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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 gentleman； and afterwards tried
to do the same with Miss De Stancy。 At this the captain； to
whom the situation for some time had been amazingly
uncomfortable； pleaded some excuse for going out； and left the
room。
Dare continued his endeavours to say a few polite nothings to
Charlotte De Stancy； in the course of which he drew from his
pocket his new silk handkerchief。 By some chance a card came
out with the handkerchief； and fluttered downwards。 His
momentary instinct was to make a grasp at the card and conceal
it： but it had already tumbled to the floor； where it lay
face upward beside Charlotte De Stancy's chair。
It was neither a visiting nor a playing card； but one bearing
a photographic portrait of a peculiar nature。 It was what
Dare had characterized as his best joke in speaking on the
subject to Captain De Stancy： he had in the morning put it
ready in his pocket to give to the captain； and had in fact
held it in waiting between his finger and thumb while talking
to him in the Platz； meaning that he should make use of it
against his rival whenever convenient。 But his sharp
conversation with that soldier had dulled his zest for this
final joke at Somerset's expense； had at least shown him that
De Stancy would not adopt the joke by accepting the photograph
and using it himself； and determined him to lay it aside till
a more convenient time。 So fully had he made up his mind on
this course； that when the photograph slipped out he did not
at first perceive the appositeness of the circumstance； in
putting into his own hands the role he had intended for De
Stancy； though it was asserted afterwards that the whole scene
was deliberately planned。 However； once having seen the
accident； he resolved to take the current as it served。
The card having fallen beside her； Miss De Stancy glanced over
it； which indeed she could not help doing。 The smile that had
previously hung upon her lips was arrested as if by frost and
she involuntarily uttered a little distressed cry of 'O！' like
one in bodily pain。
Paula； who had been talking to her uncle during this
interlude； started round； and wondering what had happened；
inquiringly crossed the room to poor Charlotte's side； asking
her what was the matter。 Charlotte had regained self…
possession； though not enough to enable her to reply； and
Paula asked her a second time what had made her exclaim like
that。 Miss De Stancy still seemed confused； whereupon Paula
noticed that her eyes were continually drawn as if by
fascination towards the photograph on the floor； which；
contrary to his first impulse； Dare； as has been said； now
seemed in no hurry to regain。 Surmising at last that the
card； whatever it was； had something to do with the
exclamation； Paula picked it up。
It was a portrait of Somerset； but by a device known in
photography the operator； though contriving to produce what
seemed to be a perfect likeness； had given it the distorted
features and wild attitude of a man advanced in intoxication。
No woman； unless specially cognizant of such possibilities；
could have looked upon it and doubted that the photograph was
a genuine illustration of a customary phase in the young man's
private life。
Paula observed it； thoroughly took it in； but the effect upon
her was by no means clear。 Charlotte's eyes at once forsook
the portrait to dwell on Paula's face。 It paled a little； and
this was followed by a hot blushperceptibly a blush of
shame。 That was all。 She flung the picture down on the
table； and moved away。
It was now Mr。 Power's turn。 Anticipating Dare； who was
advancing with a deprecatory look to seize the photograph； he
also grasped it。 When he saw whom it represented he seemed
both amused and startled； and after scanning it a while handed
it to the young man with a queer smile。
'I am very sorry；' began Dare in a low voice to Mr。 Power。 'I
fear I was to blame for thoughtlessness in not destroying it。
But I thought it was rather funny that a man should permit
such a thing to be done； and that the humour would redeem the
offence。'
'In you； for purchasing it；' said Paula with haughty quickness
from the other side of the room。 'Though probably his
friends； if he has any； would say not in him。'
There was silence in the room after this； and Dare； finding
himself rather in the way； took his leave as unostentatiously
as a cat that has upset the family china； though he continued
to say among his apologies that he was not aware Mr。 Somerset
was a personal friend of the ladies。
Of all the thoughts which filled the minds of Paula and
Charlotte De Stancy； the thought that the photograph might
have been a fabrication was probably the last。 To them that
picture of Somerset had all the cogency of direct vision。
Paula's experience； much less Charlotte's； had never lain in
the fields of heliographic science； and they would as soon
have thought that the sun could again stand still upon Gibeon；
as that it could be made to falsify men's characters in
delineating their features。 What Abner Power thought he
himself best knew。 He might have seen such pictures before；
or he might never have heard of them。
While pretending to resume his reading he closely observed
Paula； as did also Charlotte De Stancy； but thanks to the
self…management which was Miss Power's as much by nature as by
art； she dissembled whatever emotion was in her。
'It is a pity a professional man should make himself so
ludicrous；' she said with such careless intonation that it was
almost impossible； even for Charlotte； who knew her so well；
to believe her indifference feigned。
'Yes；' said Mr。 Power； since Charlotte did not speak： 'it is
what I scarcely should have expected。'
'O； I am not surprised！' said Paula quickly。 'You don't know
all。' The inference was； indeed； inevitable that if her uncle
were made aware of the telegram he would see nothing unlikely
in the picture。 'Well； you are very silent！' continued Paula
petulantly； when she found that nobody went on talking。 'What
made you cry out 〃O；〃 Charlotte； when Mr。 Dare dropped that
horrid photograph？'
'I don't know； I suppose it frightened me；' stammered the
girl。
'It was a stupid fuss to make before such a person。 One would
think you were in love with Mr。 Somerset。'
'What did you say； Paula？' inquired her uncle； looking up from
the newspaper which he had again resumed。
'Nothing； Uncle Abner。' She walked to the window； and； as if
to tide over what was plainly passing in their minds about
her； she began to make remarks on objects in the street。
'What a quaint beinglook； Charlotte！' It was an old woman
sitting by a stall on the opposite side of the way； which
seemed suddenly to hit Paula's sense of the humorous； though
beyond the fact that the dame was old and poor； and wore a
white handkerchief over her head； there was really nothing
noteworthy about her。
Paula seemed to be more hurt by what the silence of her
companions implieda suspicion that the discovery of
Somerse