第18章

"Imustbecontentwitheveryotherday。"

Vizardsaidhewouldarrangeitso，andwasleavingher；butshebeggedhimtostayamoment。

"Shewouldbesaferhere，"saidshe，verygravely。

Vizardwastakenabackbythesuddennessofthisreturntoatopichewassimpleenoughtothinkshehadabandoned。However，hesaid，"Sheissafeenough。Ihavetakencareofthat，youmaybesure。"

"Youhavedonewell，sir，"saidIna，verygravely。

Shesaidnomoretohim；butjustbeforedinnerFannycamein，andMissGalewentforawalkinthegarden。InapinnedFannydirectly。"WhereisMissVizard?"saidshe，quietly。

Fannycoloredup；butseeinginamomentthatfibswouldbedangerous，said，mightycarelessly，"SheisatAuntMaitland"s。"

"Wheredoes_she_live，dear?"

"Inapokylittleplacecalled"SomervilleVilla。""

"Farfromthis?"

"Notvery。Itisfortymilesbytherailway，butnotthirtybytheroad；

andZoewentinthebarouchealltheway。"

MademoiselleKloskingthoughtalittle，andthentakingFannyDover"shand，saidtoher，verysweetly，"Ibegyoutohonormewithyourconfidence，andtellmesomething。Believeme，itisfornoselfishmotiveIaskyou；butIthinkMissVizardisindanger。Sheistoofarfromherbrother，andtoofarfromme。Mr。Vizardsayssheissafe。Now，canyoutellmewhathemeans?Howcanshebesafe?Isherheartturnedtostone，likemine?"

"No，indeed，"saidFanny。"Yes，Iwillbefrankwithyou；forIbelieveyouarewiserthananyoneofus。Zoeisnotsafe，lefttoherself。Herheartisanythingbutstone；andHeavenknowswhatwild，madthingshemightbeledinto。ButIknowperfectlywellwhatVizardmeans:no，I

don"tliketotellityouall；itwillgiveyoupain。"

"Thereislittlehopeofthat。Iampastpain。"

"Well，then——MissGalewillscoldme。"

"No，sheshallnot。"

"Oh，Iknowyouhavegottheupperhandevenofher；soifyoupromiseI

shallnotbescolded，I"lltellyou。Yousee，Ihadmymisgivingsaboutthisverything；andassoonasVizardcamehome——itwashewhotookhertoAuntMaitland——Iaskedhimwhatprecautionshehadtakentohinderthatmanfromgettingholdofheragain。Well，then——oh，IoughttohavebegunbytellingyouMr。SeverneforgedbillstogetmoneyoutofHarrington。"

"GoodHeavens!"

"Oh，Harringtonwillneverpunishhim，ifhekeepshisdistance；buthehasadvertisedinallthepapers，warninghimthatifhesetsfootinBarfordshirehewillbearrestedandsenttoprison。"

InaKloskingshookherhead。"Whenamanisinlovewithsuchawomanasthat，dangerscouldhardlydeterhim。"

"Thatdependsupontheman，Ithink。ButHarringtonhasdonebetterthanthat。Hehasprovidedherwithawatch-dog——thebestofallwatch-dogs——anotherlover。LordUxmoorlivesnearAuntMaitland，andheadoresZoe；soHarringtonhascommissionedhimtowatchher，andcureher，andall。Iwishhe"dcure_me_——anearl"scoronetandtwentythousandayear!"

"Yourelievemymind，"saidIna。Thenafterapause——"Butletmeaskyouonequestionmore。WhydidyounottellmeMissVizardwasgone?"

"Idon"tknow，"saidFanny，coloringup。_"She_toldmenot。"

"Who?"

"Why，theVixenincommand。Sheorderseverybody。"

"Andwhydidsheforbidyou?"

