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diff --git a/14317-h/14317-h.htm b/14317-h/14317-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e996460 --- /dev/null +++ b/14317-h/14317-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10765 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Sorcery Club, by Elliott O'Donnell</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + p.hang { text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em; } + p.cs { text-align: center; font-size:0.8em; } + p.hl { text-align: center; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 1.5em; } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + } + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; left: 12%; text-align: left;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + link {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#0000ff; + text-decoration:none} + a:hover {color:#ff0000} + pre {font-size: 8pt;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14317 ***</div> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Sorcery Club, by Elliott O'Donnell</h1> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p class="cs"><a name="ILLUSTRATION1" id="ILLUSTRATION1" /><img src="images/image1.jpg" width="446" height="750" alt="[Illustration: "FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE KEEP OFF!" KELSON SHRIEKED]" /><br /> +"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE KEEP OFF!" KELSON SHRIEKED</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h1 style="font-size:2em;">THE SORCERY CLUB</h1> + +<h3 style="margin-top:3em;">BY</h3> + +<h2>ELLIOTT O'DONNELL</h2> + +<p class="cs">AUTHOR OF <i>BYWAYS OF GHOSTLAND</i>, <i>WERWOLVES</i>,<br /> +<i>DREAMS AND THEIR MEANINGS</i>, <i>SOME HAUNTED HOUSES OF ENGLAND<br /> +AND WALES</i>, <i>SCOTTISH GHOST TALES</i>, <i>HAUNTED HOUSES OF LONDON</i>, ETC., ETC.</p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h6><i>London<br /> +William Rider & Son, Limited<br /> +8 Paternoster Row, E.C.</i></h6> + +<p class="center">1912</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman;"> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_I">HOW THEY FIRST HEARD OF ATLANTIS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_II">THE BLACK ART OF ATLANTIS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_III">LEARNING TO SIN</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">THE TESTS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_V">THE INITIATION</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">THE FIRST POWER</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">SAN FRANCISCO LADIES AND DIVINATION</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">TWO DREAMS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_X">HOW THE DREAMS WERE INTERPRETED</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">LEON HAMAR CALLS ON THE MARTINS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">THE GREAT CHALLENGE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">THE MODERN SORCERY CO. LTD. GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">SHIEL TO THE RESCUE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">HOW HAMAR, CURTIS AND KELSON ENTERED THE ASTRAL PLANE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">HAMAR MAKES ADVANCES</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">STAGE THREE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">A SERIES OF MISADVENTURES</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">THE STAGE OF HAUNTINGS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">THE SELLING OF SPELLS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">THE PERSECUTION OF THE MARTINS</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">LOVE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">THE SUBPŒNA</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">CURTIS IN A NEW RÔLE</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">IN HYDE PARK AT NIGHT</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">THE RIGHT GIRL TO MARRY</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII">WHOM WILL HE MARRY?</a><br /><br /></li> +<li><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">THE END AND 'THE BEYOND'</a><br /></li> +</ol> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<p> +<br /> +<a href="#ILLUSTRATION1">"FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE KEEP OFF," KELSON SHRIEKED</a><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 14.5em;"><i>Frontispiece</i></span><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#ILLUSTRATION2">THE INITIATION</a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#ILLUSTRATION3">THEY GAZED FASCINATED</a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#ILLUSTRATION4">THE ROOM FILLED WITH LUMINOUS, STRIPED FIGURES</a><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2 style="font-size:2em;"><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I" />THE SORCERY CLUB</h2> + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>HOW THEY FIRST HEARD OF ATLANTIS</h3> + + +<p>Rain is responsible for a great deal more than the mere growth of +vegetables—it is a controller, if a somewhat capricious controller, of +man's destiny. It was mainly, if not entirely, owing to rain that the +French lost the Battle of Agincourt; whilst, if I mistake not, Confucius +alone knows how many victories have been snatched from the Chinese by +the same factor.</p> + +<p>It was most certainly rain that drove Leon Hamar to take refuge in a +second-hand bookshop; for so deep-rooted was his aversion to any +literature saving a financial gazette or the stock and shares column of +a daily, that nothing would have induced him to get within touching +distance of a book save the risk of a severe wetting. Now, to his +unutterable disgust, he found himself surrounded by the things he +loathed. Books ancient—very ancient, judging by their bindings—and +modern—histories, biographies, novels and magazines—anything from ten +dollars to five cents, and all arrayed with most laudable tact according +to their bulk and condition. But Hamar was neither to be tempted nor +mollified. He frowned at one and all alike, and the colossal edition of +Miss Somebody or Other's poems—that by reason of its magnificent cover +of crimson and gold occupied a most prominent position—met with the +same vindictive reception as the tattered and torn volumes of Whittier +stowed away in an obscure corner.</p> + +<p>Backing still further into the entrance of the store for a better +protection from the rain, which, now falling heavier and heavier, was +blown in by the wind, Hamar collided with a stand of books, with the +result that one of them fell with a loud bang on the pavement.</p> + +<p>A man, evidently the owner of the store, and unmistakably a Jew, +instantly appeared. Picking up the book, and wiping it with a dirty +handkerchief, he thrust it at Hamar.</p> + +<p>"See!" he said, "you have damaged this property of mine. You must either +buy it or give me adequate compensation."</p> + +<p>"What!" Hamar cried, "compensation for such rubbish as that? Why all +your books together are not worth five dollars. Indeed I've seen twice +as many sold at a sale for half that amount. You can't Jew me!"</p> + +<p>The two men eyed each other quizzically.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," the owner of the store observed slowly, "perhaps some of your +ancestors were once Yiddish. In which case there ought to be a bond of +sympathy between us. You may have that book for a nickel. What, no! Your +cheeks are hollow, your fingers thin. A nickel is too much for you. I +will take your chain in exchange."</p> + +<p>"And leave me the watch!" Hamar retorted, with a grim smile. "You are a +philanthropist—not a storekeeper."</p> + +<p>"I should leave you nothing!" the Jew laughed.</p> + +<p>"There's no watch there! See!" and he pointed to the concave surface of +the watch-pocket. "I noticed its absence at once. It's been keeping you +alive for some days past. I'll give you four dollars on the chain—and +you may have the book!"</p> + +<p>"The book's no good to me!" Hamar grunted. "The money is. Here! hand me +over the four dollars and you can have the chain. It's eighteen carat +gold and worth at least ten dollars."</p> + +<p>"Then why not take it to some one who will give you ten dollars!" +sneered the Jew. "Because you know better. You're no greenhorn. That +chain is fifteen carat at the most, and there's not a man in this city +who would give you more than four dollars for it."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then!" Hamar said sulkily. "I agree. No! the money first."</p> + +<p>The Jew dived deep down into his trouser pocket, and, after foraging +about for some seconds, produced a handful of greasy coins, out of which +he carefully selected the sum named.</p> + +<p>Hamar, who had been watching him greedily, grabbed the coins, bit them +with his teeth, and rang them on the counter. With an air of relief he +then slipped his watch-chain into the outstretched palm before him, +remarked upon the fact that the rain had suddenly ceased, and prepared +to take his departure.</p> + +<p>"Here's the book!" the Jew ejaculated, whilst his face became suffused +with a smirk. "Don't go without it. Now! there's no knowing but what we +may not have further dealings with one another. I'm a money-lender—I've +a place down-stairs—I take all sorts of things—all sorts of things. On +the strict Q.T. mind. Sabez!"</p> + +<p>In another moment Hamar found himself standing on the wet pavement, +nursing the four dollars in his waistcoat pocket with one hand, and +mechanically clutching the despised volume with the other. Had he ever +acted upon impulse, he would most certainly have hurled the book into +the gutter; but on second thoughts he came to the conclusion that it +would be better to dispose of it less obstrusively.</p> + +<p>It was now evening, and having tasted nothing since mid-day, he +realized, for at least the hundredth time that week, that he was hungry. +The touch of the dollars, however, only made him smile. He could eat his +full for twenty-five cents and yet live well for another four days. And, +besides, he still had a tie-pin and a fur coat. He might get a dollar on +the one and two, if not two and a half, on the other; which would carry +him through till the end of the week when something else might turn +up—something which would not involve too hard work and would just keep +him clear of jail. He turned sharply down Montgomery Street, crossed +Kearney Street, and slipped noiselessly through the side doorway of a +restaurant, in a suspicious-looking alley, not a hundred yards distant +from the gorgeously illuminated Palace Hotel. Here, within five minutes, +he was served with as good a meal as one could get in San Francisco for +the money—and if the table linen was not as clean as it might have +been, the food was not a whit the less excellent for that. At least so +Hamar thought; and it was not until there was nothing left to eat that +he left off eating. When he thought no one was looking in his direction, +he popped the despised book under his chair and rose to go. Before he +had gone ten yards, however, one of the waiters came running after him.</p> + +<p>"Hi, sir, stop, sir!" the fellow cried. "You've left something behind!" +And in spite of Hamar's denials the officious menial persisted the book +was his. In the end Hamar was obliged to submit. He took the book, and +rewarded the waiter with curses.</p> + +<p>Hamar next tried to dispose of it down the area of a Chinese laundry; +but a policeman saw him, and he only escaped being taken up on +suspicion, by parting with a dollar. This was the climax. He did not +dare make any further attempt to dispose of the book, but, with bitter +hatred in his heart, tucked it savagely under his arm, and made direct +for his room in 115th Street.</p> + +<p>To his annoyance—for under the circumstances he preferred to be +alone—he found two men sitting in front of his empty hearth. They were +Matt Kelson and Ed Curtis; both of whom had been his colleagues at +Meidler, Meidler & Co., in Sacramento Street, and like himself had been +thrown out of work when the firm had "smashed." Since that affair Hamar +had studiously avoided them. It was true he had once been as friendly +with them as he deemed it politic to be friendly with any one; but +now—they were out of employment, and in danger of starvation. That made +all the difference. He did not believe in poverty encouraging poverty, +any more than he believed in charity among beggars. He had nothing to +share with them, not even a thought; and resolving to get rid of his +quondam friends as soon as possible, he confined his welcome to a frown.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa! what's the matter?" Kelson exclaimed. "When a man frowns like +that, it usually means he is crossed in love."</p> + +<p>"Or has an empty stomach, which amounts to the same thing," Curtis +interposed. "Come—let the sun loose, Leon! We've good news for +you!—haven't we, Matt?"</p> + +<p>Kelson nodded.</p> + +<p>"What is it, then?" Hamar grunted. "Have you both got cancer?"</p> + +<p>"No! We've come to borrow from you!"</p> + +<p>"Then you've come to the wrong shop! I'm about done, and unless +something turns up mighty quick I shall clear out."</p> + +<p>"For good?"</p> + +<p>"I don't count on being a ghost nor yet an angel," Hamar said; "when +we've done here, I reckon we've done altogether!"</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't have thought suicide was in your line," Curtis remarked. +"More Matt's. I should have credited you with something more original."</p> + +<p>"Original!" Hamar snarled. "I defy any man to be original when he hasn't +a cent, and his stomach contains nothing but air. Give me money, give me +food—then, perhaps, I'll be original."</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say you're cleared out of grub!" Kelson and Curtis +cried in chorus. "We've come to you as our last hope. We've neither of +us tasted anything since yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll taste nothing again to-day—at least as far as I'm +concerned," Hamar jeered. "I tell you I'm broke—haven't as much as a +crumb in the room; and I've pawned everything, save the clothes you see +me in!"</p> + +<p>"And yet you can buy books—unless—unless you stole it!" Curtis said, +eyeing with suspicion the volume Hamar had thrown on the table.</p> + +<p>"Buy it! Not much!" Hamar cried quickly. "It's one I've had all my life. +Belonged to my grandfather. I took it with me to-night to see what I +could raise on it."</p> + +<p>"And no one would have it? I should guess not," Kelson said, drawing it +towards him. "Why it's got a new label inside—S. Leipman! I know him. +He's slick even for a Jew. This looks as if it belonged to your +grandfather, Leon. If I'm not real mistaken you bought the book +to-night. There's something in it you thought you could make capital of. +Trust you for that. Now I wonder what it was!"</p> + +<p>"You're welcome to see!" Hamar sneered. "Perhaps you'd like some water!"</p> + +<p>"Water! Why water?"</p> + +<p>"Well, instead of tea or whisky to help digest the book. Besides, it's +the only thing I have to offer you."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Leon," Curtis interrupted; "what's the good of behaving like +this? We are all in the same boat—starving—desperate. So let us lay +our heads together and see if we can't think of something—some way out +of it."</p> + +<p>"A Burglary Company Limited, for instance!" Hamar sneered. "No! I'm not +having any. I've neither tools nor experience. The San Francisco police +handle one roughly, so I'm told, and hard labour isn't to my liking."</p> + +<p>"There are other things besides burglary!" Curtis said in tones of +annoyance. "We might work a fake."</p> + +<p>"If I work anything of that sort," Hamar said hastily, "I work alone. +Think of something else."</p> + +<p>"I tell you Matt and I are pretty well desperate," Curtis cried, "and if +we don't think of something soon, we shan't be able to think at all. +We've tried our level best to get work—we've answered every likely and +unlikely advertisement in the papers—and all to no purpose. So if +Providence won't help us we must help ourselves. Robbery, burglary, +fakes, anything short of murder—it's all the same to us now—we're +tired of starving—dead sick of it. We would do anything, sell our very +souls for a meal. My God! I never imagined how terrible it is to feel so +hungry. You appear to be interested, Matt. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, look here, you fellows!" Kelson said slowly. "This book is all +about a place called Atlantis that is said to have existed in the +Atlantic Ocean between America and Ireland, and to have been deluged by +an earthquake owing to the wickedness of its inhabitants. They practised +sorcery."</p> + +<p>"Practised foolery," Hamar said. "It's tosh—all tosh! Wickedness is +only a matter of climate—and there's no such thing as sorcery."</p> + +<p>"So I thought," Kelson replied; "but I'm not so sure now. The author of +this book writes darned sensibly, and is apparently at no loss for +corroborative testimony. He was a professor too. See! Thomas Henry +Maitland, at one time Professor of English at the University of Basle in +Switzerland. There's an asterisk against his name and a footnote in very +old-fashioned handwriting—the 's's' are all 'f's,' and half the letters +capitals. Listen—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'Thomas Maitland, despite the remonstrances of his friends, visited + Spain. By order of the Holy Inquisition he was arrested, May 5, + 1693, on a charge of practising sorcery, and burned alive at the + Auto da Fé, in the Grand Market Square, Madrid; having in the + interim been subjected to such tortures as only the subtle brains + of the hellish inquisitors could devise. On receipt of a message + from him, delivered in his supernatural body, we attended his + execution, and can readily testify that he suffered no pain, + although the torments endured by those around him were pitiable to + behold.</p> + +<p> "(Signed) <span class="smcap">George Richard Pool</span>, Physician; and <span class="smcap">Robert James Fox</span>, + Merchant.</p> + +<p> "Citizens of Boston, Massachusetts; August 1, 1693.'" </p></div> + +<p>"Rot!" Hamar said savagely; "don't waste time reading such bunkum."</p> + +<p>"It may be bunkum, but if it takes away his mind from his stomach let +him go on," Curtis interposed. "It's very obvious you haven't arrived at +our pitch of starvation yet, Leon, or you would welcome anything that +would make you forget it even for a moment. Let's hear some more, Matt! +Go on, tell us something. How to make coyottes out of paraffin paint, or +convert a Sunday pair of pants into a glistening harem skirt! Anything +that won't remind us of food."</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged Kelson slowly turned over the pages of the book. "I see +it was printed and published for—I presume that means by—A. +Bettesworth and J. Batley in Pater-noster-Row, London, England, in 1690. +Basle, London, Boston, Madrid! The author seems to have had wandering on +the brain. By the bye, Leon, with your features you could easily work +off a fake as 'the Wandering Jew.' There's money in it—people will +swallow anything in that line now."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how it would profit you anyhow," Hamar snarled. "Leave my +features alone and go on with your reading."</p> + +<p>Kelson chuckled—here was one way at least in which he could +occasionally get even with Hamar. Hamar's features were Yiddish, and the +Yids were none too popular in California.</p> + +<p>"Oh, all right!" he said; "if the subject is so painful I'll try and +avoid it in future; but it's odd how some things—for instance, murder +and noses—will out. Let me see, what have we here? 'Discovery of +ancient books, manuscripts, etc., relating to Atlantis.' Apparently, +Thomas Maitland, when shipwrecked on an island, called Inisturk, off +Mayo, in Ireland, found a wooden chest of rare workmanship—he had seen, +he says, similar ones in Egypt and Yucatan—containing some very ancient +books—curiously bound, and some vellum manuscripts, which, after an +infinite amount of labour, he managed to translate. The books, he says, +were standard histories, biographies, and scientific works on +occultism—all published in Banchicheisi, the capital of Atlantis—and +the manuscripts, he affirms, had been transcribed by one Coulmenes, who +believed himself to be the only survivor of a tremendous submarine +earthquake that had destroyed the whole of Atlantis. The manuscripts +included a diary of the events leading up to the catastrophe—even to +the meals! How about this?—'Sunrise on the day of Thottirnanoge in the +month of Finn-ra. Breakfasted on cornsop, fish (Semona, corresponding to +salmon), fruit, and much sweet milk.'"</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, don't!" Curtis groaned. "Skip over that part. The very +mention of grub makes the gnawing pain in my stomach ten times worse."</p> + +<p>"You're different to me then!" Hamar grinned; "I love to think of it. +My word, what wouldn't I give to be in Sadler's now. Roast beef—done to +a turn, eh! As only Sadler knows how! Potatoes nice and brown and crisp! +Horseradish! Greens! Boiled celery! Pudding under the meat! Beer!—What, +going?"</p> + +<p>Curtis had risen from the table with his fingers crammed in his ears. +"There's a fat splice of the devil in you to-night, Leon!" he panted. +"I've had enough of it. I'm off. Come on, Matt. If you want us, you know +where to find us—only if we don't get something to eat soon—you'll +find us dead."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II" />CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>THE BLACK ART OF ATLANTIS</h3> + + +<p>For some time after Kelson and Curtis had left him, Hamar lolled back in +his seat, lost in thought. Thought, as he told himself repeatedly, +should be the poor man's chief recreation—it costs nothing: and if one +wants a little variety, and the walls of one's rooms are tolerably +thick, one can think aloud. Hamar often did, and derived much enjoyment +from it.</p> + +<p>"I'm convinced of one thing," he suddenly broke out; "I'd rather be +hungry than cold. One can, in a measure, cheat one's stomach by chewing +leather or sucking pebbles, but I'll be hanged if one can kid one's +liver. It's cold that does me! A touch of cold on the liver! I could jog +along comfortably on few dollars for food—but it's a fire, a fire I +want! The temperature of this room is infernally low after sunset: and +half a dozen coats and three pairs of pants don't make up for half a +grateful of fuel. Hunger only makes me think of suicide—but cold—cold +and a chilled liver—makes me think of crime. Yes, it's cold! Cold that +would make me a criminal. I would steal—burgle—housebreak—cut the +sweetest lady's throat in Christendom—for a fire!</p> + +<p>"There! that little outbreak has relieved me. Now let me have a look at +the book."</p> + +<p>He dragged the volume towards him, and despite the feeling of antagonism +with which it had inspired him, and despite the cynical attitude he +had, up to the present, adopted towards the supernatural, he speedily +became engrossed. On a few leaves, somewhat clumsily inserted between +the cover and first page of the book, Hamar read an account, presumably +in the author's own penmanship, of how he, Thomas Maitland, after being +shipwrecked, had remained on Inisturk Island for a fortnight before +being rescued, and had spent the greater portion of that time in +examining the books, etc., in the chest he had found—his only +food—shell-fish and a keg of mildewy ship's biscuits.</p> + +<p>He was taken, so the account ran, by his rescuers, on the barque +<i>Hannah</i>, to London, where he lived for five years. His lodgings were in +Cheapside, and it was there that he compiled his work on Atlantis, +having obtained his subject matter from the Atlantean books he had +managed to bring with him, and which, after an enormous amount of +perseverance and labour, he had translated into English. Though these +books were subsequently destroyed in a big fire that demolished the +entire street, luckily for him, he had sent his MS. to the publishers, +Messrs. Bettesworth and Batley, a week or so before the conflagration +broke out; so that he was, at any rate, spared the loss of his own +arduous and invaluable work.</p> + +<p>The publishers did not accept the MS. at once. At that time there were +very severe laws in operation against anything savouring of witchcraft +and magic, and as the manuscript dealt at length with these subjects, +and in a manner that left no doubt whatever that he, Thomas Maitland, +had practised sorcery extensively, Messrs. Bettesworth and Batley were +forced to consider whether it would be injurious to them to publish it. +Mrs. Bettesworth was eventually consulted—as indeed she always was, on +extraordinary occasions—and her interest in the MS. being roused, she +decided in its favour. Within a week of its publication, however, it was +suppressed by law; all the copies saving three presentation ones to the +author, which he successfully concealed, were destroyed; Messrs. +Bettesworth and Batley were put in the stocks on Ludgate Hill and fined +heavily, and he, Thomas Maitland, was ordered to be arrested, flogged +and imprisoned.</p> + +<p>"But," wrote Maitland, "I was not to be caught napping. My previous +adventures and hairbreadth escapes had rendered me unusually wary, and +perceiving a number of people, among whom were two or three sheriff's +officers, approaching my house, I at once interpreted their mission, and +climbing through a trap-door leading on to the roof of the building, +nimbly made my way to the end of the row, and slipping down a waterpipe +easily eluded my enemies. London, however, being now too hot to hold me, +I booked passage on board the <i>Peterkin</i>, a Thames trading vessel of +some eighty tons, and sailed for Boston. My flight had been so hasty +that I brought very little with me—nothing in fact except the clothes I +stood in—a stout winter suit of home-spun brown cloth, a cloak, and a +pair of good, strong leather leggings—a purse of fifty sovereigns (all +I had), a knife, pistol and two copies of my precious book, the third +copy, alas! I had left behind in my hurry."</p> + +<p>After giving a few unimportant details as to his life on board ship, +Maitland went on to say:—</p> + +<p>"Owing to a succession of storms the <i>Peterkin</i> was driven out of her +course, and after narrowly escaping being dashed to pieces on the +Florida reefs, Lat. 24½° N., Long. 82° W., we ran ashore with the loss +of only two lives—the second mate and cabin boy—on the Isthmus of +Yucatan, close to the estuary of a river.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1" /><a href="#Footnote_1_1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> Here we were forced to +spend nearly a year, during which time I made several journeys of +exploration into the interior of the continent. In the course of one of +my rambles amid a dense mass of tropical foliage, I suddenly found +myself face to face with a gigantic stone Sphinx, which I at once +recognized and identified. It was Tat-Nuada, an Atlantean deity, +elaborately described in one of the burned books. Much excited, I set to +work, and, after clearing the base of the idol of fungi and other +vegetable growth adhering to it, discovered a superscription in +Atlantean dialect to the effect that the image had been set up there by +one Hullir—to commemorate the destruction of Atlantis, of which +catastrophe Hullir believed himself and his family, <i>i. e.</i> his wife +Ozilmeave and daughters, Taramoo and Nikétoth, and the crew of his +yacht, the <i>Chaac-molré</i> (ten in number), the sole survivors.</p> + +<p>"Here, then, to my unutterable joy, was strong corroborative evidence of +the great disaster narrated in detail in the manuscripts I had found in +Inisturk Island. The existence of Atlantis was now thoroughly +substantiated. On all sides of me I stumbled across further evidences of +these early settlers. Here, standing in bold outline on a slight +eminence, was a stone edifice adorned with symbolical carvings of eggs, +harps, mastodons, triangles, and numerous other objects, all of which +were capable of interpretation, and indicated that the building was a +temple to some god.</p> + +<p>"I was much struck by the extraordinary similarity in many of the things +I saw—notably in the sphinx, idols and symbols—to many I had seen in +Egypt, and to some extent in Ireland, and I at once set to work to draw +up a careful analogy between the languages of those countries.</p> + +<p>"The word Banchicheisi<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2" /><a href="#Footnote_2_2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> I found to contain the Celtic ban, a barrow; +and Coptic isi, plenty; whilst I recognized in the words Coulmenes,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3" /><a href="#Footnote_3_3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> +the Celtic Coul, a man's name, <i>i. e.</i> Finn, son of Coul; in +Thottirnanoge, the Coptic Thoth, <i>i. e.</i> name of ancient Egyptian deity, +and Erse Tirnanoge, the name of the wife of Oisin, the last of the Feni; +in Chaac-molrée<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4" /><a href="#Footnote_4_4"><sup>[4]</sup></a> the Coptic deity, ré; in Ozilmeave,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5" /><a href="#Footnote_5_5"><sup>[5]</sup></a> the Celtic +Meave, a girl's name; in Taramoo,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6" /><a href="#Footnote_6_6"><sup>[6]</sup></a> the Celtic Tara, a girl's name; and +in Nikétoth,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7" /><a href="#Footnote_7_7"><sup>[7]</sup></a> toth, the Erse technical form of feminine gender; and +comparing the alphabets I traced a very striking likeness between the +Atlantean—</p> + +<table class="center" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" summary="Table for visual layout/alignment of Atlantean character comparisons."> +<tr><td>"<img src="images/atl-a.png" alt="[Atlantean: a]" width="19" height="18" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /></td><td> (a)</td><td align="left"> and the Gaelic or Erse <img src="images/ers-a.png" alt="[Erse: a]" width="15" height="16" /></td></tr> +<tr><td><img src="images/atl-b.png" alt="[Atlantean: B]" width="22" height="22" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /></td><td> (B)</td><td align="left"> and the Coptic <img src="images/cop-b.png" alt="[Coptic: B]" width="18" height="17" /></td></tr> +<tr><td><img src="images/atl-d.png" alt="[Atlantean: d]" width="20" height="16" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /></td><td> (d)</td><td align="left"> and Erse <img src="images/ers-d.png" alt="[Erse: d]" width="15" height="16" /></td></tr> +<tr><td><img src="images/atl-g.png" alt="[Atlantean: g]" width="17" height="17" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /></td><td> (g)</td><td align="left"> and Erse <img src="images/ers-g.png" alt="[Erse: g]" width="14" height="18" /></td></tr> +<tr><td><img src="images/atl-t.png" alt="[Atlantean: T]" width="23" height="16" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /></td><td> (T)</td><td align="left"> and Coptic <img src="images/cop-t.png" alt="[Coptic: T]" width="15" height="12" /></td></tr> +</table> + +<p>"and many of the other letters. To the Atlantean </p> + +<p class="center">" +<img src="images/atl-c.png" alt="[Atlantean: C]" width="25" height="31" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /> (C) <img src="images/atl-o.png" alt="[Atlantean: O]" width="25" height="31" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /> (O) <img src="images/atl-e.png" alt="[Atlantean: E]" width="17" height="31" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /> (E) <img src="images/atl-z.png" alt="[Atlantean: Z]" width="25" height="31" style="vertical-align:bottom;" /> (Z)<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8" /><a href="#Footnote_8_8"><sup>[8]</sup></a><br /> +</p> + +<p>"I could, however, find no likeness.</p> + +<p>"From all these similarities, <i>i. e.</i> in architecture, symbols, letters, +and words, I could come to no other conclusion than that there was some +strong connecting link between Atlantis and ancient Ireland and Egypt.</p> + +<p>"Assuredly this great link could not have been merely due to stray +survivors of the great catastrophe! Was it not much more probable that +the earliest inhabitants of Ireland and Egypt had originally migrated +from Atlantis, carrying its language, and ways and customs with them? +Moreover, since the Atlanteans were so deeply versed in magic and +everything appertaining to the occult, this migration would account for +the mysticism that has always been so closely associated with Egypt and +Ireland, and for the psychic faculty so strongly observable in the +inhabitants of these two countries.</p> + +<p>"I was highly satisfied—I had proved much and my discoveries had upset +many of the theories advanced by the modern sages. I could now +positively assert that the wisdom of the world came not from the East +but from the West. It was to the golden West—to Banchicheisi, capital +of Atlantis, that humanity owed its knowledge of the sciences and arts, +and of all things good and evil. Eden, if Eden existed at all, was not +in Asia, it was in Atlantis; and the Deluge, that is recorded in the +Hebrew Bible, and is traditional in the histories of nearly every tribe +and nation, was none other than the mighty inrush of the ocean over +Atlantis, due to some abnormal submarine earthquake.</p> + +<p>"Of what eventually became of the Atlanteans whose relics I had so +opportunely alighted upon, I could only surmise.</p> + +<p>"The last record I found was on a tablet set up by Nikétoth. On this she +spoke of the death of Hullir and Ozilmeave, of the inter-marriage of the +crew of the <i>Chaac-molré</i> with native women; of the consequent growth of +the colony; and of her determination to leave it, and, accompanied by a +chosen few, to push her way further inland.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9" /><a href="#Footnote_9_9"><sup>[9]</sup></a></p> + +<p>"The anxiety of my comrades to leave the continent, perforce put an end +to my explorations, and in the beginning of the year 1692—exactly ten +months after our landing—the <i>Peterkin</i> was refloated.</p> + +<p>"This time nothing happened to impede our progress, and in April of the +same year, we sighted Boston. Here I remained for some months, making +many new friends, and studying magic and sorcery. But the love of travel +had laid so strong a hold on me that I again took to a roving life. I +set sail for Spain in November 1692; landed at Corunna, and made my way +to Madrid, where I arrived on January 1, 1693."</p> + +<p>For the rest, Hamar had to turn to Messrs. Fox and Pool's addendum, +<i>i. e.</i> the footnote that Matt Kelson had read aloud.</p> + +<p>Hamar was now inclined to regard the book in a very different light. +What he had read seemed to him to be set down in too simple, +straightforward, and, at the same time, detailed a manner to be other +than true. Up to the present he had not believed in ghosts and witches, +for the very simple reason that—like all sceptics—he had never +inquired into the testimony respecting them. He had pooh-poohed the +subject, because every one he knew pooh-poohed it, and also because it +had never seemed worth his while to do otherwise. But provided he +thought it would pay him, he was ready to believe in anything—in +Christianity, Mahommedanism, Buddhism, Theosophy, or any other creed; +and granted the book he had in his hands was really written by Maitland, +and Maitland was <i>bona fide</i> (which Hamar saw no reason to doubt), and +granted, also, that Maitland was sane and logical—which from his +writing he certainly appeared to be—then there was a certain amount in +the volume that in Hamar's opinion was "a find." Needless to say, he +referred to the magic of the Atlanteans—the art through the practice of +which they had got in touch with the Powers that could endow them with +riches. The actual history of Atlantis—once he was satisfied there had +been such a place—did not interest him. He skimmed through it quickly, +and I append a brief summary, only, for the benefit of more intelligent +and disinterested readers.</p> + +<p>The Atlanteans were the oldest intelligent race in the world—they +existed contemporaneously with Paleolithic man, with whom their mariners +and explorers frequently came in contact, and about whom their novelists +wrote the most delightful stories, just as Fenimore Cooper and Mayne +Reid, in these days, have written the most delightful stories about the +Red Indians. In religion they were polytheists; they believed that, in +the work of Creation, many Powers participated; that some of these +Powers were benevolent, some malevolent, whilst others—neither +benevolent nor malevolent—were merely neutral. To the benevolent +creative Powers they attributed all that is beautiful in the world +(<i>i. e.</i> certain of the trees, plants, flowers, animals, insects, and +pleasing colours and scents); all that is fair and agreeable in the +human being, such as affection, love, kindness, the arts and +sciences—in a word all that in any degree affected the welfare of +mankind; and to the malevolent creative Powers they attributed all that +was noxious in creation; all that was harmful to man, and detrimental to +his moral and physical progress (<i>i. e.</i> diseases, and all savage and +filthy passions); all races of low intelligence, viz. Paleolithic and +Neolithic man—and all those born with black or red skins (those colours +being particularly significant of the malignant Occult Elements); all +destructive animals; (<i>i. e.</i> reptiles such as the teleosaurus, +steneosaurus, etc.; birds, such as the ptereodactyl, vulture, eagle, +etc.; mammals, such as the cave lion, cave tiger, etc.; fish, such as +the shark, octopus, etc.); and all ugly and venomous insects.</p> + +<p>These earliest records show that at one time the physical and +superphysical world were in close touch; all kinds of spirits—trolls, +pixies, nymphs, satyrs, imps, Vagrarians, Barrowvians, etc.—mixing +freely with living human beings; but that as the population increased +and civilization evolved, superphysical manifestations became more and +more rare, until finally they became restricted to certain conditions +dependent on time and locality.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10" /><a href="#Footnote_10_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></p> + +<p>Up to this period there had been no state religion—no temples in +Atlantis. If any one wished for a particular favour from the Occult +Powers—for example, from the Rabsés, the Occult Powers of music; the +Brakvos, the Occult Powers of medicine; or the Derinas, the Occult +Powers of love, they retired to some secluded spot and held direct +intercourse with these Powers. The idea of praying to an invisible +being—who might or might not hear them—never entered their minds; they +were far too matter of fact for that—and it was not until superphysical +manifestations had become confined to a very select few, that the plan +of erecting public buildings in spots frequented by the spirits, so that +all who wished could assemble there and communicate with them, was +proposed and put into operation. In these buildings, however, the +spirits did not choose always, to appear to order—sometimes they +quitted the spot where the edifice had been erected; sometimes they +would only appear there periodically; and sometimes, out of perversity, +they would appear when least expected. But whether occult manifestations +really took place in these buildings or not, those assembled to see them +were persuaded by those in charge of the building, who saw thereby an +opportunity of making money, that the spirits were actually there; and +in due time these buildings became known as temples, and their showmen +as priests. Every temple was dedicated to an individual spirit—one to +the Spirit Bara-boo; another to the Spirit Karaboro, and so on; whilst +in the absence of genuine spirit manifestations, prayers, incantations +and rituals, invented by the priests, always attracted a large concourse +of people to these temples, and finally proved a greater source of +attraction than the spirits themselves.</p> + +<p>It was to gain favours from the Occult Powers that donations from the +public were at first invited, then demanded; and the priests in this +manner accumulated vast fortunes. Later on, too, there sprang up, in +connection with these temples, colleges for the training of young +men—invariably selected from the wealthy classes—to the priesthood; +and from the parents of these youthful aspirants large fees, which in +course of time became exorbitant, were extracted, thereby furnishing +another source of revenue to the priests. The most famous colleges for +the training of priests in Atlantis were those of Bara-boo-rek<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11" /><a href="#Footnote_11_11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> at +Keisionwo, Karaboro-rek at Diniangek, and Ballygarap-rek at Tijimin.</p> + +<p>It was in the reign of Barrahneil,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12" /><a href="#Footnote_12_12"><sup>[12]</sup></a> fifty-first sovereign of the +Dynasty of Shaotak, that the evocation of spirits (from which modern +spiritualism takes its origin) commenced. Barrahneil was most eager to +see a superphysical manifestation. Being of a somewhat poetical turn of +mind he was particularly enamoured of fairies, and in the hope of seeing +one, constantly frequented their favourite haunts, <i>i. e.</i> woods, caves, +and lonely isolated habitations. But all to no purpose—they never would +manifest themselves to him. At last, he lost patience. Against the +advice of his oldest and most trusty counsellors, and accompanied by one +or two of his favourite courtiers, he went to an excessively lonely spot +in the heart of a desert, and besought spirits—spirits of any sort—he +did not care what—to manifest themselves. To his surprise—for he had +grown extremely sceptical—an Occult form, half man and half beast,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13" /><a href="#Footnote_13_13"><sup>[13]</sup></a> +materialized. It informed them that it was Daramara, <i>i. e.</i> in Atlantis, +the Unknown—that it had no beginning and no end, and that it would +remain an impenetrable mystery to them during their existence in the +physical sphere, but would be fully revealed to them when they passed +over into Malanok—one of the superphysical planes. On this, and on +several subsequent occasions, when it manifested itself to them, it gave +them instructions with regard to evocation, and described to them the +tests they must undergo before they could acquire the great powers the +Unknown was able to bestow on them, namely, (1) second sight; (2) +divining other people's thoughts and detecting the presence of waters +and metals; (3) thought transference, <i>i. e.</i> being able to transmit +messages, irrespective of distance, from one brain to another without +any physical medium; (4) hypnotism; (5) the power to hold converse with +animals; (6) invisibility, <i>i. e.</i> dematerializing at will; (7) walking +on, and breathing under, water; (8) inflicting all manner of diseases +and torments; (9) curing all kinds of diseases; (10) converting people +into beasts and minerals; (11) foretelling the future by palmistry, +pyromancy, hydromancy, astrology, etc.; (12) conjuring up all manner of +spirits antagonistic to men's moral progress, <i>i. e.</i> Vice +Elementals—Vagrarians, Barrowvians, etc.</p> + +<p>Taking every care to observe the greatest secrecy, Barrahneil caused a +full account of these interviews with Daramara, together with all the +instructions the latter had given him, to be transcribed in a book, +which he called <i>Brahnapotek</i><a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14" /><a href="#Footnote_14_14"><sup>[14]</sup></a>—or the <i>Book of Mysteries</i>; and +which he kept sealed and guarded in a room in his palace.</p> + +<p>During his lifetime no one held communication with Daramara saving +himself and his friends, but after his death the secret of black magic +leaked out; countless people sought to acquire it, and ultimately the +practice of it became universal. But the Atlanteans little knew the +danger they were incurring. The spirits they conjured up—though at +first subservient, that is to say, mere instruments—at length obtained +complete dominion over them—the whole race became steeped in crime and +vice of every kind—and so horrible were the enormities perpetrated +that, fearful lest Man should be entirely obliterated the benevolent +Occult Powers, after a desperate struggle with the malevolent Occult +Powers, succeeded, by means of a vast earthquake, in submerging the +Continent and hurling it to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, where, +what remains of it, now lies. This catastrophe took place in the reign +of Aboonirin, twentieth sovereign of the Dynasty of Molonekin—three +thousand years after the reign of Barrahneil.</p> + +<p>So ran the history of Atlantis, or at least all of it that need be +quoted for the elucidation of this story. That Black Magic—the Black +Art of the Atlanteans was by no means dead—Hamar felt convinced, and if +Maitland could resuscitate it—why could not he? At any rate he might +try. He could lose nothing by giving it a trial—at least nothing to +speak of—the outlay on chemicals would be a mere song—whereas, on the +other hand, what might he not gain! He eagerly perused the tests—the +test he must impose upon himself before he could get in touch with the +Unknown, and acquire the magic powers—which, according to Thomas +Maitland, were copied from the original Brahnapotek, and including a +preface, ran as follows: (<i>Preface</i>) "It is essential that the person +desirous of being initiated into the Black Art—the Art of communicating +with the Unknown (Daramara) in order to acquire certain great powers, +should dismiss from his mind all ideas of moral progress, and wholly +concentrate on the bettering of his material self—on acquiring riches +and fame in the physical sphere. His aspirations must be entirely +earthly, and all his affections subordinate to his main desire for +wealth and carnal pleasures. Having acquired this preliminary +psychological stage, for one clear week he must give himself up entirely +to the breaking of all the conventionalities of morality with which +society is hedged in. He must practice every kind of deception—lie, +cheat and steal, and go out of his way to seek an opportunity to avenge +any personal injury; and if his mind is earnestly and wholly +concentrated on acquiring knowledge of the Black Art no bodily mishap +will befall him. During this time of probation he must will himself to +dream, at night, of all the deeds he had it in his mind to do, during +the day; when he will know, by his visions, to what extent he is +progressing. At the end of the week he must apply the tests to see if he +is in a ripe state to proceed.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The tests—</p> + +<p> "No. 1. At midnight, when the moon is full, place a mirror, set in a + wooden frame, in a tub of water, so that it will float on the + surface with its face uppermost. Put in the water fifteen grains + of bicarbonate of potash, and sprinkle it with three drops of + blood, not necessarily human. If the reflection of the moon in the + mirror then appear crimson, the test is satisfactorily + accomplished.</p> + +<p> "No. 2. At midnight, when the moon is full, take a black cat, place + it where the moonbeams are thickest, sprinkle it with three drops + of blood, not necessarily human, and rub its coat with the palm of + the hand. Sparks will then be given out, and if those sparks appear + crimson the test is satisfactorily done.</p> + +<p> "No. 3. Take a human skull—preferably that of some person who has + met with an unnatural end, pour on it a single drop of fresh, human + blood—place it on a couch, and go to sleep with the back part of + the head resting on it. If you are awakened, at the second hour + after midnight, by hearing a great commotion close at hand, and the + room is then discovered to be full of crimson light, the test is + satisfactorily fulfilled.</p> + +<p> "No. 4. Take half a score of the berries of enchanter's + nightshade,<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15" /><a href="#Footnote_15_15"><sup>[15]</sup></a> two ounces of hemlock leaves in powder, and one + ounce of red sorrel leaves. Heat them in an oven for two hours, + pound them together, in a mortar, and at midnight boil them in + water. As soon as the contents begin to bubble, remove them from + the fire and stand them in a dark place; and if the experiment is + to prove satisfactory, three bubbles of luminous green light will + rise simultaneously from the water and burst.</p> + +<p> "No. 5. In the above preparation after the test described, soak a + hazel twig, fashioned in the shape of a fork. On meeting a child + hold the fork with the V downwards in front of its face, and if the + child exhibits violence and signs of terror, and falls down, the + experiment is successful.</p> + +<p> "No. 6. Take a couple of handfuls of fine soil from over the spot + where some four-footed animal has recently been buried. Put it in a + tin vessel, mix with it three ounces of assafœtida and one drachm + of quassia chips, to which add a death's-head moth (<i>Acherontia + atropos</i>). Heat the vessel over a wood fire for three hours. Then + remove it and place it on the hearth, rake out the fire and make + the room absolutely dark. Keep watch beside the vessel, and if, at + the second hour after midnight, any strange phenomena occur, the + test will be known to have been satisfactorily executed. </p></div> + +<p>"(<i>Addendum</i>) If any of these tests fail the candidate must wait for six +months before giving them a further trial, and he must occupy the +interim by training his thoughts in the manner already prescribed. But +if, on the other hand, the tests have been successfully performed, he +can proceed with the rites appertaining to the Black Art."</p> + +<p>Hamar had read so far when, with a gesture of impatience, he closed the +book. "What a fool I am!" he exclaimed, "to waste my time with such +stuff!... But Maitland writes in such a devilish convincing way! +Jerusalem! Any straw is good enough for the drowning man, and if +witchcraft and sorcery with motors dashing by every second and the whole +air alive with wireless and telephones, is a bit beyond my +comprehension, what then? All I care about is money—and I'll leave no +stone unturned to get it. If it were possible for man to get in touch +with Daramara—the Unknown—Devil, or whatever else it chooses to call +itself—I'll call it an angel if it only gives me money—twenty thousand +years ago—why shouldn't it be possible to get in touch with it now? +Anyhow as I said before, I'll have a try. As far as the preliminary +stage is concerned, I fancy I'm pretty well fixed. My mind is occupied +right enough with things of this world—I don't give a cent for anything +belonging to another—and if only I had half a dozen souls, I'd sell +them right away now, for less than twenty thousand dollars—a damned +sight less. As for these tests—foolish isn't the word for them—but it +won't cost much just to try them.... Now, according to Thomas Maitland, +the ceremony of calling up the Unknown stands a far greater chance of +success if there are three human beings present ... but, of course, if +there is any truth in this business, I'd rather keep the secret of it to +myself. However, if I try alone, the Unknown may not come to me, and +then I shall have had all the trouble of going through the tests for +nothing!... Ah! now I see! If the other two get more of the profits than +I think necessary—I can make use of my newly acquired Occult Power +to—to dissolve partnership! Ha! ha! I could—I could trick the Unknown +if it comes to that. Trust a Jew to outwit the Devil! I'll just look up +Kelson and—Curtis."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1" /><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The river referred to by Maitland is the river Lagartos, +which was then (1691) unnamed.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2" /><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> For chiche compare the ancient Maya or Yucatan word +Chicken-Itza (<i>i. e.</i> name of town in Yucatan where excavations are now +taking place—1912).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3" /><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> For Menes compare Mayan Menes, wise men.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4" /><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Compare Mayan Chaac-mol, a leopard.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5" /><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Compare Ozil, Mayan for well-beloved.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6" /><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Moo, Mayan for Macaw.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7" /><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Niké, woman's name in Mayan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8" /><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Recent (1912) discoveries of statues in Easter Island still +further corroborate the sinking of Atlantis. +</p> +<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left: 0px;" summary="Table for visual layout/alignment of Atlantean character comparisons."