprocedure。
　　ButatthattimethepoliceweretoouniformlysuccessfulfromtheMediterraneantotheBaltic。Itwasannoyingandbegantolookdangerous。AtlastwecametotheconclusionthattheremustbesomeuntrustworthyelementsamongsttheLondongroups。AndIcameovertoseewhatcouldbedonequietly。
　　"MyfirststepwastocalluponouryoungLadyAmateurofanarchismatherprivatehouse。Shere-
　　ceivedmeinaflatteringway。IjudgedthatsheknewnothingofthechemicalandotheroperationsgoingonatthetopofthehouseinHermioneStreet。Theprint-
　　ingofanarchistliteraturewastheonly'activity'sheseemedtobeawareofthere。Shewasdisplayingverystrikinglytheusualsignsofsevereenthusiasm，andhadalreadywrittenmanysentimentalarticleswithferociousconclusions。Icouldseeshewasenjoyingherselfhugely，withallthegesturesandgrimacesofdeadlyearnestness。Theysuitedherbig-eyed，broad-browedfaceandthegoodcarriageofhershapelyhead，crownedbyamagnificentlotofbrownhairdoneinanunusualandbecomingstyle。Herbrotherwasintheroom，too，aseriousyouth，witharchedeyebrowsandwearingarednecktie，whostruckmeasbeingabsolutelyinthedarkabouteverythingintheworld，includinghimself。Byandbyatallyoungmancamein。Hewasclean-shavedwithastrongbluishjawandsomethingoftheairofataciturnactororofafanaticalpriest:thetypewiththickblackeyebrows——youknow。Buthewasverypre-
　　sentableindeed。Heshookhandsatoncevigorouslywitheachofus。Theyoungladycameuptomeandmurmuredsweetly，'ComradeSevrin。'
　　"Ihadneverseenhimbefore。Hehadlittletosaytous，butsatdownbythesideofthegirl，andtheyfellatonceintoearnestconversation。Sheleanedforwardinherdeeparmchair，andtookhernicelyroundedchininherbeautifulwhitehand。Helookedattentivelyintohereyes。Itwastheattitudeoflove-making，serious，intense，asifonthebrinkofthegrave。Isupposeshefeltitnecessarytoroundandcompleteherassumptionofadvancedideas，ofrevolutionarylawlessness，bymakingbelievetobeinlovewithananarchist。Andthisone，Irepeat，wasextremelypresentable，notwith-
　　standinghisfanaticalblack-browedaspect。Afterafewstolenglancesintheirdirection，Ihadnodoubtthathewasinearnest。Astothelady，hergestureswereunapproachable，betterthantheverythingitselfintheblendedsuggestionofdignity，sweetness，condescension，fascination，surrender，andreserve。Sheinterpretedherconceptionofwhatthatprecisesortoflove-makingshouldbewithconsummateart。Andsofar，she，too，nodoubt，wasinearnest。Gestures——butsoperfect!
　　"AfterIhadbeenleftalonewithourLadyAmateurIinformedherguardedlyoftheobjectofmyvisit。I
　　hintedatoursuspicions。Iwantedtohearwhatshewouldhavetosay，andhalfexpectedsomeperhapsun-
　　consciousrevelation。Allshesaidwas，'That'sserious，'
　　lookingdelightfullyconcernedandgrave。Buttherewasasparkleinhereyeswhichmeantplainly，'Howexciting!'Afterall，sheknewlittleofanythingexceptofwords。Still，sheundertooktoputmeincom-
　　municationwithHorne，whowasnoteasytofindunlessinHermioneStreet，whereIdidnotwishtoshowmyselfjustthen。
　　"ImetHorne。Thiswasanotherkindofafanaticaltogether。IexposedtohimtheconclusionweinBrusselshadarrivedat，andpointedoutthesignificantseriesoffailures。Tothisheansweredwithirrelevantexaltation:
　　"'Ihavesomethinginhandthatshallstriketerrorintotheheartofthesegorgedbrutes。'
　　"AndthenIlearnedthat，byexcavatinginoneofthecellarsofthehouse，heandsomecompanionshadmadetheirwayintothevaultsunderthegreatpublicbuildingIhavementionedbefore。Theblowingupofawholewingwasacertaintyassoonasthematerialswereready。
　　"IwasnotsoappalledatthestupidityofthatmoveasImighthavebeenhadnottheusefulnessofourcentreinHermioneStreetbecomealreadyveryprob-
　　lematical。Infact，inmyopinionitwasmuchmoreofapolicetrapbythistimethananythingelse。
　　"Whatwasnecessarynowwastodiscoverwhat，orratherwho，waswrong，andImanagedatlasttogetthatideaintoHorne'shead。Heglared，perplexed，hisnostrilsworkingasifheweresniffingtreacheryintheair。
　　"Andherecomesapieceofworkwhichwillnodoubtstrikeyouasasortoftheatricalexpedient。Andyetwhatelsecouldhavebeendone?Theproblemwastofindouttheuntrustworthymemberofthegroup。
