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animal that we have all been。〃
〃That is only you absurd boys；〃 said Diana。 〃I don't believe
any girl was ever so silly； and I'm sure no girl was ever
so happy； except〃 and she stopped。
〃I will tell you the truth about Innocent Smith；〃 said Michael Moon in a
low voice。 〃Dr。 Warner has gone to look for him in vain。 He is not there。
Haven't you noticed that we never saw him since we found ourselves？
He was an astral baby born on all four of us； he was only our own
youth returned。 Long before poor old Warner had clambered out of his cab；
the thing we called Smith had dissolved into dew and light on this lawn。
Once or twice more； by the mercy of God； we may feel the thing；
but the man we shall never see。 In a spring garden before breakfast
we shall smell the smell called Smith。 In the snapping of brisk twigs
in tiny fires we shall hear a noise named Smith。 Everything insatiable
and innocent in the grasses that gobble up the earth like at a bun feast；
in the white mornings that split the sky as a boy splits up white firwood；
we may feel for one instant the presence of an impetuous purity；
but his innocence was too close to the unconsciousness of inanimate things
not to melt back at a mere touch into the mild hedges and heavens； he〃
He was interrupted from behind the house by a bang like that of a bomb。
Almost at the same instant the stranger in the cab sprang out of it；
leaving it rocking upon the stones of the road。 He clutched the blue railings
of the garden； and peered eagerly over them in the direction of the noise。
He was a small； loose； yet alert man； very thin； with a face that seemed
made out of fish bones； and a silk hat quite as rigid and resplendent
as Warner's； but thrust back recklessly on the hinder part of his head。
〃Murder！〃 he shrieked； in a high and feminine but very penetrating voice。
〃Stop that murderer there！〃
Even as he shrieked a second shot shook the lower windows
of the house； and with the noise of it Dr。 Herbert Warner came
flying round the corner like a leaping rabbit。 Yet before
he had reached the group a third discharge had deafened them；
and they saw with their own eyes two spots of white sky drilled
through the second of the unhappy Herbert's high hats。
The next moment the fugitive physician fell over a flowerpot；
and came down on all floors； staring like a cow。 The hat with
the two shot…holes in it rolled upon the gravel path before him；
and Innocent Smith came round the corner like a railway train。
He was looking twice his proper sizea giant clad in green；
the big revolver still smoking in his hand； his face sanguine
and in shadow； his eyes blazing like all stars； and his yellow
hair standing out all ways like Struwelpeter's。
Though this startling scene hung but an instant in stillness；
Inglewood had time to feel once more what he had felt when
he saw the other lovers standing on the lawnthe sensation
of a certain cut and coloured clearness that belongs rather
to the things of art than to the things of experience。
The broken flowerpot with its red…hot geraniums； the green
bulk of Smith and the black bulk of Warner； the blue…spiked
railings behind； clutched by the stranger's yellow vulture
claws and peered over by his long vulture neck； the silk hat
on the gravel； and the little cloudlet of smoke floating
across the garden as innocently as the puff of a cigarette
all these seemed unnaturally distinct and definite。
They existed； like symbols； in an ecstasy of separation。
Indeed； every object grew more and more particular
and precious because the whole picture was breaking up。
Things look so bright just before they burst。
Long before his fancies had begun； let alone ceased；
Arthur had stepped across and taken one of Smith's arms。
Simultaneously the little stranger had run up the steps and taken
the other。 Smith went into peals of laughter； and surrendered
his pistol with perfect willingness。 Moon raised the doctor
to his feet； and then went and leaned sullenly on the garden gate。
The girls were quiet and vigilant； as good women mostly
are in instants of catastrophe； but their faces showed that；
somehow or other； a light had been dashed out of the sky。
The doctor himself； when he had risen； collected his hat and wits；
and dusting himself down with an air of great disgust； turned to
them in brief apology。 He was very white with his recent panic；
but he spoke with perfect self…control。
〃You will excuse us； ladies；〃 he said； 〃my friend and
Mr。 Inglewood are both scientists in their several ways。
I think we had better all take Mr。 Smith indoors； and communicate
with you later。〃
And under the guard of the three natural philosophers the disarmed Smith
was led tactfully into the house； still roaring with laughter。
From time to time during the next twenty minutes his distant
boom of mirth could again be heard through the half…open window；
but there came no echo of the quiet voices of the physicians。
The girls walked about the garden together； rubbing up each other's
spirits as best they might； Michael Moon still hung heavily against
the gate。 Somewhere about the expiration of that time Dr。 Warner
came out of the house with a face less pale but even more stern；
and the little man with the fish…bone face advanced gravely in his rear。
And if the face of Warner in the sunlight was that of a hanging judge；
the face of the little man behind was more like a death's head。
〃Miss Hunt；〃 said Dr。 Herbert Warner； 〃I only wish to offer you my warm
thanks and admiration。 By your prompt courage and wisdom in sending
for us by wire this evening； you have enabled us to capture and put out
of mischief one of the most cruel and terrible of the enemies of humanity
a criminal whose plausibility and pitilessness have never been before
combined in flesh。〃
Rosamund looked across at him with a white； blank face and blinking eyes。
〃What do you mean？〃 she asked。 〃You can't mean Mr。 Smith？〃
〃He has gone by many other names；〃 said the doctor gravely；
〃and not one he did not leave to be cursed behind him。 That man；
Miss Hunt； has left a track of blood and tears across the world。
Whether he is mad as well as wicked； we are trying； in the interests
of science； to discover。 In any case； we shall have to take him
to a magistrate first； even if only on the road to a lunatic asylum。
But the lunatic asylum in which he is confined will have to be
sealed with wall within wall； and ringed with guns like a fortress；
or he will break out again to bring forth carnage and darkness
on the earth。〃
Rosamund looked at the two doctors； her face growing paler and paler。
Then her eyes strayed to Michael； who was leaning on the gate；
but he continued to lean on it without moving； with his face turned
away towards the darkening road。
Chapter V
The Allegorical Practical Joker
The criminal specialist who had come with Dr。 Warner was a somewhat more
urbane and even dapper figure than he had appeared when clutching the railings
and craning his neck into the garden。 He even looked comparatively young
when he took his hat off； having fair hair parted in the midd