> +<tr><td>The </td><td>Atlantean </td><td>character </td><td><img src="images/atl-cs.png" alt="[Atlantean: C]" width="19" height="16" /> </td><td>resembles </td><td>the </td><td>Easter Island </td><td> <img src="images/est-cs.png" alt="[Easter Island: C]" width="19" height="15" /> </td><td>(C)</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td><img src="images/atl-os.png" alt="[Atlantean: O]" width="19" height="24" /> </td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td> <img src="images/est-os.png" alt="[Easter Island: O]" width="19" height="23" /> </td><td>(O)</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td><img src="images/atl-es.png" alt="[Atlantean: E]" width="19" height="15" /> </td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td> <img src="images/est-es.png" alt="[Easter Island: E]" width="19" height="18" /> </td><td>(E)</td></tr> +<tr><td></td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td><img src="images/atl-zs.png" alt="[Atlantean: Z]" width="19" height="13" /> </td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="center">"</td><td> <img src="images/est-zs.png" alt="[Easter Island: Z]" width="19" height="11" /> </td><td>(Z)</td></tr> +</table> +<p> +It will be noticed that all the Atlantean characters are distinguished +by additional curling strokes.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9" /><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> In all probability she was the founder of Chicken-Itza, the +capital of Yucatan.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10" /><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Types of Elementals still to be met with in certain +localities (vide <i>Byeways of Ghostland</i>, published by Rider & Son).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11" /><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Compare Egyptian ré.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12" /><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Maitland raises the question as to whether Barrahneil was +the ancestor of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Of this there is every +possibility, since many Atlanteans undoubtedly escaped to Ireland, +carrying with them the knowledge of Black Magic—to which might be +traced the Banshee and other family ghosts.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13" /><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Probably a Vice Elemental.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14" /><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> All subsequent works dealing with Black Magic were founded +on it.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15" /><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Closely allied to deadly nightshade, and known in botany +as <i>Circæa</i>. It is found in damp, shady places and was used to a very +large extent in mediæval sorcery.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III" />CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>LEARNING TO SIN</h3> + + +<p>Messrs. Kelson and Curtis did not live in Pacific Avenue where the Popes +hold sway, nor yet in California Street where the Crockers are wont to +entertain their millionaire friends. Where they lived, there were no +massive granite steps flanked with equally massive pillars—such as +herald the approach to the Nob Hill palaces; no rare glass bow-windows +looking out on to flower bedecked lawns; no vast betiled hall, with +rotundas in the centre; no highly polished oak staircases; no frescoed +ceilings; no tufted, cerulean blue silk draperies; and no sweet +perfumery—only the smell, if one may so suddenly sink to a third-class +expression—only the smell of rank tobacco and equally rank lager beer. +No, Messrs. Kelson and Curtis resided within a stone's throw of the five +cent baths in Rutter Street—and that was the nearest they ever got to +bathing. Their suite of apartments consisted of one room, about ten by +eight feet, which served as a dining-room, drawing-room, study, boudoir, +kitchen, bedroom, and—from sheer force of habit, I was about to add +bathroom; but as I have already hinted cold water on half-empty stomachs +and chilly livers is uninviting; besides, soap costs something. Their +furniture was antique but not massive; nor could any of it be fairly +reckoned superfluous. All told, it consisted of a bedstead (three +six-foot planks on four sugar cubes; the bedclothes—a pair of discarded +overalls, a torn and much emaciated blanket, a woolly neck wrap, a +yellow vest, and the garments they stood in); a small round and rather +rickety deal table; and one chair. Of the very limited number of +culinary utensils, the frying-pan was by far the most important. Its +handle served as a poker, and its pan, as well as for frying, roasting +and boiling, did duty for a teapot and a slop-basin. They had no +crockery. They had only one thing in abundance—namely, air; for the +lower frame of the window having long lacked glass in it, a couple of +pages of the <i>Examiner</i>, fixed in it, flapped dismally every time the +wind came blowing down 216th Street.</p> + +<p>They had not lived there always. In the palmy days of work, before the +firm smashed, they had aspired to what might properly be called +diggings; and, moreover, had "digged" in respectable surroundings. It +was the usual thing—the thing that is happening always, every hour of +the day, in all the great cities of the world—starvation, through lack +of employment. Civilization still shuts its eyes to everyday poverty. +Who knows? Who cares? Who is responsible? No one. Is there a remedy? Ah! +that is a question that requires time. Time—always time! Time for the +politician, and time for the starving ones! Half the world thinks, +whilst half the world dies; and the cause of it all is time—too much, a +damned sight too much—time!</p> + +<p>But Kelson and Curtis could not grumble. They had their room—bare, +dirty and well-ventilated—for next to nothing. Fifty cents a week! And +they could furnish it as they pleased. Fancy that! What a privilege! +They were glad of it all the same—glad of it in preference to the +streets; and probably, when asleep, they thought of it as home. But on +leaving Hamar's, that evening, they had fully resolved to convert their +little room into a cemetery. What else could they do? What can any one +do who has no money and no prospect of getting any, and who has reached +the pitch of acute hunger? He has passed the stage of wanting work, +because, if work were offered to him, he would not be in a fit state to +do it—he would be too weak. Too weak to work! What a phenomenon! +Yes—to all those who have never missed a day's meals. To others—no! +They can understand—and understand only too well—the really poor who +have long ceased to eat, cannot work—they are beyond it.</p> + +<p>When Curtis and Kelson staggered down the stairs of the house where +Hamar lodged, they realized that unless something turned up pretty soon, +it would be too late—they would be past the stage of caring for +anything—too feeble to do anything but lie on the ground and pray that +death would come quickly.</p> + +<p>"Home?" Kelson inquired, as they emerged on to the pavement.</p> + +<p>"Hell!" Curtis answered, and Kelson, taking it for granted that the +terms were synonymous, at once headed for their garret.</p> + +<p>"Don't walk so confoundedly fast," Curtis gasped; "this pain in my side +is like a hundred stitches rolled in one. It fairly doubles me up. Ease +down a bit, for heaven's sake!"</p> + +<p>Kelson obeyed, and presently came to a dead halt before a dingy-looking +restaurant. Both men leaned against the window and gazed wolfishly at +the food. A warm, fœtid rush of air from under the grating at their +feet tickled their nostrils and mocked their hunger with a mockery past +endurance. Arranged on the window-sill was a miscellaneous collection of +very smeary plates and dishes, containing an even more miscellaneous +collection of food. A half-consumed ham, with more than a mere suspicion +of dirt on its yellowish-white fat; some concoction in a bowl that might +have been brawn made from some peculiarly liverish pig, or—from one of +the many homeless mongrels that roam the streets at night; a pile of +noxious-looking mussels, side by side with a glistening mass of +particularly yellow whelks; a round of what purported to be beef—very +fat and very underdone; some black shiny sausages, and a score or so of +luridly red polonies. A similar assortment was to be seen on the counter +behind which lolled an anæmic girl, in a dirty cotton blouse, and a much +soiled sky-blue skirt.</p> + +<p>A month ago such an exhibition would have been an offence in the +fastidious eyes of Messrs. Kelson and Curtis; but now it was otherwise. +Their stomachs would have refused nothing short of garbage.</p> + +<p>"Matt!" Curtis's hands had left off clutching at his belt and were now +hanging by his side; the fingers twitching to and fro in a manner that +fascinated Kelson. "Matt! Is there any logic in our starving?"</p> + +<p>"None, excepting that we haven't a cent between us!" Kelson rejoined.</p> + +<p>"I know that," Curtis went on slowly, "but—I mean—why should we starve +when all this grub is within two inches of us! It's unreasonable—it's +intolerable."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't the smell of it satisfy you?" Kelson replied, attempting to +force a smile, and failing dismally.</p> + +<p>"D—n the smell!" Curtis cried. "It's the ham I want. I'd give my soul +for a good munch at it. And just look at that tea, too! Don't you see it +steaming over there? What wouldn't I give for just one cup! Ten minutes +more and it may be too late. The pain will come on again—and it will be +very doubtful if I shall ever get home. I'm close on the stage when one +begins to digest one's own stomach. Curse it! I won't starve any longer! +Matt! she's in there all by herself!"</p> + +<p>"So I've been thinking," Kelson murmured, glancing uneasily up and down +the street. "Still she's a girl, Ed!"</p> + +<p>"That's just it!" Curtis whispered; "it is because she is a girl. If she +were a man, in our present condition we shouldn't stand a chance. Come! +It's this or dying in the gutters. It's our one and only chance. Let's +go in—have a feed—take what we can and make a bolt for it. If she +tries to stop us we can settle her right enough."</p> + +<p>"Without being too rough! There's no need to be too rough with her, Ed."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't stick at much!" Curtis answered. "Occasions like these +don't admit of chivalry. Come along! It's the ham I'm after."</p> + +<p>Curtis shuffled forward as he spoke, and the next moment Kelson and he +were standing in front of the counter.</p> + +<p>The girl eyed Curtis very dubiously and it is more than likely would +have refused to serve him had he been alone. But her expression changed +on looking at Kelson. Kelson was one of those individuals who seldom +fail to meet with the approval of women—there was a something in him +they liked. Probably neither he nor they could have defined that +something; but there it was, and it came in extremely handy now.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" she inquired shortly.</p> + +<p>"Ham! Give me some of that ham over there, miss, and a cup of tea! Bread +too!" Curtis cried eagerly. "Do you know what it is to have a twist on, +miss? I have one on now—so please give us a full twenty-five cents' +worth."</p> + +<p>Kelson said nothing, but his eyes glistened, and the girl wondered as +she passed him the polonies.</p> + +<p>Both men ate as they had never eaten before, and as they would not have +eaten now had they paid any attention to the advice of hunger experts. +However, they survived, and when they could eat no more they leaned back +in their chairs to enjoy the sensation of returning—albeit, slowly +returning—strength.</p> + +<p>Curtis was the first to make a move. "Matt," he murmured, "we've about +sat our sit. We'd better be off. You go and say a few nice words to the +girl and make pretence of paying. I'll secure the ham—there's still a +good bit left—and anything else I can grab. The moment I do this, throw +these chairs on the ground so that the girl will fall over them when she +makes a dash for me, which she is certain to do. We will then head +straight away for 216th Street. Don't look so scared or she will think +there is something up. She has never taken her eyes off you since we sat +down!"</p> + +<p>"She's rather a nice girl!" Kelson said. "I wish I didn't look quite +such a blackguard—and—I wish I hadn't to be quite such a blackguard. +Who'll pay for all this? Will she?"</p> + +<p>"We shan't, anyway," Curtis sneered. "Come, this is no time to be +sentimental. It was a question of life and death with us, and we've only +done what any one else would do in our circumstances. The girl won't +lose much! Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>Curtis rose, and Kelson, who was accustomed to obey him, reluctantly +followed suit. A look almost suggestive of fear came into the girl's +eyes as they encountered those of Curtis, and she shot a swift glance at +an inner door. Then Kelson spoke, and as she turned her head towards +him, her lips parted in a sort of smile.</p> + +<p>"Nice night, miss, isn't it?" Kelson said, halting half-way between the +counter and the chairs. "Aren't you a bit lonely here all by yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," the girl laughed. "But my mother's in the room there," and +she nodded in the direction of the closed door. "And one can't be dull +when she's about. She's that there active as a rule, there's no keeping +her quiet—only just at present"—here she glanced apprehensively at +Curtis—"she's recovering from ague. Gets it every year about this time. +Your friend seems to have kind of taken a fancy to our ham!"</p> + +<p>Kelson looked at Curtis and his heart thumped. Curtis's right hand was +getting ready to spring at the ham, whilst his left was creeping +stealthily along the counter in the direction of a loaf of bread. Kelson +slowly realized that an acute crisis in both their lives was at hand, +and that it depended on him how it would end. He had never thought it +possible to feel as mean as he felt now. Besides, his natural sympathy +with women tempted him to stand by the girl and prevent Curtis from +robbing her. He was still deliberating, when he saw two long dark +objects, with lightning rapidity, swoop down on the plates and dishes. +There was a loud clatter, and the next moment the whole place seemed +alive with movement.</p> + +<p>A voice which in his confusion he did not recognize at once shouted—and +seemingly from far away—"Quick, you fool, quick! Fling down the chairs +and grab those sausages!" Whilst from close beside him—almost, he +fancied, in his ears—came a wild shriek of "Mother! Mother! We are +being robbed!"</p> + +<p>Had the girl appealed to him to help her it is more than likely that +Kelson, who was even yet undecided what course to adopt, would have +offered her his aid; but the instant she acted on the defensive his mind +was made up; a mad spirit of self-preservation swept over him—and +dashing the chairs on the ground at her feet, he seized the sausages, +and flew after Curtis.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, Curtis and Kelson, their arms full of spoil, +clambered up the staircase of their lodgings, and reeled into their +room.</p> + +<p>"Look!" Curtis gasped, sinking into the chair. "Look and see if we are +followed!"</p> + +<p>"There's no one about!" Kelson whispered, peering cautiously out of the +window. "Not a soul! I don't believe after that first rush across Rutter +Street, any one noticed us. To leave off running was far the best thing +to do. You are a perfect genius, Ed. I wonder if this sort of +thing—er—thieving—is dormant in most of us? I say, old fellow, I wish +I hadn't looked at that book of Hamar's. Do you know, directly I took it +up, an extraordinary sensation of cunning came over me; and I declare, +when I put it down, I felt it would take very little to make me a +criminal!"</p> + +<p>"We're both criminals now—in the eyes of the law—anyway!" Curtis +said. "And now we've got so far there's no alternative but to go on! +It's easier for a hundred camels to pass through the eye of a needle +than for a clerk to get work, that's a fact. The markets are hopelessly +overstocked—no one wants us! No one helps us! No one even thinks about +us. The labouring man gets pity and cents galore—we get +nothing!—nothing but rotten pay whilst we work, and when we're out of +work, dosshouses or kerbstones. D—n clerks, I say. D—n everything! +There's no justice in creation—there's no justice in anything—and the +only people who prate of it are those who have never known what it is to +want. Say, when shall we take the next lot?"</p> + +<p>"When we're obliged, not before!" Kelson said. "Or rather, you do as you +like—and I'll do the same."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not going to commit suicide anyhow," Curtis sneered. "We +haven't the money to buy poison—and I've no mind to drown myself or cut +my throat—they're too painful! If we don't go on doing what we've done +to-night, what are we going to do?"</p> + +<p>"Trust to luck," Kelson sighed.</p> + +<p>"All right—you trust to luck—but I won't trust any more in Providence, +and that's a fact," Curtis retorted. "We've been done enough. Now I'm +for doing other people. Good-night."</p> + +<p>He tumbled into the makeshift bed as he spoke; and in a few minutes, +worn out after the unwonted exertions of the evening, both men were fast +asleep.</p> + +<p>They were at breakfast next morning—real <i>déjeuner à la +carte</i>—sausages, bread, water—and they were doing ample justice to it, +when some one rapped at the door. For a few seconds there was silence. +Their hearts stood still. Had they been followed, after all? Was it the +police? Some one spoke—and they breathed again. It was Hamar.</p> + +<p>"This looks like starving, I must say!" Hamar exclaimed, as he sniffed +his way into the room and sat on the bed. "Why, from what you fellows +told me last night I thought you were cleared out. And here you are, +stuffing like roosters! You look a bit surprised to see me, but you'll +look more surprised, I reckon, when I tell you what brings me here. You +remember that book?"</p> + +<p>Kelson and Curtis nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well," Hamar went on. "I read it after you left last night, and I've +come to the conclusion that there's something in it that may be of use +to us."</p> + +<p>"Us!" Curtis ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Us!" Hamar mimicked. "It contains full particulars of how we can +get in touch with certain Occult Powers—that can give us money or +anything else we want!"</p> + +<p>"Rot, of course!" Curtis said.</p> + +<p>"You say that now. But, listen to me," Hamar replied. "Since I've read +that book, I believe there's a lot more in Occultism than people +imagine. You may recollect the name of the author of the book—Thomas +Maitland? Well! to begin with, he impresses me as being truthful; and he +not only believed in Magic but he practised it. If he hadn't gone into +details I shouldn't think anything of it, but he's so darned thorough, +and tells you exactly what you've got to do to get in touch with the +Occult Powers and to practise sorcery. He learned it all from that old +MS. he found, written by an Atlantean; and the Atlanteans, he says, were +adepts in every form of Occultism. I tell you, this chap himself +scoffed at it at first; and it was more out of curiosity, he says, than +because he was convinced, that he began to experiment. He afterwards +came to the conclusion that the Atlanteans were no fools. What they had +written about the Occult was absolutely correct—there was another +world, and it was possible to get in touch with it. Now, if Thomas +Maitland was able to practise sorcery, why can't we? There was a gap of +close on twenty thousand years between his time and that of Atlantis, +and there's not much more than two hundred years between his day and +ours. But, of course, if you're going to pooh-pooh the whole thing I +won't trouble to tell you any more!"</p> + +<p>"Well, Leon," Kelson ejaculated, "magic and sorcery do seem a trifle out +of date, don't they? Could any one look out of the window at what is +going on in the streets below, and at the same time believe in fairies +and hobgoblins? Still the book made a bit of an impression on me, so +that I'm inclined to agree with you. Anyway, go ahead! Ed is agreeable, +aren't you, Ed?"</p> + +<p>Curtis gave a sulky nod. "I'm not averse to anything that may put us in +the way of a livelihood," he said.</p> + +<p>Hamar, somewhat appeased, briefly informed them of the tests and other +preliminaries necessary for the acquirement of the Black Art, and +without more ado proposed that they—the three of them—should form a +Syndicate and call it the Sorcery Company Limited. "To begin with," he +said, "we might sell tricks and spells, and later on tackle something +more subtle. Why, we could soon knock all the jugglers and doctors on +the head—and make a huge fortune."</p> + +<p>"That is to say if it isn't all humbug!" Curtis observed.</p> + +<p>"Well—do you or don't you think it worth trying?" Hamar cut in. "You +call me a Jew—but Jews, you know, have a tolerably cool head, and a +keen faculty for business. They don't touch anything unless it is pretty +certain to bring them in money. Will you try?"</p> + +<p>"Y-e-s!" Curtis said slowly; "I'll try."</p> + +<p>"And you, Matt?" Hamar queried. "We must have three."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind trying," Kelson replied. "I expect it will be only a try."</p> + +<p>"That settles it, then!" Hamar cried. "Now, we'll get to business. To +begin with we're all wholly occupied with things of this world—money +chiefly!"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes music!" Curtis said sententiously.</p> + +<p>"And sometimes girls," Kelson joined in. "Music's a pose on Ed's part. I +don't believe he really cares a bit for it. He's far too material."</p> + +<p>"Just what I want him to be!" Hamar laughed. "Girls are material enough +too—especially when you take them out to supper. Anyhow, money is our +first consideration, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>To this there was general assent.</p> + +<p>"The preliminary requirement is fixed then," Hamar said. "Now for the +week of wild oats! Lying, stealing, cheating—anything to counteract the +code of Moses! Let's take them in turn. Lying won't trouble us much. +Every one lies. Lying is the stock-in-trade of doctors, lawyers, sky +pilots, storekeepers—"</p> + +<p>"And dentists!" Curtis chimed in.</p> + +<p>"And shop girls!" Kelson added.</p> + +<p>"All women—rich as well as poor!" Hamar went on. "Lying is woman's +birthright. She lies about her age, her looks, her clothes—everything. +With a lie she sends callers away, and when she is in the mood, +entertains them with lies. Women are born liars, but they are not the +only liars. In these days of keen competition every one lies—every +editor, publisher, undertaker, piano-tuner, dustman—they couldn't live +if they didn't. Moreover lying is natural to us all. Every child lies as +soon as it can speak; and education merely teaches him to lie the more +effectually. Lying comes just as natural as sweating—"</p> + +<p>"Or kissing," Kelson interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Or any of the other so-called vices," Hamar continued. "So we can +manage that all right. As to cheating—having nothing to cheat +with—according to instructions we've got to keep in with each other, so +present company is excepted—we must pass over that. Now—how about +thieving!"</p> + +<p>"Never done any yet, so can't say," Curtis exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Nor I either," Kelson put in rather hurriedly.</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't suppose you had!" Hamar laughed; "though, after all, +more than half the world does thieve—all employers steal labour from +their employés, all tradesmen steal a profit—the wholesale man from the +middleman—the middleman from the retailer. Every Government thieves. +Look at England—righteous England! At one time or another she has +stolen land in every part of the world. But theft is an ugly word. When +statesmen steal it's called diplomacy, when the rich steal it's called +kleptomania or business, and it's only when the poor steal that stealing +is termed theft. We who have every excuse—we who are starving—will be +content with—that is to say—we will only take—just enough to keep us +alive—a few lumps of sugar, a handful of raisins, or a loaf of bread. +How about that?"</p> + +<p>"I might manage that," Curtis said. "I might—but I don't want to get +caught."</p> + +<p>"And you, Matt?"</p> + +<p>"I don't mind stealing food so much," Kelson said. "In the face of so +much wealth—and waste too—it seems a bigger sin to starve than to +steal a loaf of bread."</p> + +<p>"The lying and stealing are fixed then," Hamar laughed. "What you have +to do, too, is to make the most of every opportunity you can find of +doing people—present company excepted—bad turns."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how—in our present condition—we can do any one much +harm," Curtis remarked. "We haven't even the means to buy a tin sword, +let alone a bomb or pistol. If we wish them ill, perhaps, that will do +instead."</p> + +<p>"Possibly—but don't be such an ass as to wish any one any good!" Hamar +said. "Do your best to carry out the injunctions I have given you, and +we will meet here, this day week, to discuss the tests."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV" />CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE TESTS</h3> + + +<p>Seven days later, Hamar again knocked at Curtis's and Kelson's door and +walked in. A faint sigh of relief escaped him.</p> + +<p>"I see we are all right so far," he said. "I wondered whether I should +find you both flown, or lying stretched in the icy hands of death. Have +you experimented?"</p> + +<p>"We have," Curtis said. "We've done our best. In what way, we prefer not +to say."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps there is no need," Hamar replied, eyeing the mantelshelf which +bore ample testimony to a full larder, and glancing at Curtis's feet +which were encased in a pair of new and very shiny boots. (A handsome +overcoat that was hanging on the door also attracted his attention; but +that he had seen before, and concluded that it had been there on the +occasion of his last visit.) "But you had better dry up now, Ed," he +continued somewhat caustically, "or there'll be no chance of forming the +Sorcery Society; it will be dissolved before it's started. There's no +need to ask if you've tried to carry out instructions as to thoughts, I +see it—in your faces. I could never have believed one experimental week +in badness would have made such a difference to your looks."</p> + +<p>"You told us to try hard!" Kelson murmured, "and naturally we did. I +reckon you've done the same by your expression. I should hardly have +known you."</p> + +<p>"It shows pretty clearly," Curtis said, "what a lot of bad is latent in +most people; and that the right circumstances only are needed to bring +it out. Starvation, for instance, is calculated to bring out the evil in +any one—no matter whom. But what puzzles me, is how we have escaped +being caught!"</p> + +<p>"That's a good sign," Hamar said. "It bears out what is written in the +book. If you give your whole mind to doing wrong during this trial week +you'll meet with no mishap. But you must be heart and soul in it. Hunger +made us—hunger has been our friend."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" Curtis said.</p> + +<p>"Why," Hamar replied, "if we hadn't been well-nigh starving we shouldn't +have been able to carry out the instructions quite so thoroughly."</p> + +<p>"Have you, too, stolen?" Curtis queried.</p> + +<p>"I have certainly appropriated a few necessaries," Hamar said shortly, +"but I mean to stop now. We have higher game to fly at. Now, with regard +to the tests. I have not been idle I can assure you. I have secured all +the requisites. The mirror and black cat I—well, er—to use a +conventionalism that comes in rather handy—the mirror and cat—I picked +up. The skull I borrowed from a medical I know—the moth—er—from some +one's private collection—and the elderberries, hemlock and chemicals I +obtained from a drug store man in Battery Street with whom I used to +deal. The moon will be full to-night so that we may as well begin. Will +you come round to my room at eleven-thirty?"</p> + +<p>They promised; and Hamar, as he took his departure, again glanced at +the handsome fur coat hanging on the door.</p> + +<p>He was hardly out of hearing when Curtis looked across at Kelson. "Do +you think he recognised it!" he whispered. "You may bet he did, and he +had only just stolen it himself! However, it's his own fault. He told us +to lie and steal, and we've done his bidding."</p> + +<p>"We have indeed!" Kelson sighed; "at least you have. For my part I'd +rather be content with food!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I needed clothes just as much as food!" Curtis snarled. "If I +went about naked I should only be sent to prison—that's the law. It +punishes you for taking clothes, and it punishes you for going without +them. There's logic for you!"</p> + +<p>Curtis and Kelson spent the rest of the day indoors; and at night +sallied forth to Hamar's.</p> + +<p>The solitary attic—if one could thus designate a space of about three +square feet—which comprised Hamar's lodging—had the advantage of being +situated in the top storey of a skyscraper—at least a skyscraper for +that part of the city. From its window could be seen, high above the +serried ranks of chimney-pots on the opposite side of the street, those +two newly erected buildings: William Carman's chewing gum factory in +Hearnes Street, and Mark Goddard's eight-storied private residence in +Van Ness Avenue; and, as if this were not enough architectural grace for +the eye to dwell on, glimmering away to the right was the needle-like +spire of Moss Bates's devil-dodging establishment in Branman Street; +whilst, just behind it, in saucy mocking impudence, peeped out the +gilded roof of the Knee Brothers' recently erected Cinematograph Palace.</p> + +<p>All this and more—much more—was to be seen from Hamar's outlook, and +all for the sum of one dollar and a half per week. When Curtis and +Kelson entered, the room was aglow with moonlight, and Hamar and the +black cat were stealthily regarding one another from opposite corners of +the room. From far away—from somewhere in the very base of the +building, came the dull echo of a shout, succeeded by the violent +slamming of a door; whilst from outside, from one of the many deserted +thoroughfares below, rose the frightened cry of a fugitive woman. +Otherwise all was comparatively still.</p> + +<p>"You're a bit early!" was Hamar's greeting, "but better that than late. +Everything is ready, and all we've got to do is to wait till twelve. Sit +down."</p> + +<p>They did as they were bid. Presently the cat, forsaking its sanctuary, +and ignoring Curtis's solicitations, glided across the floor, and +climbing on to Kelson's knee, refused to budge. The trio sat in silence +till a few minutes before midnight, when Hamar rose, and, selecting a +spot where the moonbeams lay thickest, placed thereon the tub of water, +in which—with its face uppermost—he proceeded to float a small mirror, +set in a cheap wooden frame. He then calmly produced a pocket knife.</p> + +<p>"What's that for?" Kelson inquired nervously.</p> + +<p>"Blood!" Hamar responded. "One of us must spare three drops. The +conditions demand it—and after all the ham and sausages you two have +eaten I think one of you can spare it best. Which of you shall it be? +Come, there's no time to lose!"</p> + +<p>"Matt has more blood than I have!" Curtis growled; "but why not the +cat?"</p> + +<p>"It would spoil our chances with it for the other experiment," Hamar +said. "It's a sulky, cross-grained brute, and would give us no end of +trouble. Besides it can bite. Look here, let's draw lots!"</p> + +<p>Curtis and Kelson were inclined to demur; but the proposed method was so +in accordance with custom that there really did not seem any feasible +objection to raise to it. Accordingly lots were drawn—and Hamar himself +was the victim. Curtis laughed coarsely, and Kelson hid his smiles in +the cat's coat. A neighbouring clock now began to strike twelve.</p> + +<p>"Look alive, Leon!" Curtis cried, nudging Kelson's elbow. "Look alive or +it will be too late. The Unknown is mighty particular to a few seconds. +Let me operate on you. I've always fancied I was born to use the +knife—that I've really missed my vocation. You needn't be +afraid—there's no artery in the palm of your hand—you won't bleed to +death."</p> + +<p>Thus goaded, Hamar pricked away nervously at his hand, and, after sundry +efforts, at last succeeded in drawing blood; three drops of which he +very carefully let fall in the tub.</p> + +<p>"I wish it was light so that we could see it," Curtis whispered in +Kelson's ear. "I believe Jews have different coloured blood to other +people."</p> + +<p>Though Kelson was apprehensive, Hamar did not appear to have heard; his +whole attention was riveted on the mirror, on the face of which was a +reflection of the moon.</p> + +<p>"I knew nothing would happen," Curtis cried, "you had better wipe your +knife or you'll be arrested for severing some one's jugular. Hulloa! +what's up with the cat?"</p> + +<p>Hamar was about to tell him to be quiet when Kelson caught his arm. +"Look, Leon! Look! What's the brute doing? Is it mad?" Kelson gasped.</p> + +<p>Hamar turned his head—and there crouching on the floor, in the +moonlight, was the cat, its hair bristling on end and its green eyes +ablaze with an expression which held all three men speechless. When they +were at last able to avert their eyes a fresh surprise awaited them; the +reflection of the moon in the mirror was red—not an ordinary red—not +merely a colour—but red with a lurid luminosity that vibrated with +life—with a life that all three men at once recognized as emanating +from nothing physical—from nothing good.</p> + +<p>It vanished suddenly, quite as suddenly as it had come; and the +reflection of the moon was once again only a reflection—a white, placid +sphere.</p> + +<p>For some seconds no one spoke. Hamar was the first to break the silence. +"Well!" he exclaimed, drawing a long breath; "what do you think of +that!"</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you weren't faking?" Curtis said.</p> + +<p>"I swear I wasn't," Hamar replied; "besides could any one produce a +thing like THAT? The cat didn't think it was a fake—it knew what it was +right enough. Besides, why are your teeth chattering?"</p> + +<p>"Why are yours?" Curtis retorted; "why are Matt's?"</p> + +<p>"Shall we try the second?" Hamar asked.</p> + +<p>"No!" Kelson and Curtis said in chorus. "No! We've had enough for one +night. We'll be off!"</p> + +<p>"I think I'll come with you," Hamar said, "after what has happened I +don't quite relish sleeping here alone—or rather with that cat. +Hi—Satan, where are you?"</p> + +<p>Satan was not visible. It had probably hidden under the bed, but as no +one cared to look, its whereabouts remained undiscovered.</p> + +<p>With the coming of the sun, the terrors of the night wore off, and the +trio separated. Hamar would on no account accept his friends' invitation +to breakfast on the sausages and ham they had run such risks in +procuring; he made hasty tracks for a snug restaurant in Bolter's +Street, where he had a sumptuous repast for a dollar; and then slunk +home.</p> + +<p>Shortly before midnight all three met again, and at once commenced +preparations for the second test. The question arose as to who should +hold Satan. They all had vivid recollections of the cat's behaviour the +previous night; consequently no one was anxious to officiate. Finally +they drew lots, and fate settled on Curtis. An exciting chase now began. +Satan, demonstrating his resentment of their treatment of him, at every +turn, knocked over a water bottle, ripped the skin of Kelson's knuckles, +and made his teeth meet in the fleshy part of Curtis's thumb.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa! what are you up to?" Curtis savagely demanded, as Hamar thrust +a cup at him.</p> + +<p>"Hold your hand over it!" Hamar said sharply. "Don't suck it! We want +blood for this test and for the next."</p> + +<p>"I wish the brute had bitten you!" Curtis snarled; "then, perhaps, you +wouldn't be so precious keen on economics. You did right to name it +Satan! and if it doesn't attract devils nothing will. I'm not going to +touch it again. See if you can hold the beast by yourself, Matt! It +seems to be less afraid of you than of either of us."</p> + +<p>Kelson called out: "Puss!", and the cat at once came to him.</p> + +<p>As it was now striking twelve, Hamar carefully shook three drops of +Curtis's blood from the cup on to Satan's back, while he instructed +Kelson to rub the animal's coat with the palm of the hand. Kelson +cautiously obeyed. There was a loud crackling and a shower of sparks, of +the same lurid red colour as the reflection in the mirror on the +previous night, flew out into the enveloping darkness.</p> + +<p>"That will do!" Hamar observed quietly. "Test two is satisfactorily +accomplished. We must be riper for Hell than we imagined. There is no +need for you fellows to stay any longer. I can manage the third test +alone."</p> + +<p>As soon as his colleagues had gone and he felt assured they were no +longer within hearing, Hamar took a saucer from the mantelshelf, filled +it half full of milk, and poured into it some colourless liquid out of a +tiny phial labelled poison.</p> + +<p>"Here pussy," he called out, softly. "Pretty pussy, come and have your +supper! Pussy!"</p> + +<p>And Satan, unable to resist the tempting sight of the milk, crept out of +his hiding-place and quite unsuspiciously dipped his tongue into the +saucer and lapped. Hamar, in the meanwhile went to a box at the foot of +the bed and produced a sack. Then he slipped on his boots and coat, and +opening the door of a cupboard near the head of the bed fetched out a +small spade.</p> + +<p>He was now ready; and—so was pussy.</p> + +<p>"That paves the way for test six," Hamar observed; "no one can say I am +a waster—I make use of everything—and every one;" and so saying he +tumbled the cat into the sack and hurried out.</p> + +<p>Some half-hour later he had returned to his room, and was busily engaged +making preparations for test three. Letting a drop of Curtis's blood +fall on the skull, he put the latter under his pillow, and retired to +rest. He had slept for little over an hour, when he awoke with a start. +The muffled sound of hammering—as of nails in a coffin—was going on +all around him, and occasionally it seemed to him that something big and +heavy stalked across the floor; but in spite of the fact that the room +was illuminated with a red glow—the same lurid red as had appeared in +tests one and two—nothing was to be seen. The phenomena lasted five or +six minutes and then everything was again normal. Hamar was so terrified +that he lay with his head under the bedclothes till morning, and vowed +nothing on earth would persuade him to sleep in that room again. But +sunlight soon restored his courage, and by the evening he was quite +eager to go on with the next test. He had some difficulty in persuading +any one to allow him the use of an oven for so pernicious a mixture as +nightshade and hemlock; but at last he over-ruled the objections of some +good-natured woman—the mother of one of the office boys at his former +employer's—and test four proved as successful as the previous three. +The preliminary part of test five was also successfully accomplished; +but in carrying out the second part of it, Hamar all but met with +disaster. He was walking along Kearney Street with the specially +prepared hazel twig carefully concealed beneath his coat, when just +opposite Saddler's jewelry store, he came across a child standing by +itself. The nearest person being some fifty yards away, and no policeman +within sight, Hamar concluded this was too good an opportunity to be +lost. He whipped out the twig, and held it, in the manner prescribed, in +front of the child. The effect was instantaneous. The child turned +white as death, its eyes bulged with terror, and opening its mouth to +its full extent it commenced to shriek and yell. Then it fell on the +pavement; and clutching and clawing the air, and foaming at the mouth +rolled over and over. People from every quarter flocked to the spot, and +judging Hamar, from his proximity to the child, to be responsible for +its condition, shouted for the police. The latter, however, arrived too +late. Hamar, whose presence of mind had only left him for the moment +seeing a bicycle leaning against a store door, jumped on it and soon put +a respectable distance between himself and the crowd.</p> + +<p>That night the trio met once more in Hamar's room for test six. There +was a wood fire in the grate, and on it a tin vessel containing the +prescribed ingredients. Somewhat unpleasantly conspicuous amongst these +ingredients were the death's-head moth, and the soil from Satan's grave. +As soon as the mixture had been heated three hours, the vessel was +removed, the fire extinguished, and the room made absolutely dark. Then +the three sat close together and waited.</p> + +<p>On the stroke of two every article in the room began to rattle, whilst +out of the tin vessel flew a blood red moth. After circling three times +round each of the sitter's heads, the moth flew back again into the +vessel, and the silence that ensued was followed by a soft tapping at +the window, and the appearance of something, that resembled a big tube +filled with a thick, pale blue fluid, made up of a mass of distinct +veins. This tube floated into the room, and passing close to the three +sitters, who involuntarily shrank away from it, disappeared in the wall, +behind them. A loud crack as if the branch of a tree had broken, +terminated the phenomena—the room again becoming pitch dark. But the +three sitters, although they knew there would be no further +manifestation that night, were too terrified to move. They remained +huddled together in the same spot till the morning was well advanced.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V" />CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE INITIATION</h3> + + +<p>San Francisco possesses one great advantage—you can easily get out of +it. Leaving the pan-handle of the Park behind one, and following the +turn of the cars, one passes through a pretty valley, green and fair as +any garden, and dotted with small houses. An old cemetery lies to one +side of it; where unconventional inscriptions and queer epitaphs can be +traced on the half-buried stones, covered with a tangle of vines and +weeds. Still moving forward one reaches Olympus, and climbing to its +heights, one sees away below, in the far distance, the Coast Range—like +a rampart of strength; the blue waters of the bay, sparkling and dancing +in the sunlight—steamers flashing their path on its bosom; and tiny +white specks scudding in the breeze. Below is the city, its houses, +small, and closed in, like toy villages in Christmas boxes; whilst the +slopes around are green with fresh grass; and here and there are thick +clusters of eucalyptus and pines. The ocean is partly hidden from view +by a peak, which rises directly to the west, and is separated from that +on which one is standing by a deep and thickly wooded valley. +Descending, by means of a narrow winding path, one passes through dense +clumps of hickory, chestnut, mountain ash, and walnut trees, whose +strong lateral branches afford ample protection from the sun, and at the +same time furnish playgrounds to innumerable bright-eyed squirrels. +Further down one comes upon gentle elms, succeeded by sassafras and +locust—these, in their turn, succeeded by the softer linden, red bud, +catalpa, and maple; and at the foot of the declivity, and in the bottom +of the valley, wild shrubbery, interspersed with silver willows, and +white poplars. Still following the path down the vale, in a southerly +direction, one, at length, finds oneself in an amphitheatre, shut in on +all sides by trees and bushes of a still greater variety; here and +there, a gigantic and much begnarled oak; here, a triple-stemmed tulip +tree of some eighty feet in height, its glossy, vivid green leaves and +profuse blossoms presenting a picture of unsurpassed beauty and +splendour; there, equally beautiful, though in marked contrast, a tall +and slender silver birch. The floor of the amphitheatre is, for the most +part, grass—soft, thick, velvety and miraculously green. The silence is +such as makes it wholly inconceivable, that so vast a city as San +Francisco can be little over six miles distant. Though one may strain +one's ears to the utmost, nothing is to be heard but the occasional +tinkling of a cow-bell, the lowing of cattle and the desultory note of +birds. It is the perfect quiet which Nature alone can give; and it so +impressed Hamar that he at once decided that this was the very spot +essential for the ceremony of initiation into the Black Art.</p> + +<p>The locality selected, the night had next to be chosen—and the +conditions demanding that on the night of the initiation there must be a +new moon, cusp of seventh house, and conjoined with Saturn, in +opposition to Jupiter,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16" /><a href="#Footnote_16_16"><sup>[16]</sup></a> Hamar and his confederates had to wait +exactly three weeks, from the date of the conclusion of the tests, +before they could proceed.</p> + +<p>Shortly before midnight, on the spot already described, Hamar, Curtis +and Kelson met; and, after searching thoroughly amongst the trees and +bushes in the vicinity of the amphitheatre to make sure no one was in +hiding, they commenced operations.</p> + +<p>On a perfectly level piece of ground a circle of seven feet radius was +clearly defined. This circle was cut into seven sectors; and an inner +circle from the same centre and with a radius of six feet was next +drawn. In each part of the sectors, between the circumferences of the +first and second circle, were inscribed, in chalk, the names of the +seven principal vices (according to Atlantean ideas), and the seven most +malignant diseases. Within the second circle, and using the same centre, +was drawn a third circle, of five feet in radius, and in each part of +the sectors, between the circumferences of the second and third circles, +were written the names of the seven types of spirits most antagonistic +to man's moral progress.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17" /><a href="#Footnote_17_17"><sup>[17]</sup></a></p> + +<p>Hamar had brought with him a sack—the same he had used to transport +Satan's corpse—and from out of it he produced a half-starved tabby, +that obviously could harm no one, owing to the fact that its head was +tied up in a muslin bag and its four legs strapped together.</p> + +<p>"It's a good thing there is no member of the Society for the Prevention +of Cruelty to Animals anywhere near," Kelson exclaimed, eyeing Hamar +resentfully. "Wouldn't a mouse or a rat have done as well?"</p> + +<p>"No!" Hamar ejaculated, depositing the brute with a plump on the ground; +"the conditions are that the animal sacrificed must be a cat. I got the +poorest specimen I could find, for I dislike butchering just as much as +you do."</p> + +<p>"How are you going to do it?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>Hamar pointed to a chopper. "The conditions say with steel," he said; +"only with steel, and I should bungle with a knife. You must look the +other way. Now help me with the fire."</p> + +<p>Besides the cat, the sack contained a dozen or so bundles of faggots, +well steeped in paraffin, several blocks of wood, a tripod, and a big +tin saucepan.</p> + +<p>With the wood, a fire was soon kindled in the centre of the circle; and +the tripod placed over it. Two pints of spring water were then poured +into the saucepan, and to this were added 1 ounce of oxalic acid, 1 +ounce of verdigris, 1½ ounces of hemlock leaves, ½ ounce of +henbane, ¾ ounce of saffron, 2 ounces of aloes, 3 drachms of opium, 1 +ounce of mandrake-root, 5 drachms of salanum, 7 drachms of poppy-seed, +½ ounce of assafœtida, and ½ ounce of parsley. As soon as the +saucepan containing these ingredients began to boil Hamar threw into it +two adders' heads, three toads and a centipede.</p> + +<p>"Where on earth did you get all those horrors?" Curtis asked, shrinking +away from the bag which had held them.</p> + +<p>"Here," Hamar said laconically. "It's extraordinary what a lot of nasty +things there are amid so much apparent beauty. I say apparent, because +Nature is a champion faker. You have only to rake about in these bushes +and you'll find snakes galore, whilst under pretty nearly every stone +are centipedes. Like both of you, who never by any chance poke your +noses outside the city, I fancied snakes and centipedes were confined to +the prairies. But I know better now. Besides, where do you think I found +the toads? Why, in the cellars under Meidlers'!"</p> + +<p>"What, our late governor's?" Kelson cried.</p> + +<p>Hamar nodded. "Yes!" he said; "under the very spot where we used to sit. +The water's a foot deep in that cellar, and if there are as many toads +in the cellars of the other houses in the block, then Sacramento Street +has a corner in them. I'm going to be executioner now, so look the other +way, Matt!"</p> + +<p>Kelson needed no second bidding; and sticking his fingers in his ears, +walked to some little distance. When Hamar called him back, the deed was +accomplished—the conditions prescribed in the rites had been +observed—the tabby was in the saucepan on the fire, and its blood had +been besprinkled on each of the seven sectors of the circle.</p> + +<p>"We must now take our seats on the ground," Hamar said; "I'd better be +in the centre—you, Matt, on the right, and you, Ed, on the +left—allowing three clear feet between us."</p> + +<p>Hamar showed them how to sit—with legs crossed and arms folded.</p> + +<p>For some minutes no one spoke. The wind rustled through the bushes and +an owl hooted. Kelson, feeling the night air cold, drew his overcoat +tightly around and the others followed suit. Then Curtis said—</p> + +<p>"Do you really think there's anything in it, Leon? Aren't we fools to go +on wasting our time like this?"</p> + +<p>To which Hamar replied: "Shut up! You were frightened enough doing the +tests!"</p> + +<p>From afar off, away on the shimmering bosom of the bay came the faint +hooting of a steamer.</p> + +<p>"That's the <i>Oleander</i>!" Kelson murmured.</p> + +<p>"Rot!" Curtis snapped. "How do you know? You can't tell from this +distance. It might be the <i>Daisy</i>, or the <i>San Marie</i>, or any other +ship."</p> + +<p>Kelson made no reply; Hamar blew his nose, and once again there was +silence.</p> + +<p>The effect of the moonlight had now become weird. From the trees and +bushes crept legions of tall, gaunt shadows, and whilst some of these +were explicable, there were others that certainly had no apparent +counterparts in any of the natural objects around them. Even Curtis, in +spite of his scoffing, showed no inclination to examine them too +closely; but kept his face resolutely turned to the more cheery light of +the fire. The soft, cool, sweet-scented air gradually acted as an +anæsthetic, and Kelson and Curtis were almost asleep, when Hamar's voice +recalled them sharply to themselves.</p> + +<p>"It's just two!" he said. "Sit tight and listen while I repeat the +incantation, and for goodness' sake keep cool if anything happens. +Remember we are here with an object—namely—to get everything we can +out of the Other World."</p> + +<p>"Trust you for that!" Curtis sneered; "but all the same nothing's going +to happen."</p> + +<p>"I am not sure of that," Hamar said, and after a brief pause began to +repeat these words<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18" /><a href="#Footnote_18_18"><sup>[18]</sup></a>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Morbas from the mountains,<br /></span> +<span>Where flow malignant fountains.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!<br /></span> +<span>Vampires from the passes,<br /></span> +<span>Where grow blood-sucking grasses,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!<br /></span> +<span>Vice Elementals pretty<br /></span> +<span>Give ear unto our ditty<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!<br /></span> +<span>Planetians, forms so fearful,<br /></span> +<span>We inform you, eager, tearful,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!<br /></span> +<span>Clanogrians, things of sorrow.<br /></span> +<span>Postpone not till to-morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!<br /></span> +<span>Barrowvians, shades seclusive,<br /></span> +<span>Be not to us exclusive,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!<br /></span> +<span>Earthbound spirits of the Dead<br /></span> +<span>Approach with grim and noiseless tread—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We are ready for you—Come!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He then got up and, going to the fire, sprinkled over the flames six +drachms of belladonna, three drachms of drosera and one ounce of nux +vomica; using in each case his left hand. Returning to his former +position he drew with the forefinger of his left hand, on the ground, +the outline of a club-foot; a hand with the fingers clenched and a long +pointed thumb standing upright; and a bat. At his request Kelson and +Curtis carefully imitated the devices, each in the space allotted to +him.</p> + +<p>Hamar then cried: "Creastie havoonen balababoo!"; which Hamar explained +was Atlantean for "devil of the damned appear!"</p> + +<p>"He won't!" Curtis muttered, "because he doesn't exist. There are +devils—Meidler Brothers were devils—but there is no one devil! It's +all——" He suddenly stopped and an intense hush fell upon them all.