第7章
"Won"tyousayanythingmoreexplicit?"
"Iwouldrathernot。"
Somersetemittedhalfasigh:hewishedshehadbeenmoredemonstrative，yetfeltthatthispassivewayofassentingwasasmuchashecouldhopefor。Hadtherebeenanythingcoldinherpassivityhemighthavefeltrepressed；butherstillnesssuggestedthestillnessofmotionimperceptiblefromitsintensity。
"Wemustgoin，"saidshe。"Therainisalmostover，andthereisnolongeranyexcuseforthis。"
Somersetbenthislipstowardhers。"No，"saidthefairPuritandecisively。
"Whynot?"heasked。
"Nobodyeverhas。"
"But!——"expostulatedSomerset。
"Toeverythingthereisaseason，andtheseasonforthisisnotjustnow，"sheanswered，walkingaway。
Theycrossedthewetandglisteninglawn，steppedunderthetentandparted。Shevanished，hedidnotknowwhither；and，standingwithhisgazefixedonthedancers，theyoungmanwaited，till，beinginnomoodtojointhem，hewentslowlythroughtheartificialpassagelinedwithflowers，andenteredthedrawingroom。Mrs。Goodmanwasthere，biddinggood-nighttotheearlygoers，andPaulawasjustbehindher，apparentlyinherusualmood。Hispartingwithherwasquiteformal，butthathedidnotmind，forhercolourrosedecidedlyhigherasheapproached，andthelightinhereyeswasliketherayofadiamond。
WhenhereachedthedoorhefoundthathisbroughamfromtheQuantockArms，whichhadbeenwaitingmorethananhour，couldnotbeheardof。Thatvagrancyofspiritwhichloveinduceswouldnotpermithimtowait；and，leavingwordthatthemanwastofollowhimwhenhereturned，hewentpasttheglareofcarriage-lampsrankedintheward，andundertheouterarch。
Thenightwasnowclearandbeautiful，andhestrolledalonghiswayfullofmysteriouselationtillthevehicleovertookhim，andhegotin。
UptothispointSomerset"sprogressinhissuithadbeen，thoughincomplete，souninterrupted，thathealmostfearedthegoodchanceheenjoyed。Howshoulditbeinamortalofhiscalibretocommandsuccesswithsuchasweetwomanforlong?
Hemight，indeed，turnouttobeoneofthesingularexceptionswhicharesaidtoproverules；butwhenfortunemeanstomenmostgood，observesthebard，shelooksuponthemwithathreateningeye。Somersetwouldevenhavebeencontentthatalittledisapprovalofhiscourseshouldhaveoccurredinsomequarter，soastomakehiswooingmorelikeordinarylife。ButPaulawasnotclearlywon，andthatwasdrawbacksufficient。InthesepleasingagoniesandpainfuldelightshepassedthejourneytoMarkton。
BOOKTHESECOND。DAREANDHAVILL。
I。
YoungDaresatthoughtfullyatthewindowofthestudioinwhichSomersethadlefthim，tillthegayscenebeneathbecameembrownedbythetwilight，andthebrilliantredstripesofthemarquees，thebrightsunshades，themany-tintedcostumesoftheladies，wereindistinguishablefromtheblacksandgreysofthemasculinecontingentmovingamongthem。Hehadoccasionallyglancedawayfromtheoutwardprospecttostudyasmalloldvolumethatlaybeforehimonthedrawing-board。
Nearscrutinyrevealedthebooktobearthetitle"Moivre"sDoctrineofChances。"
TheeveninghadbeensostillthatDarehadheardconversationsfrombelowwithaclearnessunsuspectedbythespeakersthemselves；andamongthedialogueswhichthusreachedhisearswasthatbetweenSomersetandHavillontheirprofessionalrivalry。Whentheyparted，andSomersethadmingledwiththethrong，Havillwenttoaseatatadistance。
Afterwardsherose，andwalkedaway；butonthebenchhehadquittedthereremainedasmallobjectresemblingabookorleathercase。