"Don"tknow。"

"Yes，youdo。Kissme，dear。There，Iwilldistressyouwithnomorequestions。WhyshouldI?Ourinstinctsseldomdeceiveus。Well，sobeit:

Ihavesomethingmoretogetwellfor，andIwill。"

Fannylookedupatherinquiringly。

"Yes，"saidshe；"thedaughterofthishospitablehousewillneverreturntoitwhileIaminit。Poorgirl；shethinks_she_istheinjuredwoman。

Sobeit。Iwillgetwell——andleaveit。"

FannycommunicatedthistoMissGale，andallshesaidwas，"SheshallgonofurtherthanHillstokethen；forIloveherbetterthananymancanloveher。"

FannydidnottellVizard；andhewasdownrighthappy，seeingthewomanhelovedrecover，byslowdegrees，herhealth，herstrength，hercolor，hervoice。Partingwasnotthreatened。Hedidnotrealizethattheyshouldeverpartatall。Hehadvaguehopesthat，whileshewasunderhisroof，opportunitymightstandhisfriend，andshemightrequitehisaffection。Allthiswouldnotbearlookingintoveryclosely:forthatveryreasonhetookparticularcarenottolookintoitveryclosely；buthopedallthings，andwashappy。Inthisconditionhereceivedalittleshock。

Aone-horseflywasdrivenuptothedoor，andacardbroughtin——

"MR。JOSEPHASHMEAD。"

VizardwasalwaysathomeatVizardCourt，excepttoconvictedBores。Mr。

Ashmeadwasshownintohisstudy。

Vizardknewhimataglance。Thevelveteencoathadyieldedtotweed；butanotherloudtiehadsucceededtotheone"thatfiredtheairatHomburg。"There，too，wasthewash-leatherface，andothertraitsVizardprofessedtoknowanactress"sloverby。Yes，itwastheverymanatsightofwhomhehadfoughtdownhisadmirationofLaKlosking，anddeclinedanintroductiontoher。Vizardknewtheladybetternow。Butstillhewasalittlejealousevenofheracquaintances，andthoughtthisoneunworthyofher；sohereceivedhimwithstiffbutguardedpoliteness，leavinghimtoopenhisbusiness。

Ashmead，overawedbytheavenue，thedozengables，four-scorechimneys，etc。，addressedhimratherobsequiously，butwithacertainhonesttrouble，thatsoonsoftenedthebadimpressioncausedbyhisappearance。

"Sir，"saidhe，"prayexcusethisintrusionofastranger，butIamingreatanxiety。Itisnotformyself，butforalady，averydistinguishedlady，whoseinterestsIamchargedwith。ItisMademoiselleKlosking，thefamoussinger。"

Vizardmaintainedagrimsilence。

"Youmayhaveheardofher。"

"Ihave。"

"Ialmostfancyyouonceheardhersing——atHomburg。"

"Idid。"

"ThenIamsureyoumusthaveadmiredher，beingagentlemanoftaste。

Well，sir，itisnearafortnightsinceIheardfromher。"

"Well，sir?"

"Youwillsaywhatisthattoyou?Butthetruthis，sheleftme，inLondon，todocertainbusinessforher，andshewentdowntothisveryplace。Iofferedtocomewithher，butshedeclined。Tobesure，itwasadelicatematter，andnotatallinmyway。Shewastowritetomeandreportprogress，andgivemeheraddress，thatImightwritetoher；butnearlyafortnighthaspassed。Ihavenotreceivedasingleletter。Iaminrealdistressandanxiety。AgreatcareerawaitsherinEngland，sir；

butthissilenceissomysterious，soalarming，thatIbeginactuallytohopeshehasplayedthefool，andthrownitallup，andgoneabroadwiththatblackguard。"

"Whatblackguard，sir?"

Josephdrewinhishorns。"Ispoketooquick，sir，"saidhe；"itisnobusinessofmine。Butthesebrilliantwomenareasmadastherestinthrowingawaytheiraffections。Theypreferablackguardtoagoodman。

Itistherule。Excusemyplainspeaking。"

"Mr。Ashmead，"saidVizard，"Imaybeabletoansweryourquestionsaboutthislady；but，beforeIdoso，itisrightIshouldknowhowfaryoupossessherconfidence。Tospeakplainly，haveyouanyobjectiontotellmewhatisthepreciserelationbetweenyouandher?"