</p> + +<p>A cloud obscured the moon, the fire burned dim, and the gloom of the +amphitheatre thickened till the men lost sight of each other. A cold air +then rose from the ground and fanned their nostrils. Something flew past +their heads with an ominous wail; whilst from the direction of the fire +came a hollow groan.</p> + +<p>"The advent of the Unknown," Hamar murmured, "shall be heralded in by +the shrieking of an owl, the groaning of the mandrake—there is mandrake +in the saucepan—the croaking of a toad—we haven't had that yet!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, there it is!" Kelson whispered—and whilst he was speaking there +came a dismal croak, croak, and the swaying and crying of an +ash—"Hush!"</p> + +<p>They listened—and all three distinctly heard the swishing of a slender +tree trunk as it hissed backwards and forwards. Then, a cry so horrid, +harsh and piercing that even the sceptical, sneering Curtis gave vent to +an expression of fear. Again a hush, and increasing darkness and cold. +Kelson called out—</p> + +<p>"Don't do that, Leon."</p> + +<p>"I'm not doing anything," Hamar said testily. "Pull yourself together." +A moment later he said to Curtis, "It's you, Curtis. Shut up. This is no +time for monkeying."</p> + +<p>"You are both either mad or dreaming," Curtis replied. "I haven't +stirred from my seat. Hulloa! What's that? What's that, Leon? +There—over there! Look!"</p> + +<p>As Curtis spoke they all three became conscious of living things around +them—things that moved about, silently and surreptitiously and conveyed +the impression of mockery. The hills, the valley, the trees were full of +it—the whole place teemed with it—teemed with silent, subtle, stealthy +mockery. The senses of the three men were now keenly alive, but a dead +weight hung upon their limbs and rendered them useless. And as they +stared into the gloom, in sickly fear, the firelight flickered and they +saw shadows, such as the moon, when low in the heaven, might fashion +from the figure of a man; but yet they were shadows neither of man, nor +God, nor of any familiar thing. They were dark, vague, formless and +indefinite, and they quivered—quivered with a quivering that suggested +mockery.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the shadows disappeared; the flickering of the flames ceased; +and in the place of the fire appeared a seething, writhing mass of what +looked like white luminous snakes. And in the midst of this mass sprang +up a cylindrical form, which grew and grew until it attained a height of +ten or twelve feet, when it remained stationary and threw out branches. +And the three men now saw it was a tree—a tree with a sleek, pulpy, +semi-transparent, perspiring trunk full of a thick, white, vibrating, +luminous fluid; and that it was laden with a fruit, in shape resembling +an apple, but of the same hue and material as the trunk. Spread out on +the ground around it, were its roots, twitching and palpitating with +repulsive life, and bare with a bareness that shocked the senses. It was +so utterly and inconceivably unlike what Hamar, Curtis and Kelson had +imagined the Unknown—and yet, withal, so monstrous (not merely in its +shape but in its suggestions), and so vividly real and livid, that they +were not merely terrified—they were stricken with a terror that +rendered them dumb and helpless. And as they looked at it, from out the +trunk, shot an enormous thing—white and glistening, and fashioned like +a human tongue. And after pointing derisively at them, it withdrew; +whereupon all the fruit shook, as if convulsed with unseemly laughter. +They then saw between the foremost branches of the tree a big eye. The +white of it was thick and pasty, the iris spongy in texture, and the +pupil bulging with a lurid light. It stared at them with a steady +stare—insolent and quizzical. Hamar and his friends stared back at it +in fascinated horror, and would have continued staring at it +indefinitely, had not Hamar's mercenary instincts come to their rescue. +He recollected that time was pressing, and that unless he got into +communication with the strange thing at once, according to the book, it +would vanish—and he might never be able to get in touch with it again. +Thus egged on, he made a great effort to regain his courage, and at +length succeeded in forcing himself to speak. Though his voice was weak +and shaking he managed to pronounce the prescribed mode of address, +viz.:—"Bara phonen etek mo," which being interpreted is, "Spirit from +the Unknown, give ear to me." He then explained their earnest desire to +pay homage to the Supernatural, and to be initiated into the mysteries +of the Black Art. When Hamar had concluded his address, the +anticipations of the three as to how it would be answered, or whether it +would be answered at all—were such that they were forced to hold their +breath almost to the point of suffocation. If the Thing <i>could</i> speak +what would its voice be like? The seconds passed, and they were +beginning to prepare themselves for disappointment, when suddenly across +the intervening space separating them from the Unknown, the reply +came—came in soft, silky, lisping tones—human and yet not human, novel +and yet in some way—a way that defied analysis—familiar. Strange to +say, they all three felt that this familiarity belonged to a far back +period of their existence, no less than to a more modern one—to a +period, in fact, to which they could affix no date. And, although a +perfect unity of expression suggested that the utterance of the Thing +was the utterance of one being only, a certain variation in its tones, a +rising and falling from syllable to syllable, led them to infer that the +voice was not the voice of one but of many.</p> + +<p>"You are anxious to acquire knowledge of the Secrets associated with the +Great Atlantean Magic?" the voice lisped.</p> + +<p>"We are!" Hamar stammered, "and we are willing to give our souls in +exchange for them."</p> + +<p>"Souls!" the voice lisped, whilst trunk and branches swayed lightly, and +the air was full of silent merriment. "Souls! you speak in terms you do +not understand. To acquire the secrets of Black Magic, all you have to +do is to agree that during a brief period—a period of a few months, you +will live together in harmony; that you will make use of the powers you +acquire to the detriment of all save yourselves; that you will never +allow your minds to revert to anything spiritual; and—that you will +abstain from—marrying."</p> + +<p>"And if we succeed in carrying out the conditions?" Hamar asked.</p> + +<p class="cs" style="margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;"><a name="ILLUSTRATION2" id="ILLUSTRATION2" /><img src="images/image2.jpg" width="434" height="750" alt="[Illustration: THE INITIATION]" /><br /> +THE INITIATION</p> + +<p>"Then," the voice replied, "you will retain free, untrammelled +possession of your knowledge."</p> + +<p>"For how long?" Curtis queried.</p> + +<p>"For the natural term of your lives—that is to say, for as long as you +would have lived had you never been initiated into the secrets of +magic."</p> + +<p>"And if we fail?"</p> + +<p>"You will pass into the permanent possession of the Unknown."</p> + +<p>"Does that mean we shall die the moment we fail?" Kelson inquired +timidly.</p> + +<p>"Die!" the voice lisped. "Again you speak in terms you do not +understand. You may be sent for."</p> + +<p>"You say—in perfect harmony." Hamar put in. "Does that mean without a +quarrel, however slight?"</p> + +<p>"It means without a quarrel that would lead to separation. The moment +you disunite the compact is broken."</p> + +<p>"What advantages will the secrets bring us?" Hamar inquired. "Can we +gain unlimited wealth?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" the voice replied. "Unlimited wealth and influence."</p> + +<p>"And health?"</p> + +<p>"So long as you fulfil the conditions of the compact you will enjoy +perfect health. Will you, or will you not, pledge yourselves?"</p> + +<p>"I am ready if you fellows are," Hamar whispered.</p> + +<p>"I am!" Curtis cried. "Anything is better than the life we are living at +present."</p> + +<p>"And I, too," Kelson said. "I agree with Ed."</p> + +<p>"Very well then," the voice once more lisped. "Each of you take a fruit +and eat it, and the compact is irrevocably struck. You cannot back out +of it without incurring the consequences already named. Don't be +afraid, step up here and help yourselves—one apiece—mind, no more." +And again it seemed to Hamar, Curtis and Kelson as if the tree and +everything around it was convulsed with silent laughter.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" Hamar cried, somewhat imperatively. "Don't waste time. You've +decided, and besides, remember this affair may turn out trumps. I'll go +first," and walking up to the tree he plucked a fruit and began to eat +it. Curtis and Kelson slowly followed suit.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'm eating a live slug, or a toad," Curtis muttered, with a +retch.</p> + +<p>"And I, too," Kelson whispered. "It's filthy. I shall be sick. If I am, +will it make any difference to the compact, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>What the fruit really tasted like they could never decide. It reminded +them of many things and of nothing. It was sweet yet bitter; it repelled +but at the same time pleased them; it was as perplexing as the voice—as +enigmatical. When they had eaten it they resumed their former positions +on the ground, and the voice once again addressed them.</p> + +<p>"The fruit you have consumed has created in you a fitness to make use of +the powers about to be conferred. You have acquired the faculty of +sorcery—you will be initiated by stages, into the knowledge and +practice of it. These stages, seven in number, will cover the period of +your compact, <i>i. e.</i> twenty-one months, and at the end of every three +months—when a fresh stage is reached—you will receive fresh powers.</p> + +<p>"In the first stage, the stage you are now entering upon, you will +receive the power of divination. You will be told how to detect the +presence of water and all kinds of metals, and how to read people's +thoughts.</p> + +<p>"In the second stage—exactly three months from to-day—you will receive +the gift of second-sight; the power of separating your immaterial from +your material body and projecting it, anywhere you will, on the physical +plane; and, to a large extent, you will be enabled to circumvent +gravity. Thus you will be able to perform all manner of jugglery +tricks—tricks that will set the whole world gaping. Profit by them.</p> + +<p>"In the third stage you will possess the secrets of invisibility; of +walking on the water; of breathing under the water; of taming wild +beasts; and of understanding their language.</p> + +<p>"In the fourth stage you will understand how to inflict all manner of +diseases, and work all sorts of spells; such, for instance, as +bewitching milk, causing people to have fits, bad dreams, etc. You will +also know how to create plagues—plagues of insects, or of any other +noxious thing.</p> + +<p>"In the fifth stage you will possess absolute knowledge of the art of +medicine and be able to cure every ailment.</p> + +<p>"In the sixth stage you will acquire the power of producing vampires and +werwolves from the human being, and of transforming people from the +human to any animal guise.</p> + +<p>"In the seventh and final stage you will be given the complete mastery +of every art and science—including astrology, astronomy, necromancy, +etc.; and for this stage is reserved the greatest power of all—namely, +the complete dominion over woman's will and affections. The powers of +creating life, and of extending life beyond the now natural limit, and +of avoiding accidents, will never be conferred on you. Neither shall you +learn, not at least during your physical existence—who or what we are, +or the secrets of creation.</p> + +<p>"Each successive stage will cancel the preceding one—that is to say, +the powers you have acquired in the first stage will be annulled on your +arriving at the second stage, and so on. But if you carry out your +compact faithfully—that is to say, if at the end of the twenty-one +months you are still united—all the powers you have held hitherto, in +the different stages, temporarily, will return to you and remain in your +possession permanently. Have you anything to say?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" Hamar answered; "I fully understand all you have explained to us +and I like the idea of it immensely. The fear of our coming to any +serious loggerheads and of dissolving partnership doesn't worry me +much—but I must say, it seems very remote—the prospect of gaining such +tremendous powers—powers that will give us practically everything we +want—save youth—"</p> + +<p>"Youth you will never regain," lisped the voice. "And elixirs of life, +surely you must know, are no longer sought after, by beings of the +planet Earth. They are quite out of date. You will, of course, learn the +most efficacious means of making yourselves and other people youthful in +appearance."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but how shall we learn these secrets?" Kelson nerved himself to +ask.</p> + +<p>"They will be revealed to you in various ways—sometimes when asleep. +You will receive preliminary instructions as to divination before this +time to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"And meanwhile, we shall be in want of money," Curtis remarked.</p> + +<p>"No!" the voice replied, "you will not be in want of money. Have you +anything more to ask?"</p> + +<p>No one spoke, and the silence that followed was interrupted by a loud +rustling of the wind. The darkness then lifted; but nothing was to be +seen—nothing save the trees and bushes, moon and stars.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16" /><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> This is a very sinister sign in astrology, denoting the +presence of evil influences of all kinds.—(<i>Author's note.</i>)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17" /><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> According to Atlantean ideas these spirits were:—Vice +Elementals; Morbas (or Disease Elementals); Clanogrians (or malicious +family ghosts, such as Banshees, etc.); Vampires; Barrowvians, <i>i. e.</i> a +grotesque kind of phantasm that frequents places where prehistoric man +or beast has been interred; Planetians, <i>i. e.</i> spirits inimical to +dwellers on this earth that inhabit various of the other planets; and +earthbound spirits of such dead human beings as were mad, imbecile, +cruel and vicious, together with the phantasms of vicious and mad +beasts, and beasts of prey.—(<i>Author's note</i>.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18" /><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> They are a literal translation of the Atlantean by Thos. +Maitland, and are very nearly identified with forms of spirit invocation +used in Egypt, India, Persia, Arabia, and among the Red Indians of North +and South America.—(<i>Author's note</i>.)</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI" />CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>THE FIRST POWER</h3> + + +<p>After their rencontre with the Unknown, Hamar and his companions did not +get back to their respective quarters till the sun was high in the +heavens, and the streets of the city were beginning to vibrate with the +rattle and clatter of traffic.</p> + +<p>"It's all very well—this wonderful compact of ours," Curtis grumbled, +"but I'm deuced hungry, and Matt and I haven't a cent between us. As we +went all that way last night to oblige you, Leon, I think it is only +fair you should stand us treat. I'll bet you have some nickels stowed +away, somewhere, in those pockets of yours—it wouldn't be you if you +hadn't! What do you say, Matt?"</p> + +<p>"I think as you do," Kelson replied. "We've stood by Leon, he should +stand by us. How much have you, Leon?"</p> + +<p>"How much have you?" Curtis echoed, "come, out with it—no jew-jewing +pals for me."</p> + +<p>"I might manage a dollar," Hamar said ruefully, as the prospect of a +good meal all to himself, at his favourite restaurant, faded away. +"Where shall we go?"</p> + +<p>Just then, Kelson, happening to look behind him, saw a young woman of +prepossessing appearance ascending the steps of a dive in Clay Street. +He was instantly attracted, as he always was attracted by a pretty +woman, and something—a kind of intuition he had never had before—told +him that she was a waitress; that she was discontented with her present +situation; that she was engaged to be married to a pen driver at +Hastings & Hastings in Sacramento Street; and that she had a mother, of +over seventy, whom she kept. All this came to Kelson like a flash of +lightning.</p> + +<p>Yielding to an impulse which he did not stay to analyse, he gripped +Hamar and Curtis, each too astonished even to remonstrate, by the arm, +and, dragging them along with him, followed the girl.</p> + +<p>The dive had only just been opened, and was being dusted and swept by +two slatternly women with dago complexions, and voices like hyenas. It +still reeked of stale drink and tobacco.</p> + +<p>"What's the good of coming to a place like this?" Hamar demanded, as +soon as he had freed himself from Kelson's clutches. "We can't get +breakfast here."</p> + +<p>"Matt's mad, that's what's the matter with him," Curtis added in +disgust. "Let's get out."</p> + +<p>He turned to go—then, halted—and stood still. He appeared to be +listening. "What's up with you?" Hamar asked. "Both you fellows are +behaving like lunatics this morning—there's not a pin to choose between +you."</p> + +<p>"They're playing cards, that's all," Curtis said. "Can't you hear them?"</p> + +<p>Hamar shook his head. "Not a sound," he said. "Just look at Matt!"</p> + +<p>While the other two were talking, Kelson had followed the girl to the +bar, and catching her up, just as she entered it, said in a manner that +was peculiar to him—a manner seldom without effect upon girls of his +class—"I beg your pardon, miss, are we too early to be served? +Jerusalem! Haven't I met you somewhere before?"</p> + +<p>The girl looked him square in the eyes and then smiled. "As like as +not," she said. "I go pretty near everywhere! What do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Well!" Kelson soliloquized; "breakfast is what we are particularly +anxious for—but I suppose that is out of the question in a dive!"</p> + +<p>"Then why did you come here?" the girl queried.</p> + +<p>"Because of you! Simply because of you," Kelson replied. "You hypnotized +me!"</p> + +<p>"That being so, then I reckon you can have your breakfast," the girl +laughed, "though we don't provide them as a rule before nine. Indeed, +the management have only just decided—this morning—on providing them +at all."</p> + +<p>"How odd!"</p> + +<p>"Why odd?" the girl questioned, taking off her hat and arranging her +curls before a mirror.</p> + +<p>"Why, that I should have happened to strike the right moment! Had I come +here yesterday it would have been useless. As I said, you hypnotized me. +Evidently fate intended us to meet."</p> + +<p>"Do you believe in fate?" the girl asked, shrugging her shoulders. "I +believe in nothing—least of all in men!"</p> + +<p>"You say so!" Kelson observed, before he knew what he was saying. "And +yet you have just got engaged to one. But you've got a bad attack of the +pip this morning, you have had enough of it here—you want to get +another post."</p> + +<p>The girl ceased doing her hair and eyed him in amazement. "Well!" she +said. "Of all the queer men I've ever met you are the queerest. Are you +a seer?"</p> + +<p>"No!" Hamar observed, suddenly joining in. "He's only very hungry, miss. +Hungry body and soul! hungry all over. And so are we."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, go into the room over there," the girl cried, pointing in +the direction of a half-open door, "and breakfast will be brought you in +half a jiffy."</p> + +<p>"Who's that playing cards?" Curtis asked.</p> + +<p>"How do you know any one is playing cards?" the girl queried with an +incredulous stare. "You can't see through walls, can you?"</p> + +<p>"No! and I'm hanged if I can explain," Curtis said, "I seem to hear +them. There are two—one is called Arnold, and the other Lemon, or some +such name, and they are rehearsing certain card tricks they mean to play +to-night."</p> + +<p>"That's right," the girl said, "two men named Arnold and Lemon are here. +They were playing all last night with two of the clerks in Willows Bank, +in Sacramento Street, and they cleared them out of every cent. You knew +it!"</p> + +<p>"No! I didn't," Curtis growled, "I don't lie for fun, and I'm just as +much in a fog, as to how I know, as you are. Let's have breakfast now, +and we'll look up these two gents afterwards, if they haven't gone."</p> + +<p>"Your friend's a brute, I don't like him," the girl whispered to Kelson. +"Let him lose all he's got—you stay out here."</p> + +<p>"Nothing I should like better," Kelson said, "it's a bargain!"</p> + +<p>The breakfast was so good that they lingered long over it, and the +bar-room had a fair sprinkling of people when they re-entered it. +Leaving Kelson to chat with the girl, Hamar and Curtis, obeying her +directions, found their way to a small parlour in the rear of the +building, where two men were lolling over a card table, smoking and +drinking, and reading aloud extracts from a pink sporting paper.</p> + +<p>"It's a funny thing," one of them exclaimed, "we can't be allowed to sit +here in peace—when there's so much spare space in the house."</p> + +<p>"We beg your pardon for intruding," Curtis said, "but my friend and I +came in here for a quiet game of cards. We're farmers down Missouri way, +and don't often get the chance to run up to town."</p> + +<p>"Farmers, are you!" the man who had not yet spoken said, eyeing them +both closely. "You don't look it. My friend Lemon, here, and I were also +wanting to have a game—would you care to join us?"</p> + +<p>"By all means," Curtis at once exclaimed. "What do you play?"</p> + +<p>"Poker!" the man said, "Nap! Don! But I'll show you something first, +which, being fresh from the country, you've probably never seen before, +though they do tell me people in Missouri are mighty cute." He then +proceeded to show them what he called the Bull and Buffalo trick, the +secret of which he offered to sell them for ten dollars.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't give you a cent for it!" Curtis snapped. "Any one can see +how it is done."</p> + +<p>"You can't!" the man retorted, turning red. "I'll wager twenty dollars +you can't." Curtis accepted the wager, and at once did the trick. He had +seen through it at a glance—there appeared no difficulty in it at all; +and yet he was quite certain if he had been asked to do it the day +before, he would have utterly failed.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "give me the money,"—and the man complied with an oath.</p> + +<p>"Any more tricks?" Curtis asked complacently.</p> + +<p>"I know heaps," the man rejoined. "There's one you won't guess—the +seven card trick."</p> + +<p>He did it. And so did Curtis.</p> + +<p>"Well I'm——" the man called Lemon ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"He's the dandiest cove at tricks we've ever struck. Try him with the +Prince and Slipper, Arnold!"</p> + +<p>Arnold rather reluctantly assented, and Curtis burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>"Why!" he said, "that's the simplest of all! See!" And it was done. "You +two had better come to an understanding with us or you'll not shine +to-night. How about a game of Don?"</p> + +<p>Lemon and Arnold agreed, but they had barely begun before Curtis cried +out, "It's no use, Lemon, I can see those deuces up your sleeve. You've +some up yours, too, Arnold—the deuce of clubs and the deuce of hearts. +Moreover, you can tell our cards by notches and thumb smears on the +backs. I'll show you how." He told the cards correctly—there was no +gainsaying it. The men were overwhelmed.</p> + +<p>"What are you, anyway?" Lemon asked; "tecs?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind what we are!" Curtis said savagely. "We know what you +are—and that's where the rub comes in. Now what are you going to pay us +to hold our tongues?"</p> + +<p>"Pay you!" Lemon hissed. "Why, damn you—nothing. We're not bankers. All +we've got to do is clear out and try somewhere else."</p> + +<p>"That might not be so easy as you imagine," Hamar interposed. "We would +make it our business to have a scene first. Why not come to terms? +We'll not be over exorbitant—and consider the convenience of not having +to shift your quarters."</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the blooming frousts I've struck, none beats this," Lemon +said. "Fancy being pipped by a couple of suckers like these. Farmers, +indeed! Why don't you call yourselves parsons? How much do you want?"</p> + +<p>After a prolonged haggling, Hamar and Curtis agreed to take fifty +dollars; and, considering their penniless condition, they were by no +means dissatisfied with their bargain.</p> + +<p>They were now ready to go, and looking round for Kelson, found him +engaged in a desperate <i>tête-à-tête</i> with the young lady at the bar, +who, despite her avowed lack of faith in mankind, counted half the room +her friends. She promised Kelson that she would meet him at eight +o'clock that evening; but as both she and he were quite used to making +such promises and subsequently forgetting all about them, their +rencontre resulted in only one thing, namely, in furnishing the three +allies with the nucleus of the big fortune they intended making.</p> + +<p>On finding themselves outside the dive Hamar, Curtis and Kelson first of +all divided the spoil. They then went to a clothes depot and rigged +themselves out in fashionably cut garments; after which they took rooms +at a presentable hotel in Kearney Street, next door to Knobble's boot +store. Then, dressed for the first time in their lives like Nob Hill +dukes, they paraded the pet resorts of the beau-monde—of the bonanza +and railroad set—and making eyes at all the pretty wives and daughters +they met, cogitated fresh devices for making money. As they sauntered +across Pacific Avenue, in the direction of Californian Street, Kelson +suddenly gave vent to a whistle.</p> + +<p>"What the deuce is wrong with you?" Hamar exclaimed. "Seen your +grandmother's ghost?"</p> + +<p>"No! but I've seen the inner readings of that lady yonder," Kelson +replied, indicating with a jerk of his finger a fashionably dressed +woman walking towards them on the other side of the road. "The deuce +knows how it all comes to me, but I know everything about her, just the +same as I did with the girl in the dive—though I've never seen her +before. She is the wife of D.D. Belton, the cotton magnate, who lives +in a big, white house at the corner of Powell Street—and a beauty, I +can assure you. Supposed to be most devoted to her husband, she is now +on her way to keep an appointment with the Rev. J.T. Calthorpe of +Sancta Maria's Church in Appleyard Street, with whom she has been +holding clandestine meetings for the past six months."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" Hamar ejaculated. "You speak as if it was all being pumped into +you by some external agency—automatically."</p> + +<p>"That's just about what I feel!" Kelson said, "I feel as if it were some +one else saying all this—some one else speaking through me. Yet I know +all about that woman, just as much as if I had been acquainted with her +all my life!"</p> + +<p>"It's the first power," Hamar said excitedly, "the power of divination. +It takes that form with you, and the form of card tricks with Ed—with +me nothing so far."</p> + +<p>"But what shall I do?" Kelson cried. "How can I benefit by it?"</p> + +<p>"How can't you?" Curtis growled. "Why, blackmail her! If it is true, +she will pay you anything to keep your mouth shut. If once you can tell +a woman's secret, your future's made. All San Francisco will be at your +mercy—God knows who'll escape! After her at once, you idiot!"</p> + +<p>"Now?" Kelson gasped.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Now! Follow her to Calthorpe's and waylay her as she comes out. +You can refer to us as witnesses."</p> + +<p>"I feel a bit of a blackguard," Kelson pleaded.</p> + +<p>"You look it, anyway," Curtis grinned. "But cheer up—it's the clothes. +Clothes are responsible for everything!"</p> + +<p>After a little persuasion Kelson gave in, but he had to make haste as +the lady was nearly out of sight. She took a taxi from the stand +opposite Kitson's hotel, and Kelson took one, too. Two hours later, +raising his hat, he accosted her as she stood tapping the pavement of +Battery Street with a daintily shod foot, waiting to cross. "Mrs. +Belton, I think," he said. The lady eyed him coldly.</p> + +<p>"Well!" she said, "what do you want? Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"My name can scarcely matter to you," Kelson responded, "though my +business may. I have been engaged to watch you, and am fully posted as +to your meetings and correspondence with the Rev. J.T. Calthorpe."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," the lady said, her cheeks flaming. "You have +made a mistake—a very serious mistake for you."</p> + +<p>For a moment Kelson's heart failed. He was still a clerk, with all the +humility of an office stool and shining trousers' seat thick on him, +whilst she was a <i>grande dame</i> accustomed to the bows and scrapes of +employers as well as employed.</p> + +<p>Several people passed by and stared at him—as he thought—suspiciously, +and he felt that this was the most critical time in his life, and unless +he pulled through, smartly in fact, he would be done once and for all. +If he didn't make haste, too, the woman would undoubtedly call a +policeman. It was this thought as well as—though, perhaps, hardly as +much as—the look of her that stimulated Kelson to action. He hated +behaving badly to women; but was this thing, dressed in a skirt that +fitted like a glove and showed up every detail of her figure—this thing +with the paint on her cheeks, and eyebrows, and lips—artistically done, +perhaps, but done all the same—this thing all loaded with jewellery and +buttons—this thing—a woman! No! She was not—she was only a +millionaire's plaything—brainless, heartless—a hobby that cost +thousands, whilst countless men such as he—starved. He +detested—abominated such luxuries! And thus nerved he retorted, +borrowing some of her imperiousness—</p> + +<p>"Do you deny, madam, that for the past two hours you've been sitting on +the sofa of the end room of the third floor of No. 216, Market Street, +flirting with the Rev. J.T. Calthorpe, whom you call 'Mickey-moo'; that +you gave him a photo you had taken at Bell's Studio in Clay Street, +specially for him; that you gave him five greenbacks to the value of one +hundred and fifty dollars, and that you've planned a moonlight promenade +with him to-morrow, when your husband will be in Denver?"</p> + +<p>"Don't talk so loud," the lady said in a low voice. "Walk along with me +a little and then we shan't be noticed. I see you do know a good +deal—how, I can't imagine, unless you were hidden somewhere in the +room. Who has employed you to watch me?"</p> + +<p>"That, madam, I can't say," Kelson truthfully responded.</p> + +<p>"And I can't think," the lady said, "unless it is some woman enemy. But, +after all, you can't do much since you hold no proofs—your word alone +will count for nothing."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I have strong corroborative evidence," Kelson retorted. "I have +the testimony of at least two other people who know quite as much as I +do."</p> + +<p>"Adventurers like yourself," the lady sneered. "My husband would neither +believe you nor your friends."</p> + +<p>"He would believe your letters, any way," said Kelson.</p> + +<p>"My letters!" the lady laughed, "You've no letters of mine."</p> + +<p>"No, but I know where the correspondence that has passed between you and +the Rev. J. T. Calthorpe is to be found. He has sixty-nine letters from +you all tied up in pink ribbon, locked up in the bottom drawer of the +bureau in his study at the Vicarage. Some of the letters begin with +'Dearest, duckiest, handsomest Herby'—short for Herbert; and others, +'Fondest, blondest, darlingest Micky-moo!' Some end with 'A thousand and +one kisses from your loving and ever devoted Francesca,' and others with +'Love and kisses ad infinitum, ever your loving, thirsting, adoring one, +Toosie!' Nice letters from the wife of a respectable Nob Hill magnate to +a married clergyman!"</p> + +<p>The lady walked a trifle unsteadily, and much of her colour was gone. +"I can't understand it," she panted; "somebody has played me false."</p> + +<p>"As the Rev. J.T. Calthorpe is on his way to Sacramento, where he has to +remain till to-morrow," Kelson went on pitilessly, "it will be the +easiest thing in the world to get those letters. I have merely to call +at the house and tell his wife."</p> + +<p>"And what good will that do you?" the lady asked.</p> + +<p>"Revenge! I hate the rich," Kelson said. "I would do anything to injure +them."</p> + +<p>"You are a Socialist?"</p> + +<p>"An Anarchist! But come, you see I know all about you and that I have +you completely in my power. If once either your husband or Mrs. +Calthorpe gets hold of those letters—you and your lover would have a +very unpleasant time of it."</p> + +<p>"You're a devil!"</p> + +<p>"Maybe I am—at all events I'm talking to one. But that's neither here +nor there. I want money. Give me a thousand dollars and you'll never +hear from me again."</p> + +<p>"Blackmail! I could have you arrested!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I would tell the court the whole history of your intrigues! +That wouldn't help you,"—and Kelson laughed.</p> + +<p>"Could I count on you not molesting me again if I were to pay you?" the +lady said mockingly.</p> + +<p>"You could."</p> + +<p>"Do you ever speak the truth?"</p> + +<p>"You needn't judge every one by your own standard of morality—the +standard set up by the millionaire's wife," Kelson said. "I swear that +if you pay me a thousand dollars I will never trouble you again."</p> + +<p>The lady grew thoughtful, and for some minutes neither of them spoke. +Then she suddenly jerked out: "I think, after all, I'll accept your +proposal. Wait outside here and you shall have what you want within an +hour."</p> + +<p>"Not good enough," Kelson said, "I prefer to come with you to your house +and wait there."</p> + +<p>The lady protested, and Kelson consented to wait in the street outside +her house, where, eventually, she delivered the money into his hands.</p> + +<p>"I've kept my word," she said, "and if you're half a man you'll keep +yours."</p> + +<p>Kelson reassured her, and more than pleased with himself, made for the +hotel, where the three of them were now stopping.</p> + +<p>This was merely a beginning. Before the day was out he had secured two +more victims. No woman whose character was not without blemish was safe +from him—his wonderful newly acquired gift enabling him to detect any +vice, no matter how snugly hidden. And this wonderful power of +discernment brought with it an expression of mystery and penetration +which, by enhancing the effect of the power, made the application of it +comparatively easy. Kelson had only to glide after his victim, and with +his eyes fixed searchingly on her, to say, "Madam, may I have a word +with you?"—and the battle was more than half won—the women were too +fascinated to think of resistance.</p> + +<p>For example, shortly after his initial adventure, he saw a very smartly +dressed woman in Van Ness Avenue peep about furtively, and then stop and +speak to a little child, who was walking with its nurse. Divination at +once told him everything—the lady was the mother of the child, but its +father was not her legitimate husband, W.S. Hobson, the millionaire +mine owner.</p> + +<p>When Kelson courteously informed her he was in possession of her +secret—a secret she had felt positively certain only one other person +knew, she went the colour of her pea-green sunshade and attempted to +remonstrate. But Kelson's appearance, no less than his marvellous +knowledge of her life, and character dumbfounded her—she was simply +paralysed into admission; and before he left her, Kelson had added +another thousand dollars to his hoard.</p> + +<p>That evening, close to the Academy of Science in Market Street, he saw a +lady get out of a taxi and quickly enter a pawnbroker's. Her whole life +at once rose up before him. She was Ella Crockford, the wife of the +Californian Street Sugar King, and, unknown to her husband, she spent +her afternoons at a gambling saloon in Kearney Street, where she ran +through thousands.</p> + +<p>She was now about to pledge her husband's latest present to her—a +diamond tiara, one of the most notable pieces of jewellery in the +country—in the hope that she would soon win back sufficient money at +cards to redeem it.</p> + +<p>Kelson stopped her as she came out, and in a marvellously few words, +proved to her that he knew everything. Her amazement was beyond +description.</p> + +<p>"You must be a magician," she said, "because I'm certain no one saw me +take my jewel-case out of the drawer—no one was in the room! And as I +put it in my muff immediately, no one could have seen it as I left the +house. Besides, I never told a soul I intended pawning it, so how is it +possible you could know—and be able to repeat the whole of the +conversation I had with Walter Le-Grand, to whom I lost so heavily last +night? Tell me, how do you know all this?"</p> + +<p>But Kelson would tell her nothing—nothing beyond her own sins and +misfortunes.</p> + +<p>"I have nothing to give you," she told him. "I dare not ask my husband +for more money."</p> + +<p>"What, nothing!" Kelson replied, "When the pawnbroker has just advanced +you fifty thousand dollars. You call that nothing? Be pleased to give me +one thousand, and congratulate yourself that I do not ask for all your +'nothing.'" And as neither tears nor prayers had any effect, she was +obliged to pay him the sum he asked.</p> + +<p>Flushed and excited with victory, and thinking, perhaps, that he had +done enough for one day, Kelson took his spoils to a bank near the +Palace Hotel, and for the first time in his career opened a banking +account. As he was leaving the building he ran into Hamar, bent on a +similar errand. The two gleefully compared notes.</p> + +<p>"I thought," Hamar said, "my turn would never come, and that I must have +done something to get out of favour with the Unknown; but as I was +sitting in the Pig and Whistle Saloon in Corn Street drinking a lager, I +suddenly felt a peculiar throbbing sensation run up my left leg into my +left hand, and the floor seemed to open up, and I saw deep below me, in +a black pit, a skeleton clutching hold of a linen bag, full of coins. I +could see the gold quite distinctly—Spanish doubles, none newer than +the eighteenth century. I knew then that the Unknown had not forgotten +me. 'Look here, boss,' I said to old man Moss—the proprietor, you +know—'You're a bit of a juggins to go on working with so much money +under here,'—and I pointed to the floor.</p> + +<p>"'I'm surprised at you, Hamar,' Moss said, cocking an eye at me, 'and +lager, too!'</p> + +<p>"'No, old man!' I said, 'I'm not drunk. I'm sober and serious. You've +got a cellar below here, haven't you?'</p> + +<p>"'Well, and what if I have!' Moss retorted, drawing a step closer and +running his eyes carefully over me. 'What if I have! There's no harm in +that, is there?'</p> + +<p>"'You keep all your stock down there,' I went on, 'and more beside. I +can see a hat-pin with a gold nob, that's not your wife's, and a pair of +shoes with dandy silver buckles, that's not intended for your wife, +nohow.'</p> + +<p>"At that Moss made a queer noise in his throat, and I thought he was +going to have a fit. 'What—what the devil are you talking about?' he +gurgled.</p> + +<p>"'I wish I had had you with me—then, Matt, for you could have doubtless +summed up the woman to him—she was a blank to me—I only divined one +had been there. 'Yes, Mr. Mossy,' I said, 'you're a gay deceiver and no +mistake! I know all about it!'</p> + +<p>"'Do you,' he said, eyeing me excitedly. 'Do you know all about it? I'm +not so sure, but in order to avoid running any risks, drop your voice a +bit and have a cocktail with me!'</p> + +<p>"He poured me out one, and I went on softly, 'Well, boss Moss,' I said, +'we'll leave the female out of the question for the present. Underneath +this cellar of yours, is a pit.'</p> + +<p>"'I'm damned if there is!' Moss snorted; 'leastways, it's the first I've +ever heard of it.'</p> + +<p>"'And in this pit,' I said, 'is the skeleton of a Spanish buccaneer +called Don Guzman, who landed in this port on August 10, 1699, and after +robbing and slicing up a family of the name of Hervada, who lived on the +site of what is now the Copthorne Hotel, was hurrying off with all their +money and jewels, when he fell into a pit, covered with brambles and +briars, and broke his neck.'</p> + +<p>"'And you expect me to believe this cock and bull story,' Moss growled. +'Being out of a job so long has made you balmy.'</p> + +<p>"'It hasn't made me too balmy not to see through the way you deceive +your wife, Moss,' I said. 'I'll bet she would think me sane enough if I +were to tell her all I know. But I'll spare you if you will take me into +your cellar and help me to do a bit of excavation there. But promise, +mind you, that we will go shares in what we find.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I'll promise right enough,' Moss replied. 'I'll promise +anything—if only to keep you from talking such moonshine.'</p> + +<p>"Well, in the end I prevailed upon him to accompany me, and we went into +the cellar—just as I had depicted it—armed with a pick-axe and +crowbar. Moss growling and jeering every step he took, and I, deadly in +earnest.</p> + +<p>"'It's under here,' I said, halting over a flagstone in the corner of +the vault. 'But before we do anything you had better hide that hat-pin +and these shoes, or your missis will find them. She'll hear us scraping +and come to see what's up.'</p> + +<p>"Moss, who was in a vile temper all the time, made a grab at the things, +pricking his finger and swearing horribly. In the meanwhile I had set to +work, and, with his aid, raised the stone. We dug for pretty nearly an +hour, Moss calling upon me all the time to 'chuck it,' when I suddenly +struck something hard—it was the skeleton and close beside it, was the +bag. You should have seen Moss then. He was simply overcome—called me a +wizard, a magician, and heaven alone knows what, and fairly stood on his +head with delight when we opened the bag, and hundreds of gold coins and +precious stones rolled out on the floor. He wanted to go back on his +word then, and only give me a handful; but I was too smart for him, and +swore I would tell his wife about the girl unless he gave me half. When +we were leaving the cellar, of course, he wanted me to go first, so that +he could follow with the pickaxe, but here again I was too sharp for +him—and I got safely out of the place with my pockets bulging. I went +right away to Prescott's in Clay Street, and let the lot go for three +thousand dollars. I wonder how Curtis has got on!"</p> + +<p>They walked together to the hotel, and found Curtis busily engaged +eating. "I've worked hard," he said, "and now I'm in for enjoying +myself. I've made them get out a special menu for me, and I'm going to +eat till I can't hold another morsel. I've starved all my life and now I +intend making up for it."</p> + +<p>"Been successful?" Hamar asked, winking at Kelson.</p> + +<p>"Pretty well! Nothing to grumble at," Curtis rejoined, pouring himself +out a glass of champagne. "First of all I went to Simpson's Dive in +Sacramento Street, and started doing the tricks we discovered yesterday. +Not a soul in the place could see through them, and I made about two +hundred dollars before I left. I then had lunch."</p> + +<p>"Why you had lunch with us!" Hamar laughed.</p> + +<p>"Well, can't I have as many lunches as I like?" Curtis replied. "I had +lunch, I say, at a place in Market Street, and there I read in a paper +that Peters & Pervis, the tin food people, were offering a prize of +three thousand dollars for a solution to a puzzle contained on the +inside cover of one of their tins. I immediately determined to enter for +it. I bought a tin and saw through the puzzle at once. Bribing a +policeman to go with me to see fair play, off I set to Peters & Pervis'.</p> + +<p>"'I want to see your boss,' I said to the first clerk I saw.</p> + +<p>"'Which of them?' the clerk grunted, his cheeks turning white at the +sight of the policeman.</p> + +<p>"'Either will do,' I replied, 'Peters or Pervis. Trot 'em up, time is +precious.'</p> + +<p>"Away he went, but in a couple of minutes was back again, looking +scared, 'They're both engaged,' he says.</p> + +<p>"'Then they'll have to break it off,' I responded, 'and mighty quick. +I'm here to talk with them, so get a move on you again and give that +message.'</p> + +<p>"If it hadn't been for the policeman I don't think he would have gone, +but the policeman backed me up, and the clerk hurried off again; and in +the end the bosses decided they had better see me. They looked precious +cross, I can assure you, but before I had done speaking they looked +crosser still.</p> + +<p>"'You say you've done that puzzle,'—they shouted—'the puzzle that has +stuck all the mathematical guns at Harvard and Yale—you—a nonentity +like you—begone, sir, don't waste our time with such humbug as that.'</p> + +<p>"'All right,' I said, 'give me some paper and a pen, and I'll prove it.'</p> + +<p>"'That's very reasonable,' the policeman chipped in, 'do the thing fair +and square—I'm here as a witness.'</p> + +<p>"Well, with much grunting and grumbling they handed me paper and ink, +and in a trice the puzzle was done; and it appeared so easy that the +policeman clapped his hands and broke out into a loud guffaw. My eyes! +you should have seen how the faces of Pervis and Peters fell, and have +heard what they said. But it was no use swearing and cursing, the thing +was done, and there was the policeman to prove it.</p> + +<p>"'We'll give you five hundred dollars,' they said, 'to clear out and say +no more about it.'</p> + +<p>"'Five hundred dollars when you've advertised three thousand,' I cried. +'What do you take me for? I'll have that three thousand or I'll show you +both up.'</p> + +<p>"'A thousand, then?' they said.</p> + +<p>"'No!' I retorted; 'three! Three, and look sharp. And look here,' I +added, as my glance rested on some of the samples of their pastes they +had round them, 'I understand the secrets of all these so-called patents +of yours—there isn't one of them I couldn't imitate. Take that +"Rabsidab," for instance. What is it? Why, a compound of horseflesh, +turnips and popcorn, flavoured with Lazenby's sauce—for the +infringement of which patent you are liable to prosecution—and coloured +with cochineal. Then there's the stuff you label "Ironcastor,"'—but +they shut me up. 'There, take your three thousand dollars, write us out +a receipt for it, and clear.'"</p> + +<p>"Nine thousand dollars in one day! We've done well," Kelson ejaculated. +"What's the programme for to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Same as to-day and plenty of it," Curtis said, pouring himself out +another glass of champagne and making a vigorous attack on a chicken. "I +think I'll let you two fellows do all the work to-morrow, and content +myself here. Waiter! What time's breakfast?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII" />CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>SAN FRANCISCO LADIES AND DIVINATION</h3> + + +<p>Curtis was as good as his word. The following day he remained indoors +eating, and planning what he should eat, whilst Hamar and Kelson went +out with the express purpose of adding to their banking accounts.</p> + +<p>In a garden in Bryant Street, Hamar saw a man resting on his spade and +mopping the perspiration from his forehead. As he stopped mechanically +to see what was being done, a cold sensation ran up his right leg into +his right hand, the first and third fingers of which were drawn +violently down. With a cry of horror he shrank back. Directly beneath +where he had been standing, he saw, under a fifteen or sixteen feet +layer of gravel soil—water; a huge caldron of water, black and silent; +water, that gave him the impression of tremendous depth and coldness.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa! matey, what's the matter?" the man with the spade called out. +"Are you looking for your skin, for I never saw any one so completely +jump out of it?"</p> + +<p>"So would you," Hamar said with a shudder, "if you saw what I do!"</p> + +<p>"What's that, then?" the man said leering on the ground. "Snakes! That's +what I always see when I've got them."</p> + +<p>"So long as you don't see yourself, there's some chance for you!" Hamar +retorted. "What makes you so hot?"</p> + +<p>"Why, digging!" the man laughed; "any one would get hot digging at such +hard ground as this. As for a little whippersnapper like you, you'd melt +right away and only your nose would remain. Nothing would ever melt +that—there's too much of it."</p> + +<p>Hamar scowled. "You needn't be insulting," he said, "I asked you a civil +question, and I repeat it. What makes you so hot—when you should be +cold—or at least cool?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, should I!" the man mimicked, "I thought first you was merely drunk; +I can see quite clearly now that you're mad."</p> + +<p>"And yet you have such defective sight."</p> + +<p>"What makes you say that?" the man said testily.</p> + +<p>"Why," Hamar responded, "because you can't see what lies beneath your +very nose. Shall I tell you what it is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, tell away," the man replied, "tell me my old mother's got twins, +and that Boss Croker is coming to lodge with us. I'd know you for a liar +anywhere by those teeth of yours."</p> + +<p>"Look here," said Hamar drawing himself up angrily, "I have had enough +of your abuse. If I have any more I'll tell your employers. It is +evident you take me for a bummer, but see,"—and plunging his hand in +his pocket he pulled it out full of gold. "Kindly understand I'm +somebody," he went on, "and that I'm staying at one of the biggest +hotels in the town."</p> + +<p>"I'm damned if I know what to make of you," the man muttered, "unless +you're a hoptical delusion!"</p> + +<p>"Underneath where I was standing—just here,"—and Hamar indicated the +spot—"is water. Any amount of it, you have only to sink a shaft fifteen +feet and you would come to it."</p> + +<p>"Water!" the man laughed, "yes, there is any amount of it—on your +brain, that's the only water near here."</p> + +<p>"Then you don't believe me?" Hamar demanded.</p> + +<p>"Not likely!" the man responded, "I only believe what I see! And when I +see a face like yours holding out a potful of dollars, I know as how +you've stolen them. Git!"—and Hamar flew.</p> + +<p>But Hamar was not so easily nonplussed; not at least when he saw a +chance of making money. Entering the garden, and keeping well out of +sight of the gardener, he arrived at the front door by a side path, and +with much formality requested to see the owner of the establishment. The +latter happening to be crossing the hall at the time, heard Hamar and +asked what he wanted.</p> + +<p>Hamar at once informed him he was a dowser, and that, chancing to pass +by the garden on his way to his hotel, he had divined the presence of +water.</p> + +<p>"I only wish there were," the gentleman exclaimed, "but I fear you are +mistaken. I have attempted several times to sink a well but never with +the slightest degree of success. I have had all the ground carefully +prospected by Figgins of Sacramento Street—he has a very big +reputation—and he assures me there isn't a drop of water anywhere near +here within two hundred feet of the surface."</p> + +<p>"I know better," Hamar said. "Will you get your gardener—who by the +way was very rude to me just now when I spoke to him—to dig where I +tell him. I have absolute confidence in my power of divination."</p> + +<p>The owner of the property, whom I will call Mr. B. assented, and several +gardeners, including the one who had so insulted Hamar, were soon +digging vigorously. At the depth of fifteen feet, water was found, and, +indeed, so fast did it begin to come in that within a few minutes it had +risen a foot. The onlookers were jubilant.</p> + +<p>"I shall send an account of it to the local papers," Mr. B. remarked. +"Your fame will be spread everywhere. You have increased the value of my +property a thousandfold, I cannot tell you how grateful I am"—and he, +then and there, invited Hamar to luncheon.</p> + +<p>After luncheon Mr. B. made him a present of a cheque—rather in excess +of the sum which Hamar had all along intended to have, and could not +have refrained from demanding much longer.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon all the San Francisco specials were full of the +incident, and Hamar, seeing his name placarded for the first time, was +so overcome that he spent the rest of the evening in the hotel +deliberating how he could best turn his sudden notoriety to account.</p> + +<p>At ten o'clock Kelson came in, looking somewhat fatigued, but, +nevertheless, pleased. He, too, had had adventures, and he detailed them +with so much elaboration that the other two had frequently to tell him +to "dry up."</p> + +<p>"I began the morning," he commenced, "by accosting a very fashionably +dressed lady coming out of Bushwell's Store in Commercial Street. +Divination at once told me she was the popular widow of J.K. Bater, the +Biscuit King of Nob Hill, and that she was carrying in her big seal-skin +muff a gold hatpin mounted with an emerald butterfly, a silver-backed +hair brush, a blue enamelled scent bottle, and a porcelain jar, all of +which she had slyly 'nicked,' when no one was looking.