　　Butnosuspicioncouldbefastenedononemorethananother。Tosetawatchuponthemallwasnotverypracticable。Besides，thatproceedingoftenfails。Inanycase，ittakestime，andthedangerwaspressing。I
　　feltcertainthatthepremisesinHermioneStreetwouldbeultimatelyraided，thoughthepolicehadevidentlysuchconfidenceintheinformerthatthehouse，forthetimebeing，wasnotevenwatched。Hornewaspositiveonthatpoint。Underthecircumstancesitwasanunfavourablesymptom。Somethinghadtobedonequickly。
　　"Idecidedtoorganizearaidmyselfuponthegroup。
　　Doyouunderstand?Araidofothertrustycomradespersonatingthepolice。Aconspiracywithinacon-
　　spiracy。Youseetheobjectofit，ofcourse。WhenapparentlyabouttobearrestedIhopedtheinformerwouldbetrayhimselfinsomewayorother；eitherbysomeunguardedactorsimplybyhisunconcernedde-
　　meanour，forinstance。Ofcoarsetherewastheriskofcompletefailureandthenolesserriskofsomefatalaccidentinthecourseofresistance，perhaps，orintheeffortsatescape。For，asyouwilleasilysee，theHer-
　　mioneStreetgrouphadtobeactuallyandcompletelytakenunawares，asIwassuretheywouldbebytherealpolicebeforeverylong。Theinformerwasamongstthem，andHornealonecouldbeletintothesecretofmyplan。
　　"Iwillnotenterintothedetailofmypreparations。
　　Itwasnotveryeasytoarrange，butitwasdoneverywell，withareallyconvincingeffect。Theshampoliceinvadedtherestaurant，whoseshutterswereimmedi-
　　atelyputup。Thesurprisewasperfect。MostoftheHermioneStreetpartywerefoundinthesecondcellar，enlargingtheholecommunicatingwiththevaultsofthegreatpublicbuilding。Atthefirstalarm，severalcomradesboltedthroughimpulsivelyintotheaforesaidvault，where，ofcourse，hadthisbeenagenuineraid，theywouldhavebeenhopelesslytrapped。Wedidnotbotheraboutthemforthemoment。Theywereharm-
　　lessenough。ThetopfloorcausedconsiderableanxietytoHorneandmyself。There，surroundedbytinsofStone'sDriedSoup，acomrade，nick-namedthePro-
　　fessorhewasanex-sciencestudentwasengagedinperfectingsomenewdetonators。Hewasanab-
　　stracted，self-confident，sallowlittleman，armedwithlargeroundspectacles，andwewereafraidthatunderamistakenimpressionhewouldblowhimselfupandwreckthehouseaboutourears。Irushedupstairsandfoundhimalreadyatthedoor，onthealert，listening，ashesaid，to'suspiciousnoisesdownbelow。'BeforeI
　　hadquitefinishedexplainingtohimwhatwasgoingonheshruggedhisshouldersdisdainfullyandturnedawaytohisbalancesandtest-tubes。Hiswasthetruespiritofanextremerevolutionist。Explosiveswerehisfaith，hishope，hisweapon，andhisshield。Heperishedacoupleofyearsafterwardsinasecretlaboratorythroughtheprematureexplosionofoneofhisimproveddetonators。
　　"Hurryingdownagain，Ifoundanimpressivesceneinthegloomofthebigcellar。Themanwhopersonatedtheinspectorhewasnostrangertothepartwasspeakingharshly，andgivingbogusorderstohisbogussubordinatesfortheremovalofhisprisoners。Evi-
　　dentlynothingenlighteninghadhappenedsofar。
　　Horne，saturnineandswarthy，waitedwithfoldedarms，andhispatient，moodyexpectationhadanairofstoi-
　　cismwellinkeepingwiththesituation。IdetectedintheshadowsoneoftheHermioneStreetgroupsurrep-
　　titiouslychewingupandswallowingasmallpieceofpaper。Somecompromisingscrap，Isuppose；perhapsjustanoteofafewnamesandaddresses。Hewasatrueandfaithful'companion。'Butthefundofsecretmalicewhichlurksatthebottomofoursympathiescausedmetofeelamusedatthatperfectlyuncalled-
　　forperformance。
　　Ineveryotherrespecttheriskyexperiment，thetheatricalcoup，ifyouliketocallitso，seemedtohavefailed。Thedeceptioncouldnotbekeptupmuchlonger；theexplanationwouldbringaboutaveryembarrassingandevengravesituation。Themanwhohadeatenthepaperwouldbefurious。Thefellowswhohadboltedawaywouldbeangry，too。
　　"Toaddtomyvexation，thedoorcommunicatingwiththeothercellar，wheretheprinting-presseswere，flewopen，andouryoungladyrevolutionistappeared，ablacksilhouetteinaclose-fittingdressandalargehat，withtheblazeofgasflaringinthereatherback。
　　OverhershoulderIperceivedthearchedeyebrowsandtherednecktieofherbrother。
　　"ThelastpeopleintheworldIwantedtoseethen!