"Certainlynot，sir。Iamhertheatricalagent。"

"Isthatall?"

"Notquite。Ihavebeenagooddealaboutherlately，andhaveseenherindeepdistress。IthinkImayalmostsayIamherfriend，thoughaveryhumbleone。"

VizarddidnotyetquiterealizethetruththatthisBohemianhadinhisheartoneholyspot——hispuredevotionandunsexualfriendshipforthatgreatartist。Still，hisprejudicesweredisarmed，andhesaid，"Well，Mr。Ashmead，excusemycross-questioningyou。Iwillnowgivemyselfthepleasureofsettingyouranxietiesatrest。MademoiselleKloskingisinthishouse。"

Ashmeadstaredathim，andthenbrokeout，"Inthishouse!OLord!Howcanthatbe?"

"Ithappenedinawayverydistressingtousall，thoughtheresultisnowsodelightful。MademoiselleKloskingcalledhereonabusinesswithwhich，perhaps，youareacquainted。"

"Iam，sir。"

"Unfortunatelyshemetwithanaccidentinmyveryhall，anaccidentthatendangeredherlife，sir；andofcoursewetookchargeofher。Shehashadazealousphysicianandgoodnurses，andsheisrecoveringslowly。

Sheisquiteoutofdanger，butstillweak。Ihavenodoubtshewillbedelightedtoseeyou。Only，asweareallundertheordersofherphysician，andthatphysicianisawoman，andabitofavixen，youmustallowmetogoandconsultherfirst。"Vizardretired，leavingJosephhappy，butmystified。

Hewasnotlongalone。Inlessthanaminutehehadforcompanionssomewell-butteredsandwichesmadewithsmokedham，andabottleofoldMadeira。Thesolidsmeltedinhismouth，theliquidranthroughhisveinslikeoilchargedwithelectricityand_elixirvitoe。_

By-and-byafemaleservantcameforhim，andusheredhimintoInaKlosking"sroom。

Shereceivedhimwithundisguisedaffection，andhehadmuchadotokeepfromcrying。Shemadehimsitdownnearherinthevastembrasureofthewindow，andgavehimalettertoreadshehadjustwrittentohim。

Theycomparednotesveryrapidly；buttheirdiscoursewillnotbegivenhere，becausesomuchofitwouldberepetition。

Theywereleftalonetotalk，andtheydidtalkformorethananhour。

Thefirstinterruption，indeed，wasarecitativowithchords，followedbyaversefromtheleadingtreble。

Mr。Ashmeadlookedpuzzled；theKloskingeyedhimdemurely。

Beforetheanthemconcluded，Vizardtapped，andwasadmittedfromthemusic-room。Inasmiled，andwavedhimtoachair。Boththemensaw，byhermanner，theywerenottoutterasoundwhilethemusicwasgoingon。

Whenitceased，shesaid，"Doyouapprovethat，myfriend?"

"Ifitpleasesyou，madam，"repliedthewaryAshmead。

"Itdoesmorethanpleaseme；itdoesmegood。"

"Thatreconcilesmetoitatonce。"

"Oh，thenyoudonotadmireitforitself。"

"Not——very——much。"

"Pray，speakplainly。Iamnotatyrant，toimposemytastes。"

"Wellthen，madam，Ifeelverygratefultoanythingthatdoesyougood:

otherwise，Ishouldsaythemusicwas——ratherdreary；andthesinging——veryinsipid。"

TheopenstrugglebetweenJoseph"shonestyandhisaweoftheKloskingtickledVizardsothatheleanedbackinhischairandlaughedheartily。

TheKloskingsmiledsuperior。"Hemeans，"saidshe，"thatthemusicisnotoperatic，andtheboysdonotclasptheirhands，andshaketheirshoulders，andsingpassionately，aswomendoinatheater。Heavenforbidtheyshould!Ifthisworldisallpassion，thereisanotherwhichisallpeace；andtheseboys"sweet，artlesstonesarethenearestthingweshallgetinthisworldtotheunimpassionedvoicesoftheangels。Theyarefitinstrumentsforpiouswordssetbycomposers，who，howeverobscuretheymaybe，weremeninspired，andhavewrittenimmortalstrains，which，asIhearthem，seemhardlyofthisworld——theyaresofreefromallmortaldross。"