</p> + +<p>"I stepped up to her, and politely raising my hat said, 'Good morning, +Mrs. Bater. I've a message for you.'</p> + +<p>"'I don't know you,' she said eyeing me very doubtfully, 'who are you?'</p> + +<p>"'Forgotten!' I said tragically, 'and I had flattered myself it would be +otherwise. Still I must try and survive. I wanted to ask you a favour, +Mrs. Bater.'</p> + +<p>"'A favour!' she exclaimed nervously, 'what is it? You are really a very +extraordinary individual.'</p> + +<p>"'I was only going to ask if I might examine the contents of your muff? +I think you have certain articles in it that have not been paid for—and +I believe I am right in saying this is by no means the first time such a +thing has happened.'</p> + +<p>"She turned so pale I thought she was going to faint. 'Why, whatever do +you mean,' she stammered, 'I've nothing that does not belong to me.'</p> + +<p>"'Opinions differ on that score, Mrs. Bater,' I replied, 'you have a +pin, a hair brush, a scent bottle and a jar,' and I described them each +minutely, 'whilst in your house you have on your dressing-table a +silver-backed clothes brush, a silver manicure set you kleptomaniad—if +you prefer to call it so—from Deacon's in Sacramento Street; a +tortoiseshell manicure set, and an ivory card case you obtained in the +same manner from Varter's in Market Street; a set of silver buttons, a +glove stretcher, and a mauve pin-cushion—you likewise helped yourself +to—from Selter's in Kearney Street; but I might go on detailing them to +you till further orders, for your house is literally crammed with them. +You have done very well, Mrs. Bater, with the San Francisco +storekeepers.'</p> + +<p>"'Good God, man, what are you?' she gasped. 'You seem to read into the +innermost recesses of my soul, and to know everything.'</p> + +<p>"'You are right, madam,' I said, trying to appear very stern and almost +failing, she was so pretty. By Jove! you fellows, I wonder I didn't kiss +her; she had such fine eyes, my favourite nose, a ripping mouth and—"</p> + +<p>"Oh! go on! go on with your story. Never mind her looks," Curtis +interrupted, "I've got a touch of indigestion."</p> + +<p>"As I was saying," Kelson went on complacently, "I could have kissed her +and I felt downright mean for upsetting her so.</p> + +<p>"'Now you have found me out,' she said, 'what do you intend doing? Show +me up in there?' and she pointed shudderingly at the store.</p> + +<p>"'No,' I said, 'not if you are sensible and come to terms. I will agree +to say nothing about either this or any of your other—ahem!—thefts—if +you let me escort you home, and write me out a cheque for a thousand +dollars!'</p> + +<p>"'Beast!' she hissed, 'so you are a blackmailer!'</p> + +<p>"'A black beetle if you like,' I responded, 'but I assure you, Mrs. +Bater, I am letting you off cheap. I have only to call for a policeman +and your reputation would be gone at once. Besides, I know other things +about you.'</p> + +<p>"'What other things?' she stuttered.</p> + +<p>"'Well, madam!' I replied, 'some things are rather delicate—er—for +single men like me to mention, but I do know that—er—a lady—very +like—remarkably like—you, has in her pocket at this moment a rattle +which she bought and paid for in Oakland's late last night. And as, +madam, Mr. Bater has been dead over two years—let me see—yes, two +years yesterday—one can—!'</p> + +<p>"'Stay! that will do,' she whispered; 'come to my house and I will give +you the thousand dollars. You must pretend you are my cousin.'</p> + +<p>"'I will pretend anything, Mrs. Bater,' I murmured, helping her into a +taxi, 'anything so long as I can be with you.'"</p> + +<p>"You got the money?" Hamar queried.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Kelson said with a smile, "I got the money—in fact, everything I +asked for."</p> + +<p>There was silence for some minutes, and then Hamar said, "What next?"</p> + +<p>"What next!" Kelson said, "why I thought I had done a very good day's +work and was on my way back here to take a much needed rest, when I'm +dashed if the Unknown hadn't another adventure in store for me. Coming +out of a garden in Gough Street, within sight of Goad's house, was a +lady, young and very plain, but rigged out in one of those latest +fashion costumes—a very tight, short skirt, and huge hat with high +plume in it. By the bye, I can't think why this costume, which is so +admirably suited to pretty girls—because it attracts attention to +them—should be almost exclusively adopted by the ugly ones. But to +continue. I knew immediately that she was Ella Barlow, the much-pampered +and only daughter of J.B. Barlow, the vinegar magnate; that she was in +love, or imagined herself in love with Herbert Delmas, the manager of +the Columbian Bank—a young, good-looking fellow, whom she had been +trying to set against his fiancée, Dora Roberts. Dora is only nineteen, +very pretty and a trifle giddy—nothing more. But this failing of +hers—if you can call it a failing, was just the very weapon Ella Barlow +wanted. She worked on it at once, and by sending Delmas a series of +anonymous letters made him mad with jealousy. This resulted in a breach +between Delmas and Dora, and Ella Barlow, much elated, at once tried to +step into her shoes. She has been going out a good deal with Delmas, who +is in reality still very much in love with Dora, and consequently +exceedingly miserable. This morning Ella, anxious to show off a +magnificent set of diamonds, given her by her father, telephoned to +Delmas to take her to the Baldwyn Theatre, where she has engaged a box +for this evening—fondly hoping that the diamonds will bring him up to +the scratch, and that he will propose to her. When I saw her she was on +her way to a notorious quack doctor and beauty specialist in Californian +Street. She suffers from some nasty skin disease, and is in mortal +terror lest Delmas should get to know of it, and also of the fact that +all her teeth are false, and that two of her toes are badly deformed."</p> + +<p>"By Jupiter!" Hamar ejaculated, "this divination of yours beats mine +into fits—nothing escapes you!"</p> + +<p>"No!" Kelson laughed, "nothing! Ella Barlow, metaphysical and physical +was laid before me just as bare as if the Almighty had got hold of her +with his dissecting knife. I saw everything—and what is more I said to +myself—here's plenty I can turn to a profitable account. Well! I +didn't stop her—I let her go."</p> + +<p>"Let her go!" Curtis growled, his mouth full of almonds and raisins. +"You squirrel!"</p> + +<p>"Only for a time," Kelson said, "I went to see Delmas!"</p> + +<p>"Delmas!" Hamar interlocuted, "why the deuce Delmas?"</p> + +<p>"Impulse!" Kelson explained, "purely impulse."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but impulse is often a dangerous thing!" Hamar said, "it is +essential for us three, especially, to be on our guard against impulse. +What did you get out of Delmas?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing!" Kelson said looking rather shamefaced, "But the matter hasn't +ended yet. I'm going to the theatre after I've had something to eat. +I'll tell you what happens, to-morrow."</p> + +<p>It was late ere Kelson came down to breakfast the following day, and +Hamar and Curtis were comfortably seated in armchairs reading the +<i>Examiner</i>, when he joined them.</p> + +<p>"Well!" Hamar said, looking up at him, "what luck?"</p> + +<p>But Kelson wouldn't say a word till he had finished eating. He then +lolled back in his seat and began:—</p> + +<p>"Arriving at the Baldwyn I went straight to box one. A tall figure rose +to greet me, and then, an angry voice exclaimed, 'Why it's not Herbert! +Who are you, sir? Do you know this box is engaged?'</p> + +<p>"'I humbly beg your pardon, Miss Barlow,' I said, 'I do know it is +engaged, but I came as Mr. Delmas' deputy and friend.'</p> + +<p>"'Came as Herbert's deputy and friend,' Ella Barlow repeated—and by +Jove the diamonds did shine—she was simply a mass of them, hair, neck, +arms and fingers—and she had been so well faked up for the occasion +that she was almost good-looking; but I thought of all I knew about +her—and shuddered.</p> + +<p>"'I will explain myself,' I said, 'Mr. Delmas telephoned to you this +afternoon, did he not?'</p> + +<p>"She nodded.</p> + +<p>"'Saying that he very much regretted he could not leave business in time +to escort you here. Would you mind very much going by yourself, and he +would join you as soon as possible.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' Ella Barlow said, 'he told me all that.'</p> + +<p>"'Very well, then,' I went on, 'he rang me up some minutes later and +asked me if I would take his place for the first hour or so, and he +would be here by the end of the first act.'</p> + +<p>"'But it is most unheard of,' Ella Barlow ejaculated, 'I don't know +you—I've never seen you before!'</p> + +<p>"'That is, of course, very regrettable,' I said, 'but I will do all I +can for the past. I've something to say that I'm sure will interest you. +Have I your permission?'—and without waiting for her reply I sat next +to her. The box was a big one, big enough to hold half a dozen people, +and we sat in the extreme front of it. The lights were not full up, as +the orchestra had not started playing. I kept her attention fixed on my +face so that she was unaware what was taking place, immediately behind +her.</p> + +<p>"'What is it?' she said, 'whatever can you have to say that can be of +any possible interest to me?'</p> + +<p>"'Why,' I replied, 'to begin with I know something about your character!'</p> + +<p>"'Then you're a fortune teller!' she exclaimed eagerly, 'can you read +hands?'</p> + +<p>"'I can read everything,' I said looking hard at her, 'hands, head, and +feet. I am psychometrist, dentist, physician, metaphysician all in one!'</p> + +<p>"'I don't understand,' she said looking queer, 'what is the meaning of +all this?'</p> + +<p>"'It means,' I said slowly, 'that I have discovered who sent those +anonymous letters to Herbert Delmas!'</p> + +<p>"'Anonymous letters! how dare you!' she cried, 'what have anonymous +letters to do with me?'</p> + +<p>"'A very great deal, madam,' I replied, 'shall I remind you of their +contents and the occasions on which you wrote them?' I did so. I recited +every word in them and told her the hour, day and place—namely, when +and where each was written, and I summed up by asking what she would pay +me not to tell Delmas.</p> + +<p>"For some minutes she was too overcome to say anything; she sat grim and +silent, her pale eyes glaring at me, her freckled fingers toying with +the diamonds. She was baffled and perplexed—she did not know what +course to pursue!</p> + +<p>"'Well,' I repeated, 'what have you to say? Do you deny it?'</p> + +<p>"She roused herself with an effort. 'No,' she said venomously, 'I don't +deny it. Denial would be useless. How did you find out? Through one of +the maids, I suppose. They were bribed to spy on me!'</p> + +<p>"'How I discovered it is of no consequence,' I said, 'but what is of +consequence to you as much as to me—is the payment for hushing it up!'</p> + +<p>"'Payment!' she cried, raising her voice to a positive shriek in her +excitement, 'pay <i>you</i>—you nasty, beastly, cadging toad. You—' but I +can't repeat all she said, it would make you both blush! I let her go on +till she had worn herself out and then I said, 'Well, Miss Barlow, why +all this fuss—why these fireworks! It can't do you any good. We must +come to business sooner or later. If you don't pay me handsomely I shall +tell Miss Roberts as well as Mr. Delmas.'</p> + +<p>"'Mr. Delmas won't believe you,' she hissed, 'you've no proofs at all!'</p> + +<p>"'Perhaps not,' I said, 'but I've proofs of this. I know you have two +deformed toes on your left foot, that all your teeth are false, and that +you go to that charlatan, Howard Prince, in Californian Street to be +faked up. I must be brutal—it's no use being anything else to women of +your sort. You've got a certain species of eczema, and you flatter +yourself that no one but you and Prince are aware of it. What have you +got to say now, Miss Barlow?' But Ella Barlow had fainted. When she came +to, which I managed after vigorous application of salts and water—the +effects of the latter on her complexion I leave you to imagine—I again +broached the subject.</p> + +<p>"'What is it you propose?' she said feebly.</p> + +<p>"'Why this,' I said, 'you hand me over all those diamonds, and your +defects will—as far as I am concerned—always remain a secret. Refuse, +and Miss Roberts and Mr. Delmas shall know all there is to be known at +once.'</p> + +<p>"For some minutes she sat with her face buried in her hands—shivering. +Then she looked up at me—and Jerusalem! it was like looking at an old +woman. 'Take them,' she said, 'take them! I shall never wear them again, +anyhow. Take them—and leave me.'</p> + +<p>"Well, you fellows, I steeled my heart, and slipped every Jack one that +was on her into my pocket.</p> + +<p>"'You won't tell them,' she whispered, catching hold of me by the arm, +'you swear you won't.' I won't try and remember exactly what I +answered—but outside the door of the box Delmas joined me. He had been +concealed within and had heard everything that passed.</p> + +<p>"'I can't say how grateful I am to you,' he said. 'It's a bit low down, +perhaps, but, then, we were dealing with a low-down person. You +thoroughly deserve those diamonds—will you accept an offer for them +from me? I should like to buy them for Miss Roberts and present them to +her on our reconciliation.' We came to terms then and there, and he +'phoned through to me an hour ago to say that he had made it up with +Miss Roberts, that she was delighted with the diamonds, and that they +are going to be married next month."</p> + +<p>"So out of evil good comes," Hamar said, "the maxim for us, remember, +is—out of evil evil alone must come. What are you going to do to-day, +you two?"</p> + +<p>"Rest!" said Kelson, "I'm tired."</p> + +<p>"Eat!" said Curtis, "I'm hungry!"</p> + +<p>"Now look here, this won't do," Hamar remarked, "you've earned your +rest, Matt, but you haven't, Ed. You can't go on eating eternally."</p> + +<p>"Can't I?" Curtis snapped, "I'm not so sure of that, I've years to make +up for."</p> + +<p>"Then do the thing in moderation, for goodness sake!" Hamar +expostulated, "and recollect we must, at all costs, act together. We +have now twelve thousand dollars between us in the bank—that is to say, +the capital of the Firm of Hamar, Curtis and Kelson represents that +amount. It is our ambition to increase that amount—and to go on +increasing it till we can fairly claim to be the richest Firm in the +world. Now to do that we must work, and work hard, if we are to live at +the pace Ed is setting us—but there is no reason why we should remain +here, and I propose that we move elsewhere. I've got a scheme in my +head, rather a colossal one I admit, but not altogether impossible."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, out with it," Curtis grunted.</p> + +<p>"It is this," Hamar said, "I suggest that we go to London—London in +England—I guess it's the richest town in the world—and there set up as +sorcerers—The Sorcery Company Ltd. We should begin with divination and +juggling, and go on, according to the seven stages. We should of course +sell our cures and spells, and there is not the slightest doubt but that +we should make an enormous pile, with which we would gradually buy up, +not merely London, but the whole of England."</p> + +<p>"That's rather a tall order," Kelson murmured.</p> + +<p>"A small one, you mean," Curtis sneered, "you could put the whole of +England twice over in California, and from what I've heard I don't go +much on London. I reckon it isn't much bigger than San Francisco."</p> + +<p>"Still you wouldn't mind being joint owner of it," Hamar laughed."</p> + +<p>"No, perhaps not," Curtis said rather dubiously. "I guess we could buy +the crown and wear it in turn. Sam Westlake up at Meidler's always used +to say the Britishers would sell their souls if any one bid high enough. +They think of nothing but money over there. When shall we go?"</p> + +<p>"At the end of our week," Hamar said, "that is to say on Wednesday—in +three days' time."</p> + +<p>"First class all the way, of course," Curtis said, "I'll see to the +arrangements for the catering and berths."</p> + +<p>"All right!" Hamar laughed, as he filled three glasses with champagne. +"Here, drink, you fellows, 'Long life, health and prosperity—to Hamar, +Curtis and Kelson, the Modern Sorcery Company Ltd.'"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII" />CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>TWO DREAMS</h3> + + +<p>"Do you believe in dreams?" Gladys Martin inquired, as, fresh from a +stroll in the garden, she joined her aunt, Miss Templeton, in the +breakfast room at Pine Cottage.</p> + +<p>"I believe in fairies," Miss Templeton rejoined, smiling indulgently as +she looked at the fair face beside her. "What was the dream, dearie?"</p> + +<p>Gladys laughed a little mischievously. "I don't quite know whether I +ought to tell you," she said. "It might shock you."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I'm not so easily shocked as you imagine," Miss Templeton +replied. "What was it?"</p> + +<p>"Well!" Gladys began, flinging both arms round her aunt's neck and +playing with the pleats in her blouse, "I dreamed that I was walking in +the little wood at the end of the garden, and that the trees and flowers +walked and talked with me. And we danced together—and, first of all, I +had for my partner, a red rose—and then, an ash. They both made love to +me, and squeezed my waist with their hot, fibrous hands. A poppy piped, +a bramble played the concertina, and a lilac grew desperately jealous of +me and tried to claw my hair. Then the dancing ceased, and I found +myself in the midst of bluebells that shook their bells at me with loud +trills of laughter. And out from among them, came a buttercup, pointing +its yellow head at me. 'See! see,' it cried, 'what Gladys is carrying +behind her. Naughty Gladys!' And trees and flowers—everything around +me—shook with laughter. Then I grew hot and cold all over, and did not +know which way to look for my confusion, till a willow, having +compassion on me said, 'Take no notice of them! They don't know any +better.'</p> + +<p>"I begged him to explain to me why they were so amused, and he grew very +embarrassed and uncomfortable, and stammered—oh! so funnily, 'Well if +you really wish to know—it's a bud, a baby white rose, and it's +clinging to your dress.'</p> + +<p>"'A baby! A baby rose!' shrieked all the flowers.</p> + +<p>"'And it means,' a bluebell said, stepping perkily out from amidst its +fellows, 'that your lover is coming—your lover with a +troll-le-loll-la—and—well, if you want to know more ask the +gooseberries, the gooseberries that hang on the bushes, or the parsley +that grows in the bed,'—and at that all the flowers and trees shrieked +with laughter—'Ta-ta-tra-la-la'—and with my ears full of the rude +laughter of the wood I awoke. What do you think of it? Isn't it rather a +quaint mixture of the—of the sacred—at least the artistic—and the +profane?"</p> + +<p>"Quite so," said Miss Templeton with an amused chuckle, "but I shouldn't +ask for an interpretation of it if I were you."</p> + +<p>"Not for an interpretation of the trees and flowers?" Gladys asked +innocently. "I'm sure trees and flowers have a special significance in +dreams."</p> + +<p>"Very well then, my dear, ask Mrs. Sprat."</p> + +<p>"What! ask the Vicar's wife!" Gladys ejaculated, "when I never go to +church."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Miss Templeton replied, laughing again, "Mrs. Sprat will +quite understand. And I've always been told she is very interested in +anything to do with the Occult. But hush! Here's your father. You'd +better not tell him your dream. He's tired to death, he says, of hearing +about your lovers, and agrees with me—there's no end to them."</p> + +<p>"Never mind what he says—his bark's worse then his bite," Gladys +rejoined, "he doesn't really care how many I have so long as they keep +within bounds, and I like them! Father!"</p> + +<p>John Martin, who entered the room at that moment, went straight to his +daughter to be kissed.</p> + +<p>"I wish you wouldn't always select that bald spot," he said testily, "I +don't want to be everlastingly reminded I'm losing my hair."</p> + +<p>"Where do you want me to kiss you, then?" Gladys argued, "on the tip of +your nose? That's all very well for you, John Martin, but I prefer the +top of your head. But the poor dear looks worried, what is it?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't have a very good night," her father replied, "I dreamed a +lot!" Gladys looked at Miss Templeton and laughed.</p> + +<p>"Did you?" she said gently. "What a shame! I never dream. What was it +all about?"</p> + +<p>"Flowers!" John Martin snapped, "idiotic flowers! Roses, lilac, tulips! +Bah! I do wish you would have some other hobby."</p> + +<p>Gladys looked at her aunt again, this time with a half serious, half +questioning expression.</p> + +<p>"Shall I be a politician?" she cooed, "and fill the house with +suffragettes? You bad man, I believe you would revel in it. Don't you +think so, Auntie?"</p> + +<p>"I think, instead of teasing your father so unmercifully, you had +better pour him out a cup of tea," Miss Templeton replied. "Jack, +there's a letter for you."</p> + +<p>"Where? Under my plate! what a place to put it. That's you," and John +Martin frowned, or rather, attempted to frown, at Gladys. "Why it's +about Davenport—Dick Davenport. He's very ill—had a stroke yesterday, +and the doctor declares his condition critical. His nephew, Shiel, so +Anne says, has been sent for, and arrived at Sydenham last night! If +that's not bad news I don't know what is!" John Martin said, thrusting +his plate away from him and leaning back in his chair. "It's true I can +manage the business all right myself—and there's the possibility, of +course, that this young Shiel may shape all right. I suppose if anything +happens he will step into Dick's shoes. I've never heard Dick mention +any one else. Poor old Dick!"</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry, father!" Gladys said, laying her hand on his. "But cheer +up! It may not be as bad as you expect. Shall you go and see how he is?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, my dear! I think so," John Martin replied, "but don't worry +me about it now. Talk to your aunt and leave me out of it, I'm a bit +upset. My brain's in a regular whirl!"</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly the news was something in the nature of a blow: for Dick +Davenport, apart from being John Martin's partner—partner in the firm +of Martin and Davenport, the world-renowned conjurors, whose hall in the +Kingsway was one of the chief amusement places in London, was John +Martin's oldest friend. They had been chums at Cheltenham College, had +entered the Army and gone to India together, had quitted the Service +together, and, on returning together to England, had started their +conjuring business, first of all in Sloane Street, and subsequently in +the Kingsway. From the very start their enterprise had met with success, +and, had it not been for Davenport's wild extravagance, they would have +been little short of millionaires. But Davenport, though a most lovable +character in every respect, could not keep money—he no sooner had it +than it was gone. His house in Sydenham was little short of a palace; +whilst, it was said, he almost rivalled royalty, in magnificent display, +whenever he entertained. The result of all this reckless expenditure was +no uncommon one—he ran through considerably more than he earned and—as +there was no one else to help him—he invariably came down on John +Martin. It was "Jack, old boy, I'm damned sorry, but I must have another +thousand;" or, "Jack! these infernal scamps of creditors are worrying +the life out of me, can you, will you, lend me a trifle—a couple of +thousand will do it"—and so on—so on, ad infinitum. John Martin never +refused, and at the time of Davenport's illness, the latter owed him +something like a hundred thousand pounds.</p> + +<p>Fortunately John Martin, though far from parsimonious, was careful. He +had an excellent business head, and, thanks to his sagacious share in +the management, the business remained solvent. He knew Davenport's +capacity—that nowhere could he have found another such a brilliant +genius in conjuring—nor, apart from his thriftlessness, any one so +thoroughly reliable. In Davenport's keeping all the great tricks they +had invented—and great tricks they undoubtedly were—were absolutely +safe.</p> + +<p>Despite the fact that they had repeatedly offered big sums of money to +any one who could discover the secret of how they were done, every +attempt to do so had utterly failed. The Mysteries of Martin and +Davenport's Home of Wonder, in the Kingsway, baffled the world. Of +course one thing had helped them enormously—namely, they had no rivals. +So colossal was their reputation, that no one else had ever even thought +of setting up in opposition.</p> + +<p>And now one of the two great master-minds, that had accomplished all +these marvels and acquired such universal fame, was stricken down, +checkmated by the still greater power of nature; and his colleague—the +only other man in existence who shared his knowledge—was obliged to +rack his brain as to what was now to be done—done for the continuance +and prosperity of the firm.</p> + +<p>After finishing her breakfast Gladys joined her aunt in the garden.</p> + +<p>"To dream of flowers and trees evidently means bad news," she said. "But +as I feel in a mood for a walk, I shall call at the Vicarage."</p> + +<p>"What, now! At this hour!" Miss Templeton cried aghast.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" Gladys said imperturbably. "I'm not going to pay a call. They +haven't called on us. I shall say I've merely come to make an inquiry. +Can she tell me of any one who interprets dreams? Come with me!"</p> + +<p>But as her aunt pleaded an excuse, Gladys went alone.</p> + +<p>The Vicar was in the garden in his shirt sleeves, and though obviously +surprised to see Gladys, seemed quite prepared to enter into +conversation with her. But Gladys was not enamoured of clergymen. Her +ways were not their ways, and she had come strictly on business. +Consequently she somewhat curtly demanded to be conducted into the +presence of his wife, who received her very affably.</p> + +<p>"Why, how very strange," she observed when Gladys had stated the object +of her visit. "I was asked a similar question only yesterday. A Miss +Rosenberg, who is staying with us, had an extraordinary dream about +trees and flowers—only it took the form of a poem, which she awoke +repeating. There were several verses—quite doggerel it is true—but +nevertheless rather remarkable for a dream. She wrote them down, and +asked me if I could tell her whether there was any hidden meaning in +them. Here they are," and she handed Gladys two pages of sermon paper on +which was written—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"In the greenest of green valleys,<br /></span> +<span>Aglow with summer sun,<br /></span> +<span>Lived a maiden fair and radiant,<br /></span> +<span>More radiant there was none.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The flowers gave her their friendship;<br /></span> +<span>Her couch was on the ground.<br /></span> +<span>A happier, gayer maiden,<br /></span> +<span>Was nowhere to be found.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The air was filled with music<br /></span> +<span>Sung by the babbling brook.<br /></span> +<span>Sweet lullabies with chorus clear<br /></span> +<span>In which the flowers partook.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"This maiden knew not sorrow,<br /></span> +<span>Until an evil day;<br /></span> +<span>When riding lone across the moors,<br /></span> +<span>A hunter lost his way.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"And chancing on this valley,<br /></span> +<span>He met the maiden sweet.<br /></span> +<span>Her beauty overwhelmed him;<br /></span> +<span>He fell love-sick at her feet.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Despite the fervent warnings<br /></span> +<span>Of her friends the flowers and trees,<br /></span> +<span>She listened to his courting;<br /></span> +<span>And with him roamed the leas.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The leas, far from the valley,<br /></span> +<span>They rode the livelong night;<br /></span> +<span>Till a heavy mist descending<br /></span> +<span>Hid the roadway from their sight.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Uprose, then, forms of evil.<br /></span> +<span>From out the mocking gloom;<br /></span> +<span>And seizing horse and hunter scared,<br /></span> +<span>Left the maiden to her doom.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Travellers now within those regions,<br /></span> +<span>Through the nightly grey fog see<br /></span> +<span>A woman's shade crawl slow along,<br /></span> +<span>To a ghastly melody.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"And those who linger—follow<br /></span> +<span>The phantom pale and wan.<br /></span> +<span>O'er hill and dale, and rill and vale<br /></span> +<span>It slowly leads them on.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"On till they reach the valley,<br /></span> +<span>A valley grim and drear,<br /></span> +<span>Where lurid things with fibrous arms<br /></span> +<span>Their course through darkness steer.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>"And on the travellers palsied<br /></span> +<span>In frenzied crowd they pour.<br /></span> +<span>And those who view their faces,<br /></span> +<span>Are heard but seen no more."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Do you mean to say she dreamed all that?" Gladys exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," the Vicar's wife said. "She told me so and I have no reason to +doubt her. She doesn't romance as a rule, and is certainly not the least +bit in the world poetical—on the contrary she is most practical and +matter-of-fact. Her only hobby, as far as I know, is flowers."</p> + +<p>"Mine, too!" Gladys interrupted. "Were you able to explain the verses?"</p> + +<p>"No, I can't interpret dreams. I'm intensely interested in them; as I am +in all things psychic. I was at a lecture given by Mrs. Annie Besant +last night! She—"</p> + +<p>"Do you know any one who does interpret dreams?" Gladys asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes! A firm, claiming to do all sorts of wonderful things—to tell +dreams, solve tricks, divine the presence of metals and water, and so +on, has just set up in Cockspur Street. I read a short notice about them +in this morning's paper. I will get it for you."</p> + +<p>She left the room and in a few moments returned.</p> + +<p>"Here it is," she said. And under the heading of "Sorcery Revived" +Gladys read as follows:—</p> + +<p>"There is really no end to the devices to which people resort nowadays +to make money, but for sheer novelty, nothing, we think, beats this. +Three Americans, Messrs. Hamar, Kelson and Curtis, fresh from San +Francisco, California, have just bought premises in Cockspur Street, +S.W., and set up there as Sorcerers!</p> + +<p>"They style themselves 'The Modern Sorcery Company Ltd.,' and profess to +interpret dreams, read people's thoughts, tell their pasts, solve all +manner of tricks and detect the presence of metals and water. One +wonders what next!"</p> + +<p>"This paper evidently has its doubts," Gladys commented. "They are +frauds, of course."</p> + +<p>"I dare say they are," the Vicar's wife replied, "though I believe in +thought-reading and other things they say they can do. I advised Miss +Rosenberg to see them about her dream. She went in by the nine o'clock +train. Had you come a few minutes earlier you would have seen her."</p> + +<p>"Well, thanks awfully," Gladys said, "for telling me about these +people. Very probably I'll go in to Town some time during the day and +call at Cockspur Street. I must apologize again for calling at such an +unearthly hour. Good-bye," and Gladys smilingly took her departure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX" />CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT</h3> + + +<p>Shortly after Gladys reached home after her visit to the Vicarage, a +young man with a serious expression somewhat out of keeping with his +jaunty walk, entered the gate of Pine Cottage, and came to an abrupt +halt.</p> + +<p>"Well," he ejaculated, "this is a pretty place, and what's more—for +dozens of houses and gardens are pretty—it's artistic!" In front of him +stretched a miniature avenue of chestnut trees, which was rendered +striking, even to the most casual observer, probably, not only on +account of the irregular mounds of moss-covered stones that occupied its +intervening spaces, but also, by reason of the masses of wild flowers +(great clumps of which were springing up in the crevices of this +impromptu wall) that lent to it an appearance half negligent, but wholly +and entrancingly picturesque. Here, undoubtedly, was art. That did not +astonish the young man. All avenues, in the ordinary sense, are works of +art; and the mere excess of art he saw manifested did not surprise him; +it was the character of the art that had brought him to a standstill and +held him spellbound. And the longer he looked the more he became +convinced, that whoever had superintended the arrangement of this +scenery was an artist—an artist with a scrupulous eye for form.</p> + +<p>The greatest care had been taken to keep the balance between neatness +and gracefulness on the one hand and picturesqueness on the other. There +were few straight lines, and no long uninterrupted ones; whilst at no +one point of view did the same effect of curvature or colour appear +twice. Variety in uniformity was the keynote.</p> + +<p>At last tearing himself away from this one spot—where he felt he could +have spent centuries—he turned to the right and then again to the +left—for the path had now become serpentine, and at no moment could be +traced for more than two or three paces in advance. Presently the sound +of water fell gently on his ear, and in the shadiest of diminutive +forests, amidst the interlacing branches of elm and beech, he caught the +glimpse of a fountain. For an instant the wild thought of forcing his +way through it, of plunging his burning forehead in its cooling spray, +well-nigh mastered him. But his better sense conquered, and he kept to +the path. Another turn, and he caught his first glimpse of a chimney; +another—and the summit of a gable showed above the trees. The sun, +which had been hitherto obscured, now came out, and suddenly—as if by +the hand of magic—the whole scene was a brilliant blaze of colour. He +had arrived at the end of the avenue, where the path forked; one branch +turning sharply round in the direction of a side entrance to the house, +whilst the other led with a gentle curvature to the front.</p> + +<p>Facing the building was a broad expanse of velvety turf, relieved +occasionally, here and there, by such showy shrubs as the hydrangea, +rhododendron, or lilac; but more frequently, and at closer intervals, by +clumps of geraniums, or roses—roses of every variety. There was nothing +pretentious in the garden, any more than there was in the adjoining +edifice. Its unusually pleasing effect lay altogether in its artistic +arrangement; and one could hardly help imagining that the whole scene +had, in reality, been called into existence by the brush of some eminent +landscape painter.</p> + +<p>The cottage itself was constructed of old-fashioned Dutch +shingles—broad and with rounded corners—and painted a dull grey; a +tint which, when contrasted with the vivid green of the tulip trees that +overshadowed the entrance to the house, and reared themselves high above +it on either side, afforded an artistic happiness perfectly intoxicating +to its present visitor. The architecture of the cottage was—if not +Early Tudor—something equally pleasing. Its roofs were divided into +many gables; its windows were diamond paned and projecting, whilst oaken +beams ran latitudinally and vertically over its grey shingle front. +Encompassing the whole base of the exterior were masses of +flowers—pinks, carnations, heliotrope, pansies, poppies, lilies, +wallflowers, roses and jasmines; and besides the latter several other +creepers had been planted beneath the walls, but had not yet attained to +any height.</p> + +<p>Shiel Davenport, for it was he, could not resist the temptation of +peeping in at the windows; and he saw that the interior of the cottage +was artistry and simplicity itself. At the windows, curtains of heavy +white jaconet muslin, not too full, hung in sharp parallel plaits to the +floor—just to the floor. The walls were papered with French papers of +rare delicacy—to match the seasons; (spring, summer, autumn and winter +were all most effectively depicted), and the furniture though light, was +at the same time costly. And here again was the same effect of +arrangement—an arrangement obviously designed by the same brain that +had planned the building and grounds. Shiel could not conceive anything +more graceful. Flowers—flowers of every hue and odour were the chief +decoration of the cottage. On almost every table were vases—in +themselves beautiful enough—yet filled to overflowing with the finest +roses. Ox-eye daisies, hollyhocks and forget-me-nots clustered about the +open windows. And every puff of wind, every breath of air transmitted +scent—the most delicious medley of scent imaginable.</p> + +<p>The young man drew in deep draughts of it; he threw back his head, and, +opening his mouth, revelled in the joy of feeling it steal softly down +his throat and permeate his lungs. He was thus engaged when the sound of +a voice brought him sharply back to earth.</p> + +<p>In the open doorway of the house, an amused expression in her violet +eyes, stood a girl—so wondrously pretty, that at the sight of her Shiel +was again overcome, and could only gaze in helpless admiration.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to see my father?" she inquired. "He is getting ready to go +out, but I daresay he will see you first."</p> + +<p>"I—I am sure he will," the young man replied, "I'm Shiel Davenport. +I've come to tell him my uncle died at four o'clock this morning."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" the girl exclaimed, "I am so sorry—sorry for you, and for +my father. I'm sure he will be terribly upset. I'm Gladys Martin, +perhaps you've heard of me—I knew your uncle."</p> + +<p>"Often," Shiel said, "And I think my uncle's description of you an +excellent one."</p> + +<p>"His description of me!"</p> + +<p>"Yes! he always spoke of you as the Queen of Flowers, and said you had a +mania for all things beautiful, which was not surprising, seeing how +beautiful you were yourself."</p> + +<p>"That was very nice of him," Gladys said, looking amused again. "Won't +you come in? If you will wait here"—she led him to the +drawing-room—"I'll tell my father."</p> + +<p>She disappeared, and Shiel heard her run lightly up the stairs.</p> + +<p>"By Jove," he said to himself, "she's the loveliest girl I've ever seen. +From being so much among flowers, she has become one herself. Violets, +roses, and heliotrope have all had a share in her creation! What eyes, +what a mouth! what teeth! what hands! Surely I have found here, not only +the perfection of all things beautiful, but the perfection of all things +natural, the perfection of natural grace in contradistinction from +artificial grace. Moreover, she is a romanticist. There is an expression +of romance, of unworldliness, in those deep-set eyes of hers, that sinks +into my heart of hearts. 'Romance' and 'womanliness,' and the two terms +appear to me to be convertible, are her distinguishing features. She is +an artist, an idealist, and, over and above all—a woman! Hang it! I'm +in love with her!"</p> + +<p>More he could not evolve, for his meditations were abruptly cut short by +the entrance of a servant, who ushered him, straightway, into the +presence of John Martin.</p> + +<p>The latter, though visibly affected by the news of his friend's death, +was a man of the world, and, consequently, came to business at once. +Much had to be discussed—arrangements for the funeral, the examination +of correspondence relative to the firm, and plans for the immediate +future.</p> + +<p>"You don't know how my uncle's affairs stand, I suppose?" Shiel asked +somewhat nervously.</p> + +<p>"Yes," John Martin said, "I do. May I ask if you have any private means +at all—or are you solely dependent on what you earn? By the way, what +is your calling?"</p> + +<p>"I am an artist," Shiel said. "No, I've nothing beyond what my uncle was +good enough to allow me."</p> + +<p>"An artist!" John Martin murmured, "how like Dick! Have you entertained +the idea of inheriting a fortune? Have you any reason to suppose that +your uncle was well off and had made you his heir!"</p> + +<p>"I gathered so, sir, from the manner in which he lived and his attitude +towards me."</p> + +<p>"Well! we won't talk it over now—leave it till after the funeral. Are +you bent on continuing painting? There is very little remuneration in +it, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Not much," Shiel answered gloomily, "but I shouldn't care to give it +up—unless of course it is absolutely necessary for me to do so."</p> + +<p>"Being an artist you wouldn't be much good in business."</p> + +<p>"None!"</p> + +<p>"At all events, you are candid. Well! I don't see any good in our +dallying here—I had best go back with you to Sydenham. I've got a +letter to write first, but I shan't be long."</p> + +<p>He was long enough, however, for Shiel to have another chat with Gladys. +"Do you believe in dreams?" she asked him. "I had such a queer one last +night, about trees and flowers; and, oddly enough, my father also +dreamed of trees and flowers, and of the very same ones too. I am going +into Town to-day to consult a firm that has just set up, called the +Modern Sorcery Company Ltd. They profess to interpret dreams, and I am +anxious to see whether they can."</p> + +<p>"In Cockspur Street, aren't they?" Shiel asked. "I saw their +advertisement in one of the papers. I presume you are not going there +alone?"</p> + +<p>"No!" Gladys laughed, "I shall go with a friend, though I often do go +into Town alone. I can assure you I am quite capable of looking after +myself. In that respect, at least, I am quite up to date. Probably you +are more accustomed to French girls?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! I have spent most of my life in Paris," Shiel said. "But how could +you tell that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I guessed you were an artist—and had probably spent some time in +Paris"—Gladys rejoined, "by the way you looked at the house and garden. +I could read appreciation in your eyes and gesture; such appreciation, +as I knew, could only come from an artist. G.W. Barnett helped me in +planning this cottage and the garden."</p> + +<p>"What! Barnett the landscape painter! I am a great admirer of his work. +Were you a pupil of his?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he was one of the visiting R.A.'s at the Beechcroft Studio in St. +John's Wood, where I worked for three years. We were then living in +Blackheath—St. John's Park—a hateful place. Mr. Barnett was awfully +good, when I told him we were moving, and that I wanted to live in +really artistic surroundings—he suggested that I should be my own +architect, and promised to do everything he could to assist me."</p> + +<p>"And your father hadn't a say in the matter," Shiel commented, with an +amused smile.</p> + +<p>"Not in that," Gladys said complacently, "though there are one or two +things in which he has a very decided say. Father can be very +self-willed and obstinate, when he likes. But as I was remarking when +you interrupted me—"</p> + +<p>"I beg pardon!" Shiel murmured.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Barnett promised to assist me. He came over here with me, and we +chose this site."</p> + +<p>"Is he an old man?" Shiel inquired, a trifle anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Not much more than middle aged—fifty perhaps!" Gladys said, "though he +looks much younger. He is still very good-looking. Well! he came over +here—we chose this site, and—"</p> + +<p>"Is he married?"</p> + +<p>"No! Really you seem very interested in him. Perhaps you will meet him +some day: he comes here a good deal. As I was saying, we chose the site +together, and he supervized the plans I drew up for the garden and +cottage; I don't think, perhaps, I should have thought of that avenue if +it hadn't been for him!"</p> + +<p>"At all events it does you both credit," Shiel remarked, "for a more +charming house and garden I have never seen. I should like to live here +all my life. I should like—" but he was interrupted by John Martin. +"Come, it's time we were off," the latter called out brusquely, "time +and trains wait for no man!"</p> + +<p>"A young ass!" John Martin whispered in Gladys' ear, as the trio passed +through the entrance of the railway station on to the platform, "not a +bit of good to me. Don't encourage him, whatever you do!"</p> + +<p>"Encourage him!" Gladys retorted indignantly, seeing that Shiel, who had +his ticket to get, was out of hearing. "Do I encourage any one? All the +same," she added defiantly, "I rather like him. It isn't every one's +good fortune to be as smart as you, John Martin. Quick—hurry up! That's +your train—and the guard's about to blow his whistle."</p> + +<p>With a vigorous push she hustled her father into the first compartment +they came to, and Shiel sprang in after him as the train moved out of +the station.</p> + +<p>An hour later Gladys, looking extremely demure and proper, was rapping +with a daintily gloved hand at the inquiry office in the great stone +lobby of the Modern Sorcery Company's building in Cockspur Street.</p> + +<p>"Have you an appointment, madam?" the commissionaire, in a bright blue +uniform, asked.</p> + +<p>"No," Gladys replied. "Is it necessary?</p> + +<p>"The firm are unusually busy," the man explained, "and unless you have +made an appointment with them some days beforehand, it is doubtful +whether they will be able to see you. However, if you will step into the +waiting room and fill in one of the forms you see on the table, I will +take it to them. Which member of the firm have you come to consult?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't the slightest idea," Gladys said. "I want to have a dream +interpreted."</p> + +<p>"Then, that will be Mr. Kelson," the man observed "he does all that kind +of thing—tells dreams, characters, pasts, and reads thoughts. Mr. +Curtis solves all manner of puzzles and tricks; and Mr. Hamar divines +the presence of metals and water. There is a lady in the waiting-room +now, come to have a dream interpreted. She's been there nearly an hour. +This way, madam!"—and he escorted, rather than ushered, Gladys into a +large, elaborately furnished room, in which a dozen or so well dressed +people—of both sexes—were waiting, looking over the leaves of +magazines and journals, and trying in vain to hide their only too +obvious excitement.</p> + +<p>Having filled in the necessary form, and given it to the commissionaire, +Gladys looked round for a seat, and espying one, next to a strikingly +handsome girl, she at once appropriated it.</p> + +<p>There was something about this showy girl that had attracted Gladys. She +was one of those rare people that have a personality, and although this +was a personality that Gladys was not at all sure she liked, +nevertheless she felt anxious to become more closely acquainted with it. +Both girls suddenly realized that they were staring hard at one another. +The girl with the personality was the first to speak. With a smile that, +while revealing a perfect set of white teeth, at the some time revealed +exceedingly thin lips, she remarked, "It's most wearisome work waiting. +I've been here nearly an hour. I shouldn't stay any longer, only I've +come from a distance. London is so hot and stuffy, I detest it."</p> + +<p>"Do you?" Gladys observed. "I don't. I find it so full of human +interest—indeed, of every kind of interest. Not that I should care to +live in it, but I like being near enough to come up several times a +week. I live at Kew."</p> + +<p>"Then you're lucky!" the girl said, "I'd live at Kew if I could. But I +can't—I'm one of those unfortunate creatures who have to earn their +living."</p> + +<p>"I sometimes wish I had to," Gladys remarked.</p> + +<p>"Do you! Then you don't know much about it. It isn't all jam by a long +way. I loathe work. I've been spending my holiday at Kew. I've just come +from there."</p> + +<p>"Are you by any chance Miss Rosenberg?" Gladys asked.</p> + +<p>"That's my name," the girl replied with a look of astonishment. "How do +you know?"</p> + +<p>Gladys explained. "I've just been to the Vicarage," she said, "and Mrs. +Sprat has told me about the verses. Did you really dream them?"</p> + +<p>"Of course! I shouldn't have said so if I hadn't," Miss Rosenberg +replied angrily. "I don't tell crams. Besides, I've never composed a +line of poetry in my life. The verses were repeated to me in my sleep by +some occult agency—of that I am quite certain. They were so vividly +impressed on my mind that I had no difficulty at all in remembering +them—every one of them, and I got up and wrote them down. Of course +they must mean something."</p> + +<p>Gladys was about to make some observation, when the commissionaire, +opening the door of the room, called out, "Miss Rosenberg;" whereupon, +with a sigh of relief, Miss Rosenberg took her departure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X" />CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>HOW THE DREAMS WERE INTERPRETED</h3> + + +<p>"Tell Miss Rosenberg I'll see her now," Matt Kelson said; and as he +leaned back in his luxurious chair with that dignity of self-assurance +only the man who is rich can maintain, it was hard to realise that he +and the Matt Kelson of a year ago were the same. A year ago he had been +a poor, underpaid, ill nourished pen-driver, with all the odious marks +of a pen-driver's servility thick upon him. It was true he had been +fastidious as to his appearance—that is to say, as fastidious as any +one can be, who has to buy clothes ready made and can only afford to pay +a few dollars for them; that he had sacrificed meals to wear white +shirts—boiled shirts as one called them in San Francisco—and to get +his things got up decently at a respectable laundry; but his teeth in +those days did not receive the attention they ought to have received (he +could not afford a dentist), the tobacco he smoked was often offensive; +and there were to be found in him sundry other details that one usually +finds in clerks, and in most other people who literally have to fight +for a living.</p> + +<p>But now, all that was changed. Kelson was rich. He bought his suits at +Poole's, his hats at Christie's, his boots in Regent Street. He +patronized a dentist in Cavendish Square, and a manicurist in Bond +Street. He belonged to a crack club in Pall Mall, and never smoked +anything but the most expensive cigars. His ambition had been speedily +realized. He had passionately longed to be a fop—he was one. The only +thing that troubled him, was that he could not be an aristocrat at the +same time. But, after all, what did that matter? The girls looked at him +all the same, and that was all he wanted. He worshipped, he adored, +pretty girls; and he was most anxious that they should adore him.</p> + +<p>Consequently, his first thought, when he saw Lilian Rosenberg's name on +the form the commissionaire presented him, was "Is she pretty?" And the +first thing he said to himself directly the door opened to admit her +was, "By Jove! she is."</p> + +<p>Then he assumed an air more suited to a partner in a big London firm, +and flourishing a richly bejewelled hand, said "Pray take a seat, madam. +What can I do for you?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to tell me the meaning of these verses," Lilian Rosenberg +said, handing him two sheets of foolscap and then sitting down. "They +were suggested to me in my sleep—in other words, I dreamed them."</p> + +<p>"You dreamed them, did you!" Kelson said, noticing with approval that +the girl had well-kept white hands, and that her clothes, though not +particularly expensive, were <i>chic</i>, and up-to-date. "Do you want me +only to interpret this poem, or shall I tell you something about +yourself first?"</p> + +<p>"By all means tell me something about myself first—if you can," Lilian +Rosenberg said. "I want to get as much as I can out of you. Your fees +are exorbitant."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then," Kelson rejoined with a smile. "Don't blame me if I +tell you too much. You were born at sea. Being a troublesome girl at +home, you were sent to a boarding-school, where you distinguished +yourself in various ways, and last but not least, by making the +headmistress—a married woman—desperately jealous. This led to your +being removed. Removed is a more delicate term than 'expelled.' Am I +right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! I believe you are inspired by the devil."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go on?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—I think so. Yes, go on, please."</p> + +<p>"You came home. Your mother died. Your father married again. You +disliked your stepmother—you considered she ill treated you."</p> + +<p>"She did!"