　　Theyhadgonethateveningtosomeamateurconcertforthedelectationofthepoorpeople，youknow；butshehadinsistedonleavingearly，onpurposetocallinHermioneStreetonthewayhome，underthepretextofhavingsomeworktodo。HerusualtaskwastocorrecttheproofsoftheItalianandFrencheditionsoftheAlarmBellandtheFirebrand。"……
　　"Heavens!"Imurmured。Ihadbeenshownonceafewcopiesofthesepublications。Nothing，inmyopinion，couldhavebeenlessfitfortheeyesofayounglady。Theywerethemostadvancedthingsofthesort；
　　advanced，Imean，beyondallboundsofreasonanddecency。Oneofthempreachedthedissolutionofallsocialanddomesticties；theotheradvocatedsystematicmurder。Tothinkofayounggirlcalmlytrackingprinters'errorsallalongthesortofabominablesen-
　　tencesIrememberedwasintolerabletomysentimentofwomanhood。Mr。X，aftergivingmeaglance，pursuedsteadily。
　　"Ithink，however，thatshecamemostlytoexerciseherfascinationsuponSevrin，andtoreceivehishomageinherqueenlyandcondescendingway。Shewasawareofboth——herpowerandhishomage——andenjoyedthemwith，Idaresay，completeinnocence。Wehavenogroundinexpediencyormoralstoquarrelwithheronthataccount。Charminwomanandexceptionalintelligenceinmanarealawuntothemselves。Isitnotso?"
　　Irefrainedfromexpressingmyabhorrenceofthatlicentiousdoctrinebecauseofmycuriosity。
　　"Butwhathappenedthen?"Ihastenedtoask。
　　Xwentoncrumblingslowlyasmallpieceofbreadwithacarelesslefthand。
　　"Whathappened，ineffect，"heconfessed，"isthatshesavedthesituation。"
　　"Shegaveyouanopportunitytoendyourrathersinisterfarce，"Isuggested。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，preservinghisimpassivebearing。
　　"Thefarcewasboundtoendsoon。Anditendedinaveryfewminutes。Anditendedwell。Hadshenotcomein，itmighthaveendedbadly。Herbrother，ofcourse，didnotcount。Theyhadslippedintothehousequietlysometimebefore。Theprinting-cellarhadanentranceofitsown。Notfindinganyonethere，shesatdowntoherproofs，expectingSevrintoreturntohisworkatanymoment。Hedidnotdoso。
　　Shegrewimpatient，heardthroughthedoorthesoundsofadisturbanceintheothercellarandnaturallycameintoseewhatwasthematter。
　　Sevrinhadbeenwithus。Atfirsthehadseemedtomethemostamazedofthewholeraidedlot。Heappearedforaninstantasifparalyzedwithastonish-
　　ment。Hestoodrootedtothespot。Henevermovedalimb。Asolitarygas-jetflarednearhishead；alltheotherlightshadbeenputoutatthefirstalarm。
　　Andpresently，frommydarkcorner，Iobservedonhisshavenactor'sfaceanexpressionofpuzzled，vexedwatchfulness。Heknittedhisheavyeyebrows。Thecornersofhismouthdroppedscornfully。Hewasangry。Mostlikelyhehadseenthroughthegame，andIregrettedIhadnottakenhimfromthefirstintomycompleteconfidence。
　　"Butwiththeappearanceofthegirlhebecameobviouslyalarmed。Itwasplain。Icouldseeitgrow。Thechangeofhisexpressionwasswiftandstartling。AndIdidnotknowwhy。Thereasonneveroccurredtome。Iwasmerelyastonishedattheextremealterationoftheman'sface。Ofcoursehehadnotbeenawareofherpresenceintheothercellar；butthatdidnotexplaintheshockheradventhadgivenhim。