Vizardassentedwarmly。Ashmeadaskedpermissiontohearanother。Theysungthe"Magnificat"byKing，inF。

"Uponmyword，"saidAshmead，"thereisadealof"go"inthat。"

Thentheysungthe"NunoDimittis。"Hesaid，alittledryly，therewasplentyofreposeinthat。

"Myfriend，"saidshe，"thereis——tothehonorofthecomposer:the"Magnificat"isthebrightandloftyexultationofayoungwomanwhohasbornetheMessiah，anddoesnotforeseeHissufferings，onlytheboontotheworldandtheglorytoherself。Butthe"Dimittis"istheveryopposite。Itisagentlejoy，andtheworldcontentedlyresignedbyagoodoldman，fatigued，whohasrunhisrace，andlongstosleepafterlife"sfever。Whennextyouhavethegoodfortunetohearthatsong，thinkyouseethesundescendingredandcalmafteradayofstorms，andanagedChristiansaying，"Good-night，"andyouwillhonorpoordeadKingasIdo。Themusicthattrulyreflectsgreatwordswasneveryetsmallmusic，writeitwhomay。"

"Youareright，madam。"saidAshmead。"WhenIdoubteditsbeinggoodmusic，IsupposeImeantsalable。"

"Ah，_voil"a!"_saidtheKlosking。Then，turningtoVizardforsympathy，"Whatthisfaithfulfriendunderstandsbygoodmusicismusicthatcanbesoldforagooddealofmoney。"

"Thatisso，"saidAshmead，stoutly。"Iamatheatricalagent。Youcan"tmakeasilkpurseoutofasow"sear。Youhavetrieditmorethanonce，youknow，butitwouldnotwork。"

AshmeadamusedVizard，andhetookhimintohisstudy，andhadsomemoreconversationwithhim。Heevenaskedhimtostayinthehouse；butAshmeadwasshy，andtherewasatheateratTaddington。Sohesaidhehadagooddealofbusinesstodo；hehadbettermakethe"Swan"hisheadquarters。"Ishallbeatyourserviceallthesame，sir，orMademoiselleKlosking"s。"

"HaveaglassofMadeira，Mr。Ashmead。"

"Well，sir，totellthetruth，Ihavehadoneortwo。"

"Thenitknowstheroad。"

"Youareverygood，sir。WhatMadeira!Isthisthewinethedoctorsrandownafewyearsago?Theycouldn"thavetastedit。"

"Well，itislikeourselves，improvedbytraveling。ThathasbeentwicetoIndia。"

"Itwillnevergoagainpastme，"saidAshmead，gayly。"Mymouthisacapeitwillneverweather。"

Hewenttohisinn。

Beforehehadbeentheretenminutes，uprattledasmartservantinasmartdogcart。

"Hamper——forJosephAshmead，Esquire。"

"Anythingtopay?"

"Whatfor?——it"sfromVizardCourt。"

Andthedog-cartrattledaway。

Josephwasinthehall，andwitnessedthisphenomenon。Hesaidtohimself，"IwishIhadavastacquaintance——ALLCOUNTRYGENTLEMEN。"

ThatafternoonInaKloskinginsistedonwalkingupanddowntheroom，supportedbyMesdemoisellesGaleandDover。Theresultwasfatigueandsleep；thatisall。

"To-morrow，"saidshe，"Iwillhavebutonelivecrutch。Imustandwillrecovermystrength。"

IntheeveningsheinsistedonbothladiesdiningwithMr。Vizard。Here，too，shehadherway。

Vizardwasinverygoodspirits，and，whentheservantsweregone，complimentedMissGaleonherskill。