</p> + +<p>"I won't dispute it. At all events you had your revenge. You pretended +to commit suicide, and wrote several letters—to the police amongst +others—declaring that you were about to drown yourself owing to the +cruelty of your stepmother. And so cleverly did you manage it, that +every one believed you were drowned, and blamed your stepmother +accordingly. Changing your name to Lilian Rosenberg you came direct to +London. For some time you worked in a milliner's shop in Beauchamp +Gardens, and then you set up as a manicurist in Woodstock Street. Among +your clients was the wife of the Vicar of St. Katherine's, Kew, who took +a great liking to you—you have extraordinary personal magnetism. +Unable, however, to do more than pay your way at legitimate manicuring +you—"</p> + +<p>"That will do," Lilian Rosenberg cried, a faint flow of colour +pervading her cheeks. "That will do! Explain the verses."</p> + +<p>"As you will!" Kelson said, "but mind, I don't insist on the necessity +of your paying the slightest heed to my explanation. According to the +usual method of interpreting dreams, the valley of flowers is symbolical +of innocence and self-restraint—of that path in life with which the +goody-goodies say every young lady should be satisfied.</p> + +<p>"The hunter is representative of the love of change and excitement; the +horse—of self-indulgence. The misty moon means ruin, the metamorphosis +into the crawling phantasm—death. Leave the path of virtue, and give +way to self-indulgence and a craving for everlasting change and +excitement, and a miserable ending will be your mead—and has been the +mead of all others who have done the same thing."</p> + +<p>"Then the dream is a warning?"</p> + +<p>Kelson was about to reply, when the door opened, and Hamar, with an +apology for intruding, beckoned to him.</p> + +<p>He spoke with him for several moments relative to a matter of some +consequence, and then, glancing at Miss Rosenberg, and drawing Kelson +still further aside, whispered, "Let me caution you again, Matt. On no +account let your soft feelings with regard to the other sex get the +better of you. Remember it is imperative for us to do evil not good—to +lead our clients into temptation, not out of it. I am doing my best to +follow the injunctions of the Unknown, but we must all work in +harmony—that is the most vital point in our compact, and you know if +we do not keep the compact something frightful will happen to us. I +can't impress this fact on you too much. Only yesterday I had to pull +you up for giving good advice to a lady. Damn your good advice, give +bad—bad advice, I say; anything that will do people harm—no matter +whether they are ugly or pretty—and if you are not jolly well careful, +pretty girls will be your—and our—undoing. I see you have a pretty +girl here now—and from what I can read in her face, she is not a saint. +Rub it in to her—rub it into her well—persuade her to be a bigger +sinner still. Now I can't wait to say more, I must go."</p> + +<p>"I asked you," Lilian Rosenberg said, as Kelson resumed his seat, "if +the dream was a warning?"</p> + +<p>"No," Kelson said, "I shouldn't take it as such. Despite the rather +peculiar form it took, I am inclined to think it isn't a dream with any +real significance—but merely a chance dream—a dream compounded of +sayings and actions of the past that have come back to you all +higgledy-piggledy, as they so often do in dreams. You learned a lot of +poetry I suppose when you were at school?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but none like this."</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't suppose so, but the mere fact that your mind was at one +time used to verses—acquainted with metre and rhythm, would account for +the form adopted by your dream. I assure you it was purely chance—and +that there is no significance in it! You are on the look out for work, +is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"I am," Lilian Rosenberg said. "Can you tell me where to go to get it?"</p> + +<p>"I am just thinking," Kelson replied, "I believe my partner, Mr. Hamar, +wants a secretary. I can't, of course, say whether you would suit him. +Do you type?"</p> + +<p>"I can type and do shorthand," Lilian Rosenberg replied eagerly, "and I +can correspond in German and French."</p> + +<p>"And the salary? Would two hundred a year do?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," after a slight pause, "I could make it do. I should want one +half-day holiday—from one o'clock—every week; and Sundays—and three +weeks' holiday in the summer, and one at Christmas, and of course, the +usual Bank Holidays."</p> + +<p>"I see!" Kelson said thoughtfully; "you want plenty of time for +amusement. Well! I will speak about it to Mr. Hamar, and if you leave me +your address I will give it him. How nicely you keep your hands."</p> + +<p>"I manicure them every day," Lilian Rosenberg said; then looking up at +him from under the long lashes which swept her cheeks, she added, "You +won't forget to tell Mr. Hamar about me, will you? I am very anxious to +get a post. You don't know what it is to be hard up, do you?"</p> + +<p>The earnest, pleading expression in her long, dark eyes appealed to +Kelson as nothing else had ever appealed to him. Since his arrival in +London, he had seen many pretty faces, many beautiful eyes, but +assuredly none so lovely as these. And what features! what teeth! what +lips! what a chin! what a figure! It seemed to him that she was not like +an ordinary girl, that she was not of the same composition as any of the +girls he had ever met; that she was something hardly human—something +elfish, something generated by the beautiful English woods and glades, +filled with the soft glamour of the moon and stars. And all the while he +was thinking thus, his heart rising in rebellion against the words of +Hamar, the girl continued gazing up at him, and toying with the rings on +her slender, milk-white fingers.</p> + +<p>At last he dare look at her no longer, but stammering out his promise to +do all he could to get her the vacant post, he pressed her hand gently, +and bade her good morning.</p> + +<p>Then he returned to his chair, and, leaning back in it, was seeing once +again in his mind's eye the fair face of the girl who had just left him, +when there was a rap at the door, and the commissionaire announced Miss +Martin.</p> + +<p>"Another of them," Kelson said to himself. "And about as pretty in her +way as the last. Now I wonder what she wants." He looked closely at her, +but no past rose up before him—as far as this client was concerned his +power of divination in that direction was nil—she was a blank.</p> + +<p>"I've come to ask you the meaning of a dream I had last night," she +began, inwardly shuddering at the sight of so much pomade and jewellery.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said with an encouraging smile, "what was it?"</p> + +<p>Of course she did not tell him all, but merely that she had dreamed of +certain flowers and trees as, curiously enough, so had her father.</p> + +<p>Kelson looked at her thoughtfully. Once he opened his mouth to speak and +then checked himself; and it was some seconds before he actually broke +silence.</p> + +<p>"Taken separately," he said at last, "the ash tree portends an +unexpected visit; a poppy, a visit from a man; red roses, falling in +love; lilac, a present; a willow, kisses—heaps of them; bluebells, a +proposal; brambles, difficulties in the way—for example, tiresome +relatives; buttercups, a marriage; an ash tree, a son and heir—a dear +little——"</p> + +<p>"Thank you!" Gladys remarked, rising frigidly. Thank you! I will go now. +What is your fee?"</p> + +<p>"I trust, madam, you are pleased," Kelson said in great distress.</p> + +<p>"Will you kindly take your fee and let me out," Gladys demanded, as he +nervously placed himself in her way. "Thank you. Good morning!"</p> + +<p>And as she swept regally past him and down the stone passage, Hamar came +out of his room and passed by her on his way to Kelson's office.</p> + +<p>"Ye gods!" he exclaimed, eyeing the discomfited Kelson wrathfully. "What +in the world have you done to offend the lady? I never saw any one look +so angry in my life. D—n it all! I hope you didn't insult her!"</p> + +<p>"It was all your fault!" Kelson wailed. "She asked me to tell her the +meaning of a dream which was brimful of warnings against us."</p> + +<p>"Against us!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, against us! I have never listened to such admonitions in a dream +before. She must have some very friendly spirits watching over her. +Well! what was I to do? I did my best. Mindful of what you said to me a +short time ago, I put her entirely off the track; gave her an entirely +misleading—and as I thought very pleasant—interpretation of the +dream."</p> + +<p>"What did you say?"</p> + +<p>Kelson told him.</p> + +<p>"Jackass!" Hamar exclaimed. "Jackass! You were far too broad. What +pleases a San Francisco girl shocks a London lady. For goodness sake +have more tact another time, we don't want to get into hot water. I feel +quite convinced that if any harm befalls us—if that compact is in any +way broken—it will be through you. I wish to heaven the Unknown had +given you some other power."</p> + +<p>"So do I," Kelson groaned.</p> + +<p>"At all events," Hamar went on, "the first three months is nearly at an +end. Who was she?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Gladys Martin!"</p> + +<p>"Where does she live?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I could divine nothing about her. She can't have any +vices."</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose she has," Hamar remarked dryly, "Not from the look of +her anyway. But there is time yet. Matt! I've taken a fancy to that girl +and I mean to get hold of her somehow. I wonder if she is related to +Martin—Davenport's partner! Jerusalem! What sport if she is!"</p> + +<p>"Why? Why sport?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"Dolt! Don't you see! Martin is at our mercy. We are more than his +rivals. We can drive him out of London any moment we like. His tricks +indeed! Pshaw! Curtis can do them all right off the reel! And Curtis +shall—we will show Martin up—make a laughing stock of him—ruin him! +Unless—unless—"</p> + +<p>"Unless what?"</p> + +<p>"Great Scott! Don't look so alarmed! Unless—supposing that girl is his +daughter—unless he gives me permission to pay my addresses to +her!"—and Hamar laughed coarsely.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI" />CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>LEON HAMAR CALLS ON THE MARTINS</h3> + + +<p>"Where's Gladys?" John Martin asked as he rose with an effort, stiff and +tired, from the remains of a meat tea.</p> + +<p>In reply Miss Templeton merely pointed a finger—and went on crocheting.</p> + +<p>Following the direction indicated, John Martin stepped out on to the +lawn, and glancing round the garden, called "Gladys!" Then he listened, +and there came to him snatches of a song, the words of which, full of +arch sentiment, allied with (and to a large extent dependent on), a +unique knowledge of and love of nature—would not have disgraced a +Herrick or a Raleigh—the music—a Schubert, or a Sullivan. John Martin +had spared no money in educating Gladys, and she did him credit. He +thought so now, as exhausted from a hard day's poring over letters, he +paused and leaned his back against a tree. A gentle breeze blew her +notes to him, full of melody and mirth; fresh and young and tender—as +tender as the rosebuds and violets that nestled at her bosom.</p> + +<p>"By Jove!" John Martin murmured. "Fancy my having a daughter like +Gladys! I ought to be jolly well pleased. And so I am. The only thing I +fear, is, that she'll marry some one who isn't half good enough for her! +But who would be good enough for her! God alone knows! And God alone +knows whether she or I ought to decide! Gladys!"</p> + +<p>"Hulloa!", and the next moment a vision in pink emerged from the bushes.</p> + +<p>"Gladys, I want to confide in you!"</p> + +<p>"What's wrong, Daddy, dear?" Gladys said, thrusting an arm through his +and walking him gently along with her through the glade. "You weren't at +all nice to me when we parted this morning, but you look so wearied that +I'll be magnanimous and forgive you. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why it's like this!'" John Martin said, putting his arm round her and +holding her close to him, as he used to do when, a little girl, she came +sidling up to him for sugar-plums. "Poor Dick's affairs are in a +terrible muddle. Unknown to me he speculated right and left, and he has +not only muddled through everything he had, but he has left a number of +debts, and unfortunately I have to meet them."</p> + +<p>"You, Father! But why you?" Gladys cried.</p> + +<p>"Because they were incurred in the name of the Firm. I can meet them all +right, but it will be a big drain on my resources. That's worry number +one. Worry number two is about young Davenport—Shiel. I don't know what +to do about him. He was entirely dependent on Dick. His work as an +artist doesn't bring him in enough to keep him in tobacco, and the worst +of it is he doesn't seem capable of turning his hand to anything else; I +can't see him starve, so I shall have to allow him something."</p> + +<p>"He seemed to me very intelligent," Gladys observed, "couldn't you take +him into the Firm? Who are you going to have in his uncle's place?"</p> + +<p>"That's the trouble!" John Martin replied. "I do feel I want some one. +I am getting on in years, my brain is not so vigorous as it used to be, +and I can't go on inventing fresh tricks <i>ad infinitum</i>. Moreover, I +need assistance in the purely business side of the concern. I want some +one who is both business-like and inventive—some one young, brilliant +and reliable."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't sell out I suppose?"</p> + +<p>"No, not just at present. Thanks to poor old Dick the Firm is in rather +a precarious condition! Another six months over, and we may be perfectly +all right. No! I must stick on, and get another partner. And look here, +Gladys, you know I let you do pretty nearly everything you like. But let +me beg of you not to be too friendly with that young Davenport. I caught +him looking very impressibly at you this morning, and I am quite sure, +if he sees anything more of you, he will be falling head over ears in +love. Which is the very last thing in the world I want!"</p> + +<p>"That's making me out to be very attractive, Daddy," Gladys said, +looking round at him mischievously.</p> + +<p>"And so you are, dear!" John Martin said. "Wonderfully attractive! and +none knows it better than yourself. But in this case you must think of +consequences—consequences that might be disastrous to us all! Confound +it all, who's this? What on earth does he want?"</p> + +<p>Gladys gazed in astonishment. A young and very smartly dressed man was +advancing towards them with a soft, cat-like tread. He was of medium +height and slim build. His head disproportionately large; his right ear +standing out, in proof that it had long been used as a pen-rest; his +nose pronounced and Semitic in outline; his eyes, big, projecting and +yellowish brown; his chin, retreating; his complexion, dark and +saturnine.</p> + +<p>Gladys shivered. "What a horrible person!" she whispered, "there is +something positively uncanny about him. I feel cold all over and how he +stares!"</p> + +<p>"Yes—what is it?" John Martin demanded. "Do you want to see me?"</p> + +<p>"You're Mr. Martin, I reckon!" the stranger replied in the soft drawl, +characteristic of California. "I've come to have a little talk with you +on business."</p> + +<p>"With me—on business!" John Martin cried. "I don't know you! I've never +seen you before!"</p> + +<p>"You see me now anyway!" the stranger laughed, casting approving eyes at +Gladys. "My name's Leon Hamar, and I've come to talk over that show of +yours."</p> + +<p>"D—n your impudence!" John Martin said, raising his stick +threateningly. "How dare you intrude upon me here on such a pretext."</p> + +<p>"Calmly, calmly, sir!" Hamar cried, his cheeks paling. "I've come here +with every intention of being civil. I am chief partner in the Modern +Sorcery Company Ltd., and as conjuring figures prominently in our +programme I thought you might prefer to have us as friends rather than +rivals."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure my father need not fear your rivalry," Gladys broke in, +meeting Hamar's admiring gaze stonily.</p> + +<p>Hamar bowed.</p> + +<p>"If," he said, "you desire a proof of our ability to accomplish what we +profess, I will give that proof without delay. With your per—"</p> + +<p>"You have no permission from me, sir," John Martin cried fiercely. "Go!"</p> + +<p>Hamar merely shrugged his shoulders. "You ought not to get so heated," +he said, "considering that exactly twenty feet below where you are +standing is a spring. All you have to do is to mark the spot, and sink a +well, and there will be no need for you to use the Company's water. As +you are probably aware, spring water is a thousand times clearer and +purer. Also," he went on, stepping hastily back as John Martin again +raised his stick, "in the trunk of that elm over yonder is a hollow +about eight feet from the ground, and if you look inside it, you will +discover an iron box full of curios and jewellery. Shall I—"</p> + +<p>"No!" retorted John Martin. "If you don't go instantly I'll send for the +police,"—and Hamar, coming to the conclusion that upon this occasion +discretion was better than valour, hurriedly beat a retreat.</p> + +<p>"You'll be sorry, John Martin!" he shouted from a safe distance, "and so +will Miss Gladys, charming Miss Gladys. But remember you have only +yourselves to blame. Ta-ta!", and the next moment he was lost to sight.</p> + +<p>"Well!" Gladys ejaculated, "of all the beastly cads I have ever seen he +fairly takes the biscuit. What colossal cheek! The idea of his coming +here and speaking to us like that! Can't we prosecute him, Father?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly!" John Martin replied, "best leave him alone. I wish he hadn't +come! He's upset me! My nerves are anyhow! Which was the tree he spoke +about?"</p> + +<p>"This one," Gladys exclaimed, walking up to an elm, and patting it with +her hand, "but you surely don't believe what he said, do you? It was all +rubbish from start to finish. Daddy, my dear old Daddy, I do believe you +are worrying about it."</p> + +<p>"Hold my hat and stick a moment," John Martin said, and making a spring, +which for one of his age and weight showed surprising agility, he +succeeded in catching hold of one of the nearest lateral branches. The +elm being old, the bark had become very gnarled and uneven, and thus the +difficulty of ascension lay more in semblance, perhaps, than in reality. +Embracing the huge trunk, as closely as possible, with his arms and +knees, much to the detriment of his clothes, seizing with his hands some +projections, and resting his feet upon others, John Martin, after one or +two narrow escapes from falling, at length wriggled himself into the +first great fork, and paused to wipe his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do take care, Father!" Gladys pleaded, "you'll fall and break your +neck. Do be sensible and come down now."</p> + +<p>But John Martin paid no attention, he went on groping.</p> + +<p>"I've found it," he suddenly shouted. "That bounder was right, the trunk +is hollow." He was silent then, for some minutes, and Gladys could only +see his boots. Then there was a muffled oath, a sound of choking and +gasping, which made Gladys's blood run cold, and then—a great cry. +"There's something here, something hard and heavy. It's a box, an iron +box! Take it from me." And leaning as far down as he dared, he placed in +Gladys's outstretched hands, a rusty iron box. Then there was the sound +of scraping and tearing, and John Martin gradually lowered himself to +the ground—his coat covered with green, and the knees of his trousers +ripped to pieces.</p> + +<p>Gladys ran indoors for a hammer and chisel, and, the hinges of the box +being worn with age and exposure, it was but the work of a few seconds +to break it open. It was full of gold and silver coins and jewellery; +there were only a few gold pieces, the greater number of the coins were +silver—the bulk Georgian—and their dates ranged from 1697 to 1750. The +jewellery consisted of several massive gold bracelets, (two or three of +very fine workmanship); some dozen or so plain gold rings; two silver +watches, and a varied assortment of silver trinkets. All were more or +less antique, but none—apart from the gold bracelets—of any great +value.</p> + +<p>"Well!" John Martin exclaimed, as they concluded their examination of +the articles, "what do you make of it?"</p> + +<p>"Why that man put them there, of course," Gladys said, "can't you see +the whole thing is nothing but a dodge to intimidate you into forming a +friendship with him. I daresay he has heard that Mr. Davenport is dead, +and thinks he sees an opportunity to be taken into partnership. He had a +horrid face—sly and cunning, and his way of looking at me was +positively disgusting. It makes me feel sick and horrid even to think of +it."</p> + +<p>"What shall we do with these things?" John Martin asked, picking up one +of the watches and eyeing it with curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Are they ours?" Gladys replied.</p> + +<p>"I certainly consider we've a right to keep them," her father said, +"since we've found them ourselves on our own property, but I suppose, +legally, they are treasure trove and ought to be given up."</p> + +<p>"Then surely the Government would pay us something for them, wouldn't +it?"</p> + +<p>"I should think so, at least a decent Government would. Anyhow, I think +to give them up will be our best course. I doubt if the whole lot is +worth fifty pounds. Where was it he said there was water?"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" Gladys exclaimed, "you don't mean to say you are going +to bother about that now!"</p> + +<p>"It was here, I think," John Martin went on, thrusting his stick in the +ground, "to the best of my knowledge—and I had experts' advice—there +is no water any where near here. Had there been, I should not have gone +to the expense of having pipes laid down to feed the pond."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Father, how can you be so silly," Gladys cried, "of course there +isn't any water here. It's only a trick, a trick to frighten you—and +I'm beginning to think it has succeeded."</p> + +<p>"I shall try here anyway to-morrow," John Martin said grimly. "Let us go +in now."</p> + +<p>When Gladys went into the garden on the following morning she beheld an +extraordinary sight. Her father, the gardener, and a man whom she did +not recognize at first, as his back was turned towards her, but who, to +her utter astonishment, proved to be Shiel Davenport, were hard at work, +digging a pit.</p> + +<p>Her father paused every now and then, and rested; but he did not allow +the others a moment's respite. Every time they were about to slack, he +urged them on. It was all very well for the gardener who was accustomed +to it, but it was obviously killing work for Shiel Davenport, and +Gladys—as soon as she had overcome a preliminary outburst of +laughter—gave vent to her sympathies.</p> + +<p>"What a shame," she exclaimed, "Father how can you? Poor Mr. Davenport +looks ready to drop. Take a rest, Mr. Davenport! Do—you have my +permission."</p> + +<p>Looking very hot and exhausted, Shiel Davenport threw down his spade and +attempted to make himself presentable.</p> + +<p>"His clothes will be ruined, Father," Gladys said, indignantly.</p> + +<p>"They're not his clothes—he's wearing an old suit of mine," John Martin +explained, trying to appear unconcerned.</p> + +<p>Shiel forced a laugh. "I'm rather out of form, Miss Martin, I haven't +had much exercise lately."</p> + +<p>"You're getting it now anyway," John Martin chuckled.</p> + +<p>"And it's blistered your hands horribly!" Gladys cried, pointing to +several raw places. "I will fetch you a pair of father's gloves—he's a +brute!"</p> + +<p>"Please don't trouble," Shiel exclaimed, "I'll use my handkerchief +instead. Digging is even harder work than painting—in one way."</p> + +<p>"It's not fit work for you," Gladys replied with another reproachful +glance at her father. "When did you arrive, I never heard you?"</p> + +<p>"I 'phoned to him last night," John Martin said, looking rather +sheepish. "I thought a day out here would do him good. He thought so +too, and came on by the seven o'clock train. We've been digging ever +since breakfast—but a bit of exercise won't hurt him, and I'll give him +plenty of vaseline presently."</p> + +<p>They resumed work again; and Gladys retired indoors. At eleven o'clock +John Martin let Shiel go. "You can amuse yourself till luncheon with +books and papers," he said, "you'll find plenty of them in my study. +I'll join you later."</p> + +<p>But Shiel had other ideas of amusing himself, and as soon as he had +washed and changed back into his own clothes, he followed the sounds of +music until he reached the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure you must feel dreadfully tired," Gladys said, leaving off +playing. "It was too bad of Father to make you work like that."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid your father thinks me a very useless article," Shiel +replied, seating himself in an easy chair, and trying his hardest not to +look too ardently. "And an artist is not much good outside his +profession."</p> + +<p>"Who is?" Gladys smiled. "Shall you still go on painting?"</p> + +<p>"Now that my uncle has died? It all depends—depends on whether he has +been able to leave me anything in his will. From one or two things your +father has said I fear he has not—in which case I don't quite know what +I shall do. I could hardly expect Mr. Martin to take me into his firm."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you any good at invention?" Gladys asked, "I know he wants some +one who is—some one who can help him devise fresh tricks. This +everlasting racking of the brains to think of something new is beginning +to be too much for him."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could be of some use," Shiel said, "both for his sake and +mine, and may I add yours. Anyhow I'll try. I have a certain amount of +imagination—I suppose most artists have, and henceforth I'll devote it +to trickery."</p> + +<p>"No, not to trickery!" Gladys said, "to conjuring!"</p> + +<p>"Well, to conjuring then—to planning something novel and startling in +the way of a trick. And as they say, two heads are better than one, +perhaps, you will help me."</p> + +<p>"I," Gladys laughed, "why I've never invented anything in my life, +barring a song."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless I'm sure you would be of great help to me," Shiel said; +"you would at least criticize my efforts, wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh! I should certainly do that," Gladys laughingly rejoined, "and +probably do more harm than good."</p> + +<p>"You could never do any harm!" Shiel said, with so much eagerness that +Gladys got up and began searching for a piece of music. "I would give +anything to paint you."</p> + +<p>"I have been painted—twice," Gladys observed.</p> + +<p>"For the R.A.?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! I didn't much care about it, and I grew desperately tired of +sitting."</p> + +<p>"Who painted you?"</p> + +<p>"Heniblow painted me once, and Darker painted me once."</p> + +<p>"Then it's useless for me even to think of it. How did they treat you in +their pictures?"</p> + +<p>"Heniblow painted me in evening dress, and Darker painted me in the +character of Enid—you know, the Enid in the 'Idylls of the King.'"</p> + +<p>"Yes. But I should like to paint you as 'Melody in Flower Land.'"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I can't grasp it," Gladys said.</p> + +<p>"Can't you!" Shiel exclaimed, "I can. The idea came to me when I heard +you singing just now, and saw you sitting here, in the midst of flowers, +and dressed like a rose. I should paint you clad as you are now—all in +pink—seated in the garden singing; and all the flowers leaning towards +you listening. I would give anything to paint it," and he spoke with +such enthusiasm that Gladys, remembering her dream, flushed.</p> + +<p>"I think," she said, "we might go into the garden and see how the work +is progressing."</p> + +<p>"I fear I can't do any more digging," Shiel put in hastily, "I willingly +would if I could, but I really can't use my hands."</p> + +<p>"And you've not had any vaseline," Gladys cried. "I'll get you some," +and before he could prevent her she had gone.</p> + +<p>She was back again, however, in a few moments with a tiny white jar and +some linen bandages. "I couldn't find my aunt," she began, "or she would +bandage your hands for you."</p> + +<p>"Won't you?" Shiel asked. "Do!"</p> + +<p>He thrust his hands towards her as he spoke, and Gladys uttered an +exclamation of horror—the palms and fingers were raw and swollen.</p> + +<p>"I feel heartily ashamed of myself for being so thin-skinned," Shiel +said. But Gladys had disappeared. She returned almost immediately with a +bowl of water.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure they must hurt you dreadfully," she exclaimed, as she gently +bathed the hands. "It makes me feel quite ill to see them."</p> + +<p>For the next few moments Shiel was in Paradise. The touch of her cool, +white fingers on his hot and burning skin was far nicer than anything he +had ever imagined. Her sweet-scented breath stealing gently up his +nostrils soothed away all his care—even the remembrance of his recent +loss.</p> + +<p>With his whole heart and soul concentrated in his gaze, he watched her +every movement—watched the waving and tossing of the stray wisps of +hair over her temples and ears, as the breeze rustled through the open +windows; and the gentle tightening and relaxation of her delicately +moulded lips each time she breathed.</p> + +<p>Shiel had always led a very solitary existence. Apart from his uncle he +had no near relatives, and with the exception of the five or six weeks +in the year he had spent at Dick Davenport's house at Sydenham, he had +always been in rooms. He had often felt lonely, but never quite so +lonely as now—now that the only person he had known intimately and for +whom he had entertained any real affection, was suddenly taken away. He +was now absolutely alone in the world, and the poignancy of his position +came home to him acutely.</p> + +<p>It is a terrible thing to be lonely. Lonely men do all sorts of dreadful +things—things they would certainly never dream of doing if they had +companionship. And Shiel was doing a dreadful thing now. Every moment he +was falling more and more desperately in love, despite the fact that he +had no money, and worse still—no prospects of ever making any. And +loneliness was in the main responsible for it.</p> + +<p>Had he not been so lonely—had he not spent days and days, alone in +lodgings, with no one to talk to—no one to care whether he were ill or +dying; had this not been his experience—the experience he was even then +undergoing, reason would have outweighed folly, and even though he might +have realized that in Gladys Martin he had found his ideal of beauty—of +womanliness, he would have been content only to admire.</p> + +<p>As it was, he was in that very dangerous mood when the heart yearns for +sympathy; when a plain woman's sympathy means much—and a pretty +woman's more than much. It is no exaggeration to say that Shiel would +have lain down and died for Gladys ten times over. For her sake—if only +to see her smile, no mere physical pain would have been too excruciating +for him to bear. And when she put the finishing touches to the bandages, +and quite by chance, of course, their eyes met, he looked at her as if +he never meant to leave off looking at her, as if he never meant to do +anything else but look at her for all eternity.</p> + +<p>Whether she understood as much or not, is impossible to say. Shiel asked +himself the question over and over again before the day was out, and in +his sleep, and during the next day, and for many days afterwards. Could +she tell how much he admired her? How much he worshipped her? All that +he was prepared to do for her sweet sake? All this he asked himself +repeatedly, and went on thinking of her when he knew he ought never to +have thought of her at all.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure your hands are more comfortable now. Won't you go into the +garden and see how the work is progressing?" she said. "Or if you are +afraid Father will want you to dig again, perhaps you would like to go +into his study and read the papers."</p> + +<p>"I should like to stay here and listen to you singing," he said. "Mayn't +I do that?"</p> + +<p>"You might," she said, "but I have to go out."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll stay here till you return," he said, "I've never been in such +a delightful room."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of Shiel Davenport?" Gladys remarked to her aunt a +few minutes later. "I don't think I've ever met such an extraordinary +young man. He does nothing but stare at me, and when I ask him to do one +thing he suggests doing another. He's the most difficult person to +manage. In fact, I can't manage him at all."</p> + +<p>"Never mind about managing him, my dear," Miss Templeton replied, "so +long as you don't let him manage you. Young men who do nothing but stare +are not merely difficult—they are dangerous."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII" />CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE GREAT CHALLENGE</h3> + + +<p>When John Martin came into tea that afternoon, he gave Gladys a shock. +Despite the fact that he had been in the sun all day and was much tanned +in consequence he had never looked—so Gladys thought—so old and +haggard.</p> + +<p>"You dear old Daddie!" she said, hastening to pour him out some tea, +"you shouldn't work so hard—this silly digging has quite knocked you +up! Haven't you finished?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've finished!" John Martin said, catching his breath. "I've found +water!"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"It's true all the same. We struck it at exactly the distance he +said—twenty feet."</p> + +<p>"Then of course he knew."</p> + +<p>"How? How the deuce could he have known?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say," Gladys replied. "All I know is, that he's not straight, +and that there's some underhand trickery going on. But do have your tea +now, and dismiss it from your mind. Anyhow, he can do you no harm."</p> + +<p>"Here's a letter for you, John," Mrs. Templeton exclaimed, entering the +room at that moment.</p> + +<p>John Martin took it from her, and tore open the envelope curiously. It +was a handwriting he did not know, and did not like—its +characteristics were sinister.</p> + +<p>"I knew it!" he cried; "I knew the fellow was a scoundrel. What the +deuce do you think he has the impertinence to do now?"</p> + +<p>"He!" Gladys said, looking anxiously at her father. "Whoever do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that confounded young bounder who came here last night—Leon Hamar +he signs himself. In this letter he declares that he can perform any of +our tricks, and will accept the wager I offered for their solution some +little time ago. He also says that unless I consent to see him, and to +listen courteously to what he has to say, he will publicly announce his +intention of taking up the wager, at our Hall, in Kingsway, to-night."</p> + +<p>"Do you think there is any possibility of his having discovered the +secrets of your tricks?" Gladys asked. "Could he have bribed any one to +tell him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think so," John Martin said. "The only people who have any clue +as to how they are done are my two attendants—both as you know natives +of Cashmere, and men who, I feel pretty certain, could not be 'got at.'"</p> + +<p>"In that case," Gladys remarked, "I fail to see what there is to worry +about. Your course is perfectly clear—take no notice of it."</p> + +<p>John Martin was silent—dazed. He did not know what to think or do! +There was something painfully ominous to him in the discovery of the +money and the water—something that accentuated the impression Hamar's +sinister appearance had made on him. The man did not look ordinary—his +manner, gestures, walk and expression were decidedly abnormal—in fact +they put him in mind of the superphysical. The superphysical! Might not +that account for his knowledge? Bah! There was no such thing as the +superphysical. The man was extraordinary—but, after all, only a +man—his knowledge only that of a man. And it must be as the shrewd +Gladys conjectured—he had put the money in the tree himself and had +learned of the presence of water through some subtle artifice—perhaps +only guessed at it. He would defy him—let him do what he would!</p> + +<p>This was John Martin's decision as he finished tea. An hour later he had +changed his mind, and was speaking to Hamar on the telephone, expressing +his willingness to grant him a brief interview if he came at once.</p> + +<p>In rather less than an hour a motor drew up at the Martins' door and +Hamar stepped out of it.</p> + +<p>"Glad to find you in a more tractable mood, Mr. Martin," he exclaimed on +being ushered into the latter's presence. "I reckoned you would sing to +a different tune when you found that water. Would you like me to give +you a few more samples of my skill, before we proceed to business?"</p> + +<p>"Name your business at once," John Martin replied gruffly; "I haven't +many minutes to spare."</p> + +<p>"No!" Hamar said, "that's a pity; because part of what I have at the +back of my brain may take more than a few minutes arranging. The +situation in a nutshell is this. You have a pretty daughter, Mr. +Martin?"</p> + +<p>"How dare you, sir?" John Martin broke in, clenching his fist.</p> + +<p>"Gently, gently, Mr. Martin!" Hamar observed, backing towards the door. +"Gently—you promised to give me a courteous hearing. I meant no +offence. I say I admire your daughter immensely—she takes the shine out +of our American girls."</p> + +<p>"The deuce she does!" John Martin foamed.</p> + +<p>"She does, you bet!" Hamar went on. "And I see no reason if she likes +me, why we couldn't get engaged. I would do the thing handsomely as far +as money goes. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I say that unless you're very careful I shall break my promise and kick +you."</p> + +<p>"I would pay you a big lump sum to take me into partnership," Hamar went +on complacently, "and I would introduce a number of new tricks that +would stagger creation. I shouldn't be in any hurry to marry—the length +of the engagement would be for you to decide."</p> + +<p>"Then it would be <i>ad infinitum</i>," John Martin said grimly, "for you'll +never get my consent to a marriage."</p> + +<p>"Never is a long day—and even a John Martin may change. You want new +blood and new capital in your Firm—you would have both in me. I assure +you your show would boom as it has never boomed before!"</p> + +<p>"And the only condition on which you offer me all this is my daughter?"</p> + +<p>"You have said it—that is the one and only condition. Your daughter—my +brains, my dollars."</p> + +<p>"I have decided!" John Martin said.</p> + +<p>"Good!" Hamar exclaimed; "I guessed you would! There's nothing like the +almighty dollar, is there?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!" John Martin rejoined; "the almighty fist—and that's what you'll +get if you don't clear out of this house instantly. And if you ever come +skulking round here again, or write me any more letters I'll set my. +solicitor on to you."</p> + +<p>"Then it's war—war to the knife!" Hamar sneered. "How melodramatic! But +it won't last long. I shall yet be your partner—and I shall yet have +Miss Gladys! Au revoir—I won't say good-bye!" and with a mock bow he +hurriedly took his departure.</p> + +<p>That night Messrs. Martin and Davenport's entertainment had progressed +as usual for about half an hour when it suddenly came to a full stop. A +man in the lowest tier of boxes had risen and was addressing the +audience in a loud voice: "Ladies and gentlemen!"</p> + +<p>In an instant all heads swung round and there were stentorian shouts of +"Silence!"</p> + +<p>But Curtis—for it was he—was not easily daunted. "Do you call this +fair play!" he demanded; "I am here to-night to make a sporting offer, +and one which will afford you vast entertainment."</p> + +<p>Cries of "Shut up!" "Silence!" "He's drunk!" "Turn him out!" merging +into one loud roar forced him to pause. Several uniformed officials now +invaded the box, but Hamar—who, as well as Kelson, was with +Curtis—fixing them with his big dark eyes that gleamed eerily in the +half-lowered lights of the house—for the stage only at that moment was +fully illuminated—held them in check, and they hung back not knowing +what to do. This move of Hamar's took with a large section of the +audience—some of whom were possessed with sporting instincts, whilst +others were merely curious—and the somewhat premature cries of "Turn +him out!" etc., were soon lost in vociferous shouts of: "Let them +alone!" "Let them speak!" "Let us hear what they have to say." It was in +the midst of this hubbub that John Martin in a great state of nervous +agitation came to the front of the stage and inquired the cause of the +commotion. The shouting still continued, and Gladys, who had come to the +performance anticipating something of the sort, called to her father, +from the wings, bidding him give Curtis permission to speak.</p> + +<p>"You will lose all sympathy if you don't, Father," she added; "and +besides you have nothing to fear. It's sheer bravado and impudence on +their part."</p> + +<p>Thus advised, for Gladys was a level-headed girl, John Martin gave in; +and the audience showed their approval by a vigorous round of clapping.</p> + +<p>"I wish I were spokesman," Kelson sighed, his eyes glistening at the +sight of so many pretty upturned faces. "Go on, old man!" he added, +giving Curtis a nudge. "Fire away, and show them you know a bit about +elocution, for the credit of the Firm."</p> + +<p>Curtis needed no encouragement. What little bashfulness he had once +possessed he had certainly left behind in San Francisco, for he leaned +over the front of the box and smiled familiarly at the audience.</p> + +<p>"I am Edward Curtis," he said, "one of the directors of the Modern +Sorcery Company Ltd. Messrs. Martin and Davenport have so often boasted +that no one outside their firm can perform their tricks that I have come +here to-night resolved to disillusion them. I not only accept their +offer of ten thousand pounds for the solution of their tricks, but I +agree to pay them double that amount—cash down—if I do not do +everything they do—from 'The Brass Coffin' to their world-famed +'Pumpkin Puzzle.' With Messrs. Martin and Davenport's permission I will +explain one and all of their tricks to you to-night, and the only thing +I ask of you, ladies and gentlemen, is to see that I get fair play."</p> + +<p>A spontaneous outburst of clapping followed this speech, and as soon as +it had ceased one of the audience who had risen and was waiting to +speak, said: "I trust Messrs. Martin and Davenport will accept this +challenge, and allow the Modern Sorcery Company the opportunity here, in +this hall to-night, of displaying their skill—or their ignorance, as +the case may be. If Messrs. Martin and Davenport's tricks cannot be +performed by any outsider—the Firm in accepting this challenge will +merely be twenty thousand pounds the richer—and if—as is hardly +likely, Messrs. Martin and Davenport should be outwitted, I am sure they +themselves will be amongst the first to congratulate their successful +rivals. I, for one, am quite ready to act as referee."</p> + +<p>"I too!" shouted a dozen other voices. "Be a sport and accept his bet!"</p> + +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen," John Martin replied with dignity, "you have +given me no alternative; I accept the challenge. Perhaps those who have +so kindly volunteered to act as referees will see that order is +maintained whilst I go on with my performance, at the conclusion of +which Mr. Curtis—I think that is the name of my rival—will be quite at +liberty to try his exposition of my tricks."</p> + +<p>The performance then proceeded, and when it was over, Curtis, Hamar and +Kelson, accompanied by six of those of the audience who had volunteered +to act as referees, stepped on to the stage. Seats were provided for the +referees—three on the one side of the stage and three on the other; and +having seen that everything was fair and square John Martin retired to +the O.P. wing, behind which Gladys was concealed.</p> + +<p>A brief description of "The Brass Coffin" trick, which was the first +Messrs. Hamar, Curtis and Kelson proceeded to explain, will, perhaps, +suffice.</p> + +<p>A massively constructed brass-bound coffin is handed round to the +audience, who carefully examine it, and being unable to discover +anything amiss, pronounce themselves satisfied that it is genuine.</p> + +<p>The operator then summons an assistant, jokingly refers to him as "the +corpse"—puts him into a sack, made to represent a winding-sheet, +securely binds the sack with a piece of cord, and asks one of the +audience to seal it. The sack and its contents are then placed in the +coffin which is locked and corded. The operator then throws a sheet over +the coffin, lets it remain there for a few seconds, and on removing it +and opening the lid, the coffin, is found to be empty. A shout from the +front of the House makes every one turn round, when, to their amazement, +"the corpse" is seen standing up at the back of "the Pit," holding the +sack with the rope and seal—intact—in his hand. Such was the +marvellous feat which had been accomplished in Martin and Davenport's +Hall night in and night out for years, the solution of which no one as +yet had been able to discover. One can imagine, in these circumstances, +the tremendous excitement of the audience at the prospect of seeing this +notorious puzzle tackled—and tackled by a member of a Firm which was +already reputed to be doing all kinds of weird and extraordinary things. +But, whereas it was quite obvious that John Martin was greatly perturbed +(his eyebrows were working nervously, and his lips and fingers +twitching), Curtis, on the other hand, was as cool as possible—he +literally did not turn a hair.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen," he said, turning to the referees, "keep your eyes well +skinned and observe everything I do. Ladies and gentlemen," he went on, +raising his voice, "I am now about to show you how the coffin trick is +done. Observe me—I'm 'the corpse'—Mr. Kelson, here, is the operator—" +and Matt Kelson, rather to Hamar's annoyance advanced, down the stage to +take part in the proceedings.</p> + +<p>"Watch me get into the sack!" He stepped into it as he spoke. "Look at +what I have in my hand," he went on, holding up his right hand in full +view of the audience. "I have a plug of wood covered with the same +material as this sack. As soon as I stoop down and the sack is pulled +over me I shall thrust this plug into the mouth of it and Mr. Kelson +will bind the sack round it. I shall then be put into the coffin. You +think you know this coffin but you don't. See!"—and stepping out of the +sack he tapped the head of the coffin, which was very broad and deep. +"Come closer!" and he beckoned to the referees, whose numbers were now +augmented by three newspaper reporters—representatives of the <i>Daily +Snapper</i>, the <i>Planet</i> and the <i>Hooter</i> respectively. "Here is a secret +panel worked by a spring. I will press, and you will press too."</p> + +<p>And amidst a breathless silence—the nine members of the audience on the +stage following every movement—Curtis put his hand inside the head of +the coffin and touched a very slight elevation in the wood. In an +instant, by a wonderfully neat piece of mechanism, a panel slid back, +leaving just sufficient room for a man of moderate dimensions to squeeze +through.</p> + +<p>Everyone now looked at John Martin—he was leaning back in his chair, +breathing hard, his eyes starting out of his head, his cheeks white. +Hamar saw him and grinned, grinned malevolently, but the smile died out +of his face when he glanced at Gladys—the scorn in the girl's eyes +made his blood boil.</p> + +<p>"All right, Miss Martin," he muttered between his teeth; "you adopt that +attitude now, but you will adopt a very different one later on! I'll win +you body and soul, or my name is not what it is."</p> + +<p>He was interrupted in this amiable reflection by Curtis. "I'm too stout +to play the rôle of the corpse, and so is Matt," Curtis said to him; +"you must undertake that part. Now!" he went on, "take this plug and get +into the sack," and he whispered a few instructions in his ear. Then he +tied the top of the sack—in reality tying it round the plug Hamar was +holding—and one of the audience sealed the knot. Curtis and Kelson then +lifted Hamar into the coffin, shut the lid and corded it. Then Curtis, +turning to the audience, said:</p> + +<p>"What is now happening inside the coffin is this—'the corpse' pulls the +plug out of the mouth of the sack from the inside. The cord thus becomes +loose and 'the corpse' is able to open the sack. He at once touches the +spring I pointed out to you in the head of the coffin, and the panel +slides back—So!"</p> + +<p>And as the audience looked, they saw the panel slide back, and first of +all Hamar's head, and then his body, wriggle through the aperture thus +made.</p> + +<p>"The reason why you, audience, cannot see him make his escape is this," +Curtis explained; "the head of the coffin is always turned away from you +and placed against a mirror which you can't see, and which to you +appears but the continuation of the stage. In this mirror exactly +opposite the head of the coffin is an aperture, and it is through this +'the corpse' makes his exit to the back of the stage. I will show it +you. Here it is"—and beckoning to the referees to come quite close, he +pointed to a glass screen, in the centre of the base of which was a +glass trap-door, corresponding in height and girth to the head of the +coffin. "Here, corpse!" Curtis said, "crawl through"—and Hamar, looking +as if he by no means appreciated the undignified task of wriggling on +his stomach before so many eyes, drew himself as tight together as he +could, and squirmed through.</p> + +<p>"Does that satisfy you, gentlemen?" Curtis inquired.</p> + +<p>"Perfectly!" the referees answered. "Nothing could be plainer. We see +exactly, now, how the trick is done."</p> + +<p>At this there was a loud outburst of clapping, and Curtis bowed in the +elegant manner in which he had been patiently and assiduously coached by +Kelson.</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to the second trick—"Eve at the Window," a trick +almost, if not quite, as famous as "The Brass Coffin," and for the +solution of which Martin and Davenport had frequently offered huge sums +of money.</p> + +<p>A large pane of glass some nine by six feet in area, and set in a frame, +made to represent that of a window, is placed on the stage, about +eighteen inches from the floor. Thirty-six inches from the ground a +wooden shelf is placed against the window. An assistant—usually a +woman—then mounts on the shelf and, looking out of the glass, proceeds +to kiss her hand vigorously. The operator in a shocked voice asks her to +desist. She refuses and, to the amusement of the audience, carries on +her pantomimic flirtation more desperately than before. The operator +pretends to lose his temper, and snatching up a screen places it at the +back of her. He then fires a pistol, pulls aside the screen, and she has +vanished. As the top, bottom and sides of the window, all in fact except +the very middle, have been in full view of the audience, and as the +window has been tightly closed all the time, the disappearance of the +girl completely mystifies the audience.</p> + +<p>Curtis explained it all. He pointed out that the keynote to the illusion +lay behind the wooden shelf, which was so placed as to conceal the fact +that the lower part of the window was made double, the bottom of the +upper part being concealed from view by a second sheet of silvered glass +placed in front of it. The shelf covers the line of junction and enables +the window frame to be scrutinized by the audience.</p> + +<p>As soon as the screen is put in front of the lady on the shelf—the +glass pane slides up about a foot and a half into the top of the frame, +purposely made very deep. The bottom of the window is cut away in the +middle, leaving an aperture about two feet square, which was previously +hidden from view by the double glass at the base. Eve makes her exit +through this hole, and slides on to a board placed behind the window in +readiness for her. The pane of glass then slides down again, the screen +is removed, and the window appears just as solid as before.</p> + +<p>When Curtis concluded his verbal explanation he gave the audience a +practical illustration of how the thing was done; he manipulated the +screen and pistol, whilst Hamar posed as Eve, and directly he had +finished there was another outburst of applause. Kelson dared not look +at John Martin or Gladys. The brief glance he had taken of them at the +conclusion of the giving away of the first trick had shocked him—and +he purposely stood with his back to them. With Hamar it was +otherwise—the joy of triumph was strong within him, and the picture of +John Martin, leaning forward in his chair, with his mouth half open and +a dazed, glassy expression in his eyes, only thrilled him with pleasure; +he laughed at the old man, and still more at Gladys.</p> + +<p>"That's the way to treat a girl of that sort," he whispered to Kelson; +"scoff at her—scoff at her well. Let her see you don't care a snap for +her—and in the end she'll run after you and haunt you to death."