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Sir William； though further off； was still in the churchyard。
'How can you hesitate for a moment about this girl？' said
Dare； pointing to the bent figure of the old man。 'Think of
the satisfaction it would be to him to see his son within the
family walls again。 It should be a religion with you to
compass such a legitimate end as this。'
'Well； well； I'll think of it；' said the captain； with an
impatient laugh。 'You are quite a Mephistopheles； WillI say
it to my sorrow！'
'Would that I were in your place。'
'Would that you were！ Fifteen years ago I might have called
the chance a magnificent one。'
'But you are a young man still； and you look younger than you
are。 Nobody knows our relationship； and I am not such a fool
as to divulge it。 Of course； if through me you reclaim this
splendid possession； I should leave it to your feelings what
you would do for me。'
Sir William had by this time cleared out of the churchyard；
and the pair emerged from the vestry and departed。 Proceeding
towards Markton by the same bypath； they presently came to an
eminence covered with bushes of blackthorn； and tufts of
yellowing fern。 From this point a good view of the woods and
glades about Stancy Castle could be obtained。 Dare stood
still on the top and stretched out his finger； the captain's
eye followed the direction； and he saw above the many…hued
foliage in the middle distance the towering keep of Paula's
castle。
'That's the goal of your ambition； captainambition do I
say？most righteous and dutiful endeavour！ How the hoary
shape catches the sunlightit is the raison d'etre of the
landscape； and its possession is coveted by a thousand hearts。
Surely it is an hereditary desire of yours？ You must make a
point of returning to it； and appearing in the map of the
future as in that of the past。 I delight in this work of
encouraging you； and pushing you forward towards your own。
You are really very clever； you know； butI say it with
respecthow comes it that you want so much waking up？'
'Because I know the day is not so bright as it seems； my boy。
However； you make a little mistake。 If I care for anything on
earth； I do care for that old fortress of my forefathers。 I
respect so little among the living that all my reverence is
for my own dead。 But manoeuvring； even for my own； as you
call it； is not in my line。 It is distastefulit is
positively hateful to me。'
'Well； well； let it stand thus for the present。 But will you
refuse me one little requestmerely to see her？ I'll
contrive it so that she may not see you。 Don't refuse me； it
is the one thing I ask； and I shall think it hard if you deny
me。'
'O Will！' said the captain wearily。 'Why will you plead so？
Noeven though your mind is particularly set upon it； I
cannot see her； or bestow a thought upon her； much as I should
like to gratify you。'
VI。
When they had parted Dare walked along towards Markton with
resolve on his mouth and an unscrupulous light in his
prominent black eye。 Could any person who had heard the
previous conversation have seen him now； he would have found
little difficulty in divining that； notwithstanding De
Stancy's obduracy； the reinstation of Captain De Stancy in the
castle； and the possible legitimation and enrichment of
himself； was still the dream of his brain。 Even should any
legal settlement or offspring intervene to nip the extreme
development of his projects； there was abundant opportunity
for his glorification。 Two conditions were imperative。 De
Stancy must see Paula before Somerset's return。 And it was
necessary to have help from Havill； even if it involved
letting him know all。
Whether Havill already knew all was a nice question for Mr。
Dare's luminous mind。 Havill had had opportunities of reading
his secret； particularly on the night they occupied the same
room。 If so； by revealing it to Paula； Havill might utterly
blast his project for the marriage。 Havill； then； was at all
risks to be retained as an ally。
Yet Dare would have preferred a stronger check upon his
confederate than was afforded by his own knowledge of that
anonymous letter and the competition trick。 For were the
competition lost to him； Havill would have no further interest
in conciliating Miss Power； would as soon as not let her know
the secret of De Stancy's relation to him。
Fortune as usual helped him in his dilemma。 Entering Havill's
office； Dare found him sitting there； but the drawings had all
disappeared from the boards。 The architect held an open
letter in his hand。
'Well； what news？' said Dare。
'Miss Power has returned to the castle； Somerset is detained
in London； and the competition is decided；' said Havill； with
a glance of quiet dubiousness。
'And you have won it？'
'No。 We are bracketedit's a tie。 The judges say there is
no choice between the designsthat they are singularly equal
and singularly good。 That she would do well to adopt either。
Signed So…and…So； Fellows of the Royal Institute of British
Architects。 The result is that she will employ which she
personally likes best。 It is as if I had spun a sovereign in
the air and it had alighted on its edge。 The least false
movement will make it tails； the least wise movement heads。'
'Singularly equal。 Well； we owe that to our nocturnal visit；
which must not be known。'
'O Lord； no！' said Havill apprehensively。
Dare felt secure of him at those words。 Havill had much at
stake； the slightest rumour of his trick in bringing about the
competition； would be fatal to Havill's reputation。
'The permanent absence of Somerset then is desirable
architecturally on your account； matrimonially on mine。'
'Matrimonially？ By the waywho was that captain you pointed
out to me when the artillery entered the town？'
'Captain De Stancyson of Sir William De Stancy。 He's the
husband。 O； you needn't look incredulous： it is practicable；
but we won't argue that。 In the first place I want him to see
her； and to see her in the most love…kindling； passion…
begetting circumstances that can be thought of。 And he must
see her surreptitiously； for he refuses to meet her。'
'Let him see her going to church or chapel？'
Dare shook his head。
'Driving out？'
'Common…place！'
'Walking in the gardens？'
'Ditto。'
'At her toilet？'
'Ahif it were possible！'
'Which it hardly is。 Well； you had better think it over and
make inquiries about her habits； and as to when she is in a
favourable aspect for observation； as the almanacs say。'
Shortly afterwards Dare took his leave。 In the evening he
made it his business to sit smoking on the bole of a tree
which commanded a view of the upper ward of the castle； and
also of the old postern…gate； now enlarged and used as a
tradesmen's entrance。 It was half…past six o'clock； the
dressing…bell rang； and Dare saw a light…footed young woman
hasten at the sound across the ward from the servants'
quarter。 A light appeared in a chamber which he knew to be
Paula's dressing…room； and there it remained half…an…hour； a
shadow passing and repassing on the blind in the style of
head…dress worn by the girl he had previously seen。 The