_"Our_skill，youmean，"saidshe。"Itwasyouwhoprescribedthisnewmedicineofthemind，thepsalmsandhymnsandspiritualsongs；anditwasyouwhoadministeredtheAshmead，andhemadeherlaugh，ornearly——andthat_we_haveneverbeenabletodo。ShemusttakeafewgrainsofAshmeadeveryday。Theworstofitis，Iamafraidweshallcurehertooquickly；andthenweshallloseher。Butthatwastobeexpected。Iamveryunfortunateinmyattachments；Ialwayswas。IfI

fallinlovewithawoman，sheissuretohateme，orelsedie，orelseflyaway。Ilovethisonetodistraction，sosheissuretodesertme，becauseshecouldn"tmisbehave，andIwon"t_let_herdie。"

"Well，"saidVizard，"youknowwhattodo——retardthecure。Thatisoneoftheartsofyourprofession。"

"Andsoitis；buthowcanI，whenIloveher?No，wemusthaverecoursetoourbenevolenttyrantagain。HemustgetMissVizardbackhere，beforemygoddessiswellenoughtospreadherwingsandfly。"

Vizardlookedpuzzled。"This，"saidhe"soundslikeariddle，orfemalelogic。"

"Itisboth，"saidRhoda。"MissDover，givehimthe_motd"e"nigme。_I"moff——tothepatientIadore。"

Shevanishedswiftly，andVizardlookedtoFannyforasolution。ButFannyseemedrathervexedwithMissGale，andsaidnothing。Thenhepressedhertoexplain。

Sheansweredhim，withacertainreluctance，"MademoiselleKloskinghastakenintoherheadthatZoewillneverreturntothishousewhilesheisinit。"

"Whoputthatintoherhead，now?"saidVizard，bitterly。

"Nobody，uponmyhonor。Awoman"sinstinct。"

"Well?"

"Sheishorrifiedattheideaofkeepingyoursisteroutofherownhouse，sosheisgettingwelltogo；andthestrengthofherwillissuchthatshe_will_getwell。"

"Allthebetter；butZoewillsoongettiredofSomervilleVilla。A

littlepersuasionwillbringherhome，especiallyifyouweretooffertotakeherplace。"

"Oh，Iwoulddothat，toobligeyou，Harrington，ifIsawanygoodattheendofit。Butpleasethinktwice。HowcanZoeandthatladyeverstayunderthesameroof?Howcantheymeetatyourtable，andspeaktoeachother?Theyarerivals。"

"Theyarebothgettingcured，andneitherwilleverseethevillainagain。"

"Ihopenot；butwhocantell?Well，nevermind_them。_Iftheireyesarenotopenedbythistime，theywillgetnopityfromme。ItisyouIthinkofnow。"Then，inahesitatingway，andhercheeksmantlinghigherandhigherwithhonestblushes——"Youhavesufferedenoughalreadyfromwomen。

Iknowitisnotmybusiness，butitdoesgrievemetoseeyougoingintotroubleagain。Whatgoodcancomeofit?Herconnectionwiththatman，sorecent，andso——strange。Theworld_will_interpretitsownway。Yourpositioninthecounty——everyeyeuponyou。Iseethewayin——nodoubtitisstrewedwithflowers；butIseenowayout。Bebraveintime，Harrington。Itwillnotbethefirsttime。Shemustbeagoodwoman，somehow，orfaces，eyesandvoices，andways，areallalie。Butifsheisgood，sheisveryunfortunate；andshewillgiveyouasoreheartforlife，ifyoudon"tmind。I"dclinchmyteethandshutmyeyes，andlethergointime。"

Vizardgroanedaloud，andatthatatearortworolleddownFanny"sburningcheeks。

"Youareagoodlittlegirl，"saidVizard，affectionately；"butI

_cannot。"_

Hehunghisheaddespondentlyandmuttered，"Iseenowayouteither。ButIyieldtofate。Ifearedher，andfledfromher。Shehasfollowedme。I

canresistnomore。Idrift。Somemenneverknowhappiness。Ishallhavehadahappyfortnight，atallevents。Ithankyou，andrespectyouforyouradvice；butIcan"ttakeit。SonowIsupposeyouwillbetoomuchoffendedtoobligeme。"

"Ohdear，no。"

"WouldyoumindwritingtoAuntMaitland，andsayingyouwouldliketotakeZoe"splace?"