</p> + +<p>"I'm not so sure," Kelson said. "It might act in some cases, perhaps, +but I don't think you can quite depend on it."</p> + +<p>"Pooh! You are no judge of women, in spite of all your experience," +Hamar retorted. "I'll bet you anything you like she'll come round and +make a tremendous fuss of me."</p> + +<p>"Supposing you fall in love with her, how about the compact?" Kelson +asked. "You've warned me often enough."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I'm not like you," Hamar replied. "There's nothing soft in my +nature. I fall in love! Not much! Why, you might as well have +apprehensions of my joining the Salvation Army, or wanting to become a +Militant Suffragette—either would be just about as possible. No—! I +shall make the girl love me—and we shall be engaged for just as long as +I please. If I find some one that attracts me more, I shall throw her +aside—if not, maybe, I shall marry her—but in either case there will +be no question of love—at least not on my part. She shall do as I +want—that is all! Hulloa! Curtis is beginning again."</p> + +<p>There were five other tricks on the programme—all of which were world +renowned. They were "The Floating Head"; "The Mango Seed"; "The Haunted +Bathing-machine," "The Girl with the Five Eyes," and "The Vanishing +Bicycle" illusion. As with the first two tricks, so Curtis did with the +following five—he explained them, and then, aided by Hamar and Kelson, +gave practical demonstrations of their solutions; and so thoroughly and +clearly were these solutions demonstrated that the referees asked no +questions—they were absolutely satisfied. Turning to the audience—at a +sign from Curtis—they announced that the whole of Messrs. Martin and +Davenport's tricks had been solved to their entire satisfaction, and +that Messrs. Hamar, Curtis and Kelson of the Modern Sorcery Company Ltd. +had, without doubt, won the wager.</p> + +<p>"Have you anything to say?" Curtis asked, addressing John Martin.</p> + +<p>"I acknowledge my defeat, though I do not understand it!" John Martin +said with very white lips. "I shall pay you the ten thousand pounds +to-night."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry about that," Hamar interposed; "we don't want to take your +money, all we wanted to do was to prove to you we could perform the +tricks you believed to be insoluble.</p> + +<p>"Ladies and gentlemen!" he went on, raising his voice, "the Modern +Sorcery Company Ltd. has given you some proof to-night of their +capabilities in the conjuring line, and if you will give us the pleasure +of your company to-morrow night—we invite you all free of charge for +the occasion—we will give you a still further demonstration of our +powers. May we count upon your patronage?"</p> + +<p>A terrific storm of clapping was the reply, and as the audience slowly +filed from the hall, John Martin staggered into the wing, reeled past +Gladys ere she could catch him, and sank helplessly on to the floor.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII" />CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>THE MODERN SORCERY COMPANY LTD. GIVE A GRATIS PERFORMANCE</h3> + + +<p>The days that followed were dark days for Gladys. Her father, whom she +loved—and, until now, had never realized how much she loved—lay +seriously ill. He had had a stroke which, although fortunately slight, +must, as the doctor said, be regarded as a prelude to what would happen, +unless he was kept very quiet. And to keep him quiet was not an easy +thing to do. His mind continually reverted to what had just taken place, +and he was for ever asking Gladys to tell him whether anything further +had occurred in connection with it, whether there was anything about it +in the papers.</p> + +<p>Gladys, of course, was obliged to dissemble. She hated anything +approaching dissimulation, but on this occasion there was no help for +it, and what she told John Martin was the reverse of what she knew to be +actually happening. The papers were full to overflowing with accounts of +that fatal night's proceedings, and of the marvellous gratis exhibition +given on the succeeding evening by the Modern Sorcery Company Ltd.</p> + +<p>The <i>Hooter</i>, for example, had a full column on the middle page headed +in large type—</p> + +<p class="hl">Extraordinary Scene <br />at <br />Martin and Davenport's<br /><br /> +The Greatest Conjuring Tricks +in the World Solved! </p> + +<p>Whilst the <i>Daily Snapper</i>, determined to be none the less sensational, +began thus:</p> + +<p class="hl">Mysteries No Longer!<br /> +"The Brass Coffin Trick" And "Eve at the Window" Done at Last!<br /> +Martin and Davenport Lose Their Prestige </p> + +<p>This was bad enough, but the <i>Planet</i> published a paragraph that was +even more galling, viz.—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Now that Messrs. Martin and Davenport's great Illusions have been + explained and their Hall in Kingsway, so long famous as the Home of + Puzzledom, of necessity shorn of its glamour, one need not be + surprised if those who delight in this kind of mystery, should turn + elsewhere for their amusement. The British Public, which is above + all things enamoured of novelty, will, doubtless, now resort to the + Modern Sorcery Company, whose House in Cockspur Street bids fair to + become the future home of everything uncanny. Their programme—to + the uninitiated—presents possibilities—and impossibilities." </p></div> + +<p>So said the <i>Planet</i>, and as the number of attendances at Martin and +Davenports' fell from 820 on the night of the challenge to 89 on the +succeeding night, whilst the Modern Sorcery Company's Hall was filled to +overflowing, there was every prospect of its prediction being verified. +The solution of Martin and Davenports' tricks had taken place (Hamar had +so planned it) on the last night the trio possessed the property of +divination, and, consequently, on the night that terminated the first +stage of their compact. The following night they would be in possession +of new powers, such powers as would warrant them giving a gratis +exhibition—an exhibition of jugglery absolutely new and unprecedented. +That the exhibition was successful may be gathered from the following +article in the <i>Daily Cyclone</i>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"MARVELLOUS DISPLAY OF PSYCHIC PHENOMENA IN COCKSPUR STREET.</p> + +<p> "The Modern Sorcery Company Ltd., in their new premises in Cockspur + Street, gave the most remarkable display of Phenomena it has ever + yet fallen to our lot to report. Indeed, the performances were of + such an extraordinary nature that the huge audience, <i>en masse</i>, + was scared; not a few people fainted, whilst every now and again + were heard screams of terror intermingled with long protracted + 'Ohs!'" </p></div> + +<p>A brief <i>résumé</i> of the entertainment ran as follows:—The first part of +the Modern Sorcery Company's programme was carried out by Mr. Leon +Hamar, solus, who, stepping to the front of the stage, announced that he +was about to give a display of clairvoyance. Without further prelude he +pointed to various members of the audience, and described spiritual +presences he saw standing behind them. He did not say he could see a +spirit, answering to the name of James or George—or some such equally +familiar name—and then proceed to give a description of it, so elastic, +that with very little stretching it would undoubtedly have fitted nine +out of every ten people one meets with every day, but unlike any other +clairvoyants we have known, he described the individual physical and +moral traits of the people he professed to see. For example: To a lady +sitting in the third row of the stalls, he said: "There is the phantasm +of an elderly gentleman standing behind you. He has a vivid scar on his +right cheek that looks as if it might have been caused by a sabre cut. +He has a grey military moustache, a very marked chin; wears his hair +parted in the middle, and has light-blue eyes that are fixed ferociously +on the gentleman seated on your left. Do you recognize the person I am +describing?"</p> + +<p>"I think so," the lady answered in a faint voice.</p> + +<p>"I will spare you a description of his person," Hamar went on, "but I +should like to remind you that he met with a rather peculiar accident. +He was looking over some engineering works in Leeds, when some one +pushed him, and he was instantly whipped off the ground by a piece of +revolving mechanism and dashed to pieces against the ceiling. Am I +right?"</p> + +<p>There was no reply—but the sigh, we think, was more significant than +words.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hamar then turned to a lady in the next row. "I can see behind +you," he said, "an old dowager with yellow hair. She wears large emerald +drop earrings, black satin skirt, and a heliotrope bodice of which she +appears to be somewhat vain. She is coughing terribly. She died of +pneumonia, brought about by the excessive zeal of—Ahem!—of her +relatives—for the open-air treatment. Contrary to expectations, +however, all her money went to a Society in Hanover Square—a Society +for the Anti-propagation of Children. I think you know the lady to whom +I refer."</p> + +<p>Mr. Hamar had again hit the mark.</p> + +<p>"Only too well!" came the indignant and spontaneous reply.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hamar then turned to a man in the fifth row. "Hulloa!" he exclaimed. +"What have we here—an Irish terrier answering to the name of 'Peg.' It +is standing upright with its two front paws resting on your knees. It is +looking up into your face, and its mouth is open as if anticipating a +lump of sugar. From the marks on its body I should say it has been +killed by being run over?"</p> + +<p>Again Mr. Hamar was correct. "What you say is absolutely true," the +gentleman replied; "I had a dog named Peg. I was greatly attached to it, +and it was run over in Piccadilly by a motor cyclist. I hate the very +sight of a motor bicycle."</p> + +<p>After a brief interval of awestruck silence a voice from the gallery +called out—</p> + +<p>"You are in league with him!"</p> + +<p>Then the man in the stalls stood up, and essayed to speak; but his voice +was drowned in a perfect tornado of applause. He had no need—he was +instantly recognized—he was J—— B——. With a few more examples of +clairvoyance Mr. Hamar continued to entertain his audience for half an +hour or so, by the end of which time, we have no hesitation in saying +that every one was convinced that he actually saw what, he said, he saw.</p> + +<p>The second part of the programme was entirely in the hands of Mr. +Curtis, who now came forward with a bow. "Ladies and gentlemen," he +said; "you all know that man is complex—that he is composed of mind and +matter, the material and immaterial. I now propose to give you a +physical demonstration of this fact. Will twelve of the audience kindly +come up on the stage and sit around me, so that you may feel quite +certain that I have here no mechanical devices to assist me?"—And +amongst other well-known people who responded to Mr. Curtis's request, +were Lord Bayle, Sir Charles Tenningham and the Right Hon. John Blaine, +M.P. Having arranged these twelve volunteers in a semi-circle at the +back of the stage, Mr. Curtis, standing in the centre of the stage, +again addressed his audience. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said; "the +secret of separating the mind—or what Spiritualists, who love to +bolster up their pretended knowledge of the other world by the invention +of pretentious nomenclature, call the 'ethical ego'—from the body, lies +in intense concentration. If you wish to acquire the power, practise +concentration—concentrate on being in a certain place. If nothing +happens at first, don't be discouraged, but keep on trying, and a time +will come when you will suddenly leave your body, in a form, which is +the exact counterpart of the body you have left. You will visit the +place whereon you are concentrating. Perhaps the best method of +practising projection is to put your forehead against a door or wall, +and concentrate very hard on being on the other side. It may take weeks +before you get a result, but if you persevere, you will eventually +succeed in leaving your physical form and passing through the door, or +wall, into the space beyond. Now watch me! I shall concentrate on +projecting my immaterial body, and of walking in it, three times round +my material body."</p> + +<p>Mr. Curtis closed his eyes, and for some seconds appeared to be thinking +very hard. Then the audience witnessed a remarkable phenomenon—a +figure, the exact counterpart of Mr. Curtis, stepped out, as it were, +from his body, and slowly walking round it three times, deliberately +glided into it, and apparently amalgamated with it. The twelve members +from the audience who were within a few feet of the alleged ethereal +body, as it walked past them, declared they saw it most vividly, and +that feature for feature, detail for detail, it was the exact +counterpart of Mr. Curtis, whose material body remained standing, +upright and motionless, with its eyes tightly closed. Our representative +questioned several of these eye-witnesses very closely, and they were +all most emphatic in their belief that what they had seen was a +<i>bona-fide</i> case of spiritual projection. At the request of a large part +of the audience, Mr. Curtis repeated his demonstration, a further +complement of men from the stalls joining those already on the stage to +witness the operation.</p> + +<p>Several tests were now applied to the ethereal body of Mr. Curtis, as it +walked round his material body. One man, clutching at its sleeve, tried +to detain it, but his hand passed through the sleeve, and held—nothing. +Another man put out an arm to act as a barrier, and the projection, +without swerving from its course, passed right through it; and, on the +completion of the third round, disappeared as before.</p> + +<p>In answer to inquiries, Mr. Curtis stated that the phenomenon might be +taken as a good illustration of projections; and that he was prepared to +project himself once again, in order to prove that it was erroneous to +suppose that phantasms could not do all manner of physical actions. A +deal table (upon which stood a tumbler and jug of water), a grandfather +clock, and a piano were brought on to the stage, and Mr. Curtis once +again projected his spirit form. The latter at once walked to the table, +and, taking up the tumbler, filled it with water from the jug; after +which it wound up the clock, and, sitting down on a seat in front of the +piano, played "Killarney" and "The Star-spangled Banner." And then, +amidst the wildest applause—the first time assuredly "a ghost" has ever +received public plaudits in recognition of its services—it modestly +re-entered its physical home.</p> + +<p>Mr. Curtis then announced that not only could he project his ethereal +body from his material body in the manner he had already demonstrated, +but that with his ethereal body he could amalgamate with inorganic +matter. He bade those on the stage approach the table in convenient +numbers, <i>i. e.</i> two or three at a time, and listen attentively. He then +took his stand on one side of the stage, about fourteen feet from the +table; and the audience approaching the table and listening attentively, +first of all heard it pulsate as with the throbbings of a heart, and +then breathe with the deep and heavy respirations of some one in a sound +sleep. The table then raised itself some three or four inches from the +ground and moved round the stage; at the conclusion of which feat Mr. +Curtis informed the audience that "table-turning"—when not +accomplished through the trickery of one of the sitters—was frequently +performed by the work of some earth-bound spirit—usually an +Elemental—that could amalgamate with any piece of furniture, in +precisely the same way as his own projection had amalgamated with the +table in front of them. "Elementals," Mr. Curtis continued, "are +responsible for many of the foolish and purposeless tricks performed at +séances; and for the unintelligible and useless kind of answers the +table so often raps out. The best you can hope for, from an Elemental, +is amusement—it will never give you any reliable information; nor will +it ever do you any good."</p> + +<p>With these words Mr. Curtis's share in the entertainment concluded. He +retired to the wings, whilst Mr. Kelson stepping forward—begged those +several gentlemen who, on Mr. Curtis's exit, had reseated themselves +among the audience, once again to step up on to the stage.</p> + +<p>"Be good enough," he said addressing them in his most polite manner, "to +observe me very closely. I am about to give you a few further examples +of what intense mental concentration can do, thus proving to you to what +an unlimited extent mind can gain dominion over matter. You all know +that will-power can overcome any of the internal physical forces; for +instance, when you have tooth or ear ache—you have only to say to +yourselves: 'I shan't suffer'—and the suffering ceases. But what you +may not know—what you may not have realized, is that will-power can +over-rule external forces and principles—as for example—gravity. As a +matter of fact, airships and aeroplanes are absolutely superfluous—and +the time, money and labour they involve is a prodigious waste. Any man +with strong mental capacity can fly without the aid of mechanism. He has +only to will himself to be in the air—and he is there. Look!" And to +the amazement—the indescribable, unparalleled amazement—of all +present, Mr. Kelson knit his brows, as if engaged in intense thought, +and, jumping off his feet, remained in the air, at a height of some four +feet from the floor.</p> + +<p>At his request members of the audience came up to him, and passed their +hands under, over and all around him, to make sure there were no wires. +He then struck out with his hands and legs after the manner of a +swimmer, and moving first of all round the stage, and then over the +stalls and pit, gradually ascended higher and higher, till he reached +the level of the boxes, to the occupants of which he spoke.</p> + +<p>Such an extraordinary spectacle—which apparently gives the lie to all +our preconceived notions of gravity—has certainly never before been +witnessed, and the effect it had on those who saw it, baffles +description. When Mr. Kelson returned to the stage, and the terrific +applause that greeted his arrival there had subsided, he gave the +audience a few valuable hints as to how they, too, might accomplish this +feat.</p> + +<p>"Practise concentration," he said, "and develop your will power, if only +by a very little, every day. Jump off a stool to begin with, saying to +yourself as you do so: 'I will remain in the air. I won't touch the +ground,'—and though you may fail for the hundredth time, if only you +keep on trying you will eventually succeed. To keep your equilibrium on +a bicycle is a feat which would have been pronounced utterly impossible +by your ancestors of two hundred years ago; but just as that power came +to you—after many futile efforts, all at once—so, in the end, will +flying come to you. See, I am now going to rise to the highest point in +the building. Gravity pulls me back, but I say to myself: 'I will +rise—I will fly there'—and fly there I do!"—and, springing off the +ground, he struck out with his arms and legs, flew swiftly and easily to +the dome of the hall, which he touched—and then flew back again to the +stage.</p> + +<p>This completed the evening's entertainment. If only on the strength of +its first performance, the Modern Sorcery Company, in our opinion, has +more than justified its name; and although we understand they will give +no more performances gratis, we feel confident in prophesying that, for +many a long night, there will be no falling off in the attendance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV" />CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>SHIEL TO THE RESCUE</h3> + + +<p>Gladys did not feel too happy when she read notices such as these; she +could not do other than see in them destruction to her father, and the +worst of it all was she could do nothing to help him. Who could? Who +could possibly invent anything as wonderful as the marvels of the Modern +Sorcery Company Ltd.? And yet unless John Martin gave up altogether, +that is what he must do. Nay, he must do more—he must not only equal +the Modern Sorcery Company's marvels, he must eclipse them. But after +the affair of the challenge, it seemed to Gladys that there was no help +for it—the Hall would have to be closed for a time. Now that Dick +Davenport was dead, there was no one to take her father's place. On the +night succeeding the catastrophe, she had persuaded one of the Indian +attendants to undertake the rôle of operator, but his skill was not +equal to the tax upon it, and the audience—a poor one—was very +lukewarm in its applause. The following day she talked the matter over +with her father. The latter was in favour of keeping the show on at any +cost; Gladys, for closing it temporarily.</p> + +<p>"A bad performance is worse than no performance," she said, "much better +to close till you have invented some new tricks."</p> + +<p>John Martin groaned. "I fear my days of invention are over," he +muttered. "If I can read the papers and write letters, that will be +about as much as I shall be able to do."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you retire?"</p> + +<p>"I would if I were not a Britisher," John Martin replied, "but being a +Britisher I'd sooner shoot myself than give in to a d——d Yank!"</p> + +<p>And Gladys, in terror lest her father should over-excite himself, +promised she would see that the entertainment was carried on as usual, +and that the Indian continued in the rôle of operator.</p> + +<p>But when out of her father's presence, Gladys gave way to despair. How +could she—a woman—hope to cope with such a difficult situation? And +she was racking her brains to know how to act for the best, when Shiel +was announced.</p> + +<p>A wave of relief swept over her. She could explain her difficulties to +Shiel, in a way that she could not to any one who had no knowledge at +all of her father's affairs—and she told him just how matters stood.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" he exclaimed, when she had finished, "why not let me take +your father's place at the Kingsway? I have done a little amateur +acting, and am not nervous at the thought of appearing in public. Your +father confided in you so much—you must know all his tricks by +heart—couldn't you coach me!"</p> + +<p>Gladys looked at him critically.</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't be half a bad idea," she said. "Supposing you come with me +to the Hall, I can explain the tricks better if I show you the apparatus +at the same time."</p> + +<p>Shiel thoroughly enjoyed that journey up to town. He knew it was wrong +of him to think of his own pleasure, when the affairs of his companion +were in such a critical condition. He knew he ought not to look at her +in the way he did—as if she was the most precious thing in the world, +and he would give her his soul if she wanted it—he knew that he—a +penniless artist without any prospects—had no right to behave thus. But +her beauty appealed to him with a force he was entirely incapable of +resisting, and he went on looking at her in the way he knew he ought not +to look at her, simply because he couldn't help it.</p> + +<p>He lunched with her at her club in Dover Street, and then they taxied to +the Kingsway.</p> + +<p>The door-keeper, the only living creature in the building, saving +themselves, seemed to share in the general depression hanging over +everything—the great, empty front of the house with its gloomy, +cavernous boxes and grim, grey gallery—the dark, dismal flies—the +chilly wings—all hushed and still, and impregnated with the sense of +desertion. But with this man beside her, who, she knew, would do +anything he could to help, the place did not look quite so bad to Gladys +as it had done the day before. There was a ray of light now where, +before, ebon blackness had prevailed.</p> + +<p>Without delay Gladys rang up the Indian attendants on the telephone, and +occupied the time prior to their arrival by describing to Shiel how each +of the tricks was done.</p> + +<p>Her pupil proved far more able than she had anticipated. After several +rehearsals he was able to go through the whole performance without a +hitch.</p> + +<p>When they had finished, Gladys stretched out her hand impulsively. "I +don't know how to thank you enough," she said. "You are a brick, and if +only you do half as well this evening as you have done now, we shall +get on swimmingly—that is to say, as well as we can expect, until we +can arrange a fresh programme. If only you were an inventor!"</p> + +<p>"If only I were. If only I had money!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what would you do?" Gladys asked curiously.</p> + +<p>"Give it to you! Give you every halfpenny of it!—But as I haven't any, +I mean to give you all the energy I possess instead."</p> + +<p>"Why me? My father you mean!"</p> + +<p>"No, you!" Shiel said impulsively, "both of you if you prefer it, but +you first."</p> + +<p>"Me first! That doesn't seem very lucid—but I can't stay to hear an +explanation now, for if I miss the four-thirty train I shall miss my +dinner, which would indeed be a calamity!" And slipping on her gloves, +she hurried off, forbidding Shiel to escort her further.</p> + +<p>Left to himself, Shiel strolled along the Strand into the Victoria +Gardens, where he bought an evening paper, and sat down to read it. The +first thing that caught his eye was—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p style="text-indent: 3em;">"MAGIC IN LONDON"</p> + +<p> "This morning the West End received a shock. About twelve o'clock, + a gentleman, fashionably dressed, turned into Bond Street from + Piccadilly, and when opposite Messrs. Truefitt's prepared to cross + over. The street happened just then to be blocked by a long line of + taxis. The gentleman, however, had no intention of waiting till + they had passed. Measuring the distance from one pavement to the + other with his eyes, he jumped about fifteen feet into the air and + cleared the intervening space without the slightest apparent + effort—a feat that literally paralysed with astonishment all who + beheld it. On being remonstrated with by a policeman, who was + highly perplexed as to whether such extraordinary conduct + constituted a breach of the peace or not, the gentleman calmly + leaped over the policeman's head, and striking out with arms and + legs swam through the air.</p> + +<p> "Continuing in this fashion, the cynosure of all eyes—even the + traffic being suspended to watch him—he passed along Bond Street + into Oxford Street, where he once more alighted on his feet. On + being questioned by a representative of the Press, it transpired he + was Mr. Kelson, one of the partners in the Modern Sorcery Company + Ltd., whose wonderful performances at their Hall, in Cockspur + Street, have already been reported in these columns." </p></div> + +<p>"I should well like to know how that flying trick is done," Shiel said +to himself. "According to Kelson it is entirely a question of will +power. I'll see if I can't develop my concentrative faculty and +introduce a few of the same performances in our show. I'll go to the +Hall and try them now."</p> + +<p>But his preliminary efforts were certainly far from successful. He +jumped off chairs saying to himself, "I'll fly! I will fly," and he +struck out heroically each time, but the result was always the +same—gravity conquered—he fell.</p> + +<p>Had he not been so much in love with Gladys, he would have desisted; as +it was, the more he bumped and bruised himself, the more determined he +was to go on trying. In fact, flying with him became a mania; and +according to the daily journals, his was by no means the only case. All +over England people were trying to fly. An old lady, in Gipsy Hill, +appeared in the Police Court to answer a charge of causing annoyance to +her neighbours by practising flying, from off her bed, at night. Her +bulk being large and her will power apparently small, she yielded to +gravity and landed on the ground with prodigious bumps, which set +everything in the room vibrating, and which could be plainly heard in +the adjoining houses, through the thin brick walls on either side of her +room.</p> + +<p>An old gentleman in Guilsborough had an extremely narrow escape. Being +warned on no account to practise flying in the house or garden, lest his +grandchildren should see him and want to do the same, he retired to the +seclusion of an old, disused and dilapidated coach house. Here, in the +upper storey, he practised by the hour together. He climbed on to a +stool which he had taken there for the purpose, and when he fancied he +had acquired the right amount of concentration, he sprang into the air, +arriving, presumably through want of will power, on the floor. For two +whole days he practised—bump—bump—bump—and the more he bumped, the +more he persevered. At last, however, the floor gave way, and with loud +cries of "I will! I will!" he fell on the ground floor, ten feet below! +He was unable to go on experimenting, owing to a broken leg and a +fractured collar-bone.</p> + +<p>In Aylsham, Norfolk, there had been a perfect epidemic among the +children for trying aeronic gravity. Rudolph Crabbe, aged five, after +listening to an account of the performances at the Modern Sorcery +Company's Hall, which his father had read aloud, sprang off the +dining-room table crying out "I will fly! I will stay in the air." +Fortunately, he fell on the tabby cat, which somewhat broke the shock of +concussion, and he escaped unhurt.</p> + +<p>In College Road, Clifton, Bristol, an octogenarian thinking he would add +novelty to the Jubilee celebrations at the College, leaped off the roof +of his house, crying, "I'll fly over the Close! I will fly over the +Close!"—and broke his neck.</p> + +<p>In St. Ives, Cornwall, where the treatment of animals is none too +humane, a fisher-boy threw a visitor's Pomeranian over the Malakoff +saying, "You shall fly! You shall remain in the air;" whilst at Bath a +girl of ten, snatching her baby brother from the perambulator, leaped +over Beechen Cliff, calling out, "We will fly together! We will fly +together!"</p> + +<p>These are only a few of the many similar cases Shiel read in the paper, +and which he narrated afterwards to Gladys Martin.</p> + +<p>"I am quite convinced," Gladys said, "that Kelson does his flying +through supernatural agency. His assertion that it can be done through +mere will power, is sheer humbug. It wouldn't be a bad idea to consult a +clairvoyant. What do you think?"</p> + +<p>Shiel thought it was an excellent suggestion. He saw in it an +opportunity of spending yet another afternoon in Gladys's company, and +asked her to go with him to an occultist the very next day. When she +assented, the pleasure of it tingled through every pore of his skin. Of +course, Gladys assured herself there was no harm in her acceptance of +Shiel's escort—that neither he nor she meant anything by it—that it +was on her part merely a sort of an acknowledgment that he had been +awfully good to her in her present predicament. Besides, if she needed +further excuse, she had no reason for supposing Shiel to be in love with +her—and had her father not spoken to her about it, she would not have +remarked anything different in his glances, from the glances—for the +time being, perhaps, earnest enough—bestowed upon her by other young +men; which excuse, was, certainly, in Gladys's case, a more or less +honest one.</p> + +<p>They had some difficulty in selecting a psychometrist—so numerous were +those who advertised, in an equally alluring manner—but they at length +decided in favour of Madame Elvita, whose consulting rooms were in New +Bond Street. When they arrived there, Madame Elvita was, of course, +engaged. Shiel was delighted—it gave him an extra half-hour with +Gladys. When Madame was free, she had much to tell them. First of all +she spoke to them of Karmas, Kamadevas, Rupadevas, vitalized shells, +etheric doubles, the Nermanakaya, and afterwards solemnly announced that +she must relapse into a state of clairvoyance, in order to get in touch +with Tillie Toot, a certain spirit from whom she could learn all that +Gladys and Shiel wanted to know. Accordingly, in the manner of most +other two-guinea clairvoyants, she composed herself in a graceful and +recumbent attitude, made a lot of queer grimaces and still queerer +noises, and spoke in a falsetto voice, which purposed to be that of +Tillie Toot, once a barmaid in Edinburgh, now one of Madame's familiar +spirits. And the gist of what "Tillie" told them was that Hamar & Co. +derived their powers from Black Magic; and that the secrets thereof +could only be learned from Madame, after a series of sittings with +her—sittings for which Madame would only require a fee of fifty +guineas: a most moderate, in fact quite trifling, sum, considering the +wonderful instruction they would receive.</p> + +<p>But Madame's magnanimous offer tempted neither Gladys nor Shiel; and +they abruptly took their departure.</p> + +<p>Kateroski (<i>née</i> Jones) in Regent Street, whom Gladys and Shiel had +agreed to consult in the event of a non-successful visit to Madame +Elvita in Bond Street, also told them that Black Magic was the key to +Hamar, Curtis & Kelson's performances. She advised them to get on the +Astral Plane, where they would meet spirits who would give them all the +information they desired.</p> + +<p>Madame Kateroski's instructions were simple. "It is really a matter of +faith," she said. "All you have to do is to go to some secluded +spot—the privacy of your bedroom will do admirably—sit down, close +your eyes, look into your lids and concentrate hard. After a while you +will no longer see your eyelids—your lids will fade away and you will +be on the Astral Plane, and see strange creatures, which, although +terrifying, won't harm you. When you get used to them, you will +communicate with them, and learn from them all you want to know."</p> + +<p>"Shall we try?" Gladys remarked laughingly to Shiel, as they stepped +into the street. "But if faith is essential to success, I fear failure, +as far as I am concerned, is a foregone conclusion. I know I shouldn't +have sufficient faith."</p> + +<p>"Nor I either," Shiel said. "But, perhaps, we could acquire a necessary +amount of it, if we were to experiment together. Supposing we try in +that delightfully secluded copse in your garden."</p> + +<p>Gladys shook her head. "I'm afraid it would be useless. Besides, if my +father were to hear of it, he would fear worry had turned my brain, and +most likely have another fit. No, we must think of something more +practical. In the meanwhile, if you will keep on with the part, you have +so generously undertaken, you will be doing me an inestimable service."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll keep on with it for ever," Shiel replied, and before she +could stop him, he had kissed her hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV" />CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>HOW HAMAR, CURTIS AND KELSON ENTERED THE ASTRAL PLANE</h3> + + +<p>In order to explain the manner in which Hamar, Kelson and Curtis were +initiated into their new properties, I must now go back to the day +preceding the gratis performance of the Modern Sorcery Company, that is +to say the last day of stage one of the compact.</p> + +<p>To Kelson the day had been one of surprises throughout. When he arrived +at the building in Cockspur Street (he preferred living alone, and, +consequently, rented a handsome suite of rooms in John Street, Mayfair), +he was not a little astonished to meet Lilian Rosenberg on the +staircase.</p> + +<p>"I thank you so much!" she exclaimed, shaking hands with him most +effusively. "It is all owing to you I got the post."</p> + +<p>"Then Hamar has engaged you," Kelson ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes! didn't you know!" Lilian said with a smile. "I had a letter +from him the very evening of the day I called here."</p> + +<p>"Did you! He never told me anything about it! How do you think you will +get on?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, splendidly! The work is interesting and full of variety. Moreover, +I like the atmosphere of the place, it is so weird. I believe the three +of you really are magicians!"</p> + +<p>"If that be so," Kelson said, "then we have only acted in accordance +with our character in engaging the services of a witch—a witch who has +already bewitched one member of the trio. Now please don't go to the +expense of lunching out: lunch with me instead. Lunch with me every +day."</p> + +<p>"It is very kind of you," Lilian Rosenberg replied, "and I will gladly +do so when I am not lunching with Mr. Hamar. But he has invited me to +have all my meals with him."</p> + +<p>"That doesn't mean you are obliged to have them with him every day!" +Kelson cried. "Lunch with me this morning."</p> + +<p>"I am very sorry," Lilian Rosenberg replied, looking at Kelson with mock +pleading eyes, "please don't scold me, but I've really promised Mr. +Hamar."</p> + +<p>"Have tea with me, then," Kelson said.</p> + +<p>"I've promised him that, too."</p> + +<p>"Supper then!" Kelson said, savagely.</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully sorry, but I'm engaged all this evening, and practically +every evening."</p> + +<p>"With Mr. Hamar?" Kelson asked suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"Oh no! my own private business," Lilian Rosenberg replied. "Do forgive +me. I should so like to have been able to accept your invitation. Now I +must hurry back to my work," and she gave him her hand, which Kelson +held, and would have gone on holding all the morning, had he not heard +Hamar's well-known tread ascending the stairs.</p> + +<p>"Look here!" he said, as they entered his room together, "I want Miss +Rosenberg to have luncheon with me one day this week, and she tells me +you have already invited her. Let her come with me to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"It is impossible," Hamar said. "Now I'll tell you what it is, Matt, I +anticipated this the moment I saw you two together, and its got to stop. +You would genuinely fall in love with that girl—or as a matter of fact +any other pretty girl—if you saw much of her—and love, I tell you, +would be absolutely disastrous to our interests. You must let her +alone—absolutely alone, I tell you. I have given her strict orders she +is to confine herself to her work, and to me."</p> + +<p>"I think you take a great deal too much on yourself. I shall see just as +much of Miss Rosenberg, when she is disengaged, as I please."</p> + +<p>"Then she never shall be disengaged. But come, do be sane and put some +restraint on this mad infatuation of yours for pretty faces. Can't you +keep it in check anyhow for two years—till after the term of the +compact has expired! Then you will be free to indulge in it, to your +heart's content. For Heaven's sake, be guided by me. Harmony between us +must be kept at all costs. Don't you understand?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes! I understand all right," Kelson said, "and I'll try. But it's +very hard—and I really don't see there would be any danger in my taking +her out occasionally."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do," Hamar replied, "and there's an end. To turn to something +that may spell business. Just before I got up this morning I saw a +striped figure bending over me!"</p> + +<p>"A striped figure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! A cylindrical figure, about seven feet high, without any visible +limbs; but which gave me the impression it had limbs—of a sort—if it +cared to show them."</p> + +<p>"You were frightened?"</p> + +<p>"Naturally! So would you have been. It didn't speak, but in some +indefinable manner it conveyed to me the purport of its visit. To-night, +at twelve o'clock, we are to go to the house of a Hindu, called Karaver, +in Berners Street, where we shall be initiated into the second stage of +our compact."</p> + +<p>"I hope to goodness we shan't see any spectral trees or striped +figures—I've had enough of them," Kelson said.</p> + +<p>"Then take care you don't do anything that might lead to the breaking of +the compact," Hamar retorted, "otherwise you'll see something far +worse."</p> + +<p>Shortly before midnight, Hamar, Curtis and Kelson, obeying the +injunctions Hamar had received, set off to Berners Street, where they +had little difficulty in finding Karaver's house.</p> + +<p>To their astonishment Karaver was expecting them.</p> + +<p>"How did you know we were coming," Curtis asked.</p> + +<p>"A gentleman called here early this morning and told me," Karaver +explained. "He said three friends of his particularly wished to be on +the Astral Plane, at twelve o'clock this evening, and that they would +each pay me a hundred guineas, if I would show them how to get there. I +demurred. The secrets that have come down to me through generations of +my Cashmere ancestors, I tell only to a chosen few—those born under the +sign of Dejellum Brava.</p> + +<p>"The stranger showing me the sign—written plainer than I have ever seen +it—in the palm of his hand, I at once consented, and I had no sooner +done so than he vanished. I knew then that I had been speaking to an +Elemental—a spirit of my native mountains."</p> + +<p>"My nerves are not in a condition to stand much. Is there anything very +alarming in this astral business?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"It depends on what you call alarming," the Indian said coldly. "I +shouldn't be alarmed."</p> + +<p>"Don't be a fool, Matt," Hamar interposed. "I never saw such a +frightened idiot in my life. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Think +of what there is at stake."</p> + +<p>"Think of Lilian Rosenberg," Curtis whispered, "and be comforted."</p> + +<p>Karaver took them upstairs into a dimly lighted attic. In the centre of +the carpetless floor was a tripod, around which the three were told to +sit. Karaver then proceeded to pour into an iron vessel a mixture +composed of: ½ oz. of hemlock, ¾ oz. of henbane, 2 oz. of opium, 1 +oz. of mandrake roots, 2 oz. of poppy seeds, ½ oz. of assafœtida, and +¼ oz. of saffron.</p> + +<p>"Are these preparations absolutely necessary?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"Absolutely," Karaver said. "English clairvoyants will, doubtless, tell +you they are not necessary. It is their custom, with a few slipshod +instructions, to lead you to suppose that getting on the Astral Plane is +mere child's play. It is not! It is extremely difficult and can only be +done, in the first place, through the guidance of a skilled Oriental +occultist."</p> + +<p>He then took a sword, and with it making the sign of a triangle in the +air, afterwards scratched a triangle on the floor, over which, in red +chalk, he superscribed a tree, an eye, and a hand. Then he heated the +mixture in the iron vessel over an oil stove. As soon as fumes arose +from it, he placed it on the tripod, crying, "Great Spirits of the +mountains, rivers and bowels of the earth, invest me with the heavy +seal, in order that I may conduct these three seekers after knowledge to +the realms of thy eternal phantoms."</p> + +<p>Immediately after this oration Karaver, dipping a twig of hazel in the +fumigation, waved it north, south, east and west crying "Give me +authority! Give me Ka-ta-la-derany;" and then kneeling down in front of +the brazier, in a droning voice repeated these words:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Green phantom figures of the air,<br /></span> +<span>A ready welcome see that you prepare.<br /></span> +<span>Black phantom figures from the earth,<br /></span> +<span>Of friendly salutations see there is no dearth.<br /></span> +<span>Red phantom figures of the furious fire,<br /></span> +<span>For kindly greeting change your usual ire.<br /></span> +<span>Grey, grizzly googies from the woods and dells,<br /></span> +<span>To gentle whisperings change your harrowing yells.<br /></span> +<span>Flagae, Devas, Mara Rupas,<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19" /><a href="#Footnote_19_19"><sup>[19]</sup></a> hie to the Plane, the Astral Plane,<br /></span> +<span>And to these three poor fools, explain, explain<br /></span> +<span>The secrets that they wish to learn, to learn!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>The mixture in the iron vessel was now giving off such dense fumes that +Hamar, Curtis and Kelson felt their senses slowly ebbing away. The dark, +lithe form of Karaver, his swarthy face and gleaming teeth receded +farther and farther into the background, whilst his voice appeared to +grow fainter and fainter. They were dimly conscious that he sprayed them +all over with some sweet-smelling scent,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20" /><a href="#Footnote_20_20"><sup>[20]</sup></a> and that he whispered (in +reality he spoke in his normal tones) these words: +"Darkona—droomer—doober—parlar—poohmer—perler. +A—ta-rama—skatarinek—ook—drooksi—noomig—viartikorsa."<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21" /><a href="#Footnote_21_21"><sup>[21]</sup></a> Then +there came a temporary blank, which was broken by a sudden burst of +light. The light, at first, was so blinding that they involuntarily +closed their eyes. It was quite different to any light they had been +accustomed to—it was far more vivid, and was in a perpetual state of +vibration. When they had got sufficiently used to this dazzling effect +to keep their eyes open, they became aware that they were standing, +apparently on nothing, that the atmosphere was not composed of air such +as they knew, but of an indescribable something that rendered the act of +breathing wholly unnecessary, and that all around them was no ground, no +scenery, but only—space!</p> + +<p>They had barely finished remarking on these facts, when there suddenly +glided across their vision, forms—of every conceivable shape, <i>i. e.</i>, +those resembling corpses of human beings and animals, with bloodless +faces, glassy eyes and stiff limbs—some apparently just dead and +others in an advanced state of decomposition, all possessed and +propelled by Impersonating Elementals; phantoms of actual earthbound +people—misers, murderers, etc., several of whom approached the trio and +tried to peer into their faces.</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake keep off!" Kelson shrieked, as the vibrating form of +an epileptic imbecile, with protruding blue eyes and pimply cheeks, came +up to him, and thrust its face into his.</p> + +<p>"This is a bit thick," Hamar said, vainly attempting to elude the +phantom of a short, stout woman with a big head and purple face, who, +putting out a large black, swollen tongue, leered at him.</p> + +<p>"Curse you! d—n you!" Curtis screamed, throwing out his hands in a vain +endeavour to beat off the phantoms of two idiot boys, who were trying to +bite him with their loose, dribbling mouths. "A little more of this, and +I shall go mad!"</p> + +<p>Seeing a tall, grey phantom with a man's body and wolf's head bounding +up to them, Kelson would have run away, had not Hamar, whose presence of +mind never quite deserted him, gripped him by the arm. "If you leave us, +Matt," he said, "we are lost. I feel our safety depends on our keeping +together. If I'm not mistaken this is a cunning dodge on the part of the +Unknown to separate us. If that happens, I feel we may never get back to +our bodies—and the compact will then be broken. We must hang on to each +other at all costs." So saying, he slipped his free arm through that of +Curtis, and the three stood linked together.</p> + +<p>Hamar clung on to the other two, until his hands grew numb, and the +sweat stood on his chest and forehead in great beads. As figure after +figure stealthily and noiselessly approached them, Kelson and Curtis +writhed and shrieked; and, at times, it seemed as if the chain must be +broken. But alarming as were these harrowing types of +Vice-Elementals—<i>i. e.</i>, nude things with heads of beasts and bodies of +men and women; grotesque heads; malevolent eyes; mal-shaped hands; +headless beasts, etc.; none had so dangerous an effect on the unity of +the trio as the alluring types of Vice-Elementals, <i>i. e.</i>, shapes of +beautiful women that smiled seductively at Kelson, and resorted to every +device to entice him away with them. It was then that Hamar was taxed to +the utmost, that he exhausted voice, strength, and patience, in holding +Kelson back.</p> + +<p>He was about to give in, when to his astonishment these Vice-Elementals +vanished, and a phantasm, the exact counterpart of Karaver, only much +taller, appeared before them, and commenced giving them instructions as +to Stage Two.</p> + +<p>"You," he said, addressing Hamar, "will possess the property of second +sight, <i>i. e.</i>, the power to see, at will, earthbound spirits, +conditionally, that you fumigate your room, for ten minutes every night, +before retiring to rest, with a mixture composed of 2 drachms of +henbane, 3 drachms of saffron, ½ oz. of aloes, ¼ oz. of mandrake, 3 +drachms of salanum, 2 oz. of assafœtida; that you abstain from animal +food and wine, and give up smoking; that, three times every day, you +bathe your face in distilled water, to which has been added three drops +of the juice of the whortleberry, one drop of the juice of the mountain +ash berry, 1 oz. of lavender water, 1 oz. of nitre, and ½ oz. of +tincture of arnica; and that, just before going to sleep, you look for +three minutes, without blinking, at an equilateral triangle, transcribed +in blood, on white paper, and composed of these letters and figures." +And he handed Hamar a piece of paper, on which were written these +symbols: K.T.O.P.I.6.X.7.4.H.I.P.3.S.4.W.V.2.8.</p> + +<p>"So long as you observe these conditions the power will remain with you. +To-morrow, only, it will be awarded you without any preparations."</p> + +<p>"You," he went on, turning to Kelson, "will possess the property of +projection, <i>i. e.</i>, the power of leaving your body, and of visiting, +where you will, on the material plane. You will continue to possess the +same, conditionally, that you carry out the same rules as Leon Hamar, +with the exception that, instead of looking at a triangle before going +to sleep, you will repeat these words. See, I have written them down for +you." And he handed Kelson a slip of paper, on which were transcribed +"Darkona, droomer, doober, parlar, poohmer, perler. +A—ta—rama—skatarinek—ook—drooksi—noomeg—viartikorsa."</p> + +<p>"You," he said, turning to Curtis, "will be endowed with the property of +overcoming gravity, <i>i. e.</i>, you will be able to fly, to jump great +heights, and to lift and move prodigious weights; and this property will +remain in your possession during the prescribed period, provided you +abstain from all animal food, from smoking and from drinking alcohol; +and observe the same rules with regard to fumigating your sleeping +apartment, and bathing your face, as Hamar and Kelson. But, always, +before you attempt to fly or to jump, it will be necessary for you to +set in motion certain vibrations, in the ether, that counteract the +attraction of gravity. You must repeat the words 'Karjako Mandarbsa +Guahseela,' which I have written on this blue paper; and when you want +to move or lift objects, you must first repeat the words 'Perabibo +Henlilee Oko-kokotse,' which I have written on this green paper. +Gravity, as you will see, is entirely dependent on sound—sound can move +mountains. It did so in Atlantis, it did so in Egypt."</p> + +<p>Making the sign of a triangle, an eye, and a tree in the air, with the +forefinger of his left hand, he slowly repeated the words +"Barjakva—ookpoota—trylisa." and the concluding syllable was no sooner +uttered, than the trio found themselves standing in Berners Street. But +of Karaver's house—the house they had just quitted—there was no trace.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19" /><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> According to Brahminical teaching there are seven main +classes of spirits; some having innumerable sub-divisions. They are— +</p><p><br /> +1. Arrippa Devas, with forms.<br /><br /> +</p><p class="hang"> +2. Arrippa Devas, without forms. +(Both Classes 1 and 2 are intelligent, sixth principles +of certain planets. I style them Planetians, and +classify them with all other spirits hailing from Jupiter +Neptune, etc.)<br /><br /> +</p><p class="hang"> +3. Mara rupas (identical with Vice-Elementals).<br /><br /> +</p><p class="hang"> +4. Pisachas, <i>i. e.</i> male and female elementaries. (I have +termed them Impersonating Elementals, since they +consist of the astral forms of the dead, that may be +utilized by Elementals.)<br /><br /> +</p><p class="hang"> +5. Asuras, <i>i. e.</i> gnomes, pixies, etc. (Corresponding to those +I have designated Vagrarian Elementals.)<br /><br /> +</p><p class="hang"> +6. Monstrosities. (These I include among Vice-Elementals +and Vagrarians.)<br /><br /> +</p><p class="hang"> +7. Kaksasas, viz. souls of wizards, witches, and of clever +people with evil tendencies, scientists with cruel or +harsh tendencies—such as vivisectionists and sophists. +All these come under my division of "earthbound +phantasms of the dead"—spirits tied to this earth +by passions or vices; and I should add to the list—militant +suffragettes, strike agitators, hooligans, +apaches, pseudo-humanitarians, religious bigots, +misers, all people obsessed with manias, idiots, epileptic +imbeciles and criminal lunatics. All such may at +times be encountered on the lowest spiritual plane.<br /><br /> +</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20" /><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Composed of 2 drachms of myrrh, ½ oz. of sweet oil, 2 +oz. of attar of roses, ½ oz. heliotrope and ¼ oz. of musk.