Dareputawaythedrawing-boardandplotting-scaleswhichhehadkeptbeforehimduringtheeveningasareasonforhispresenceatthatpostofespial，lockedupthedoor，andwentdownstairs。NotwithstandinghisdismissalbySomerset，hewassosereneincountenanceandeasyingaitastomakeitafairconjecturethatprofessionalservitude，howeverprofitable，wasnonecessitywithhim。ThegloomnowrendereditpracticableforanyunbiddenguesttojoinPaula"sassemblagewithoutcriticism，andDarewalkedboldlyoutuponthelawn。
Thecrowdonthegrasswasrapidlydiminishing；thetennis-
playershadrelinquishedsport；manypeoplehadgoneintodinnerorsupper；andmanyothers，attractedbythecheerfulradianceofthecandles，weregatheringinthelargetentthathadbeenlightedupfordancing。
Darewenttothegarden-chaironwhichHavillhadbeenseated，andfoundthearticleleftbehindtobeapocket-book。
Whetherbecauseitwasunclaspedandfellopeninhishand，orotherwise，hedidnothesitatetoexaminethecontents。Amongamassofarchitect"scustomarymemorandaoccurredadraftoftheletterabusingPaulaasaniconoclastorVandalbyblood，whichhadappearedinthenewspaper:thedraftwassointerlinedandalteredastobearevidenceofbeingtheoriginalconceptionofthatungentlemanlyattack。
Theladreadtheletter，smiled，andstrolledaboutthegrounds，onlymetbyanoccasionalpairofindividualsofoppositesexindeepconversation，thestateofwhoseemotionsledthemtoprefertheeveningshadetothepublicityandglareofthetentsandrooms。Atlastheobservedthewhitewaistcoatofthemanhesought。
"Mr。Havill，thearchitect，Ibelieve?"saidDare。"Theauthorofmostofthenoteworthybuildingsinthisneighbourhood?"
Havillassentedblandly。
"Ihavelongwishedforthepleasureofyouracquaintance，andnowanaccidenthelpsmetomakeit。Thispocket-book，I
think，isyours?"
Havillclappedhishandtohispocket，examinedthebookDareheldouttohim，andtookitwiththanks。"IseeIamspeakingtotheartist，archaeologist，Gothicphotographer——
Mr。Dare。"
"ProfessorDare。"
"Professor?Pardonme，Ishouldnothaveguessedit——soyoungasyouare。"
"Well，itismerelyornamental；andintruth，IdropthetitleinEngland，particularlyunderpresentcircumstances。"
"Ah——theyarepeculiar，perhaps?Ah，Iremember。Ihaveheardthatyouareassistingagentlemaninpreparingadesigninoppositiontomine——adesign——"
""Thatheisnotcompetenttopreparehimself，"youwereperhapsgoingtoadd?"
"Notpreciselythat。"
"Youcouldhardlybeblamedforsuchwords。However，youaremistaken。Ididassisthimtogainalittlefurtherinsightintotheworkingofarchitecturalplans；butourviewsonartareantagonistic，andIassisthimnomore。Mr。Havill，itmustbeveryprovokingtoawell-establishedprofessionalmantohavearivalsprungathiminagrandundertakingwhichhehadarighttoexpectashisown。"
Professionalsympathyisoftenacceptedfromthosewhosecondolenceonanydomesticmatterwouldbeconsideredintrusive。HavillwalkedupanddownbesideDareforafewmomentsinsilence，andatlastshowedthatthewordshadtold，bysaying:"Everyonemayhavehisopinion。HadIbeenastrangertothePowerfamily，thecasewouldhavebeendifferent；buthavingbeenspeciallyelectedbythelady"sfatherasacompetentadviserinsuchmatters，andthentobedegradedtothepositionofamerecompetitor，itwoundsmetothequick——"
"Bothinpurseandinperson，liketheill-usedhostessoftheGarter。"
"AladytowhomIhavebeenastaunchfriend，"continuedHavill，notheedingtheinterruption。
AtthatmomentsoundsseemedtocomefromDarewhichborearemarkableresemblancetothewords，"Ho，ho，Havill!"Itwashardlycredible，andyet，couldhebemistaken?Havillturned。Dare"seyewastwistedcomicallyupward。
"Whatdoesthatmean?"saidHavillcoldly，andwithsomeamazement。
"Ho，ho，Havill!"Staunchfriend"isgood——especiallyafter"aniconoclastandVandalbyblood"——"monstrosityintheformofaGreektemple，"andsoon，eh!"