"Iwilldoitwithpleasuretoobligeyou。Besides，itwillbeafib，anditissolongsinceIhavetoldagoodfib。WhenshallIwrite?"

"Oh，abouttheendoftheweek。"

"Yes，thatwillbetimeenough。MissGalewon"t_let_hergotillnextweek。Ah，afterall，howniceandnaturalitistobenaughty!Fibsandflirtation，welcomehome!Thisisthebeautyofbeinggood——andIshallrecommendittoallmyfriendsonthisveryaccount——youcanalwaysleaveitoffatamoment"snotice，withoutanytrouble。Now，naughtinessstickstoyoulikeaburr。"

So，withnomoreado，thisnewMentorbecameVizard"saccomplice，andtheyagreedtogetZoebackbeforetheKloskingcouldgetstrongenoughtomovewithherphysician"sconsent。

AsthehamperofMadeirawaslandedinthehallofthe"Swan"inn，agenialvoicecried，"Youareinluck。"Ashmeadturned，andtherewasPoikiluspeeringathimfromthedoorwayofthecommercialroom。

"Whatisthegamenow?"thoughtAshmead。Butwhathesaidwas，"Why，I

knowthatface。Ideclare，itisthegentthattreatedmeatHomburg。

Bringinthehamper，Dick。"ThentoPoikilus，"Haveyedinedyet?"

"No。Goingtodineinhalfanhour。Roastgosling。Justenoughfortwo。"

"We"lldivideit，ifyoulike，andI"llstandabottleofoldMadeira。Myoldfriend，SquireVizard，hasjustsentitme。I"lljusthaveasplash；

dinnerwillbereadybythen。"Hebustledoutoftheroom，butsaid，ashewent，"Isay，oldman，openthehamper，andputtwobottlesjustwithinthesmileofthefire。"

Hethenwentupstairs，andplungedhisheadincoldwater，toclearhisfacultiesfortheencounter。

Thefriendssatdowntodinner，andafterwardtotheMadeira，bothgayandgenialoutside，butwithinfullofdesign——theirobjectbeingtopumponeanother。

IntheencounteratHomburg，Ashmeadhadanadvantage；PoikilusthoughthimselfunknowntoAshmead。Butthistimetherewasachange。PoikilusknewbythistimethatLaKloskinghadgonetoVizardCourt。HowshehadknownSevernewastherepuzzledhimagooddeal；buthehadendedbysuspectingAshmead，inavagueway。

Theparties，therefore，metoneventerms。AshmeadresolvedtolearnwhathecouldaboutSeverne，andPoikilustolearnwhathecouldaboutZoeVizardandMademoiselleKlosking。

Ashmeadopenedtheball:"Beenlonghere?"

"Justcome。"

"Business?"

"Yes。Wanttoseeifthere"sanychanceofmygettingpaidforthatjob。"

"Whatjob?"

"Why，theHomburgjob。Lookhere——Idon"tknowwhyIshouldhaveanysecretsfromagoodfellowlikeyou；onlyyoumustnottellanybodyelse。"

"Oh，honorbright!"

"Well，then，Iamadetective。"

"Yedon"tmeanthat?"

"I"mPoikilus。"

"Goodheavens!Well，Idon"tcare。Ihaven"tmurderedanybody。Here"syourhealth，Poikilus。Isay，youcouldtellataleortwo。"

"ThatIcould。ButI"moutofluckthistime。Thegentlemanthatemployedmehasmizzled，andhepromisedmefiftypounds。Icamedownhereinhopesoffindinghim。Sawhimonceinthisneighborhood。"

"Well，youwon"tfindhimhere，Idon"tthink。Youmustexcuseme，butyouremployerisavillain。Hehasknockedaladydown，andnearlykilledher。"

"Youdon"tsaythat?"

"Yes；thatbeautifullady，thesinger，yousawinHomburg。"

"What!theladythatsaidheshouldhavehismoney?"

