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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 himnoth