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argument （in spite of my strong Norman feelings） ever since I
broached the subject of your marrying this girl； who
represents both intellect and wealthall； in fact； except the
historical prestige that you represent。 And we mustn't flinch
at things。 The case is even more pressing than ordinary
casesowing to the odd fact that the representative of the
new blood who has come in our way actually lives in your own
old house； and owns your own old lands。 The ordinary reason
for such alliances is quintupled in our case。 Do then just
think and be reasonable； before you talk tall about not liking
my jokes； and all that。 Beggars mustn't be choosers。'
'There's really much reason in your argument；' said De Stancy；
with a bitter laugh： 'and my own heart argues much the same
way。 But； leaving me to take care of my aristocratic self； I
advise your aristocratic self to slip off at once to England
like any hang…gallows dog； and if Somerset is here； and you
have been doing wrong in his name； and it all comes out； I'll
try to save you； as far as an honest man can。 If you have
done no wrong； of course there is no fear； though I should be
obliged by your going homeward as quickly as possible； as
being better both for you and for me。 。 。 。 Hullo
Damnation！'
They had reached one side of the Schloss…Platz； nobody
apparently being near them save a sentinel who was on duty
before the Palace； but turning as he spoke； De Stancy beheld a
group consisting of his sister； Paula； and Mr。 Power；
strolling across the square towards them。
It was impossible to escape their observation； and putting a
bold front upon it； De Stancy advanced with Dare at his side；
till in a few moments the two parties met； Paula and Charlotte
recognizing Dare at once as the young man who assisted at the
castle。
'I have met my young photographer；' said De Stancy cheerily。
'What a small world it is； as everybody truly observes！ I am
wishing he could take some views for us as we go on； but you
have no apparatus with you； I suppose； Mr。 Dare？'
'I have not； sir； I am sorry to say；' replied Dare
respectfully。
'You could get some； I suppose？' asked Paula of the
interesting young photographer。
Dare declared that it would be not impossible： whereupon De
Stancy said that it was only a passing thought of his； and in
a few minutes the two parties again separated； going their
several ways。
'That was awkward；' said De Stancy； trembling with excitement。
'I would advise you to keep further off in future。'
Dare said thoughtfully that he would be careful； adding； 'She
is a prize for any man； indeed； leaving alone the substantial
possessions behind her！ Now was I too enthusiastic？ Was I a
fool for urging you on？'
'Wait till success justifies the undertaking。 In case of
failure it will have been anything but wise。 It is no light
matter to have a carefully preserved repose broken in upon for
nothinga repose that could never be restored！'
They walked down the Carl…Friedrichs…Strasse to the Margrave's
Pyramid； and back to the hotel； where Dare also decided to
take up his stay。 De Stancy left him with the book…keeper at
the desk； and went upstairs to see if the ladies had returned。
IV。
He found them in their sitting…room with their bonnets on； as
if they had just come in。 Mr。 Power was also present； reading
a newspaper； but Mrs。 Goodman had gone out to a neighbouring
shop； in the windows of which she had seen something which
attracted her fancy。
When De Stancy entered； Paula's thoughts seemed to revert to
Dare； for almost at once she asked him in what direction the
youth was travelling。 With some hesitation De Stancy replied
that he believed Mr。 Dare was returning to England after a
spring trip for the improvement of his mind。
'A very praiseworthy thing to do；' said Paula。 'What places
has he visited？'
'Those which afford opportunities for the study of the old
masters； I believe；' said De Stancy blandly。 'He has also
been to Turin； Genoa； Marseilles； and so on。' The captain
spoke the more readily to her questioning in that he divined
her words to be dictated； not by any suspicions of his
relations with Dare； but by her knowledge of Dare as the
draughtsman employed by Somerset。
'Has he been to Nice？' she next demanded。 'Did he go there in
company with my architect？'
'I think not。'
'Has he seen anything of him？ My architect Somerset once
employed him。 They know each other。'
'I think he saw Somerset for a short time。'
Paula was silent。 'Do you know where this young man Dare is
at the present moment？' she asked quickly。
De Stancy said that Dare was staying at the same hotel with
themselves； and that he believed he was downstairs。
'I think I can do no better than send for him；' said she。 'He
may be able to throw some light upon the matter of that
telegram。'
She rang and despatched the waiter for the young man in
question； De Stancy almost visibly trembling for the result。
But he opened the town directory which was lying on a table；
and affected to be engrossed in the names。
Before Dare was shown in she said to her uncle； 'Perhaps you
will speak to him for me？'
Mr。 Power； looking up from the paper he was reading； assented
to her proposition。 Dare appeared in the doorway； and the
waiter retired。 Dare seemed a trifle startled out of his
usual coolness； the message having evidently been unexpected；
and he came forward somewhat uneasily。
'Mr。 Dare； we are anxious to know something of Miss Power's
architect； and Captain De Stancy tells us you have seen him
lately；' said Mr。 Power sonorously over the edge of his
newspaper。
Not knowing whether danger menaced or no； or； if it menaced；
from what quarter it was to be expected； Dare felt that
honesty was as good as anything else for him； and replied
boldly that he had seen Mr。 Somerset； De Stancy continuing to
cream and mantle almost visibly； in anxiety at the situation
of the speaker。
'And where did you see him？' continued Mr。 Power。
'In the Casino at Monte Carlo。'
'How long did you see him？'
'Only for half an hour。 I left him there。'
Paula's interest got the better of her reserve； and she cut in
upon her uncle： 'Did he seem in any unusual state； or in
trouble？'
'He was rather excited；' said Dare。
'And can you remember when that was？'
Dare considered； looked at his pocket…book； and said that it
was on the evening of April the twenty…second。
The answer had a significance for Paula； De Stancy； and
Charlotte； to which Abner Power was a stranger。 The
telegraphic request for money； which had been kept a secret
from him by his niece； because of his already unfriendly tone
towards Somerset； arrived on the morning of the twenty…third
a date which neighboured with painfully suggestive nicety upon
that now given by Dare。
She seemed to be silenced； and asked no more questions。 Dare
having furbished himself up to a gentlemanly appearance with
some of his recent winnings； was invited to stay on awhile by
Paula's uncle； who； as became a travelled man； was not
fastidious as to company。 Being a youth of the world； Dare
made himself agreeable to that