"Sir，youhavetheadvantageofme。Perhapsyoualludetothatanonymousletter?"
"O-ho，Havill!"repeatedtheboy-man，turninghiseyesyetfurthertowardsthezenith。"Toanoutsidersuchconductwouldbenatural；buttoafriendwhofindsyourpocket-book，andlooksintoitbeforereturningit，andkindlyremovesaleafbearingthedraftofaletterwhichmightinjureyouifdiscoveredthere，andcarefullyconcealsitinhisownpocket——
why，suchconductisunkind!"Darehelduptheabstractedleaf。
Havilltrembled。"Icanexplain，"hebegan。
"Itisnotnecessary:wearefriends，"saidDareassuringly。
Havilllookedasifhewouldliketosnatchtheleafaway，butalteringhismind，hesaidgrimly:"Well，Itakeyouatyourword:wearefriends。ThatletterwasconcoctedbeforeI
knewofthecompetition:itwasduringmyfirstdisgust，whenIbelievedmyselfentirelysupplanted。"
"Iamnotintheleastsurprised。ButifsheknewYOUtobethewriter!"
"Ishouldberuinedasfarasthiscompetitionisconcerned，"
saidHavillcarelessly。"HadIknownIwastobeinvitedtocompete，Ishouldnothavewrittenit，ofcourse。Tobesupplantedishard；andtherebyhangsatale。"
"Anothertale?Youastonishme。"
"Thenyouhavenotheardthescandal，thougheverybodyistalkingaboutit。"
"Ascandalimpliesindecorum。"
"Well，"tisindecorous。Herinfatuatedpartialityforhimispatenttotheeyesofachild；amanshehasonlyknownafewweeks，andonewhoobtainedadmissiontoherhouseinthemostirregularmanner!Hadsheawatchfulfriendbesideher，insteadofthatmoonstruckMrs。Goodman，shewouldbecautionedagainstbestowingherfavoursonthefirstadventurerwhoappearsatherdoor。Itisapity，agreatpity!"
"O，thereislove-makinginthewind?"saidDareslowly。
"Thataltersthecaseforme。Butitisnotproved?"
"Itcaneasilybeproved。"
"Iwishitwere，ordisproved。"
"Youhaveonlytocomethiswaytoclearupalldoubts。"
Havilltooktheladtowardsthetent，fromwhichthestrainsofawaltznowproceeded，andonwhosesidesflittingshadowstoldoftheprogressofthedance。Thecompanionslookedin。
Therosysilkliningofthemarquee，andthenumerouscoronasofwaxlights，formedacanopytoaradiantscenewhich，fortwoatleastofthosewhocomposedit，wasanintoxicatingone。PaulaandSomersetweredancingtogether。
"Thatprovesnothing，"saidDare。
"Lookattheirraptfaces，andsayifitdoesnot，"sneeredHavill。
Dareobjectedtoajudgmentbasedonlooksalone。
"Verywell——timewillshow，"saidthearchitect，droppingthetent-curtain……"GoodGod!agirlworthfiftythousandandmoreayeartothrowherselfawayuponafellowlikethat——
sheoughttobewhipped。"
"TimemustNOTshow!"saidDare。
"Youspeakwithemphasis。"
"Ihavereason。Iwouldgivesomethingtobesureonthispoint，onewayortheother。Letuswaittillthedanceisover，andobservethemmorecarefully。Horensagenisthalbgelogen!Hearsayishalflies。"
Sheet-lightningsincreasedinthenorthernsky，followedbythunderliketheindistinctnoiseofabattle。HavillandDareretiredtothetrees。WhenthedanceendedSomersetandhispartneremergedfromthetent，andslowlymovedtowardsthetea-house。DiviningtheirgoalDareseizedHavill"sarm；
andthetwoworthiesenteredthebuildingunseen，byfirstpassingroundbehindit。Theyseatedthemselvesinthebackpartoftheinterior，wheredarknessprevailed。
Asbeforerelated，PaulaandSomersetcameandstoodwithinthedoor。Whentherainincreasedtheydrewthemselvesfurtherinward，theirformsbeingdistinctlyoutlinedtothegazeofthoselurkingbehindbythelightfromthetentbeyond。Butthehissofthefallingrainandthelownessoftheirtonespreventedtheirwordsfrombeingheard。
"Iwishmyselfoutofthis!"breathedHavilltoDare，ashebuttonedhiscoatoverhiswhitewaistcoat。"Itoldyouitwastrue，butyouwouldn"tbelieve。Iwouldn"tsheshouldcatchmehereeavesdroppingfortheworld!"
