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thunder like the indistinct noise of a battle。 Havill and
Dare retired to the trees。 When the dance ended Somerset and
his partner emerged from the tent； and slowly moved towards
the tea…house。 Divining their goal Dare seized Havill's arm；
and the two worthies entered the building unseen； by first
passing round behind it。 They seated themselves in the back
part of the interior； where darkness prevailed。
As before related； Paula and Somerset came and stood within
the door。 When the rain increased they drew themselves
further inward； their forms being distinctly outlined to the
gaze of those lurking behind by the light from the tent
beyond。 But the hiss of the falling rain and the lowness of
their tones prevented their words from being heard。
'I wish myself out of this！' breathed Havill to Dare； as he
buttoned his coat over his white waistcoat。 'I told you it
was true； but you wouldn't believe。 I wouldn't she should
catch me here eavesdropping for the world！'
'Courage； Man Friday；' said his cooler comrade。
Paula and her lover backed yet further； till the hem of her
skirt touched Havill's feet。 Their attitudes were sufficient
to prove their relations to the most obstinate Didymus who
should have witnessed them。 Tender emotions seemed to pervade
the summer…house like an aroma。 The calm ecstasy of the
condition of at least one of them was not without a coercive
effect upon the two invidious spectators； so that they must
need have remained passive had they come there to disturb or
annoy。 The serenity of Paula was even more impressive than
the hushed ardour of Somerset： she did not satisfy curiosity
as Somerset satisfied it； she piqued it。 Poor Somerset had
reached a perfectly intelligible depthone which had a single
blissful way out of it； and nine calamitous ones； but Paula
remained an enigma all through the scene。
The rain ceased； and the pair moved away。 The enchantment
worked by their presence vanished； the details of the meeting
settled down in the watchers' minds； and their tongues were
loosened。 Dare； turning to Havill； said； 'Thank you； you have
done me a timely turn to…day。'
'What！ had you hopes that way？' asked Havill satirically。
'I！ The woman that interests my heart has yet to be born；'
said Dare； with a steely coldness strange in such a juvenile；
and yet almost convincing。 'But though I have not personal
hopes； I have an objection to this courtship。 Now I think we
may as well fraternize； the situation being what it is？'
'What is the situation？〃
'He is in your way as her architect； he is in my way as her
lover： we don't want to hurt him； but we wish him clean out
of the neighbourhood。'
'I'll go as far as that；' said Havill。
'I have come here at some trouble to myself； merely to
observe： I find I ought to stay to act。'
'If you were myself； a married man with people dependent on
him； who has had a professional certainty turned to a
miserably remote contingency by these events； you might say
you ought to act； but what conceivable difference it can make
to you who it is the young lady takes to her heart and home； I
fail to understand。'
'Well； I'll tell youthis much at least。 I want to keep the
place vacant for another man。'
'The place？'
'The place of husband to Miss Power； and proprietor of that
castle and domain。'
'That's a scheme with a vengeance。 Who is the man？'
'It is my secret at present。'
'Certainly。' Havill drew a deep breath； and dropped into a
tone of depression。 'Well； scheme as you will； there will be
small advantage to me；' he murmured。 'The castle commission
is as good as gone； and a bill for two hundred pounds falls
due next week。'
'Cheer up； heart！ My position； if you only knew it； has ten
times the difficulties of yours； since this disagreeable
discovery。 Let us consider if we can assist each other。 The
competition drawings are to be sent inwhen？'
'In something over six weeksa fortnight before she returns
from the Scilly Isles； for which place she leaves here in a
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。