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and…twenty； or twenty…seven？ And are you an Englishman；
Frenchman； Indian； American； or what？ You seem not to have
taken your degrees in these parts。'
'That's a secret； my friend；' said Dare。 'I am a citizen of
the world。 I owe no country patriotism； and no king or queen
obedience。 A man whose country has no boundary is your only
true gentleman。'
'Well； where were you bornsomewhere； I suppose？'
'It would be a fact worth the telling。 The secret of my birth
lies here。' And Dare slapped his breast with his right hand。
'Literally； just under your shirt…front； or figuratively； in
your heart？' asked Havill。
'Literally there。 It is necessary that it should be recorded；
for one's own memory is a treacherous book of reference；
should verification be required at a time of delirium；
disease； or death。'
Havill asked no further what he meant； and went to the door。
Finding that the rain still continued he returned to Dare； who
was by this time sinking down in a one…sided attitude； as if
hung up by the shoulder。 Informing his companion that he was
but little inclined to move far in such a tempestuous night；
he decided to remain in the inn till next morning。 On calling
in the landlord； however； they learnt that the house was full
of farmers on their way home from a large sheep…fair in the
neighbourhood； and that several of these； having decided to
stay on account of the same tempestuous weather； had already
engaged the spare beds。 If Mr。 Dare would give up his room；
and share a double…bedded room with Mr。 Havill； the thing
could be done； but not otherwise。
To this the two companions agreed； and presently went upstairs
with as gentlemanly a walk and vertical a candle as they could
exhibit under the circumstances。
The other inmates of the inn soon retired to rest； and the
storm raged on unheeded by all local humanity。
III。
At two o'clock the rain lessened its fury。 At half…past two
the obscured moon shone forth； and at three Havill awoke。 The
blind had not been pulled down overnight； and the moonlight
streamed into the room； across the bed whereon Dare was
sleeping。 He lay on his back； his arms thrown out； and his
well…curved youthful form looked like an unpedestaled Dionysus
in the colourless lunar rays。
Sleep had cleared Havill's mind from the drowsing effects of
the last night's sitting； and he thought of Dare's mysterious
manner in speaking of himself。 This lad resembled the
Etruscan youth Tages； in one respect； that of being a boy
with； seemingly； the wisdom of a sage； and the effect of his
presence was now heightened by all those sinister and mystic
attributes which are lent by nocturnal environment。 He who in
broad daylight might be but a young chevalier d'industrie was
now an unlimited possibility in social phenomena。 Havill
remembered how the lad had pointed to his breast； and said
that his secret was literally kept there。 The architect was
too much of a provincial to have quenched the common curiosity
that was part of his nature by the acquired metropolitan
indifference to other people's lives which； in essence more
unworthy even than the former； causes less practical
inconvenience in its exercise。
Dare was breathing profoundly。 Instigated as above mentioned；
Havill got out of bed and stood beside the sleeper。 After a
moment's pause he gently pulled back the unfastened collar of
Dare's nightshirt and saw a word tattooed in distinct
characters on his breast。 Before there was time for Havill to
decipher it Dare moved slightly； as if conscious of
disturbance； and Havill hastened back to bed。 Dare bestirred
himself yet more； whereupon Havill breathed heavily； though
keeping an intent glance on the lad through his half…closed
eyes to learn if he had been aware of the investigation。
Dare was certainly conscious of something； for he sat up；
rubbed his eyes； and gazed around the room； then after a few
moments of reflection he drew some article from beneath his
pillow。 A blue gleam shone from the object as Dare held it in
the moonlight； and Havill perceived that it was a small
revolver。
A clammy dew broke out upon the face and body of the architect
when； stepping out of bed with the weapon in his hand； Dare
looked under the bed； behind the curtains； out of the window；
and into a closet； as if convinced that something had
occurred； but in doubt as to what it was。 He then came across
to where Havill was lying and still keeping up the appearance
of sleep。 Watching him awhile and mistrusting the reality of
this semblance； Dare brought it to the test by holding the
revolver within a few inches of Havill's forehead。
Havill could stand no more。 Crystallized with terror； he
said； without however moving more than his lips； in dread of
hasty action on the part of Dare： 'O； good Lord； Dare； Dare；
I have done nothing！'
The youth smiled and lowered the pistol。 'I was only finding
out whether it was you or some burglar who had been playing
tricks upon me。 I find it was you。'
'Do put away that thing！ It is too ghastly to produce in a
respectable bedroom。 Why do you carry it？'
'Cosmopolites always do。 Now answer my questions。 What were
you up to？' and Dare as he spoke played with the pistol again。
Havill had recovered some coolness。 'You could not use it
upon me；' he said sardonically； watching Dare。 'It would be
risking your neck for too little an object。'
'I did not think you were shrewd enough to see that；' replied
Dare carelessly； as he returned the revolver to its place。
'Well； whether you have outwitted me or no； you will keep the
secret as long as I choose。'
'Why？' said Havill。
'Because I keep your secret of the letter abusing Miss P。； and
of the pilfered tracing you carry in your pocket。'
'It is quite true；' said Havill。
They went to bed again。 Dare was soon asleep； but Havill did
not attempt to disturb him again。 The elder man slept but
fitfully。 He was aroused in the morning by a heavy rumbling
and jingling along the highway overlooked by the window； the
front wall of the house being shaken by the reverberation。
'There is no rest for me here；' he said； rising and going to
the window； carefully avoiding the neighbourhood of Mr。 Dare。
When Havill had glanced out he returned to dress himself。
'What's that noise？' said Dare； awakened by the same rumble。
'It is the Artillery going away。'
'From where？'
'Markton barracks。'
'Hurrah！' said Dare； jumping up in bed。 'I have been waiting
for that these six weeks。'
Havill did not ask questions as to the meaning of this
unexpected remark。
When they were downstairs Dare's first act was to ring the
bell and ask if his Army and Navy Gazette had arrived。
While the servant was gone Havill cleared his throat and said；
'I am an architect； and I take in the Architect； you are an
architect； and you take in the Army and Navy Gazette。'
'I am not an architect any more than I am a soldier； but I
have taken in the Army and Navy Gazette these many weeks。'
When they were at breakfast the paper came in。 Dare hastily
tore it open and glanced at the pages。
'I am going to Markton after breakfast