"Courage，ManFriday，"saidhiscoolercomrade。
Paulaandherloverbackedyetfurther，tillthehemofherskirttouchedHavill"sfeet。TheirattitudesweresufficienttoprovetheirrelationstothemostobstinateDidymuswhoshouldhavewitnessedthem。Tenderemotionsseemedtopervadethesummer-houselikeanaroma。Thecalmecstasyoftheconditionofatleastoneofthemwasnotwithoutacoerciveeffectuponthetwoinvidiousspectators，sothattheymustneedhaveremainedpassivehadtheycometheretodisturborannoy。TheserenityofPaulawasevenmoreimpressivethanthehushedardourofSomerset:shedidnotsatisfycuriosityasSomersetsatisfiedit；shepiquedit。PoorSomersethadreachedaperfectlyintelligibledepth——onewhichhadasingleblissfulwayoutofit，andninecalamitousones；butPaularemainedanenigmaallthroughthescene。
Therainceased，andthepairmovedaway。Theenchantmentworkedbytheirpresencevanished，thedetailsofthemeetingsettleddowninthewatchers"minds，andtheirtongueswereloosened。Dare，turningtoHavill，said，"Thankyou；youhavedonemeatimelyturnto-day。"
"What!hadyouhopesthatway?"askedHavillsatirically。
"I!Thewomanthatinterestsmyhearthasyettobeborn，"
saidDare，withasteelycoldnessstrangeinsuchajuvenile，andyetalmostconvincing。"ButthoughIhavenotpersonalhopes，Ihaveanobjectiontothiscourtship。NowIthinkwemayaswellfraternize，thesituationbeingwhatitis?"
"Whatisthesituation?"
"Heisinyourwayasherarchitect；heisinmywayasherlover:wedon"twanttohurthim，butwewishhimcleanoutoftheneighbourhood。"
"I"llgoasfarasthat，"saidHavill。
"Ihavecomehereatsometroubletomyself，merelytoobserve:IfindIoughttostaytoact。"
"Ifyouweremyself，amarriedmanwithpeopledependentonhim，whohashadaprofessionalcertaintyturnedtoamiserablyremotecontingencybytheseevents，youmightsayyououghttoact；butwhatconceivabledifferenceitcanmaketoyouwhoitistheyoungladytakestoherheartandhome，I
failtounderstand。"
"Well，I"lltellyou——thismuchatleast。Iwanttokeeptheplacevacantforanotherman。"
"Theplace?"
"TheplaceofhusbandtoMissPower，andproprietorofthatcastleanddomain。"
"That"saschemewithavengeance。Whoistheman?"
"Itismysecretatpresent。"
"Certainly。"Havilldrewadeepbreath，anddroppedintoatoneofdepression。"Well，schemeasyouwill，therewillbesmalladvantagetome，"hemurmured。"Thecastlecommissionisasgoodasgone，andabillfortwohundredpoundsfallsduenextweek。"
"Cheerup，heart!Myposition，ifyouonlyknewit，hastentimesthedifficultiesofyours，sincethisdisagreeablediscovery。Letusconsiderifwecanassisteachother。Thecompetitiondrawingsaretobesentin——when?"