　　Foramomentheseemedtohavebeenreducedtoimbecility。Heopenedhismouthasiftoshout，orperhapsonlytogasp。Atanyrate，itwassomebodyelsewhoshouted。ThissomebodyelsewastheheroiccomradewhomIhaddetectedswallowingapieceofpaper。Withlaudablepresenceofmindheletoutawarningyell。
　　"'It'sthepolice!Back!Back!Runback，andboltthedoorbehindyou。'
　　"Itwasanexcellenthint；butinsteadofretreatingthegirlcontinuedtoadvance，followedbyherlong-
　　facedbrotherinhisknickerbockersuit，inwhichhehadbeensingingcomicsongsfortheentertainmentofajoylessproletariat。Sheadvancednotasifshehadfailedtounderstand——theword'police'hasanun-
　　mistakablesound——butratherasifshecouldnothelpherself。Shedidnotadvancewiththefreegaitandexpandingpresenceofadistinguishedamateuranarchistamongstpoor，strugglingprofessionals，butwithslightlyraisedshoulders，andherelbowspressedclosetoherbody，asiftryingtoshrinkwithinherself。
　　HereyeswerefixedimmovablyuponSevrin。Sevrintheman，Ifancy；notSevrintheanarchist。Butsheadvanced。Andthatwasnatural。Foralltheirassumptionofindependence，girlsofthatclassareusedtothefeelingofbeingspeciallyprotected，as，infact，theyare。Thisfeelingaccountsforninetenthsoftheiraudaciousgestures。Herfacehadgonecom-
　　pletelycolourless。Ghastly。Fancyhavingitbroughthometohersobrutallythatshewasthesortofpersonwhomustrunawayfromthepolice!Ibelieveshewaspalewithindignation，mostly，thoughtherewas，ofcourse，alsotheconcernforherintactpersonality，avaguedreadofsomesortofrudeness。And，naturally，sheturnedtoaman，tothemanonwhomshehadaclaimoffascinationandhomage——themanwhocouldnotconceivablyfailheratanyjuncture。"
　　"But，"Icried，amazedatthisanalysis，"ifithadbeenserious，real，Imean——asshethoughtitwas——whatcouldsheexpecthimtodoforher?"
　　Xnevermovedamuscleofhisface。
　　"Goodnessknows。Iimaginethatthischarming，generous，andindependentcreaturehadneverknowninherlifeasinglegenuinethought；Imeanasinglethoughtdetachedfromsmallhumanvanities，orwhosesourcewasnotinsomeconventionalperception。AllI
　　knowisthatafteradvancingafewstepssheextendedherhandtowardsthemotionlessSevrin。Andthatatleastwasnogesture。Itwasanaturalmovement。Astowhatsheexpectedhimtodo，whocantell?Theimpossible。Butwhateversheexpected，itcouldnothavecomeup，Iamsafetosay，towhathehadmadeuphismindtodo，evenbeforethatentreatinghandhadappealedtohimsodirectly。Ithadnotbeennecessary。
　　Fromthemomenthehadseenherenterthatcellar，hehadmadeuphismindtosacrificehisfutureusefulness，tothrowofftheimpenetrable，solidlyfastenedmaskithadbeenhispridetowear——"
　　"Whatdoyoumean?"Iinterrupted，puzzled。
　　"WasitSevrin，then，whowas——"
　　"Hewas。Themostpersistent，themostdangerous，thecraftiest，themostsystematicofinformers。A
　　geniusamongstbetrayers。Fortunatelyforus，hewasunique。Themanwasafanatic，Ihavetoldyou。
　　Fortunately，again，forus，hehadfalleninlovewiththeaccomplishedandinnocentgesturesofthatgirl。Anactorindesperateearnesthimself，hemusthavebe-
　　lievedintheabsolutevalueofconventionalsigns。Astothegrossnessofthetrapintowhichhefell，theexplanationmustbethattwosentimentsofsuchab-