"Thesame。"

"Why，hemustbemad。"

"No。Ascoundrel。_Thatisall。"_

"Thenshewon"tgivehimhismoneyafterthat。"

"NotifIcanhelpit。Butifshelikestopayyouyourcommission，I

shallnotobjecttothat。"

"Youareagoodfellow。"

"Whatismore，Ishallseeherto-morrow，andIwillputthequestiontoherforyou。"

Poikiluswasprofuseinhisthanks，andsaidhebegantothinkitwashisonlychance。Thenhehadamisgiving。"Ihavenoclaimonthelady，"saidhe；"andIamafraidIhavebeenabadfriendtoher。Ididnotmeanit，though，andthewholeaffairisdarktome。"

"Youarenotverysharp，then，foradetective，"saidAshmead。"Well，shutyourmouthandopenyoureyes。YourMr。Severnewasthelady"slover，andpreyeduponher。Helefther；shewasfoolenoughtolovehimstill，andpinedforhim。Heisagambler，andwasgamblingbymysidewhenMademoiselleKloskingcamein；sohecuthislucky，andleftmefiftypoundstoplayforhim，andsheputthepoton，andbrokethebank。

Ididn"tknowwhohewas，butwefounditoutbyhisphotograph。Thenyoucamesmellingafterthemoney，andwesoldyounicely，myfinedetective。

Wemadeitourbusinesstoknowwhereyouwroteto——VizardCourt。Shewentdownthere，andfoundhimjustgoingtobemarriedtoabeautifulyounglady。Shecollaredhim。Heflungherdown，andcuthertempleopen——nearlykilledher。Sheliesillinthehouse，andtheotheryoungladyisgoneawaybroken-hearted。"

"Whereto?"

"HowshouldIknow?Whatisthattoyou?"

"Whydon"tyousee?Whereversheis，hewon"tbefaroff。Helikesherbest，don"the?"

"Itdon"tfollowthatshelikeshim，nowshehasfoundhimout。Hehadbetternotgoafterher，orhe"llgetaskinfulofbrokenbones。Myfriend，SquireVizard，isthemantomakeshortworkwithhim，ifhecaughttheblackguardspooningafterhissister。"

"Andservehimright。Still，IwishIknewwherethatyoungladyis。"

"IdaresayIcouldlearnifImadeitmybusiness。"

Havingbroughtthemattertothatpoint，Poikilusleftit，andsimplymadehimselfagreeable。HetoldAshmeadhisexperiences；andastheywere，manyofthem，strangeanddramatic，hekepthimadelightedlistenertillmidnight。

ThenextdayAshmeadvisitedMademoiselleKlosking，andfoundherwalkingupanddowntheroom，withherhandonMissGale"sshoulder。

Shewithdrewintotheembrasure，andhadsomeconfidentialtalkwithhim。

Asamatterofcourse，hetoldheraboutPoikilus，andthathewashuntingdownSeverneforhismoney。

"Indeed!"saidtheKlosking。"Pleasetellmeeverywordthatpassedbetweenyou。"

Hedidso，asnearlyashecouldremember。

MademoiselleKloskingleanedherbrowuponherhandaconsiderabletimeinthought。ThensheturnedonAshmead，andsaid，quietly，"ThatPoikilusisstillactingfor_him，_andtheonethingtheydesiretolearniswheretofindMissVizard，anddeludehertoherruin。"

"No，no，"criedAshmeadviolently；butthenextmomenthiscountenancefell。"YouarewiserthanIam，"saidhe；"itmaybe。Confoundthesneak!