"Insomethingoversixweeks——afortnightbeforeshereturnsfromtheScillyIsles，forwhichplacesheleaveshereinafewdays。"
"O，shegoesaway——that"sbetter。Ourloverwillbeworkinghereathisdrawings，andshenotpresent。"
"Exactly。Perhapssheisalittleashamedoftheintimacy。"
"Andifyourdesignisconsideredbestbythecommittee，hewillhavenofurtherreasonforstaying，assumingthattheyarenotdefinitelyengagedtomarrybythattime?"
"Isupposeso，"murmuredHavilldiscontentedly。"Theconditions，assenttome，statethatthedesignsaretobeadjudicatedonbythreemembersoftheInstitutecalledinforthepurpose；sothatshemayreturn，andhaveseemedtoshownofavour。"
"Thenitamountstothis:yourdesignMUSTbebest。Itmustcombinetheexcellencesofyourinventionwiththeexcellencesofhis。Meanwhileacoolnessshouldbemadetoarisebetweenherandhim:andastherewouldbenoartisticreasonforhispresencehereaftertheverdictispronounced，hewouldperforcehiebacktotown。Doyousee?"
"Iseetheingenuityoftheplan，butIalsoseetwoinsurmountableobstaclestoit。Thefirstis，Icannotaddtheexcellencesofhisdesigntominewithoutknowingwhatthoseexcellencesare，whichhewillofcoursekeepasecret。
Second，itwillnotbeeasytopromoteacoolnessbetweensuchhotonesasthey。"
"Youmakeamistake。Itisonlyhewhoissoardent。Sheisonlylukewarm。Ifwehadanyspirit，abargainwouldbestruckbetweenus:youwouldappropriatehisdesign；Ishouldcausethecoolness。"
"HowcouldIappropriatehisdesign?"
"Bycopyingit，Isuppose。"
"Copyingit?"
"Bygoingintohisstudioandlookingitover。"
HavillturnedtoDare，andstared。"ByGeorge，youdon"tstickattrifles，youngman。Youdon"tsupposeIwouldgointoaman"sroomsandstealhisinventionslikethat?"
"Iscarcelysupposeyouwould，"saidDareindifferently，asherose。
"AndifIwereto，"saidHavillcuriously，"howisthecoolnesstobecaused?"
"Bythesecondman。"
"Whoistoproducehim?"
"HerMajesty"sGovernment。"
Havilllookedmeditativelyathiscompanion，andshookhishead。"Intheseidlesuppositionswehavebeenassumingconductwhichwouldbequiteagainstmyprinciplesasanhonestman。"
II。
AfewdaysafterthepartyatStancyCastle，DarewaswalkingdowntheHighStreetofMarkton，acigarettebetweenhislipsandasilver-toppedcaneinhishand。Hiseyefelluponabrassplateonanoppositedoor，bearingthenameofMr。
Havill，Architect。Hecrossedover，andrangtheofficebell。
TheclerkwhoadmittedhimstatedthatMr。Havillwasinhisprivateroom，andwouldbedisengagedinashorttime。WhileDarewaitedtheclerkaffixedtothedoorapieceofpaperbearingthewords"Backat2，"andwentawaytohisdinner，leavingDareintheroomalone。
Darelookedatthedifferentdrawingsontheboardsabouttheroom。Theyallrepresentedonesubject，which，thoughunfinishedasyet，andbearingnoinscription，wasrecognizedbythevisitorasthedesignfortheenlargementandrestorationofStancyCastle。WhenhehadglanceditoverDaresatdown。
Thedoorsbetweentheofficeandprivateroomweredouble；buttheonetowardstheofficebeingonlyajarDarecouldhearaconversationinprogresswithin。Itpresentlyrosetoanaltercation，thetenorofwhichwasobvious。Somebodyhadcomeformoney。
"ReallyIcanstanditnolonger，Mr。Havill——reallyIwillnot!"saidthecreditorexcitedly。"Nowthisbilloverdueagain——whatcanyouexpect?Why，Imighthavenegotiatedit；
andwherewouldyouhavebeenthen?Insteadofthat，Ihavelockeditupoutofconsiderationforyou；andwhatdoIgetformyconsiderateness?Ishallletthelawtakeitscourse!"