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21" /><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> These words are so arranged as to set in vibration and +loosen the atmosphere, that keeps the spirit incarcerated in the +physical body, and so set the latter free.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI" />CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>HAMAR MAKES ADVANCES</h3> + + +<p>The doctors had stated that the tenth day would see the crisis of John +Martin's illness; if he could tide over that period, he might go on for +years without another attack. When the momentous day arrived, Gladys was +simply eating her heart out with suspense. Not a sound was permitted in +the house. The servants, tiptoeing about, hardly ventured even to +exchange glances; the errand boys were waylaid and sent to the +right-about, with a vague notion that if they opened their mouths their +heads would be off; and some one was posted at the garden gate to deal, +in a scarcely less summary manner, with visitors. Indeed, so fearful was +Gladys lest her father should hear Shiel, who had managed to elude her +outpost, that without meaning it, she greeted him curtly, and, more +plainly than politely, gave him to understand that she wished him +elsewhere.</p> + +<p>"What have you been saying to Shiel Davenport?" Miss Templeton asked +Gladys, when they met at lunch. "I passed him in the road just now, and +he looked so wretched that, despite his ineligibility, I felt quite +sorry for him. I am sure he is very much in love with you."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," Gladys said, "he is only a boy." But boy though it pleased +her to call him, she knew that he had played a man's part during her +father's illness. Every night he had faithfully performed the rôle, she +had allotted to him, at the Kingsway Hall, and upon him she was forced +to admit the success of the entertainment, in a large measure, depended. +Without pushing himself, or being the least bit officious, he had been +equally helpful behind the scenes. He had held in check all those who, +taking advantage of her father's absence, were disposed to dispute her +authority and shirk their work—and he had also, on her behalf, +successfully resisted their demand for higher wages. And, over and above +all this, he had always considered her personal comfort. Her +meals—which she could never bother about for herself, when engaged all +day at the hall—were, thanks to him, brought to her as punctually, and +served as daintily, as they would have been for her father; he had taken +every care that she should not be disturbed when resting; and there was, +in short, nothing he had not thought of doing to lighten the load, so +unexpectedly laid upon her shoulders. The only fault she could find with +him, was that he had not gained the good graces of her father.</p> + +<p>The day slowly waned. Gladys had stolen into her father's room +repeatedly to see how he fared, and to her his condition had seemed much +about the same—he was as usual tired and peevish. But when, at six +o'clock, she again stole in to peep at him, and found him lying back on +his pillow absolutely still and motionless, and without apparently +breathing, she was immeasurably shocked. Had he had another fit, or was +he dead? Wild with grief and terror, she rushed from the room to +telephone to the doctor, and met him on the landing.</p> + +<p>"You need have no fear," he said to her the moment he had looked at +John Martin, "he is sound asleep, and, when he awakes, the crisis will +be past. To-morrow, he may go out for a bit, and, in a week, he will be +himself again. Only you must take care that he does not use his brain +too much."</p> + +<p>Gladys could hardly restrain her delight. She felt pleased with +everything and everybody; and her greeting of Shiel, some two hours +later, at the theatre, almost turned his brain. In fact it was owing to +this pleasant surprise, that he made one or two stupid mistakes in his +performance, and was sharply pulled back to earth by the ironic laughter +of the audience. When the entertainment was over, and he was preparing +to accompany Gladys as usual to her motor, the thought of her sparkling +eyes and animated features again overcame him.</p> + +<p>"What shall you advise your father to do?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I think he ought to lose no time in getting a partner," Gladys replied, +"some one who can attend to the business side of the concern for him. It +is essential he should not be worried with figures."</p> + +<p>"I suppose my services won't be required much longer?" Shiel said, +speaking with rather an effort.</p> + +<p>"Of course I can't answer for my father," Gladys replied, "but I should +imagine he would be only too glad to employ you. The only thing is the +salary. You can't live on air, you know, and with the poor attendances +he gets now, I don't see how he can afford to pay much."</p> + +<p>"I would work for very little," Shiel said. "I should be awfully sorry +to give up now. I wonder if you would miss me at all?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I should!" Gladys retorted. "You have behaved admirably, and +I am most grateful to you."</p> + +<p>"You needn't be grateful to me. I have never enjoyed anything half so +much as I have trying to help you. I am poor, penniless in fact, since +my uncle left me nothing, but supposing—supposing I were to get some +lucrative post, do you think—do you think there would ever be any +possibility of—"</p> + +<p>"Of what?"</p> + +<p>"Of your caring for me! I am terribly in love with you."</p> + +<p>"I fear I must have given you encouragement," Gladys said. "I'm awfully +sorry. You see I never thought of this, and I don't know what to say to +you."</p> + +<p>"Won't you give me a chance, just a chance?"</p> + +<p>"But my father would never hear of it. Unfortunately he seems to be +prejudiced against you. Won't you wait a while, and then, if you are +still in the same mind, speak to me again in—say—a year. By that time +you will, no doubt, have made some sort of a position for yourself."</p> + +<p>"And in the meanwhile you will get engaged to some one else," Shiel +exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"I don't think I shall," Gladys said. "Of course, I meet crowds of men, +but you see I am not the marrying sort."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you would care for me just a bit?" Shiel asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"A tiny, tiny bit, perhaps," Gladys said, "but I'm not at all sure. I +can think of no one now but my father, so that if you value my good +opinion, or really want to prove your devotion to me, you must, for the +time being, devote yourself to him. Who knows—it may lie in your power +to do him some service."</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," Shiel replied, somewhat despondingly. "But no +matter—after you, your father and your father's affairs shall be my +first consideration. You will let me see you sometimes, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Sometimes," Gladys laughed. "Good-bye! Don't make any mistakes +to-morrow. Your performance to-night was not as good as usual." And, +with this somewhat cruel remark, she stepped lightly into her motor, and +drove off.</p> + +<p>Shiel now gave way to despair. There are few conditions in life so +utterly unenviable as penury and love—to be next door to starving, and +at the same time in love. Day after day Shiel, who was thus afflicted, +had revelled in Gladys's company, and had intoxicated himself with her +beauty, fully aware that for each moment of pleasure there would, later +on, be a corresponding moment of pain. It was only in romance, he told +himself, that the penniless lover suddenly finds himself in a position +to marry—in reality, his love suit is rejected with scorn; his adored +one marries some one who has, or pretends he has, limitless wealth; and +the despised swain ends his days a miserable and dejected bachelor.</p> + +<p>All the same, Shiel determined that he would for once fare like the hero +in romance—that he would either win the object of his affections or +perish in the attempt; and no sooner did the fit of the blues, +consequent on the conversation just related, wear off, than he set to +work in grim earnest to discover some means of breaking up the Modern +Sorcery Company Ltd., and of restoring to the firm of Martin and +Davenport their former prestige.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, affairs were by no means stationary, as far as Hamar +and his colleagues were concerned. The appearance of their paper +<i>To-morrow</i>, a morning journal, that chronicled faithfully every event +of the following day, caused a tremendous sensation; and the sale of +every other paper sank to nil—no one, naturally, wanting to buy the +news that had happened yesterday, when, for the same money, they could +obtain news of what would happen that very day. The stupid method of +chronicling past events, Hamar announced in the first issue of his +organ, was now obsolete. It was, perhaps, good enough for the Victorian +era, but it was utterly out of keeping with the present age of hourly +progress. Who, for instance, wanted to know that at 6 p.m., on the +preceding evening, there had been a big fire in New York? Was it not far +more to the point for them to learn, for example, that at 2 p.m., on +that very day, Rio de Janeiro would be partially destroyed by an +earthquake; that the Post Office in King's Road, Chelsea, would be +broken into by thieves; that Nelson's Monument in Trafalgar Square would +be blown up by Suffragettes; or something equally fresh and exciting? +One cannot get thrills—at least not the right kind of thrills in +reading of what has already taken place. To say to ourselves, or to a +friend, "Just fancy, we might have been in that railway accident," or, +in reading of a shipwreck "What a mercy we did not embark after all, is +it not?" is not half as enthralling as to be wondering if, at eleven +o'clock that night, when the terrific storm in which twenty-six people +will be killed by lightning in various parts of England, we shall be +among the fatal number. One is not much moved to find oneself alive when +a danger is passed, but one does get terribly excited in contemplating +the risk we are bound to run of being killed. Within a week, the +circulation of <i>To-morrow</i> had gone up from fifty thousand to ten +million, and Hamar, inflated with success, said to himself, "Now I will +go and have another look at John Martin."</p> + +<p>When he arrived, Gladys was in the garden. His stealthy approach had +given her no chance to escape.</p> + +<p>"What is your business?" she asked, glancing nervously in the direction +of the house, and dreading lest her father should see Hamar from his +window.</p> + +<p>"I've come to see your father," Hamar said, his eyes resting admiringly +on her face and then running leisurely over her figure. "How is the old +gentleman?"</p> + +<p>"He is not well enough to see visitors," Gladys said, with absolute +hauteur. "Perhaps you will state your business to me."</p> + +<p>"Well! I don't mind if I do!" Hamar replied. "Let us sit down. It's more +comfortable than standing." And he dropped into a seat as he spoke. "Now +I've been noticing," he went on, "that your Show in the Kingsway is not +getting on very well—that there are fewer and fewer people there every +night, and I've no doubt it will soon have to dry up altogether. We, on +the other hand, are doing better and better every night, and we shall go +on doing better—there is no limit to our possibilities. We are worth +half a million now—next year, we shall be worth ten times that amount!"</p> + +<p>"You are optimistical, at all events," Gladys said.</p> + +<p>"I can afford to be," Hamar grinned. "Now, do you know what we intend +doing before very long?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't the least idea, and I am not in the slightest degree +curious."</p> + +<p>"Aren't you? Well, you should be, since it concerns you. We mean to buy +up the whole of Kingsway!"</p> + +<p>"And later on, of course, the whole of Regent Street!"</p> + +<p>"You are satirical. You are not alarmed at the prospect of having me for +a landlord!"</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you! The Hall in Kingsway is my father's own +property."</p> + +<p>"If that is so then you have nothing to fear," Hamar laughed, "but I +think it just possible you are mistaken. At any rate, I've been in +communication with some one styling himself the landlord."</p> + +<p>"My father would have an agreement, anyhow!" Gladys said.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Hamar replied, "and I've a pretty shrewd idea of the terms +of it. But enough of this—let me come to the point. I intend buying the +property, and I shall refuse to renew your father's lease, unless he +agrees to give me what I want!"</p> + +<p>"Of course a preposterous price?"</p> + +<p>"No, you—only you!"</p> + +<p>"Me!"</p> + +<p>"Yes! I've never seen a girl I like more. I've limitless wealth and I'll +give you everything you want—a steam yacht, motors, diamonds, anything, +everything, and all I ask in return is that you should consent to be +engaged to me on trial—say for fifteen months—just to see how we get +on! What pretty hands you have."</p> + +<p>And before Gladys could draw them away, he had caught hold of them in an +iron grasp, and, turning them over, cast admiring glances at the slim, +white fingers with the long, almond-shaped and carefully manicured +nails.</p> + +<p>"I reckon," he said, "I shall never find any one prettier all through. +What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"Your proposition is impossible—monstrous! I detest you," Gladys +retorted, her cheeks white with anger. "Leave go my hands at once, and +never let me see you again!"</p> + +<p>"I can't promise not to see you again," Hamar said, "but I'll let go +your hands now, for I'm no more a lover of scenes than you. I +anticipated a little fuss at first—it's the way all you women have—you +are so modest, you don't like to appear too eager to snap up a good +offer. You'll close with it right enough in the end. I'll call again in +a few days. By that time you may have changed your mind." And, before +she could prevent him, he had again seized her hand and was kissing it +over and over again.</p> + +<p>With an ejaculation of the utmost indignation, she sprang away from him, +and with all the dignity she could assume, walked to the house. What +became of him she did not know. Some few seconds later she told the +gardener to see him safely off the premises, but he was nowhere to be +found.</p> + +<p>A week later, Hamar turned up again at the Cottage, and, despite the +vigilance of Gladys and the servants, caught John Martin alone.</p> + +<p>When the latter, at last, came to the end of what had, at first, seemed +an inexhaustible stock of invectives, Hamar stated his proposals with +mathematical exactitude.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe for one moment my landlord would be such a blackguard +as to play into your hands," John Martin spluttered.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, he would!" Hamar replied. "An Englishman will do anything for +money, and I am prepared to offer him just twice as much as any one else +for your Hall. Do you think he will refuse—not he!"</p> + +<p>"But what on earth's your object! You've ruined me already."</p> + +<p>"Your daughter!" Hamar cried. "Miss Gladys! I am prepared to go any +lengths to get her. Refuse to give her to me and I'll turn you out of +your Hall, I'll torment you with every kind of insect, I'll plague you +with disease, I'll make your life hell. But give her to me—and I'll—"</p> + +<p>"But I won't! And I defy you to do your worst, you—you—" and there is +no knowing what would have happened, had not Gladys suddenly come in and +dragged her father out of the room.</p> + +<p>"How dare you?" she exclaimed, returning to the study to find Hamar +still there. "I've telephoned to the police, and unless you go instantly +and promise not to come again, I shall give you in charge, for +annoyance."</p> + +<p>"Foolish of you—very foolish!" Hamar said, "when I want to be friendly. +Sooner or later you must give in, so why not end all this needless +unpleasantness now, and receive me—if not with open arms—at least +amicably. You are so awfully pretty! I must have just one——" but +before he could kiss Gladys the police arrived, and Hamar once more +retired—with somewhat undignified haste, and more than a little +discomfited.</p> + +<p>On arriving in Cockspur Street, Hamar's temper underwent a still further +trial. Kelson, taking advantage of his absence, had gone off to tea with +Lilian Rosenberg.</p> + +<p>In ill-suppressed fury, he waited till they returned.</p> + +<p>"A word with you, Matt," he said, as Kelson tried to shuffle past him. +"So this is the way you behave when my back is turned. I suppose you've +had a good time!"</p> + +<p>"Delightful!"</p> + +<p>"And you know the consequences!"</p> + +<p>"Only that I'm looking forward to the same thing another day."</p> + +<p>"She'll go!"</p> + +<p>"She won't," Kelson chuckled. "She is far too valuable. So there, old +man! A month ago your threat might have held good. It won't now. You +daren't—you positively daren't part with her—because, if you did so, +you'd not only part with a good few of your secrets, but you'd part with +me."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII" />CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3>THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE</h3> + + +<p>"What's to be done with Matt?" Hamar asked Curtis, soon after the +interview just recorded. "He's as sweet on Rosensberg as he can be, and +says if I dismiss her he'll go too!"</p> + +<p>"Then don't dismiss her," Curtis replied. "Leave them both alone, that's +my tip. I don't believe Matt's such a fool as to fall in love, and I'm +quite sure the girl isn't. Why, she went to the Tivoli with me two +nights ago, and to the Empire with another fellow the night before that. +It isn't in her to stick to one, she would go with any one who would +treat her. Don't worry your head over that. Matt might say 'How about +Leon and Gladys Martin.'"</p> + +<p>"So he might, but there's no danger there. The girl is deuced +pretty—splendid eyes, hair, teeth, hands and all that sort of thing, +and I've set my heart on a bit of canoodling with her, but as for love! +Well! it's not in my programme."</p> + +<p>"Still, stranger things have happened," Curtis said. "Anyhow, I guess +you're both mad and that I'm the only sane one. Give me a ten-course +dinner at the Savoy, and you may have all the women in London—I don't +go a cent on them."</p> + +<p>To revert to Kelson. From the hour he had first seen Lilian Rosenberg +he had become more and more deeply enamoured. In the hope of meeting +her, he had hung about the halls and passages of the building; had never +missed an opportunity of speaking to her, of feasting himself on the +elfish beauty of her face, of squeezing her hand, and of telling her how +much he admired her.</p> + +<p>"You really mustn't," she said. "Mr. Hamar has given me strict orders to +attend to nothing but my work."</p> + +<p>"Oh, damn Hamar!" Kelson replied, "if I choose to talk to you it's no +business of his. You've not treated me well. I got you the post, and it +is I you should go out with, not Hamar."</p> + +<p>And in the quiet nooks and corners, perched on the window-sill, with one +eye kept warily on the guard for fear of interruptions, he told her his +history—all about himself from the day of his birth—told her about his +parents, his childhood, his schooldays, his hobbies and cranks, his +indiscretions, extravagancies, his carousals, debts, flirtations, with +just an excusable amount of exaggeration. He even went so far as to +speak of a chronic rheumatism, of a twinge of hereditary gout, and of a +slightly hectic cough with which, he suddenly remembered, he had at one +time, been troubled.</p> + +<p>"Don't you think," Lilian Rosenberg said, with mock earnestness, "you +are somewhat rash! Have you forgotten that no woman can keep a +secret—and you are not telling me one secret but many. Supposing in a +fit of thoughtlessness or absent-mindedness, I were to divulge them! I +should never forgive myself."</p> + +<p>"Would it distress you so much?"</p> + +<p>"Of course it would. I should be miserable," she laughed. And Kelson, +unable to restrain himself, seized her hands and smothered them with +kisses.</p> + +<p>"Your fingers would look well covered with rings," he said. "I will give +you some, and you shall come with me and choose. Only on no account tell +Hamar." And he kissed her—not on the hands this time—but the lips.</p> + +<p>Hamar saw him. He watched him from behind the angle of the passage wall, +but he said nothing—at least, nothing to Kelson. It was to Lilian +Rosenberg he spoke.</p> + +<p>"It is really not my fault," she said. "I don't encourage him, and if +you take my advice, you will not interfere, for I am sure at present he +means nothing serious. He is the sort of man who imagines himself in +love with every one he meets. If you prevent him seeing me, you may +actually bring about the result you are most anxious to avoid."</p> + +<p>"I'll risk that," Hamar said, "and I absolutely forbid you doing more +than merely saying good morning to him. It is either that, or you must +go."</p> + +<p>"Well, of course I will do as you wish," Lilian said. "I don't care a +snap for him; and, after all, you ought to know your own business best! +It is only natural that you should want him to marry some one who can +bring money into the Firm."</p> + +<p>"I don't want him to marry at all, or anyhow, not yet. However, there is +no necessity to discuss that point. We have definitely settled the line +you are to adopt, and that is all I wanted to speak to you about. When +next you feel inclined to flirt, come to me, and you shall have kisses +as well as—rings."</p> + +<p>It was shortly after this <i>tête-à-tête</i> that Lilian Rosenberg was +interrupted in her work, by a rap at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in," she called, and a young man entered.</p> + +<p>"I believe a clerk is wanted here," he explained. "I've come to apply +for the situation. Can I see Mr. Hamar?"</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he's out. There's no one in at present," Lilian Rosenberg +replied, eyeing the stranger critically "If you like to wait awhile, you +may do so. Sit down." She signalled to him to take a chair and went on +typing.</p> + +<p>For some minutes the silence was unbroken, save for the tapping of +fingers and the clicking of the machine. Then she looked up, and their +eyes met.</p> + +<p>"It's not pleasant to be out of work," he said. "Have you ever +experienced it?"</p> + +<p>"Once or twice," she said. "And I never wish to again. You don't look as +if you were much used to office work."</p> + +<p>"No! I'm an artist; but times are hard with us. The present Government +has driven all the money out of the country and no one buys pictures +now; so I'm forced to turn my hand to something else."</p> + +<p>"I love pictures. My father was an artist."</p> + +<p>"Then we have something in common," the young man said. "Would you like +to see my work? I love showing it to people who understand something +about painting, and are not afraid to criticize."</p> + +<p>"I should like to see it, immensely—though I won't presume to +criticize."</p> + +<p>"May I inquire your name?" the young man asked eagerly. "Mine is Shiel +Davenport."</p> + +<p>"And mine—Lilian Rosenberg," the girl said, with a smile.</p> + +<p>"If I don't get the post, may I write to you sometimes, Miss Rosenberg, +and ask you to my studio. I call it a studio, though it's really only an +attic."</p> + +<p>Lilian Rosenberg nodded. "I shall be delighted to come," she said. "I am +afraid I am very unconventional."</p> + +<p>There was no time for further conversation, as Hamar entered the room at +that moment.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" he asked curtly.</p> + +<p>Shiel told him.</p> + +<p>"You're too late," Hamar said. "I've engaged some one. If you'd called +earlier, there might have been some chance for you, as you look +tolerably intelligent. But it's no use now, so be off."</p> + +<p>As Shiel left the room he caught Lilian Rosenberg looking at him; and he +saw that her eyes were full of sympathy.</p> + +<p>The acquaintance, thus begun, ripened. She went to see his pictures, +they had tea together, and they spent many subsequent hours in each +other's company. And although Shiel saw in Lilian Rosenberg only a +rather prepossessing girl from whom, after cultivating her acquaintance, +he was hoping to learn the inner working of the Modern Sorcery Company +Ltd., with her it was different.</p> + +<p>In Shiel, Lilian Rosenberg saw the qualities she had always been +seeking—the qualities she had almost despaired of ever finding—and +which she had so often declared existed only in fiction. He only +interested her, she argued; but she forgot that interest as well as pity +is akin to love—and that where the former leads, the latter almost +invariably follows.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you have enough to eat," she said to him one day. "You +are a perfect shadow. How do you exist if you have no private means?"</p> + +<p>"I just manage to exist, and that is all," Shiel laughed, and he spoke +the truth, his present state of semi-starvation having resulted from the +untoward events, which had happened prior to his application for the +post of clerk to the Modern Sorcery Company Ltd., and his subsequent +acquaintance with Lilian Rosenberg.</p> + +<p>Whilst John Martin had been ill, and he had helped at the Hall in Kings +way, he had lived well. Gladys had taken care he was paid—not a big sum +to be sure—but enough to keep him. But directly John Martin, in spite +of Gladys's remonstrances, had resumed work, Shiel had been dismissed.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could help you," John Martin said to him, "for I really feel +grateful to you for all you have done, but to tell you the candid truth, +I can't afford to pay any salaries. As you know, the receipts of the +Hall are next to nothing; but the expenses continue just the same—rent, +gas, and staff—all heavy items. Moreover, at your uncle's death, many +of his creditors put in claims on the Firm for debts—debts he had +incurred without either my sanction or knowledge—and it has been a +serious drain on me to pay them off. In fact, my finances are now at +such a low ebb that I cannot possibly do anything for you. If only the +Modern Sorcery Company could be cleared off the scenes."</p> + +<p>"You would, I suppose, feel extremely grateful to whoever cleared them +off?"</p> + +<p>"I would," John Martin replied, with a significant chuckle.</p> + +<p>"Even though it were some one who had not stood very high in your +estimation?"</p> + +<p>"Even though it were the devil."</p> + +<p>"Now, look here, Mr. Martin," Shiel said, trying to appear calm. "I will +devote all my energies and all my time to your cause—the overthrow of +the Modern Sorcery Company, if only—if only, in the event of my being +successful, you will give me some hope of being permitted to win your +daughter."</p> + +<p>"I promise you that hope, and any other you may see fit to aspire to," +John Martin said, with a grim smile, "since there isn't the remotest +chance of your succeeding in the task you have set yourself. Believe me, +it will take both money and wits to get the better of Hamar, Curtis and +Kelson."</p> + +<p>"Anyhow, I have your permission to try. I shall do my best."</p> + +<p>"You may do what you like," John Martin rejoined, "so long as you don't +talk to me again about Gladys till you've redeemed your pledge, that is +to say, till you've overthrown the Modern Sorcery Company. In the +meanwhile, I must ask you to abstain from seeing her."</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I can't promise that."</p> + +<p>"Can't promise that," John Martin cried, his eyes suffusing with sudden +passion. "Can't you! Then damn it, you must. I'm not going to have my +daughter throw herself away on a penniless puppy. There, curse it all, +you know what I think of you now—you're a bumptious puppy, and I swear +you shall not come within a mile of her."</p> + +<p>"I shall," Shiel retorted, drawing himself up to his full height. "I +shall see her whenever she will permit me—and since she is not at home +at the present moment, I shall now await her return outside the house, +and defy the savage old bull-dog inside it." Leaving John Martin too +taken aback with astonishment to articulate a syllable, Shiel withdrew.</p> + +<p>True to his word, he waited to see Gladys. He paced up and down the road +in front of the house from eleven o'clock in the morning, when his +interview with John Martin had terminated, till eight o'clock in the +evening, and was just beginning to think he would have to give up all +hope of seeing her that day, when she came in sight.</p> + +<p>"Really!" she exclaimed, after Shiel had explained the situation. "Do +you mean to say you have stayed here all day?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I have," Shiel answered. "I told your father I would see you, +and I meant to stay here till I did."</p> + +<p>"And what good has it done you?"</p> + +<p>"All the good in the world. I shall sleep twice as well for it. I'm more +in love with you than you think, and I mean to marry you one day. My +prospects at present are absolutely Thames Embankmentish, but no matter, +I've hit upon a capital way of ferreting out the secrets of the Modern +Sorcery Company. I shall get employed by them"—and he told Gladys of +the advertisement he had seen in the paper.</p> + +<p>"Well! I wish you all success," she said, "but I'm afraid you've upset +my father dreadfully, and the doctor says excitement is the very worst +thing for him and may lead to another stroke. You must on no account +come here again, until I give you leave."</p> + +<p>"But I may see you elsewhere?"</p> + +<p>"If you're a wise man, you'll do one thing at a time. You'll discover +the secret of the Sorcery Company first, and then—"</p> + +<p>"When I have discovered it?"</p> + +<p>"My father may forgive you. Have I told you I'm going on the stage? I +know Bromley Burnham, and he's offered me a part at the Imperial. It is +imperative now, that I should do something to help my father."</p> + +<p>"If you become an actress," Shiel said bitterly, "my chances of marrying +you will indeed be small."</p> + +<p>"Not smaller than they are now," Gladys observed. "<i>Au revoir.</i>" And +with one of those tantalising and perplexing smiles, with which some +women, consciously or unconsciously, counteract—and sometimes, perhaps, +for reasons best known to themselves—completely nullify the needless +severity of their speech, shook hands with Shiel, and left him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII" />CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3>STAGE THREE</h3> + + +<p>The weeks sped by. Gladys Martin went on the Stage, and thanks to beauty +and influence, rather than to talent—though in the latter respect she +was certainly not wanting—she became an immediate success. Her photos, +some taken alone, and some with Bromley Burnham, occupied a conspicuous +place in all the weekly illustrateds, and in innumerable shop windows. +People talked of her as they do of all actresses. Some said her father +was a broken-down peer; some, a needy parson, and some, a policeman! +Some said the Duke of Warminster was madly in love with her; others that +Seaton Smyth, the notorious Cabinet Minister, was pining for a divorce +on her behalf, and others, that she was seldom seen off the stage—she +was entertaining the King of the Belgians.</p> + +<p>"I've met her," Lilian Rosenberg said to Shiel, as they stopped one +evening to gaze at Gladys's portraits outside the Imperial Theatre. "She +came to our place to have a dream interpreted, and I thought nothing of +her. I don't admire her the least bit in the world, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I do," Shiel replied, rather sharply.</p> + +<p>"Why, you sound quite angry," Lilian Rosenberg laughed. "One would think +you knew her. I wonder if Bromley Burnham is very much in love with +her! He looks as if he were in these photographs! Do you think it +possible for a man and woman to make love to each other every night on +the stage, like they do, without one or other of them being affected?"</p> + +<p>"I really couldn't say," Shiel replied. "I'm no authority on such +matters—they don't interest me in the least."</p> + +<p>But this was an untruth—they did interest him—and very much, too. He +seldom, indeed, thought of anything else. Had Gladys fallen in love with +Bromley Burnham? Could she resist the fascinations of so handsome a man? +He did not, of course, pay any heed to the gossip that coupled her name +with dukes and other notorieties. He knew Gladys too well for that, but +when he saw her thus photographed, clasped in the arms of Bromley +Burnham, he had grave apprehensions. He longed to see her—to ask her if +she were still free; but his every attempt failed. She always avoided +him, and there was no other alternative save to further his scheme—his +scheme for crushing the Sorcery Company—and to hope for the best.</p> + +<p>And in these dark days of his life, when he was tormented by the yellow +demon of jealousy, and at the same time endured hunger, Lilian Rosenberg +was his solacing angel. Utterly regardless of appearances—she did not +exaggerate when she said, "I am not conventional; I don't care twopence +for Mrs. Grundy." She visited him in his garret, and she seldom went +empty-handed.</p> + +<p>"I don't want your things," he rudely expostulated, when she loaded his +table with cold chicken, jellies and potted meats. "I'm not starving."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are," she said, "and you've got to eat all I bring you." And +she made him eat. She made him, too, go for walks with her, and she +insisted that he should go with her on Saturday afternoons for long +rambles in the country, knowing all the time that Kelson was eating his +heart out for love of her, and prophesying all kinds of terrible +happenings to himself, unless she returned his affections.</p> + +<p>Up to this point, at all events, Shiel did not allow his friendship with +Lilian to blind him to the fact that he was cultivating her acquaintance +with a set object. He frequently sounded her to see how much she knew of +the inner workings of the Firm, and he satisfied himself that she knew +very little.</p> + +<p>"They never discuss their powers in my presence," she told him, "but I +see them do very queer things, Mr. Kelson seldom walks to his room, he +flies. He takes a little jump into the air, moves his arms and legs as +if he were swimming, and flies upstairs and along the corridor. And what +do you think happened the other day? Some men were carrying into the +building a huge, oak chest and several large pictures that Mr. Hamar had +bought at a sale, when Mr. Kelson arrived on the scene.</p> + +<p>"'There is no need to lift these things,' he said to the men, 'put them +down.' He then made some rapid signs in the air and muttered something; +whereupon the chest and pictures rose in the air, and followed him into +the building, and up the stairs to their respective quarters."</p> + +<p>"The men must have been surprised," Shiel said.</p> + +<p>"Surprised!" Lilian Rosenberg ejaculated. "They were simply bowled over, +and looked at one another with such idiotic expressions in their bulging +eyes and gaping mouths, that I nearly died with laughter."</p> + +<p>"And you've no idea how Kelson did that trick?"</p> + +<p>"None, excepting, of course, that the signs he made, and what he said, +must have had something to do with it."</p> + +<p>It was on the tip of Shiel's tongue to ask her, if she would try and +find out for him, but he checked himself. Even at this juncture of their +friendship he dare not appear too curious. He must wait.</p> + +<p>To go back to Hamar. He had seen Gladys act; he had become more +infatuated with her than ever; and his passion was stimulated by the +knowledge that she was universally admired, and that half the men in +London were dying to be introduced to her.</p> + +<p>"Money will do anything," one of Hamar's friends—they were all +Jews—remarked to him. "Offer the manager of the Imperial a hundred +pounds and he'll do anything you like with regard to the girl. Every +manager can be bought and every actress, too."</p> + +<p>The suggestion was a welcome one, and Hamar acted on it. But whether or +not the exception proves the rule, he was immeasurably disconcerted to +find that with regard to money and managers, his friend had deceived +him. Far from being pleased at the offer of a bribe, the manager of the +Imperial, an old Harrovian, raised his foot, and Hamar, who invariably +paled at the prospect of violence, hurriedly withdrew.</p> + +<p>On the eve of the initiation into Stage Three, the trio were very much +perturbed.</p> + +<p>"I hope to goodness nothing will appear to me," Kelson said. "My heart +isn't strong enough to stand the shock of seeing striped figures. They +should come to you, Curtis—a few jumps wouldn't do you any harm—you're +fat enough."</p> + +<p>Agreeing each to sleep with a light in his room, they separated, and at +about two o'clock Curtis, who had been suffering of late from his +liver—the effect, so the doctor told him, of living a little too +well—and could not sleep, heard a knock at his door. To his +astonishment it was Kelson—Kelson, in his pyjamas.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa!" Curtis exclaimed. "What on earth brings you here, and however +did you come?"</p> + +<p>"The usual way!" Kelson said, in what struck Curtis as rather unusual +tones. "I flew here to tell you that we are now in stage three. Give me +paper and ink. I want to write down the instructions I have received."</p> + +<p>Curtis conducted him into his sitting-room, switched on the lights and, +giving him what he wanted, poured out a couple of tumblers of +soda-and-milk.</p> + +<p>"This will lower my temperature," he said to himself. "I shall know if +I'm dreaming."</p> + +<p>He then sat by Kelson's side and observed what he wrote.</p> + +<p>"The properties of walking on the water, and of breathing under the +water are conferred on you during the forthcoming stage. You must +refrain from red flesh and alcohol, but may eat poultry, fish, fruit, +and vegetables in abundance."</p> + +<p>"The devil I may!" Curtis said, in a fury. "How very kind! I would +rather have roast beef than all the poulets and kippers in Christendom."</p> + +<p>Without noticing this interruption, Kelson went on writing.</p> + +<p>"You must also concentrate for one hour every morning. Grade two in the +scale of concentration, though sufficient for projection through ether, +will not enable you to offer sufficient resistance to the pressure of +water. You must reach grade three in the scale of concentration, before +you can either walk on, or breathe under, the water. From six to seven +a.m. you must fix your eyes on a glass of fresh spring water, and +concentrate your very hardest on amalgamating with it, on passing your +immaterial ego into it. At night, before going to bed, you must drink a +mixture composed of two drachms of Vindroo Sookum, one drachm of Harnoon +Oobey, and one ounce of distilled water. Vindroo Sookum and Harnoon +Oobey are a species of seaweed; the former of a pale salmon colour, the +latter of a deep blue. They were formerly shrubs growing in the wood of +Endlemoker in Atlantis, and are now to be found at a depth of two +hundred fathoms, twenty miles to the north-east of Achill Island. These +weeds must be well rinsed first; and when the prescribed amount of each +has been carefully cut off and weighed, it must be boiled in the +distilled water, and the compound, thus formed, allowed to cool before +being drunk. This mixture renders the lungs immune to the action of +fluid, and will enable you to breathe as easily in water as in air. +There is still, however, the action of gravity to be considered, and +this must be counteracted by sound. Before experimenting, these +Atlantean words must be repeated aloud in the following order: +Karma—nardka—rapto—nooman—K—arma—oola—piskooskte.'"</p> + +<p>"It's all very well to write all these directions," Curtis said, "but +how am I to obtain the weeds? I can't go and fish for them."</p> + +<p>"You must engage the services of Mr. John Waley, formerly employed by +the Brazilian Government in repairing marine cables. He will do all you +want for the sum of £200."</p> + +<p>Kelson left off writing, and, wishing Curtis good-night, walked out of +the room.</p> + +<p>"You'll be deuced cold without an overcoat," Curtis called out after +him. "Won't you have mine?"</p> + +<p>But there was no reply, and though Curtis strained his ears to listen, +he could catch no sound of a vehicle.</p> + +<p>Kelson left Curtis at twenty minutes past two. At half-past two, Hamar, +who had been sound asleep, was awakened by a loud rap.</p> + +<p>"Kelson!" he gasped. "How on earth did you get here? Are you a +projection?"</p> + +<p>"Don't worry me with questions," Kelson replied. "I have come to give +you instructions. A paper and ink, quick."</p> + +<p>Hamar obeyed with alacrity.</p> + +<p>"On you," Kelson wrote, "is conferred the property of invisibility—a +property common in Atlantis, and still possessed by the Fakirs of +Hindoostan, the natives of Easter Island and certain tribes in New +Guinea. You must reach grade three in the scale of concentration, by +concentrating, from five to six o'clock, every morning, on amalgamating +yourself with the ether. You must sit, with your head thrown back, +gazing up into space—allowing nothing to distract your mind. Wholly and +solely, your thoughts must be fixed on the ether. This property of +invisibility can only be successfully practised, when the third grade in +the scale of concentration has been reached. Carry out these +instructions, and, in a week's time, you will then be able to +experiment—to become invisible at will. But before experimenting it +will always be necessary to repeat the words 'Bakra—naka—taksomana,' +and to swallow a pill, composed of two drachms of Derhens Voskry, one +drachm of Karka Voli and one drachm of saffron. Derhens Voskry and +Karka Voli are a crimson and white species of seaweed, that grows on the +hundred-fathom level, thirty miles west-southwest of the Aran Islands, +Galway Bay. Mr. John Waley, employed by the Brazilian Government for +repairing cables, will procure these ingredients for you. To become +visible, you've only to repeat the words, 'Bakra—naka—taksomana,' +backwards."</p> + +<p>"But how about my clothes?" Hamar asked. "Will they disappear too?"</p> + +<p>"Everything!" Kelson answered. "Hat, boots, tie and breeches. All you +have on! Good-night!" And walking out of the room, he leaped into the +air, and flew downstairs. But though Hamar listened attentively, he +could not hear him leave the building—there was no sound of any door.</p> + +<p>When they met the following mid-day in Cockspur Street, Kelson +remembered nothing of his visits.</p> + +<p>"All I know is," he said, "that the moment I got into bed, I fell +asleep, and suddenly found myself standing in a kind of brown desert, +talking to a tall man with most peculiar features and eyes, and a +dazzling, white skin. He informed me he had been an animal-trainer in +the State of Ballyynkan, Atlantis, and was ordered to give me +instructions as to the taming of the present day wild beast.</p> + +<p>"'You must obtain a stone called the Red Laryx,' he said. 'It is to be +found in great quantities on the three-hundred fathom level, forty miles +to the west-south-west of North Aran Island, and can be procured for you +by the same man that gets the weeds for Hamar and Curtis. It is a +blood-red pebble, covered with peculiarly vivid green spots, and cannot +be mistaken. Sit with it pressed against your forehead for an hour +every morning, and concentrate hard on amalgamating yourself with +it—<i>i. e.</i> passing into it, and its properties will gradually be +imparted to you. Do this regularly, for a week, and by the end of that +time, you will be able to experiment with animals. All you will have to +do, will be to hold the stone slightly clenched in your left hand, +whilst, with your right, you make these signs in the air,' and he showed +me certain passes. 'Stare fixedly into the animal's eyes all the while, +and, by the time you have finished making the passes, you will find the +animals are subdued. Pronounce these words "Meta—ra—ka—va—Avakana," +holding up, as you do so, your right hand with the thumb turned down and +held right across the palm, and the little finger stretched out as wide +as it will go, and you will understand what any animal wishes to say.'</p> + +<p>"He ceased speaking, and approaching close to me, tapped my forehead; +whereupon there was a blank; and on recovering consciousness, I found +myself in bed, feeling somewhat exhausted and very cold."</p> + +<p>"You have no recollection of coming to see us, in your pyjamas, about +two o'clock in the morning?" Hamar asked.</p> + +<p>"Don't talk rot," Kelson said. "I'm in no mood for fooling, I've got a +chill on my liver."</p> + +<p>"What was it, Leon?" Curtis inquired.</p> + +<p>"A case of unconscious projection," Hamar said. "Clearly the work of the +Unknown. We must commence carrying out the instructions at once."</p> + +<p>At the end of a week, Hamar, Kelson and Curtis, began to put in practice +their newly acquired properties.</p> + +<p>Hamar tested his, in a first-class railway carriage, on the London, +Brighton & South Coast Railway.</p> + +<p>"I'll go for a day's trip to Brighton," he said, "and cheat the Company. +They deserve it."</p> + +<p>He went to Victoria, and ignoring the booking-office, calmly seated +himself in a first-class compartment, where, amongst other occupants, +sat a quite remarkably proper-looking clergyman, and a very handsomely +dressed lady, with a haughty stare, and a typical <i>nouveau riche</i> nose!</p> + +<p>When the ticket collector came round before the train started, Hamar +waited, till every one else in the compartment had shown him their +tickets, and then, just as the man was about to demand his, swallowed +one of the prescribed pills, repeating immediately, in a loud voice, +which caused considerable excitement among the other passengers, the +words, "Bakra—naka—taksomana!" The next moment he had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Strike me red!" the collector gasped, putting one hand to his heart, +and grasping the door with the other. "What's become of him? Was +he—a—a—gho—st?"</p> + +<p>"I don't—er—know—er what to—to make of it," the parson said, +heroically preserving his Oxford drawl, in spite of his chattering +teeth. "I don't—er, of course—er, believe in gho—sts! He must—er +have been—a—a—an evil spirit. Dear me—aw!"</p> + +<p>"Help me out of the carriage at once," the lady with the stare panted. +"I consider the whole thing most disgraceful. I shall report it to the +Company."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Joe?" an inspector called out, threading his way +through the crowd of people, that had commenced to collect at the door +of the compartment.</p> + +<p>"I'm blessed if I know!" the collector said. "The honly explanation I +can give is that a gent who was seated here has dissolved—the hot +weather has melted him like butter!"</p> + +<p>At this there was a shout of laughter, the inspector slammed the door, +the guard whistled, and the next moment the train was off.</p> + +<p>As soon as the train was well out of the station Hamar repeated the +words he had used, backwards, and he was once again visible.</p> + +<p>The effect of his reappearance amongst them was even more striking than +that of his previous disappearance.</p> + +<p>"Take it away—take it away!" the lady opposite him shouted, throwing up +her hands to ward him off. "It's there again! Take it away! I shall +die—I shall go mad!"</p> + +<p>"How hideous! How diabolical!" a stout, elderly man said in slow, +measured tones, as if he were reading his own funeral service. "It must +be the devil! The devil! Ha!" and burying his face in his hands, he +indulged in a loud fit of mirthless laughter.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you do something? Talk theology to it, exorcise it," a +remarkably plain woman, in the far corner of the carriage said, in +highly indignant tones to the clergyman. "As usual, whenever there is +something to be done, it is woman who must do it!"</p> + +<p>She got up, and casting a look of infinite scorn at the clergyman—whose +condition of terror prevented him uttering even the one telling, biting +word—Suffragette—that had risen and stuck in his throat—raised her +umbrella, and, before Hamar could stop her, struck it vigorously at him.</p> + +<p>"Ghost, demon, devil!" she cried. "I know no fear! Begone!" And the +point of her umbrella coming in violent contact with Hamar's waistcoat, +all the breath was unceremoniously knocked out of him; and with a +ghastly groan he rolled off his seat on to the floor, where he writhed +and grovelled in the most dreadful agony, whilst his assailant continued +to stab and jab at him.</p> + +<p>In all probability, she would have succeeded, eventually, in reaching +some vital part of his body, had not one of the frenzied passengers +pulled the communication-cord and stopped the train!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX" />CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3>A SERIES OF MISADVENTURES</h3> + + +<p>With the advent of the guard, Hamar's assailant was dragged off him, and +he was locked up in a separate compartment, "to be given in charge," so +the indignant official announced, directly they got to Brighton. But +Hamar ordained it otherwise. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered +from the effects of the severe castigation the female furioso had +inflicted on him, he became invisible, and when the train drew up at the +Brighton platform, and a couple of policemen arrived to march him on, he +was nowhere to be found! This was his first experiment with the newly +acquired property. "In future," he said to himself, "before I try any +tricks, I'll take very good care there are no Suffragettes about."</p> + +<p>In London there was, of course, no need for him ever to pay fares. All +he had to do, was to become invisible as soon as the taxi stopped, +calmly step out of the vehicle, and walk away. As for meals, he was able +to enjoy many—gratis. He simply walked into a restaurant, fed on the +very best, and then disappeared. Of course, he could not repeat the +trick in the same place, and cautious though he was, he was at last +caught. It appears that a description of him had been circulated among +the police, and that private detectives were employed to watch for him +in the principal hotels and restaurants. Consequently, directly he +entered the grill room at the Piccadilly Hotel, he was arrested and +handcuffed before he had time to swallow a pill.</p> + +<p>He was now in a most unpleasant predicament—the tightest corner he had +ever been in. Supposing he could not escape—his sentence would be at +the least two years' penal servitude—what would happen? Curtis and +Kelson would never work the show without him. Curtis would give himself +entirely up to eating and drinking, Kelson would marry Lilian Rosenberg; +the compact with the Unknown would be broken; and after that—he dare +not think. He must escape! He must get at the pills! The police took him +away in a taxi, and all the time he sat between them, he struggled +desperately to squeeze his hands through the small, cruel circle that +held them. "It's all right for Curtis and Kelson!" he said to himself, +"all right at least—now! They know nothing! They have never tried to +think what the breaking of the compact means! Their weak, silly minds +are entirely centred on the present! The present! Damn the present! They +are fools, idiots, imbeciles who think only of the present—it's the +future—the future that matters!" He scraped the skin off his wrists, he +sweated, he swore! And it was not until one of the detectives threatened +to rap him over the head, that he sullenly gave in and sat still.</p> + +<p>The taxi drew up in front of the Gerald Road Police Station, and Hamar +was conducted to an ante-room, prior to being taken before the +inspector. Just as a policeman was about to search him, he made one last +desperate effort.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said, "if I pledge you my word I'll not attempt to do +anything, will you let me have my hands—or at least one of my +hands—free a moment. Some grit has got in my eye and I cannot stand the +irritation."</p> + +<p>"That game won't work here," one of the detectives said, "you should +keep your eyes shut when there's dust about, or else not have such +protruding ones."</p> + +<p>Hamar threatened to report him to the Home Secretary for brutal conduct, +but the detective only laughed, and Hamar had to submit to the +mortification of being searched.</p> + +<p>"What are these?" a detective said, fingering the seaweed pills +gingerly.</p> + +<p>"Stomachic pills!" Hamar said bitterly, "they are taken as a digestive +after meals. You look dyspeptic—have one."</p> + +<p>"Now, none of your sauce!" the detective said, "you come along with +me,"—and Hamar was hauled before the inspector.</p> + +<p>"Can I go out on bail?" Hamar asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," the inspector replied.</p> + +<p>"Then I shan't give you my name and address," Hamar said. "I shan't tell +you anything."</p> + +<p>The inspector merely shrugged his shoulders, and after the charge sheet +was read over, Hamar was conducted to a cell.</p> + +<p>"This is awful," he said, "what the deuce am I to do! To send for Curtis +and Kelson will be fatal, and it will be equally fatal to leave them in +ignorance of what has happened to me. I am, indeed, in the horns of a +dilemma. I must get at those pills."