　　sorbingmagnitudecannotexistsimultaneouslyinoneheart。Thedangerofthatotherandunconsciouscomedianrobbedhimofhisvision，ofhisperspicacity，ofhisjudgment。Indeed，itdidatfirstrobhimofhisself-possession。Butheregainedthatthroughthenecessity——asitappearedtohimimperiously——todosomethingatonce。Todowhat?Why，togetheroutofthehouseasquicklyaspossible。Hewasdesperatelyanxioustodothat。Ihavetoldyouhewasterrified。Itcouldnotbeabouthimself。Hehadbeensurprisedandannoyedatamovequiteunforeseenandpremature。Imayevensayhehadbeenfurious。
　　Hewasaccustomedtoarrangethelastsceneofhisbetrayalswithadeep，subtleartwhichlefthisrevolu-
　　tionistreputationuntouched。Butitseemscleartomethatatthesametimehehadresolvedtomakethebestofit，tokeephismaskresolutelyon。Itwasonlywiththediscoveryofherbeinginthehousethatevery-
　　thing——theforcedcalm，therestraintofhisfanaticism，themask——allcameofftogetherinakindofpanic。
　　Whypanic，doyouask?Theanswerisverysimple。
　　Heremembered——or，Idaresay，hehadneverforgotten——theProfessoraloneatthetopofthehouse，pursuinghisresearches，surroundedbytinsupontinsofStone'sDriedSoup。Therewasenoughinsomefewofthemtoburyusallwherewestoodunderaheapofbricks。
　　Sevrin，ofcourse，wasawareofthat。Andwemustbelieve，also，thatheknewtheexactcharacteroftheman。Hehadgaugedsomanysuchcharacters!OrperhapsheonlygavetheProfessorcreditforwhathehimselfwascapableof。But，inanycase，theeffectwasproduced。Andsuddenlyheraisedhisvoiceinauthority。
　　"'Gettheladyawayatonce。'
　　"Itturnedoutthathewasashoarseasacrow；
　　result，nodoubt，oftheintenseemotion。Itpassedoffinamoment。Butthesefatefulwordsissuedforthfromhiscontractedthroatinadiscordant，ridiculouscroak。
　　Theyrequirednoanswer。Thethingwasdone。How-
　　ever，themanpersonatingtheinspectorjudgeditex-
　　pedienttosayroughly:
　　"'Sheshallgosoonenough，togetherwiththerestofyou。'
　　"Thesewerethelastwordsbelongingtothecomedypartofthisaffair。
　　"Obliviousofeverythingandeverybody，Sevrinstrodetowardshimandseizedthelapelsofhiscoat。
　　Underhisthinbluishcheeksonecouldseehisjawsworkingwithpassion。
　　"'Youhavemenpostedoutside。Gettheladytakenhomeatonce。Doyouhear?Now。Beforeyoutrytogetholdofthemanupstairs。'
　　"'Oh!Thereisamanupstairs，'scoffedtheother，openly。'Well，heshallbebroughtdownintimetoseetheendofthis。'
　　"ButSevrin，besidehimself，tooknoheedofthetone。
　　'"Who'stheimbecilemeddlerwhosentyoublunder-
　　inghere?Didn'tyouunderstandyourinstructions?
　　Don'tyouknowanything?It'sincredible。Here——'
　　"Hedroppedthelapelsofthecoatand，plunginghishandintohisbreast，jerkedfeverishlyatsome-
　　thingunderhisshirt。Atlastheproducedasmallsquarepocketofsoftleather，whichmusthavebeenhanginglikeascapularyfromhisneckbythetapewhosebrokenendsdangledfromhisfist。
　　"'Lookinside，'hespluttered，flingingitintheother'sface。Andinstantlyheturnedroundtowardsthegirl。
　　Shestoodjustbehindhim，perfectlystillandsilent。
　　Herset，whitefacegaveanillusionofplacidity。Onlyherstaringeyesseemedbiggeranddarker。
　　"Hespokerapidly，withnervousassurance。Iheardhimdistinctlypromisehertomakeeverythingasclearasdaylightpresently。ButthatwasallIcaught。Hestoodclosetoher，neverattemptingtotouchherevenwiththetipofhislittlefinger——andshestaredathimstupidly。Foramoment，however，hereyelidsde-