"You"lldomeinexpressibleharm，andgetnothingwhatever，"
saidHavill。"Ifyouwouldrenewforanotherthreemonthstherewouldbenodifficultyinthematter。"
"Youhavesaidsobefore:Iwilldonosuchthing。"
Therewasasilence；whereuponDarearosewithouthesitation，andwalkedboldlyintotheprivateoffice。Havillwasstandingatoneend，asgloomyasathundercloud，andattheotherwastheunfortunatecreditorwithhishaton。ThoughDare"sentrysurprisedthem，bothpartiesseemedrelieved。
"Ihavecalledinpassingtocongratulateyou，Mr。Havill，"
saidDaregaily。"Suchacommissionashasbeenentrustedtoyouwillmakeyoufamous!"
"Howdoyoudo?——Iwishitwouldmakemerich，"saidHavilldrily。
"Itwillbealiftinthatdirection，fromwhatIknowoftheprofession。Whatisshegoingtospend?"
"Ahundredthousand。"
"Yourcommissionasarchitect，fivethousand。Notbad，formakingafewsketches。Considerwhatothergreatcommissionssuchaworkwillleadto。"
"Whatgreatworkisthis?"askedthecreditor。
"StancyCastle，"saidDare，sinceHavillseemedtooagapetoanswer。"Youhavenotheardofit，then?Thosearethedrawings，Ipresume，inthenextroom?"
Havillrepliedintheaffirmative，beginningtoperceivethemanoeuvre。"Perhapsyouwouldliketoseethem?"hesaidtothecreditor。
Thelatterofferednoobjection，andallthreewentintothedrawing-office。
"Itwillcertainlybeamagnificentstructure，"saidthecreditor，afterregardingtheelevationsthroughhisspectacles。"StancyCastle:Ihadnoideaofit!andwhendoyoubegintobuild，Mr。Havill?"heinquiredinmollifiedtones。
"Inthreemonths，Ithink?"saidDare，lookingtoHavill。
Havillassented。
"Fivethousandpoundscommission，"murmuredthecreditor。
"Paiddown，Isuppose?"
Havillnodded。
"Andtheworkswillnotlingerforlackofmoneytocarrythemout，Iimagine，"saidDare。"Twohundredthousandwillprobablybespentbeforetheworkisfinished。"
"Thereisnotmuchdoubtofit，"saidHavill。
"Yousaidnothingtomeaboutthis?"whisperedthecreditortoHavill，takinghimaside，withalookofregret。
"Youwouldnotlisten!"
"Italtersthecasegreatly。"ThecreditorretiredwithHavilltothedoor，andafterasubduedcolloquyinthepassagehewentaway，Havillreturningtotheoffice。
"Whatthedevildoyoumeanbyhoaxinghimlikethis，whenthejobisnomoreminethanInigoJones"s?"
"Don"tbetoocurious，"saidDare，laughing。"Ratherthankmeforgettingridofhim。"
"Butitisallavision!"saidHavill，ruefullyregardingthepencilledtowersofStancyCastle。"Ifthecompetitionwerereallythecommissionthatyouhaverepresentedittobetheremightbesomethingtolaughat。"
"Itmustbemadeacommission，somehow，"returnedDarecarelessly。"Iamcometolendyoualittleassistance。I
muststayintheneighbourhood，andIhavenothingelsetodo。"
Acarriageslowlypassedthewindow，andHavillrecognizedthePowerliveries。"Hullo——she"scominghere!"hesaidunderhisbreath，asthecarriagestoppedbythekerb。"Whatdoesshewant，Iwonder?Dare，doessheknowyou?"
