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showing her love for the King； and that the latter never
addressed her in words in which passion got the better of
courtesy。 Moreover； as Paula had herself observed； they did
not marry at the end of the piece； as in Shakespeare's other
comedies。 Somewhat calm in this assurance； he waited on while
the other couples respectively indulged in their love…making；
and banter； including Mrs。 Camperton as the sprightly
Rosaline。 But he was doomed to be surprised out of his humour
when the end of the act came on。 In abridging the play for
the convenience of representation； the favours or gifts from
the gentlemen to the ladies were personally presented： and
now Somerset saw De Stancy advance with the necklace fetched
by Paula from London； and clasp it on her neck。
This seemed to throw a less pleasant light on her hasty
journey。 To fetch a valuable ornament to lend it to a poorer
friend was estimable； but to fetch it that the friend's
brother should have something magnificent to use as a lover's
offering to herself in public； that wore a different
complexion。 And if the article were recognized by the
spectators as the same that Charlotte had worn at the ball；
the presentation by De Stancy of what must seem to be an
heirloom of his house would be read as symbolizing a union of
the families。
De Stancy's mode of presenting the necklace； though
unauthorized by Shakespeare； had the full approval of the
company； and set them in good humour to receive Major
Camperton as Armado the braggart。 Nothing calculated to
stimulate jealousy occurred again till the fifth act； and then
there arose full cause for it。
The scene was the outside of the Princess's pavilion。 De
Stancy； as the King of Navarre； stood with his group of
attendants awaiting the Princess； who presently entered from
her door。 The two began to converse as the play appointed； De
Stancy turning to her with this reply
'Rebuke me not for that which you provoke；
The virtue of your eye must break my oath。'
So far all was well； and Paula opened her lips for the set
rejoinder。 But before she had spoken De Stancy continued
'If I profane with my unworthy hand
（Taking her hand）
This holy shrine； the gentle fine is this
My lips； two blushing pilgrims； ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss。'
Somerset stared。 Surely in this comedy the King never
addressed the Princess in such warm words； and yet they were
Shakespeare's； for they were quite familiar to him。 A dim
suspicion crossed his mind。 Mrs。 Goodman had brought a copy
of Shakespeare with her； which she kept in her lap and never
looked at： borrowing it； Somerset turned to 'Romeo and
Juliet；' and there he saw the words which De Stancy had
introduced as gag； to intensify the mild love…making of the
other play。 Meanwhile De Stancy continued
'O then； dear Saint； let lips do what hands do；
They pray； grant thou； lest faith turn to despair。
Then move not； while my prayer's effect I take。
Thus from my lips； by yours； my sin is purg'd！'
Could it be that De Stancy was going to do what came next in
the stage directionkiss her？ Before there was time for
conjecture on that point the sound of a very sweet and long…
drawn osculation spread through the room； followed by loud
applause from the people in the cheap seats。 De Stancy
withdrew from bending over Paula； and she was very red in the
face。 Nothing seemed clearer than that he had actually done
the deed。 The applause continuing； Somerset turned his head。
Five hundred faces had regarded the act； without a
consciousness that it was an interpolation； and four hundred
and fifty mouths in those faces were smiling。 About one half
of them were tender smiles； these came from the women。 The
other half were at best humorous； and mainly satirical； these
came from the men。 It was a profanation without parallel； and
his face blazed like a coal。
The play was now nearly at an end； and Somerset sat on；
feeling what he could not express。 More than ever was he
assured that there had been collusion between the two
artillery officers to bring about this end。 That he should
have been the unhappy man to design those picturesque dresses
in which his rival so audaciously played the lover to his；
Somerset's； mistress； was an added point to the satire。 He
could hardly go so far as to assume that Paula was a
consenting party to this startling interlude； but her
otherwise unaccountable wish that his own love should be
clandestinely shown lent immense force to a doubt of her
sincerity。 The ghastly thought that she had merely been
keeping him on； like a pet spaniel； to amuse her leisure
moments till she should have found appropriate opportunity for
an open engagement with some one else； trusting to his sense
of chivalry to keep secret their little episode； filled him
with a grim heat。
IX。
At the back of the room the applause had been loud at the
moment of the kiss； real or counterfeit。 The cause was partly
owing to an exceptional circumstance which had occurred in
that quarter early in the play。
The people had all seated themselves； and the first act had
begun； when the tapestry that screened the door was lifted
gently and a figure appeared in the opening。 The general
attention was at this moment absorbed by the newly disclosed
stage； and scarcely a soul noticed the stranger。 Had any one
of the audience turned his head； there would have been
sufficient in the countenance to detain his gaze；
notwithstanding the counter…attraction forward。
He was obviously a man who had come from afar。 There was not
a square inch about him that had anything to do with modern
English life。 His visage； which was of the colour of light
porphyry； had little of its original surface left； it was a
face which had been the plaything of strange fires or
pestilences； that had moulded to whatever shape they chose his
originally supple skin； and left it pitted； puckered； and
seamed like a dried water…course。 But though dire
catastrophes or the treacherous airs of remote climates had
done their worst upon his exterior； they seemed to have
affected him but little within； to judge from a certain
robustness which showed itself in his manner of standing。
The face…marks had a meaning； for any one who could read them；
beyond the mere suggestion of their origin： they signified
that this man had either been the victim of some terrible
necessity as regarded the occupation to which he had devoted
himself； or that he was a man of dogged obstinacy； from sheer
sang froid holding his ground amid malign forces when others
would have fled affrighted away。
As nobody noticed him； he dropped the door hangings after a
while； walked silently along the matted alley； and sat down in
one of the back chairs。 His manner of entry was enough to
show that the strength of character which he seemed to possess
had phlegm for its base and not ardour。 One might have said
that perhaps the shocks he had passed through had taken all
his original warmth out of him。 His beaver hat； which he had
retained on