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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！' he said suddenly；
before looking up； 'we will walk together if you like？'
They walked together as planned； and entered Markton about ten
o'clock。
'I have just to make a call here；' said Dare； when they were
opposite the barrack…entrance on the outskirts of the town；
where wheel…tracks and a regular chain of hoof…marks left by
the departed batteries were imprinted in the gravel between
the open gates。 'I shall not be a moment。' Havill stood
still while his companion entered and asked the commissary in
charge； or somebody representing him； when the new batteries
would arrive to take the place of those which had gone away。
He was informed that it would be about noon。
'Now I am at your service；' said Dare； 'and will help you to
rearrange your design by the new intellectual light we have
acquired。'
They entered Havill's office and set to work。 When contrasted
with the tracing from Somerset's plan； Havill's design； which
was not far advanced； revealed all its weaknesses to him。
After seeing Somerset's scheme the bands of Havill's
imagination were loosened： he laid his own previous efforts
aside； got fresh sheets of drawing…paper and drew with vigour。
'I may as well stay and help you；' said Dare。 'I have nothing
to do till twelve o'clock； and not much then。'
So there he remained。 At a quarter to twelve children and
idlers began to gather against the railings of Havill's house。
A few minutes past twelve the noise of an arriving host was
heard at the entrance to the town。 Thereupon Dare and Havill
went to the window。
The X and Y Batteries of the Z Brigade； Royal Horse Artillery；
were entering Markton； each headed by the major with his
bugler behind him。 In a moment they came abreast and passed；
every man in his place； that is to say：
Six shining horses； in pairs； harnessed by rope…traces white
as milk； with a driver on each near horse： two gunners on the
lead…coloured stout…wheeled limber； their carcases jolted to a
jelly for lack of springs： two gunners on the lead…coloured
stout…wheeled gun…carriage； in the same personal condition：
the nine…pounder gun； dipping its heavy head to earth； as if
ashamed of its office in these enlightened times： the
complement of jingling and prancing troopers； riding at the
wheels and elsewhere： six shining horses with their drivers；
and traces white as milk； as before： two more gallant jolted
men； on another jolting limber； and more stout wheels and
lead…coloured paint： two more jolted men on another drooping
gun： more jingling troopers on horseback： again six shining
draught…horses； traces； drivers； gun； gunners； lead paint；
stout wheels and troopers as before。
So each detachment lumbered slowly by； all eyes martially
forward； except when wandering in quest of female beauty。
'He's a fine fellow； is he not？' said Dare； denoting by a nod
a mounted officer； with a sallow； yet handsome face； and black
moustache； who came up on a bay gelding with the men of his
battery。
'What is he？' said Havill。
'A captain who lacks advancement。'
'Do you know him？'
'I know him？'
'Yes； do you？'
Dare made no reply； and they watched the captain as he rode
past with his drawn sword in his hand； the sun making a little
sun upon its blade； and upon his brilliantly polished long
boots and bright spurs； also warming his gold cross…belt and
braidings； white gloves； busby with its red bag； and tall
white plume。
Havill seemed to be too indifferent to press his questioning；
and when all the soldiers had passed by； Dare observed to his
companion that he should leave him for a short time； but would
return in the afternoon or next day。
After this he walked up the street in the rear of the
artillery； following them to the barracks。 On reaching the
gates he found a crowd of people gathered outside； looking
with admiration at the guns and gunners drawn up within the
enclosure。 When the soldiers were dismissed to their quarters
the sightseers dispersed； and Dare went through the gates to
the barrack…yard。
The guns were standing on the green； the soldiers and horses
were scattered about； and the handsome captain whom Dare had
pointed out to Havill was inspecting the buildings in the
company of the quartermaster。 Dare made a mental note of
these things； and； apparently changing a previous intention；
went out from the barracks and returned to the town。
IV。
To return for a while to George Somerset。 The sun of his
later existence having vanished from that young man's horizon；
he confined himself closely to the studio； superintending the
exertions of his draughtsmen Bowles； Knowles； and Cockton； who
were now in the full swing of working out Somerset's creations
from the sketches he had previously prepared。
He had so far got the start of Havill in the competition that；
by the help of these three gentlemen； his design was soon
finished。 But he gained no unfair advantage on this account；
an additional month being allowed to Havill to compensate for
his later information。
Before scaling up his drawings Somerset wished to spend a
short time in London； and dismissing his assistants till
further notice； he locked up the rooms which had been
appropriated as office and studio and prepared for the
journey。
It was afternoon。 Somerset walked from the castle in the
direction of the wood to reach Markton by a detour。 He had
not proceeded far when there approached his path a man riding
a bay horse with a square…cut tail。 The equestrian wore a
grizzled beard； and looked at Somerset with a piercing eye as
he noiselessly ambled nearer over the soft sod of the park。
He proved to be Mr。 Cunningham Haze； chief constable of the
district； who had become slightly known to Somerset during his
sojourn here。
'One word； Mr。 Somerset；' said the Chief； after they had
exchanged nods of recognition； reining his horse as he spoke。
Somerset stopped。
'You have a studio at the castle in which you are preparing
drawings？'
'I have。'
'Have you a clerk？'
'I had three till yesterday； when I paid them off。'
'Would they have any right to enter the studio late at night？'
'There would have been nothing wrong in their doing so。
Either of them might have gone back at any time for something
forgotten。 They lived quite near the castle。'
'Ah； then all is explained。 I was riding past over the grass
on the night of last Thursday； and I saw two persons in your
studio with a light。 It must have been about half…past nine
o'clock。 One of them came forward and pulled down the blind
so that the light fell upon his face。 But I only saw it for a
short time。'
'If it were Knowles or Cockton he would have had a beard。'
'He had no beard。'
'Then it must have been Bowles。 A young man？'
'Quite young。 His companion in the background seemed older。'
'They are all about the same age really。 By the wayit
couldn't have been Dareand Havill； surely！ Would you
recognize them again？'
'The young one possibly。 The other not at all； for he