"Iwouldjustassoonbeoutoftheway。"
"Thengointothegarden。"
DarewentoutthroughthebackofficeasPaulawasshowninatthefront。Sheworeagreytravellingcostume，andseemedtobeinsomehaste。
"Iamonmywaytotherailway-station，"shesaidtoHavill。
"Ishallbeabsentfromhomeforseveralweeks，andsinceyourequestedit，Ihavecalledtoinquirehowyouaregettingonwiththedesign。"
"Pleaselookitover，"saidHavill，placingaseatforher。
"No，"saidPaula。"Ithinkitwouldbeunfair。IhavenotlookedatMr——theotherarchitect"splanssincehehasbeguntodesignseriously，andIwillnotlookatyours。Areyougettingonquitewell，anddoyouwanttoknowanythingmore?
Ifso，gotothecastle，andgetanybodytoassistyou。Whywouldyounotmakeuseoftheroomatyourdisposalinthecastle，astheotherarchitecthasdone?"
Inaskingthequestionherfacewastowardsthewindow，andsuddenlyhercheeksbecamearosyred。Sheinstantlylookedanotherway。
"Havingmyownofficesonear，itwasnotnecessary，thankyou，"repliedHavill，as，notinghercountenance，heallowedhisglancetostrayintothestreet。Somersetwaswalkingpastontheoppositeside。
"Thetimeis——thetimefixedforsendinginthedrawingsisthefirstofNovember，Ibelieve，"shesaidconfusedly；"andthedecisionwillbecometobythreegentlemenwhoareprominentmembersoftheInstituteofArchitects。"
Havillthenaccompaniedhertothecarriage，andshedroveaway。
HavillwenttothebackwindowtotellDarethatheneednotstayinthegarden；butthegardenwasempty。Thearchitectremainedaloneinhisofficeforsometime；attheendofaquarterofanhour，whenthescreamofarailwaywhistlehadechoeddownthestillstreet，hebeheldSomersetrepassingthewindowinadirectionfromtherailway，withsomewhatofasadgait。InanotherminuteDareentered，hummingthelatestairofOffenbach。
""Tisamerepieceofduplicity!"saidHavill。
"Whatis?"
"Herpretendingindifferenceastowhichofuscomesoutsuccessfulinthecompetition，whenshecolourscarminethemomentSomersetpassesby。"HedescribedPaula"svisit，andtheincident。
"ItmaynotmeanCupid"sEntireXXXafterall，"saidDarejudicially。"Themeresuspicionthatacertainmanlovesherwouldmakeagirlblushathisunexpectedappearance。Well，she"sgonefromhimforatime；thebetterforyou。"
"Hehasbeenprivilegedtoseeheroffatanyrate。"
"Notprivileged。"
"Howdoyouknowthat?"
"Iwentoutofyourgardenbythebackgate，andfollowedhercarriagetotherailway。Hesimplywenttothefirstbridgeoutsidethestation，andwaited。Whenshewasinthetrain，itmovedforward；hewasallexpectation，anddrewouthishandkerchiefreadytowave，whileshelookedoutofthewindowtowardsthebridge。Thetrainbackedbeforeitreachedthebridge，toattachtheboxcontainingherhorses，andthecarriage-truck。Thenitstartedforgood，andwhenitreachedthebridgeshelookedoutagain，hewavinghishandkerchieftoher。"
"Andshewavinghersback?"
"No，shedidn"t。"
"Ah!"
"Shelookedathim——nothingmore。Iwouldn"tgivemuchforhischance。"AfterawhileDareaddedmusingly:"Youareamathematician:didyoueverinvestigatethedoctrineofexpectations?"
"Never。"
Daredrewfromhispockethis"BookofChances，"avolumeaswellthumbedastheminister"sBible。"Thisisatreatiseonthesubject，"hesaid。"Iwillteachittoyousomeday。"
ThesameeveningHavillaskedDaretodinewithhim。Hewasjustatthistimelivingengarcon，hiswifeandchildrenbeingawayonavisit。Afterdinnertheysatontilltheirfaceswereratherflushed。Thetalkturned，asbefore，onthecastle-competition。
"Toknowhisdesignistowin，"saidDare。"AndtowinistosendhimbacktoLondonwherehecamefrom。"
HavillinquiredifDarehadseenanysketchofthedesignwhilewithSomerset?