I"llgiveithimnexttimeIseehim!Why，hemustlovevillainyforitsownsake。Iasgoodassaidyouwouldpayhimhisfiftypounds。"

"Whatfiftypounds?Hisfiftypoundsisafalsehood，likehimself。Now，myfriend，pleasetakemyinstructions，mypositiveinstructions。"

"Yes，madam。"

"Youwillnotchangeyourfriendlymanner:shownosuspicionnoranger。

Iftheyarecunning，wemustbewise；andthewisealwayskeeptheirtemper。YouwillsayMissVizardhasgonetoIreland，buttowhatpartisonlyknowntoherbrother。Tellhimthis，andbeveryfreeandcommunicativeonallothersubjects；forthisalonehasanyimportancenow。Asforme，IcaneasilylearnwhereSomervilleVillais，andinadayortwoshallsendyoutolookafterher。Onethingisclear——Ihadbetterlosenotimeinrecoveringmystrength。Well，mywillisstrong。I

willlosenotime——yourarm，monsieur；"andsheresumedherpromenade。

Ashmead，instructedasabove，dinedagainwiththedetective；butoutofrevengegavehimbutonebottleofMadeira。Astheysippedit，hedeliveredagreatmanywords；andinthemiddleofthemsaid，"Oh，by-the-by，Iaskedafterthatpooryounglady。GonetoIreland，buttheydidn"tknowwhatpart。"

AfterdinnerAshmeadwenttothetheater。WhenhecamebackPoikiluswasgone。

SodidWisdombaffleCunningthattime。

ButCunningdidnotreallyleavethefield:thatveryeveninganagedman，ingreenspectacles，wasinquiringaboutthepostalarrangementstoVizardCourt；andnextdayhemighthavebeenseen，inabackstreetofTaddington，talkingtothevillagepostman，andafterwarddrinkingwithhim。ItwasPoikilusgropinghisway。

CHAPTERXXIII。

AFEWwordsavailtodescribethesluggishwatersoftheDeadSea，butwhatpencanportraytheIndianOceanlashedandtormentedbyacyclone?

EvensoafewwordshavesufficedtoshowthatInaKlosking"sheartwasallbenumbedanddeadened；and，withthehelpofinsult，treachery，lossofblood，brain-fever，andself-esteemrebellingagainstvillainy，hadoutliveditspowerofsufferingpoignanttorture。

ButIcannotsketchinafewwords，norpaintinmany，thetempestofpassioninZoeVizard。Yetitismydutytotryandgivethereadersomelittleinsightintotheagony，thechanges，thefury，thegrief，thetempestofpassion，inavirginheart；insuchanature，thegreatpassionsofthemindoftenrageasfiercely，orevenmoreso，thaninolderandexperiencedwomen。

Literally，ZoeVizardlovedEdwardSeverneoneminuteandhatedhimthenext；gavehimupforatraitor，andthenvowedtobelievenothinguntilshehadheardhisexplanation；burnedwithireathissilence，sickenedwithdismayathissilence。Then，forawhile，loveandfaithwouldgettheupperhand，andshewouldbequitecalm。Whyshouldshetormentherself?Anoldsweetheart，abandonedlongago，hadcomebetweenthem；hehad，unfortunately，donethewomananinjury，inhiswildendeavortogetawayfromher。Well，whatbusinesshadshetouseforce?Nodoubthewasashamed，afflictedatwhathehaddone，beingaman；orwasindespair，seeingthatladyinstalledinherbrother"shouse，and_her_story，probablyaparceloffalsehoods，listenedto。

Thenshewouldhaveagleamofjoy；forsheknewhehadnotwrittentoInaKlosking。ButsoonDespondencycamedownlikeadarkcloud；forshesaidtoherself，"Hehasleftusboth。Heseesthewomanhedoesnotlovewillnotlethimhavetheonehedoeslove；andsohehaslostheart，andwillhavenomoretosaytoeither。"

Whenherthoughtstookthisturnshewouldcrypiteously；butnotforlong。Shewoulddryhereyes，andburnwithwrathallround；shewouldstillhateherrival，butcallherloveracoward——acontemptiblecoward。

Afterherdayofraging，andgrieving，anddoubting，andfearing，andhoping，anddespairing，nightovertookherwithanexhaustedbody，ableedingheart，andweepingeyes。Shehadbeensohappy——ontheverybrinkofparadise；andnowshewasdeserted。Herpillowwasweteverynight。Shecriedinherverysleep；andwhenshewokeinthemorningherbodywasalwaysquivering；andintheveryactofwakingcameahorror，andaninstinctivereluctancetofacethelightthatwastobringanotherdayofmisery。