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bachelor who uttered it。
He had not been able to keep the question of De Stancy's
domestic state out of his head from the first moment of seeing
him。 Assuming De Stancy to be a husband； he felt there might
be some excuse for his remark； if unmarried； Somerset liked
the satire still better； in such circumstances there was a
relief in the thought that Captain De Stancy's prejudices
might be infinitely stronger than those of his sister or
father。
'Going to…morrow； did you say； Mr。 Somerset？' asked Miss De
Stancy。 'Then will you dine with us to…day？ My father is
anxious that you should do so before you go。 I am sorry there
will be only our own family present to meet you； but you can
leave as early as you wish。'
Her brother seconded the invitation； and Somerset promised；
though his leisure for that evening was short。 He was in
truth somewhat inclined to like De Stancy； for though the
captain had said nothing of any value either on war； commerce；
science； or art； he had seemed attractive to the younger man。
Beyond the natural interest a soldier has for imaginative
minds in the civil walks of life； De Stancy's occasional
manifestations of taedium vitae were too poetically shaped to
be repellent。 Gallantry combined in him with a sort of
ascetic self…repression in a way that was curious。 He was a
dozen years older than Somerset： his life had been passed in
grooves remote from those of Somerset's own life； and the
latter decided that he would like to meet the artillery
officer again。
Bidding them a temporary farewell； he went away to Markton by
a shorter path than that pursued by the De Stancys； and after
spending the remainder of the afternoon preparing for
departure； he sallied forth just before the dinner…hour
towards the suburban villa。
He had become yet more curious whether a Mrs。 De Stancy
existed； if there were one he would probably see her to…night。
He had an irrepressible hope that there might be such a lady。
On entering the drawing…room only the father； son； and
daughter were assembled。 Somerset fell into talk with
Charlotte during the few minutes before dinner； and his
thought found its way out。
'There is no Mrs。 De Stancy？' he said in an undertone。
'None；' she said； 'my brother is a bachelor。'
The dinner having been fixed at an early hour to suit
Somerset； they had returned to the drawing…room at eight
o'clock。 About nine he was aiming to get away。
'You are not off yet？' said the captain。
'There would have been no hurry；' said Somerset； 'had I not
just remembered that I have left one thing undone which I want
to attend to before my departure。 I want to see the chief
constable to…night。'
'Cunningham Haze？he is the very man I too want to see。 But
he went out of town this afternoon； and I hardly think you
will see him to…night。 His return has been delayed。'
'Then the matter must wait。'
'I have left word at his house asking him to call here if he
gets home before half…past ten； but at any rate I shall see
him to…morrow morning。 Can I do anything for you； since you
are leaving early？'
Somerset replied that the business was of no great importance；
and briefly explained the suspected intrusion into his studio；
that he had with him a photograph of the suspected young man。
'If it is a mistake；' added Somerset； 'I should regret putting
my draughtsman's portrait into the hands of the police； since
it might injure his character； indeed； it would be unfair to
him。 So I wish to keep the likeness in my own hands； and
merely to show it to Mr。 Haze。 That's why I prefer not to
send it。'
'My matter with Haze is that the barrack furniture does not
correspond with the inventories。 If you like； I'll ask your
question at the same time with pleasure。'
Thereupon Somerset gave Captain De Stancy an unfastened
envelope containing the portrait； asking him to destroy it if
the constable should declare it not to correspond with the
face that met his eye at the window。 Soon after； Somerset
took his leave of the household。
He had not been absent ten minutes when other wheels were
heard on the gravel without； and the servant announced Mr。
Cunningham Haze； who had returned earlier than he had
expected； and had called as requested。
They went into the dining…room to discuss their business。
When the barrack matter had been arranged De Stancy said； 'I
have a little commission to execute for my friend Mr。
Somerset。 I am to ask you if this portrait of the person he
suspects of unlawfully entering his room is like the man you
saw there？'
The speaker was seated on one side of the dining…table and Mr。
Haze on the other。 As he spoke De Stancy pulled the envelope
from his pocket； and half drew out the photograph； which he
had not as yet looked at； to hand it over to the constable。
In the act his eye fell upon the portrait； with its uncertain
expression of age； assured look； and hair worn in a fringe
like a girl's。
Captain De Stancy's face became strained； and he leant back in
his chair； having previously had sufficient power over himself
to close the envelope and return it to his pocket。
'Good heavens； you are ill； Captain De Stancy？' said the chief
constable。
'It was only momentary；' said De Stancy； 'better in a minute
a glass of water will put me right。'
Mr。 Haze got him a glass of water from the sideboard。
'These spasms occasionally overtake me；' said De Stancy when
he had drunk。 'I am already better。 What were we saying？ O；
this affair of Mr。 Somerset's。 I find that this envelope is
not the right one。' He ostensibly searched his pocket again。
'I must have mislaid it；' he continued； rising。 'I'll be with
you again in a moment。'
De Stancy went into the room adjoining； opened an album of
portraits that lay on the table； and selected one of a young
man quite unknown to him； whose age was somewhat akin to
Dare's； but who in no other attribute resembled him。
De Stancy placed this picture in the original envelope； and
returned with it to the chief constable； saying he had found
it at last。
'Thank you； thank you；' said Cunningham Haze； looking it over。
'AhI perceive it is not what I expected to see。 Mr。
Somerset was mistaken。'
When the chief constable had left the house； Captain De Stancy
shut the door and drew out the original photograph。 As he
looked at the transcript of Dare's features he was moved by a
painful agitation； till recalling himself to the present； he
carefully put the portrait into the fire。
During the following days Captain De Stancy's manner on the
roads； in the streets； and at barracks； was that of Crusoe
after seeing the print of a man's foot on the sand。
V。
Anybody who had closely considered Dare at this time would
have discovered that； shortly after the arrival of the Royal
Horse Artillery at Markton Barracks； he gave up his room at
the inn at Sleeping…Green and took permanent lodgings over a
broker's shop in the town above…mentioned。 The peculiarity of
the rooms was that they commanded a view lengthwise of the
barrack lane along which any soldier； in the natural course of
things； would pass either to enter the town； to call at Myrtl