"Notaline。Iwasconcernedonlywiththeoldbuilding。"
"Nottoknowitistolose，undoubtedly，"murmuredHavill。
"Supposewegoforawalkthatway，insteadofconsultinghere?"
Theywentdownthetown，andalongthehighway。Whentheyreachedtheentrancetotheparkamandrivingabasket-
carriagecameoutfromthegateandpassedthembyinthegloom。
"Thatwashe，"saidDare。"Hesometimesdrivesoverfromthehotel，andsometimeswalks。Hehasbeenworkinglatethisevening。"
Strollingonunderthetreestheymetthreemasculinefigures，laughingandtalkingloudly。
"Thosearethethreefirst-classLondondraughtsmen，Bowles，Knowles，andCockton，whomhehasengagedtoassisthim，regardlessofexpense，"continuedDare。
"OLord!"groanedHavill。"There"snochanceforme。"
Thecastlenowarosebeforethem，endowedbytheraylessshadewithamoremassivemajestythaneithersunlightormoonlightcouldimpart；andHavillsighedagainashethoughtofwhathewaslosingbySomerset"srivalry。"Well，whatwastheuseofcominghere?"heasked。
"Ithoughtitmightsuggestsomething——somewayofseeingthedesign。Theservantswouldletusintohisroom，Idaresay。"
"Idon"tcaretoask。Letuswalkthroughthewards，andthenhomeward。"
Theysaunteredonsmoking，Dareleadingthewaythroughthegate-houseintoacorridorwhichwasnotinclosed，alamphangingatthefurtherend。
"Wearegettingintotheinhabitedpart，Ithink，"saidHavill。
Dare，however，hadgoneon，andknowingthetortuouspassagesfromhisfewdays"experienceinmeasuringthemwithSomerset，hecametothebutler"spantry。Dareknocked，andnobodyansweringheentered，tookdownakeywhichhungbehindthedoor，andrejoinedHavill。"Itisallright，"hesaid。"Thecat"saway；andthemiceareatplayinconsequence。"
Proceedingupastonestaircaseheunlockedthedoorofaroominthedark，struckalightinside，andreturningtothedoorcalledinawhispertoHavill，whohadremainedbehind。"ThisisMr。Somerset"sstudio，"hesaid。
"Howdidyougetpermission?"inquiredHavill，notknowingthatDarehadseennoone。
"Anyhow，"saidDarecarelessly。"Wecanexaminetheplansatleisure；foriftheplacidMrs。Goodman，whoistheonlyoneathome，seesthelight，shewillonlythinkitisSomersetstillatwork。"
Dareuncoveredthedrawings，andyoungSomerset"sbrain-workforthelastsixweekslayundertheireyes。ToDare，whowastoocursorytotroublehimselfbyenteringintosuchdetails，ithadverylittlemeaning；butthedesignshoneintoHavill"sheadlikealightintoadarkplace。Itwasoriginal；anditwasfascinating。ItsoriginalitylaypartlyinthecircumstancethatSomersethadnotattemptedtoadaptanoldbuildingtothewantsofthenewcivilization。Hehadplacedhisnewerectionbesideitasaslightlyattachedstructure，harmonizingwiththeold；heighteningandbeautifying，ratherthansubduingit。Hisworkformedapalace，witharuinouscastleannexedasacuriosity。ToHavilltheconceptionhadmorecharmthanitcouldhavetothemostappreciativeoutsider；forwhenamediocreandjealousmindthathasbeencudgellingitselfoveraproblemcapableofmanysolutions，lightsonthesolutionofarival，allpossibilitiesinthatkindseemtomergeintheonebeheld。
Darewasstruckbythearrestedexpressionofthearchitect"sface。"Isitrathergood?"heasked。
"Yes，rather，"saidHavill，subduinghimself。
"Morethanrather?"