</p> + +<p>Up and down the floor of the tiny cell he paced, his mind tortured with +a thousand conflicting emotions. And then, an idea struck him. He would +ask to be allowed to see his lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Cotton's the man," he said to himself, "he will get the pills for me!"</p> + +<p>The inspector, after satisfying himself that Cotton was on the register, +rang him up, and after an hour of terrible suspense to Hamar, the lawyer +briskly entered his cell.</p> + +<p>They conferred together for some minutes, and having arranged the method +of defence, Cotton was preparing to depart, when Hamar whispered to +him—</p> + +<p>"I want you to do me a particular favour. In the top right hand drawer +of the chest of drawers in my bedroom, in Cockspur Street, I have left a +red pill-box. These pills are for indigestion. I simply can't do without +them. Will you get them for me?"</p> + +<p>"What, to-night?" the lawyer asked dubiously.</p> + +<p>"Yes, to-night," Hamar pleaded. "I'll make it a matter of business +between us—get me the pills before eight o'clock, and you have £1000 +down. My cheque book is in the same drawer."</p> + +<p>The lawyer said nothing, but gave Hamar a look that meant much!</p> + +<p>Again there was a dreadful wait, and Hamar had abandoned himself to the +deepest despair when Cotton reappeared. He shook hands with his client, +slipping the pills into the latter's palm. Whilst the lawyer was +pocketing his cheque, Hamar gleefully swallowed a pill, and crying out +"Bakra—naka—takso—mana,"—vanished!</p> + +<p>"Heaven preserve us! What's become of you?" Cotton exclaimed, putting +his hand to his forehead and leaning against the wall for support. "Am I +ill or dreaming?"</p> + +<p>"Anything wrong, sir?" a policeman inquired, opening the cell door and +looking in. "Why, what have you done with the prisoner—where is he?"</p> + +<p>"I have no more idea than you," the lawyer gasped. "He was talking to me +quite naturally, when he suddenly left off—said something idiotic—and +disappeared."</p> + +<p>Hamar did not dally. He quietly slipped through the open door, and +darting swiftly along a stone passage, found his way to the entrance, +which was blocked by two constables with their backs to him.</p> + +<p>"I'll give the brutes something to remember me by," Hamar chuckled, and, +taking a run, he kicked first one, and then the other with all his +might, precipitating them both into the street. He then sped past +them—home.</p> + +<p>Hamar, by astute inquiries, learned that the police had decided to hush +up the affair, not being quite sure how they had figured, or, indeed, +what had actually occurred. As to Cotton, the shock he had undergone, at +seeing Hamar suddenly melt away before his eyes, was so great that he +went off his head, and had to be confined in an asylum.</p> + +<p>After this adventure Hamar shunned restaurants, and manipulating his new +property sparingly, and with the utmost caution, warned Kelson and +Curtis to do the same.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet anything," he said to them, "it was a put-up job on the part +of the Unknown—a cunning device to make us break the compact."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we'll be careful enough as far as that goes," Curtis growled. "It's +this vegetarian diet that I can't stick. Fancy living on beans and +potatoes, and only milk and aerated water to wash them down. It was bad +enough in San Francisco, when we hadn't the means even to smell meat +cooking—but with the money literally burning a hole in one's pocket, +it's ten times worse! Whatever the Unknown has in store for us it can't +be a worse Hell than what I've got now. What say you, Matt?"</p> + +<p>"The same! Precisely the same!" Kelson said. "Only it's love—not +potatoes and beans that worries me. In the old days when I was +penniless, I did get some consolation from knowing it was all +hopeless—but now—now, when, as Ed says, 'the money's literally burning +a hole in one's pocket,' and everything might go swimmingly—not to be +allowed even to buy a bracelet—is more than human nature can endure. I +certainly can't conceive a Hell to beat it."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure," Hamar said, "and for goodness' sake don't let the +Unknown give you an opportunity of comparing."</p> + +<p>The night succeeding this conversation, Hamar, Curtis and Kelson +introduced their new properties into the programme of their +entertainment in Cockspur Street, and London got another big thrill. +Hamar exhibited such startling proofs of his power of invisibility, that +not only was the whole audience convinced, but from amongst certain +prominent members of the Council of the Psychical Research Society, who +were attending with the express purpose of unmasking Hamar, two had +epileptic fits on the spot, and several, before they could get home, +became raving lunatics.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of the second part of the programme—the audience +was still too flabbergasted to fully grasp what was happening. They saw +on the stage a huge tank of water—with which they were told Mr. Curtis +would experiment.</p> + +<p>"What I am about to do," Mr. Curtis—who now walked on to the +stage—informed his audience, "is quite simple. All you want is faith. +Those of you who are Christian Scientists should be able to do it as +easily as I. Say 'I will! I will walk on the water!' and your +faith—your colossal faith—faith in your ability to do it will actually +enable you to do it."</p> + +<p>Curtis then repeated—in tones that could not be heard by the +audience—the Atlantean cabalistic +words—"Karma—nardka—rapto—nooman—K—arma—oola—piskooskte," and +glided gracefully on to the surface of the water. Every now and then he +sank slowly down to the bottom, where he strolled about, or sat, or lay +down.</p> + +<p>The audience was simply fascinated. Nothing they had hitherto seen +tickled their fancy half as much. As an American, who was present, put +it—"To live under the water like a fish is immense—so hygienic and +economical."</p> + +<p>Though the time apportioned to this part of the entertainment was half +an hour, it was extended to over an hour, and even then the audience was +not satisfied. They would have gone on watching +Curtis—eating—drinking—jumping—skipping—singing and chasing gold +fish—under the water all night, and when he was at length permitted to +come out of the tank—exhausted and sulky—they gave him even heartier +applause than they had given Hamar.</p> + +<p>But the cup of their enjoyment was not yet full. The greatest treat of +all was in store for them.</p> + +<p>For the third and last part of the entertainment, a cage, containing a +large Bengal tiger, was wheeled on to the stage.</p> + +<p>"You look precious white," Curtis remarked, just as Kelson was about to +go on.</p> + +<p>"I guess you'd look the same," Kelson retorted, "if you had to hobnob +with a tiger. The Unknown always gives me the nasty jobs."</p> + +<p>"And in this case," Curtis said with a low, mocking laugh, "it also +loads you with consolations. The house is full of ladies who adore you, +and if you are eaten, just think of the sympathy welling up in their +beautiful eyes! If that isn't sufficient compensation for you, I—" But +the remainder of this encouraging speech was lost in a loud roar. The +Bengal tiger shook its bars—the audience screamed, and Curtis flew.</p> + +<p>With a desperate attempt to look calm, Kelson, clutching the red laryx +stone in his left hand, walked on to the stage, whilst the tiger, +rearing on its hind legs tried to reach him with its paws.</p> + +<p>There were loud cries of "Oh! Oh!" from the audience, and Kelson's heart +beat quicker, when a girl with wavy, fair hair and big, starry eyes, +screamed out "Don't go near it! Don't go near it!"</p> + +<p>As soon as there was comparative quiet Kelson spoke.</p> + +<p>"As you can see, ladies and gentlemen," he said, "this animal is +genuinely savage! It is not like the tigers one sees in menageries, +drugged and deprived of their natural weapons—teeth and claws. It comes +direct from India, where its reputation as a man-eater is widespread. I +am not, however, intimidated—its growls merely amuse me."</p> + +<p>Quaking all over, he approached the cage, and staring fixedly into the +tiger's face, made the prescribed passes. In an instant, the whole +attitude of the great cat changed. Dropping on to its fore-legs, it +rubbed its head against the bars and purred. A low buzz of astonishment +burst from the audience, and Kelson, now assured that the spell had +worked, waved his disengaged hand, in the most gallant fashion, at the +audience, and strutted into the cage. He shook paws with the tiger, +patted it on the back, sat down by its side, and, whilst pretending to +be on the most familiar terms with it, took every precaution to avoid +coming in too close contact with its teeth and claws.</p> + +<p>The audience was charmed—the men cheered, the ladies waved +handkerchiefs, and the only disappointed persons present were a few +belligerent and bloodthirsty boys, and a Suffragette, who severally, and +for diverse reasons, would have relished the performances of a savage +tiger, but had little sympathy with the performance of a tame one.</p> + +<p>The next surprise that Mr. Kelson had for his audience, was the +announcement that he could interpret the language of animals. At his +invitation, a dozen members of the audience came on to the platform and +stood near the cage. Looking steadily at the tiger he then pronounced +the mystic words "Meta—ra—ka—va—avakana," holding up his right hand, +with the thumb turned down and stretched right across the palm, and the +little finger extended to the utmost. In an instant the great +secret—the secret that Darwin had studied so strenuously for years—was +revealed to him. The language of animals was olfactory. The tiger spoke +to him through the sense of smell—through his nose instead of his ears. +It regulated and modified the odour it gave off from its body, and which +worked its way out through the pores of its skin, just as human beings +regulate and modify the intonations of their voices. Indeed, so delicate +are the olfactory organs of animals that the faintest of these language +smells makes an impression on them, which impression is at once +interpreted by the brain. If an animal wishes to leave a message behind +it, it merely impregnates some article—a leaf or a root, or a clump of +grass—or merely the ether with a brain smell, and any other animal, +happening to pass by the spot, within a certain time (in favourable +weather), will at once be attracted by the smell, and be able to +interpret it. That is the reason one so often sees an animal suddenly +stop at a spot and sniff it—it is reading some message left there by +some other animal. All this, and more, Kelson explained to his audience, +who were exceedingly interested, many of them getting up to ask him +questions. He also reported to them the tiger's conversation, which +consisted chiefly of complaints against the management with regard to +its food.</p> + +<p>"To be everlastingly fed on scraps of horse-flesh," it said, "when there +were dozens of plump young women sitting in the stalls, under its very +nose, was tantalizing to a degree. Would Mr. Kelson kindly speak to +whoever was responsible for such cruelty and negligence?"</p> + +<p>A bear and a crocodile having been tamed in the same manner, and their +remarks interpreted to the audience, the entertainment concluded.</p> + +<p>The next day the papers were full of it.</p> + +<p>The <i>Planet</i>, under the startling announcements—</p> + +<p class="hl">"Recovery of the Lost Senses.<br /> +More Extraordinary Feats in Cockspur Street.<br /> +Leon Hamar becomes invisible at will," </p> + +<p>—narrated all that had occurred.</p> + +<p>The <i>Monitor</i>—if anything more sensational—declared—</p> + +<p class="hl">"The Language of Animals Discovered at Last!<br /> +The Problem of Breathing under Water—SOLVED!<br /> +Dematerialization at Will established!" </p> + +<p>And even the <i>Courier</i>—the steady, ever cautious old <i>Courier</i>, +England's premier paper, created a precedent by the use of a quite +conspicuously large type; vide the following—</p> + +<p class="hl">"THE AGE OF MIRACLES REVIVED!<br /> +Actual Case of Subduing and Conversing with Wild Animals.<br /> +Recovery of the Properties of Invisibility; of Walking on Water, +and of Breathing under Water." </p> + +<p>As before, there were innumerable cases of imitation, many of them, +unhappily, resulting in the death of the imitator. At Dover, for +instance, a Congregationalist Minister convinced that he had the +requisite amount of faith, announced from the pulpit, that he intended +walking on the water, in the Harbour, after service. Thousands flocked +to see him, but despite the fact that he said "I will! I will!" with the +greatest emphasis, the unkind waves would not support him. Indeed, since +they swallowed him, it might almost be said that the Rev. S—— +supported the waves.</p> + +<p>For two whole days there was regular stampedes of experimenters to Hyde +Park and Regent's Park, and the banks of their respective waters +resounded with the words, "I will walk! I will walk!" succeeded by +splashes and cries for help.</p> + +<p>Nor was the water feat the only one that induced imitators. Crowds +flocked to the Zoological Gardens, and the various houses were literally +packed with people trying to get into conversation with the animals; +these attempts being also marked by a large proportion of fatal results. +One old gentleman—a Fellow of the Royal Society—carried away in his +enthusiasm to talk with a tiger, after making what he thought to be the +correct signs, slipped his nose through the bars of the tiger's cage, +and had it promptly bitten off—whilst a girl, in her endeavours to +sniff the crocodiles, and so get in conversation with them, fell in +their midst, and was torn to pieces before help arrived.</p> + +<p>However, these fatalities only served as an advertisement to the firm, +and hundreds of people, for whom there was not even standing room, were +turned away from the house nightly.</p> + +<p>But later on there were hitches. Curtis, whose dislike to vegetarian +diet steadily increased, when dining one evening at his club, could no +longer withstand the sight of roast beef. The smell of it tickled his +palate unmercifully.</p> + +<p>"Take this infernal mess away!" he said, pushing a plate of nut steak +from him in disgust, "and let me have a full course—entrée, soup, fish, +meat, everything you've got—chartreuse and a liqueur, and bring it +quick—I'm famished."</p> + +<p>He ate and ate, and drank and drank, until it was as much as he could do +to rise from the table. And then, in excellent spirits, he repaired to +Cockspur Street.</p> + +<p>How he got on to the stage he could never tell. Everything was in a haze +around him, until there was a dull crash in his ears, and he suddenly +found himself drowning. No one, at first, noticed his helpless +condition, but attributed his antics to part of the programme; and he +most certainly would have been drowned, had it not been for Lilian +Rosenberg, who, being quite by chance, in front of the house, perceived +he was drunk, the moment he came on the stage. She flew to the wings, +and, just in the nick of time, got two of the supers to haul him out of +the tank. Of course, it was announced—with a pretty apology—by Mr. +Hamar, that Mr. Curtis had been taken ill. Kelson immediately came on +with his animals, and the audience departed without the slightest +suspicion as to the truth.</p> + +<p>Hamar was furious.</p> + +<p>"You idiot!" he said to Curtis, "that all comes of your making a beast +of yourself—you would sacrifice Matt and me, for your insatiable +craving for meat and alcohol. Can't you see it was a trick of the +Unknown to make us break the compact? Had you been drowned, the +partnership, would, of course, have been dissolved—and it would have +been your fault! You must obey your injunctions! Damn it, you must!" And +Hamar spoke so fiercely that Curtis was for once in a way cowed, and +solemnly promised that he would not repeat the offence.</p> + +<p>Kelson was the next culprit; and his misdoings were indirectly +associated with the foregoing incident. Lilian Rosenberg's action in +saving Curtis's life, thrilled him to the core, and called into play all +his ardent passion. He had seen her sitting in the front of the house, +and had come upon the scene just as she was urging the supers to go to +Curtis's assistance; and he then thought she had never looked so lovely.</p> + +<p>"Come out with me to-morrow afternoon," he whispered. "Hamar's going +out of town!" And before she could stop him he had kissed her.</p> + +<p>Kelson hardly expected Lilian Rosenberg would accept his invitation, but +on arriving at the place he had named, he was delighted beyond measure +to find her there.</p> + +<p>Nor could anyone have been nicer to him. No girl, he told himself, who +did not in some degree at least, reciprocate his sentiments, could have +allowed him to stare into her eyes as she did, or squeeze her hands, as +he did. He took her to the ladies' drawing-room of his club, where there +were plenty of quiet, secluded nooks, and there, whilst she poured out +tea for him, he once more related to her all his early deeds and +ailments—real and imaginary—and all his ideals and aspirations.</p> + +<p>Lilian Rosenberg was most sympathetic.</p> + +<p>"You should have been a poet," she said. "There is something about you +that is quite Byronic."</p> + +<p>And Kelson, who had never even heard of Byron, was immensely flattered.</p> + +<p>"Will you come to the jeweller's with me," he said, "and choose whatever +you like best. Those fingers of yours are made for rings—rings of all +sorts!" and he gave them a gentle pressure.</p> + +<p>She let him escort her to Bond Street, and followed him gaily into +Raymond's; but when it came to accepting a ring from him, she laughingly +refused, and chose, instead, the most expensive diamond bracelets and +pendants in the shop. Some of these she wore—the rest—unknown to him +of course—she sold; sending the proceeds, anonymously, to Shiel +Davenport—who was starving.</p> + +<p>When Kelson went on the stage, that evening, his thoughts were so far +away—planning for his honeymoon—that he entered the cage of a newly +imported lion without having made the necessary signs, and would most +certainly have been mangled out of recognition, had not one of the +supers, perceiving how matters lay, rushed to his assistance, and kept +the lion at bay with a pole, till further help could be procured. It had +been a narrow squeak, and to Kelson the bare idea of continuing his +performance was appalling. His nerves were, as he himself put it, +anyhow, and he preferred retiring for the rest of the evening.</p> + +<p>But Hamar would not hear of it.</p> + +<p>"This is the second bungle we have had," he said, "and the reputation of +the firm is seriously at stake. You must go on again and retrieve it."</p> + +<p>And Kelson, trembling all over, was obliged to reappear.</p> + +<p>After it was all over, and he had bowed himself out into the wings, +Hamar led him aside.</p> + +<p>"Don't look so damned pleased with yourself," he said, "I don't half +like the look of things. This is the third time the Unknown has tried to +trap us—the fourth time it may be successful! Take care!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX" />CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>THE STAGE OF HAUNTINGS</h3> + + +<p>Much to the relief of the trio, the end of stage three was at length +reached—and, thanks to Hamar, reached without further mishap. To keep +Curtis and Kelson up to the mark, Hamar had worked indefatigably. He had +never relaxed his efforts in the strict watch he kept over them, and he +had unceasingly impressed upon them, the vital importance of obeying, to +the very letter, the instructions they had received from the Unknown.</p> + +<p>The part he had thus taken upon himself, the difficulties he had to +encounter in this unceasing vigilance, had produced a new Hamar—a Hamar +that was a personality; a personality so utterly unlike the old +Hamar—the meek and servile clerk—as to make one wonder if there could +possibly be two Hamars—outwardly and physically the same—inwardly and +psychologically diametrically opposed. A year ago, Curtis and Kelson +would have ridiculed the idea of being afraid of Hamar—such an idea +would have struck them as simply absurd; but they were afraid of him +now, they dreaded his anger more than anything, more even than the +prospect of infringing their compact with the Unknown.</p> + +<p>"We have made pots of money," Curtis remarked one day. "Why can't we +give up work and enjoy it?"</p> + +<p>"Because I say no!" Hamar hissed. "No! We can't give up—not, at least, +until the last stage has been safely gone through. To give up now would +be to break the compact!"</p> + +<p>"Well, why not?" Curtis mumbled.</p> + +<p>"Why not!" Hamar cried. "Heavens, man, can't you understand! Can you +form no conception of what failure to keep the compact means? Has the +memory of that night—of that tree and all the foul things it suggested, +passed completely out of your mind? It hasn't out of mine—it is as +clear now as it was then. And often—mark this, both of you—often when +I am alone in the night, I see queer luminous shapes—shapes of +repulsive vegetable growths—of polyps—and of disgusting tongues that +come towards me through the gloom and circle slowly round the bed, +whilst the whole room vibrates with soft, mocking laughter! You know how +mirrors shine in the moonlight. Well, the other night, when I looked at +mine, I saw in it the reflection, not of a face, but of two light evil +eyes that looked at me and—smiled! Smiled with a smile that said more +plainly than words, 'I am waiting!' and that is what the shapes, and the +very atmosphere of the place at night always seem to say—'We are +waiting! You are enjoying the joke now—we shall enjoy it later on!' If +we knew exactly what was in store for us it wouldn't be so bad, but it +is the vagueness of it, the vagueness of the horrors that the Unknown +has hinted at, that makes it so appalling! We may die awful deaths—or +we may not die AT ALL—the shapes, indefinite and misty no longer, but +materialized—wholly and entirely materialized—may come for us and +take us away with them! And it is to prevent this, that I am urging you, +compelling you, to stick to the compact, and give the Unknown no +loophole! Think of the tremendous rewards, if we succeed in passing +through the last stage! As I have said before, Curtis need do nothing +else but eat, whilst you, Matt, can become a Mormon and marry all the +pretty girls in London!"</p> + +<p>This speech had the desired effect, and nothing more—for the time at +least—was said about retiring.</p> + +<p>"Do you think Leon is quite—er—like—er—like us?" Kelson said, when +Hamar left them, after administering his admonition. "At times he hardly +looks human. His face is such a funny colour, such a lurid yellow, and +his eyes, so piercing! He gives me the jumps! I can't bear to think of +him at night!"</p> + +<p>"Rubbish," Curtis growled. "You imagine it. There's nothing of the spook +about Leon! He's of this world and nothing but this world."</p> + +<p>It was odd, however, that from that time he, too, began to have the same +feeling—the feeling that Hamar was perpetually watching them—watching +them awake and watching them asleep! Curtis awoke one night to see, +standing on his hearth, a shadowy figure with a lurid yellow face and +two gleaming dark eyes, which were fixed on him. He called out, and it +vanished!</p> + +<p>"Of course it's the nut steak!" And thus he tried to assure himself. But +he was badly scared all the same.</p> + +<p>Another night, he saw some one, he took to be Hamar, peeping at him from +behind the window curtains. He threw a slipper at the figure, and the +slipper went right through it. If Hamar's phantom had been the only +thing he saw, he would not have minded much; but both he and Kelson soon +began to see and hear other things. Curtis frequently saw +half-materialized forms, forms of men with cone-shaped heads and +peculiarly formed limbs, stealing up the staircase in front of him, and, +turning into his bedroom, vanish there. He heard them moving about, long +after he had got into bed. Sometimes they would glide up to the bed and +bend over him, and though he could never see their eyes, he could feel +they were fixed mockingly on him. Once he saw the door of his wardrobe +slowly open, and a white something with a dreadful face—half human and +half animal—steal slyly out and disappear in the wall opposite. And +once when he put out his hand to feel for the matches, they were gently +thrust into his palm, whilst the walls of the room shook with laughter.</p> + +<p>Kelson was equally tormented, though the phenomena took rather a +different form. Alone in his bedroom at night, the shape of the room +would frequently change; either the walls and ceiling would recede, and +recede, until they assumed the proportions of some vast chamber, full of +gloom and strange shadows; or they would slowly, very slowly, close in +upon him, as if it were their intention to crush him to death. A feeling +of suffocation would come over him, and he would gasp, choke, beat the +air with his arms, be at the verge of losing consciousness, when there +would be a loud, mocking laugh—and the walls and ceiling would be in +their proper places again. At other times he would see strange figures +on the wall—numbers of circles, that would keep on revolving in the +most bewildering fashion. Then, suddenly, they would leave the wall and +slowly approach him, increasing in circumference; and the same thing +would happen, as happened with the wall and ceiling; he would undergo +the whole sensation of asphyxiation, and be on the brink of swooning, +when there would be a loud peal of evil, satirical laughter, and the +circles would instantly disappear.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the bedclothes would assume extraordinary shapes; sometimes +the articles on his dressing-table; sometimes his clothes; and once, +when he was about to put on his bedroom slippers, he found them already +occupied—occupied by icy cold feet. Another time, when he put out his +hand to take hold of a tumbler, he put it on the back of another +hand—smooth, cold and pulpy!</p> + +<p>Hardly a night passed without some sort of manifestation happening to +one or other of the trio, and even Curtis—fat and stolid Curtis—began +to lose flesh and look harassed.</p> + +<p>On the eve of the initiation into stage four, the three, separating for +the night, retired to their respective quarters in a far from pleasant +state of expectation.</p> + +<p>Hamar was undressing, when there came a loud ring at the telephone, +outside his door.</p> + +<p>"Holloa!" he called out, "who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Are you Mr. Hamar?" a voice asked, breathlessly.</p> + +<p>Hamar replied in the affirmative, and the voice continued—</p> + +<p>"I'm Mrs. Anderson-Waite, of 30 Queen's Mansions, Queen's Gate. I have +been holding a séance here, with some of my friends, and most +extraordinary things have happened, and are still happening. There are +violent knockings on the wall and ceiling, and the table has become +positively dangerous. It has repeatedly sprung into the air, and +savagely assaulted several of the sitters. It has thrown one lady on to +the floor, and despite our efforts to prevent it, has rampled on her so +viciously that she is badly hurt, and the doctor who has just arrived +thinks very seriously of it. We wanted to stop, but some strange power +seems to be forcing us to go on. The table has rapped out your name and +address, and says it has something important to communicate with you, +and that unless you come here at once, it won't answer for the +consequences."</p> + +<p>"All right!" Hamar said. "I'll come. I'll be with you in less than half +an hour."</p> + +<p>When Hamar arrived at Queen's Mansions, he found a terrified party of +ladies awaiting him in the entrance to the flat.</p> + +<p>"Thank goodness, you've come!" they exclaimed, all together. "We've been +having an awful time. The table has driven us out of the +drawing-room—it is obsessed by a devil."</p> + +<p>"Let me have a look at it," Hamar said, "and I'll soon tell you."</p> + +<p>The leader of the party, Mrs. Anderson-Waite, very cautiously opened the +drawing-room door, and Hamar peered in. In the centre of the room was a +large, round, ebony table, that commenced to rock, in the most sinister +fashion, the moment Hamar looked at it.</p> + +<p>"It evidently wants to speak with me," Hamar said; "you had better leave +me here with it for a few minutes."</p> + +<p>"Do take care," Mrs. Anderson-Waite said, as she shut the door. "It may +want to murder you. If it does, ring this bell, and we will all come to +your assistance."</p> + +<p>Hamar gave her an assuring smile, but he was by no means as much at ease +as he pretended to be. He stood staring at the table, too fascinated to +take his eyes off it, and too afraid to move.</p> + +<p>At length, however, pulling himself together, and convinced the table +was the medium, through which the Unknown wished to give him fresh +instructions, he stealthily approached it. He addressed it, and it +rapped out to him that he must at once obtain pen and ink and take down +what it wished to say.</p> + +<p>Obtaining the requisite materials from Mrs. Anderson-Waite, he sat down +and was preparing to write on his knee, when the table told him to rub +its surface briskly with his left hand, to trace on it the three +Atlantean symbols, <i>i. e.</i> a club foot, a hand with the fingers clenched +and the long pointed thumb standing upright, and a bat—and then—to +place his paper on it, and transcribe what it had to say.</p> + +<p>Hamar obeyed, and after sitting for exactly three minutes with his +pencil between his fingers, he felt a cold, pulpy hand laid over his, +impelling him to write with lightning-like rapidity. The script read as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"To Hamar, Curtis and Kelson—to the three of you in common—is given +the knowledge of inflicting all manner of torments and diseases, of +imparting all kinds of injurious properties, and of causing plagues.</p> + +<p>"In the first place, you must understand that the essence of life, +comprising the psychical, psychological and physical, permeates every +part of the living corporeal body—and that any limb, or fragment of +skin or flesh, cut off from the living corporeal body, retains the +essence of life, comprising the psychical and physical in its full +vigour and entirety. Consequently, if a person have grafted on to them a +piece of skin or flesh, or be inoculated with the blood or veins of a +tiger—then that person not merely becomes liable to all the physical +infirmities of the tiger, but may—if the counteracting influences are +not sufficiently strong—partake of all the tiger's psychological +characteristics.</p> + +<p>"Thus, if you give a person, in whom there is a latent tendency to +drink, a drop of a drunkard's blood—in a glass of wine, or sweet, or +pill, no matter what—that person will at once take to drink. Thus—mark +you—people can be metamorphosed into libertines, suicides, idiots and +murderers. This metamorphosis can also be produced by means of a magnet +called the 'magnes microcosmi,' which is prepared from substances that +have had a long association with the human body, and are penetrated by +its vitality. Such substances are the hair and blood. Take either one of +them, and dry it in a shady and moderately warm place, until it has lost +its humidity and odour. By this process it will have lost, too, all its +mumia—that is to say, its essence of life—and is hungry to regain it. +It is now a magnes microcosmi, or a magnet for attracting diseases and +properties, and if it be placed in close contact with a criminal or +lunatic, it will be filled with his essence of life, and may then be +used as a means of infecting other people with his pernicious qualities. +Bury it under the doorstep of the person you wish infected, or hide it +in his house, or mix it well with earth, and plant a shrub in the earth, +and the vitality the magnet took from the criminal or lunatic will pass +into the plant; and if the plant, or even flower of the plant, be given +to any one, that person—unless she or he be a person absolutely free +from the germs of vice—will be attracted to it, and greatly affected by +it.</p> + +<p>"Or again, the earth over the grave of a lunatic or criminal will +contain his essence of life, <i>i. e.</i> his vitality, which impregnates +everything around it, and if that earth be placed somewhere in the +immediate presence of a person, in whom there are latent tendencies to +vice—then that person will be affected by it.</p> + +<p>"And through these methods of using the essence of life, that is +impregnated with the disease you wish to inflict—you may infect people +with all kinds of incurable ailments.</p> + +<p>"But a quicker, and equally sure method of smiting people with disease, +such as cancer, fever, epilepsy, apoplexy, etc.; of smiting them blind, +deaf, dumb, lame, etc.; or bringing upon them all kinds of accidents, is +to make an image of the person you wish to torment, and, setting it in +front of you, preferably, at times when the moon is new, or in +conjunction with Venus, Mars or Saturn, concentrate with all your will +on whatever injury you wish to inflict. If, for example, you desire the +person to become blind, stick a pin, or thorn, or nail in the eyes of +the image; if deaf, in its ears; if maimed, cut a limb off the image; if +to have a certain disease, will very earnestly that he or she shall have +that disease. You may thus, too, torment the object of your aversion +with plagues of insects and vermin.</p> + +<p>"If you desire to bewitch your neighbour's milk, wine, or any food he or +she has, you may do it by placing the mumia, <i>i. e.</i> the vehicle +containing the essence of life of some criminal or lunatic, in the +immediate vicinity of the food, etc.; or in the case of milk, by giving +it to the cow to eat; or you may accomplish your design simply by means +of concentration and an image.</p> + +<p>"Always, however, whatever methods you employ, prelude them with this +prayer: 'I conjure thee, Great Unknown Power that is Antagonistic to +man, that was at the Beginning, that is now, that always will be; by the +winds and rain, and thunder and lightning; by the swirling rivers; by +the Moon; by the sinister influence of the Moon with Venus, Mars and +Saturn; help me obtain the perfect issue of all my desires, which I seek +to perform solely for the furtherment of what is detrimental to +humanity. Amen.' And conclude them with the signs of the foot, the hand +and the bat. If you desire to know anything further it will be unfolded +to you in your dreams."</p> + +<p>The hand that had been laid on Hamar's was now removed. The writing +ceased. The table rose several inches from the floor, and struck the +latter three times in quick, violent succession. Then it remained quiet, +and Hamar knew, by a subtle change in the atmosphere, that all occult +manifestations—for that night at least—were at an end. The ladies +were, of course, dying to know what had happened; and like most ladies, +who dabble in spiritualism, were ready to believe anything they were +told. Hamar, who had no intention whatever of telling them what had +actually occurred, satisfied them admirably.</p> + +<p>He went home delighted—far too delighted to sleep—for he had in his +possession now the greatest of all weapons—the weapon to torment. And +with it what could he not do! What could he not get! He could +get—Gladys!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI" />CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3>THE SELLING OF SPELLS</h3> + + +<p>The period of stage four promised to be one of such a lucrative nature, +that the trio set to work to profit by it at once. They bribed medical +men to procure for them the mumia of people suffering from every kind of +disease; of criminal lunatics; of idiots and epileptics; they obtained, +by bribery also, the blood and hair of the most abandoned men and +women—rakes, thieves, murderers. They bottled and labelled, and +arranged and catalogued, the mumia, in a laboratory designed for the +purpose; and, when all their preparations were complete, advertised—</p> + +<p class="center" style="line-height: 1.75em;">SPELLS FOR SALE<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Modern Sorcery Company Ltd.</span><br /> +offer for sale every variety of spells—love charms, sleep charms, etc. </p> + +<p>In order to carry out the principal conditions of the compact, namely, +to do harm, they made pseudo-love charms as follows:—</p> + +<p>They procured the hair of a girl whom they knew to be an incorrigible, +and, at the same time, heartless flirt; and, in the manner described +(and related in the last chapter) made a magnes microcosmi of it. When +ready for use, <i>i. e.</i> after it had been in immediate contact with the +girl's flesh, so as to get it fully charged, they had portions of it set +in rings, lockets and pendants. And the purchaser of any one of these +trinkets had only to persuade the object of his (or her) affection to +wear it, and his (or her) love would at once be reciprocated.</p> + +<p>Had the magnes microcosmi been charged with real, deep-rooted love, the +effect on the wearer would have been highly satisfactory, but charged as +it was with the effervescent and fleeting fancy of a flirt, the effect +on whoever wore it could not be more disastrous. The sentiments of the +hopeful purchaser would be reciprocated for a time, which would probably +lead to marriage—after which the affection his adored had professed +would suddenly decrease, and before the honeymoon was over, would have +vanished altogether.</p> + +<p>During the week following the announcement of the sale of these spells, +over a thousand were sold, the applicants being mostly shop girls, +typists, clerks and servants; in the second week the sales rose to three +thousand, and every succeeding week showed a still greater increase.</p> + +<p>In charging the magnes microcosmi, the motive of the purchaser had +always to be taken into account. If the love charm were wanted by a +woman—a housekeeper may be, who desired some rich old man to fall in +love with her, in order that she might come into his property; or by a +woman—a companion probably—who, having wormed herself into the +confidence of some eccentric old lady, was anxious that that lady should +leave her all her money—Hamar took care that the magnes microcosmi +should be charged with a lasting infatuation; and the sale of this love +spell—the spell that was sought solely that the purchaser might inherit +property to which he (or she) had no claim—far exceeded the sale of any +other spell. Indeed, it was extraordinary how many people—people one +would never have suspected—desired spells that would do other people +harm.</p> + +<p>Lady De Greene, the well-known humanitarian, who was most indefatigable +in getting up petitions to the Home Secretary, whenever the perpetrator +of any particularly heinous and inexcusable murder was about to be +hanged, and who was universally acknowledged "incapable of harming a +fly," called, surreptitiously, on Hamar.</p> + +<p>"I understand," she said, "everything you do here is in strict +confidence!"</p> + +<p>"Certainly, madam, certainly!" Hamar said. "We make it a point of honour +to divulge—nothing!"</p> + +<p>"That being so," Lady De Greene observed, "I want you to tell me of a +spell that will hasten some very obnoxious person's death."</p> + +<p>"If you will give me a rough idea of their personal appearance," Hamar +said, "I will make a wax image of them, and undertake they will trouble +you no longer."</p> + +<p>But Lady De Greene shook her head. She had no desire to commit herself.</p> + +<p>"Can't you do it in any other way," she said, "can't you let me give +them an unlucky charm—the sort of thing that might bring about a taxi +disaster?"</p> + +<p>Hamar thought for a moment and then—smiled.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" he said, "I think I can accommodate you."</p> + +<p>Leaving her for a few minutes, he went to the laboratory, and from a tin +box marked homicidal lunatic, he took a plain, gold ring. With this he +returned to Lady De Greene, murmuring on the way the prayer he had +learned from the table.</p> + +<p>"Here you are," he said handing the ring to Lady De Greene, "give it to +the person you have mentioned to me—and the result you desire will +speedily come to pass."</p> + +<p>Three days later, London was immeasurably shocked. It read in the papers +that the highly accomplished Lady De Greene, beloved and respected by +all, for the strenuous exertions on behalf of humanitarianism, had been +barbarously murdered by her husband (from whom—unknown to the +public—she had been living apart for years), who had suddenly, and, for +no apparent reason, become insane. Hamar, who was immensely tickled, +alone knew the reason why.</p> + +<p>This was no isolated case. Scores of Society women came to the trio with +the same request. "A spell, or charm, or something, that will bring +about a fatal accident—not a lingering illness"—and the person for +whom the accident was desired, was usually the husband. And the trio +often indulged in grim jokes.</p> + +<p>Without a doubt, Lady Minkhurst got her heart's desire when her husband +abruptly cut his throat, but alas, amongst those decimated, when the +charm fell into the hands of one of the footmen, was her ladyship's +lover.</p> + +<p>Again, Mrs. Jacques, the beauty, who, at one time, wrote for half the +fashion papers in England, certainly secured the demise of Colonel Dick +Jacques, who tumbled downstairs and broke his neck, but as in his fall +the Colonel alighted on one of the maids, who was not insured, and so +seriously injured her that she was pronounced a hopeless cripple, Mrs. +Jacques—with whom money was an object—had, of course, to maintain her +for the rest of her life.</p> + +<p>Likewise, Sir Charles Brimpton, in jumping out of the top window of his +house, besides pulverizing himself, pulverized, too, Lady Brimpton's pet +Pekingese "Waller," without whom, she declared, life wasn't worth +living; and Lord Snipping, in setting fire to himself, set fire to Lady +Snipping's boudoir (which he had been secretly visiting), and thereby +destroyed treasures which she tearfully declared were quite priceless, +and could never be replaced.</p> + +<p>Crowds of young married women were anxious to get rid of their rich old +relatives, who clung on to life with a tenacity that was "most +wearying."</p> + +<p>"Can you give me a spell that will make my grandmother go off suddenly?" +a girl with beautiful, sad eyes said plaintively to Kelson. "Don't think +me very wicked, but we are not at all well off—and she has lived such a +long time—such a very long time."</p> + +<p>"You don't want her to be ill first, I suppose," Kelson inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!" the girl replied, "she lives with us and we could never endure +the worry and trouble of nursing her. It must be something very sudden."</p> + +<p>"This will do it," Kelson said, giving her a locket containing the mumia +or essence of life of a mad dog; "fasten it round the old lady's neck, +and you will be astonished how soon it acts."</p> + +<p>"And what is your fee?" the girl asked, her eyes brimming over with +joyous anticipation.</p> + +<p>"For you—nothing," Kelson said gallantly. "Only tell no one. May I kiss +your hand."</p> + +<p>The firm's sale of spells for getting rid of husbands having risen one +day to five hundred—and the sale of their spells for putting old people +out of the way to fifteen hundred—even Hamar, who was no believer in +the perfection of human nature, was astonished.</p> + +<p>"My word!" he remarked. "Isn't this a revelation? Who would have thought +how many people have murder in their hearts? At least half Society +would, I believe, become homicides if only there were no chance of their +being found out and punished. Anyhow, if we go on at this rate there +will be no old people left."</p> + +<p>And it did indeed seem as if such would be the case. For the moment the +idea got abroad that old people could be thrust out of existence with +absolute safety and ease, there was a perfect mania amongst men, women, +and even children, to get rid of them, and the deaths of people over +sixty recorded in the papers multiplied every day. The following is an +extract from the <i>Planet</i> of July 28—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="smcap">Bolt.</span>—On July 27, at No. —— Elgin Avenue, S.W., Emily Jane, loved + and venerated mother of Mary Bolt, M.D., in her 69th year. Drowned + in her bath. And all the Angels wept!</p> + +<p> <span class="smcap">Cushman.</span>—On July 27, at No. —— Sheep Street, Northampton, Sarah + Elizabeth, adored mother of Josiah Cushman, Plymouth Brother, in + her 88th year. Run over by a taxi. Joy in Heaven!</p> + +<p> <span class="smcap">Starling.</span>—On July 27, at No. —— Snargate Street, Dover, Susan, + highly esteemed and greatly beloved mother of Alfred Starling, + Wesleyan Minister, in her 71st year. Lost in the harbour. Asleep in + Jesus.</p> + +<p> <span class="smcap">Tretickler.</span>—On July 27, at No. —— The Terrace, St. Ives, Cornwall, + Elizabeth, adored grandmother of Tobias Tretickler, + Congregationalist, in her 91st year. Fell over the Malatoff. "Oh, + Paradise! Oh, Paradise!"</p> + +<p> <span class="smcap">Broot.</span>—On July 27, at Charlton House, Queen's Gate, S.W., Jane, + greatly beloved mother of John Broot, Labour M.P., in her 83rd + year. Fell down the area. Peace, blessed Peace.</p> + +<p> <span class="smcap">Gum.</span>—On July 27, at No. —— Church Road, Upper Norwood, Sophia, widow + of the late Albert Gum, L.C.C., in her 85th year. Choked whilst + eating tripe. Sadly missed!</p> + +<p> <span class="smcap">Paveman.</span>—On July 27, at No. —— Queen's Road, Clifton, Bristol, Anne + Rebecca, dearly beloved mother of Alfred Paveman, grocer, in her + 74th year. Accidentally burned to death! At rest at last. </p></div> + +<p>But it must not be supposed from these few notices, selected from at +least a hundred, that the applicants for spells were by any means +confined to the upper and middle classes. By far the greater number of +spells were sold to the working people—to those of them who, prudent +and respectable, counted amongst their aged relatives, at least, one or +two who were insured.</p> + +<p>Nor was the sale of spells confined to adults; for among the numbers, +that flocked to consult the trio, were countless County Council +children.</p> + +<p>"Can you give me a spell to make teacher break her neck?" was the most +common request, though it was frequently varied with demands such as—</p> + +<p>"I'll trouble you for a spell to pay mother out. She won't put more than +three lumps of sugar in my tea;"—or, "Mother has got very teazy lately. +I want a spell to make her fall downstairs"—or, "Father only gives me +twopence a week out of what I earn blacking boots; give me a spell to +make him have an accident whilst he's at work." And it was not seldom +that the trio were petitioned thus: "Please give us a spell to make our +parents die quickly. Teacher says at school 'perfect freedom is the +birthright of all Englishmen,' and we can't have perfect freedom whilst +our parents are alive."<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22" /><a href="#Footnote_22_22"><sup>[22]</sup></a></p> + +<p>The statistics of those who died from the effects of accidents for the +week ending August 1, of this year, in London alone, were—over sixty +years of age, five thousand; between the ages of twenty-five and sixty, +six thousand; and, for the latter deaths, children alone were +responsible.</p> + +<p>The greatest number of these accidents occurred in Poplar, West Ham, +Battersea, and Whitechapel; and at length the working class applicants +became so numerous that the Modern Sorcery Company could not cope with +them, and were forced to raise their charges.</p> + +<p>Among other customers, as one might expect, were many militant +Suffragettes; whom Hamar and Curtis palmed off on Kelson.</p> + +<p>"Give me a spell," demanded a hatchet-faced lady, wearing a +half-up-to-the-knee skirt, "one that will cause the roof of the House of +Commons to fall in and smash everybody—EVERYBODY. This is no time for +half-measures."</p> + +<p>Had she been pretty, it is just possible Kelson might have assented, but +he had no sympathy with the ugly—they set his teeth on edge—he loathed +them. </p> + +<p>"Certainly, madam, certainly," he said, "here is a spell that will have +the effect you desire," and he handed her a ring containing a magnes +microcosmi fully charged with the essence of life of an idiot. "Wear +it," he said, "night and day. Never be without it."</p> + +<p>She joyfully obeyed, and within forty-eight hours was lodged in a home +for incurables.</p> + +<p>Another woman, if possible even uglier than the last, approached him +with a similar request.</p> + +<p>"Let me have a spell at once," she said, "that will make every member of +the Government be run over by taxis—and killed. They are monsters, +tyrants—I abominate them. Let them be slowly—very slowly—SQUASHED to +death!"</p> + +<p>"Very well, madam," Kelson said, carefully concealing a smile, "here is +what you want—wear it next your heart;" and he gave her a locket, +containing a magnes microcosmi charged with the essence of life of a +leper, which he had procured at considerable risk and expense.</p> + +<p>"I consider your fee far too high," the Suffragette said. "You take +advantage of me because I'm a woman."</p> + +<p>"Very well, madam," he said, "I will make an exception in your case, and +let you have it for half the sum."</p> + +<p>With a good deal more grumbling she paid the half fee, and, fastening +the locket round her neck, flounced out of the building. As Kelson +gleefully anticipated, the spell acted in less than two days, and with +such success, that he was more than compensated for the monetary loss.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards, Kelson received a frantic visit from another +Suffragette—a woman whose virulent sandy hair at once aroused his +animosity.</p> + +<p>"Quick! Quick!" she cried, bursting into the room where he was sitting. +"Let me have a spell that will blow up every Cabinet Minister, and their +wives and families as well."</p> + +<p>"Such an ambitious request as that, madam," Kelson rejoined, "cannot be +granted in a hurry. I must have time—to—"</p> + +<p>"No! No! At once!" the lady cried, stamping her feet with ill-suppressed +rage.</p> + +<p>"—to consider how it can best be done," Kelson went on calmly. "I must +have time to think."</p> + +<p>The lady fumed, but Kelson remained inexorable; and directly she had +gone, he made a wax image of her, and taking up a knife chopped its head +off. In the evening, he learned that a lady answering to her description +had been run over by a train at Chislehurst—and decapitated.</p> + +<p>Kelson grew heartily sick of the Suffragettes. They were not only plain +but abusive, and he complained bitterly to Hamar.</p> + +<p>"Look here," he said, "it's not fair. You and Curtis see all the +decent-looking women and shelve all the rest on me. I'll stand it no +longer." And he spoke so determinedly, that Hamar thought it politic to +humour him.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Matt," he said, forcing a laugh. "I'll try and arrange +differently in future. After to-day you shall have your share of the +pretty ones—anything to keep the peace. Only—remember—no falling in +love."</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22" /><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Lest the reader should query this, let him consult the +police in any of our big centres, and he will learn that crime and +prostitution is immensely on the increase among children. In Newcastle +it is estimated that there are over two thousand girls, of under +fourteen years of age, voluntarily leading immoral lives, and making big +incomes.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII" />CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<h3>THE PERSECUTION OF THE MARTINS</h3> + + +<p>Hamar's one great idea on reaching stage four was to utilize the +torments as a means of getting Gladys. Though he saw crowds of pretty +girls every day, none appealed to him as she did—and the very +difficulty of getting her enhanced her value and stimulated his +passions.</p> + +<p>"I will give her one more chance," he said to himself, "and then if she +won't have me I'll plague her to death."</p> + +<p>He went to the Imperial, and passing himself off as her father to the +new official at the stage-door entrance, was shown into the ante-room +(which led to her dressing-room). It took a good deal to scare Hamar, +but he admitted afterwards that he did feel a trifle apprehensive whilst +he awaited her advent; and his anticipations were fully realized.</p> + +<p>"Why, father!" she began, as the door of her dressing-room swung open +and she appeared on the threshold, clad in a shimmering white dress, +that intensified her fair style of beauty, "what brings you—" The smile +on her face suddenly died away.</p> + +<p>"You!" she cried, "how dare you! Go! Go at once! And if you dare come +here again or attempt to molest me in any way, I'll prosecute you!"</p> + +<p>Hamar, dumbfounded at such an exhibition of wrath, slunk out of the room +without uttering a syllable.</p> + +<p>"The vixen," he muttered as soon as he found himself in the street. "A +thousand cats in one! Treated me like mud. Jerusalem! I'll pay her out. +And I'll lose no time about it either. She'll look differently at me +next time we meet."</p> + +<p>He hurried back to Cockspur Street and going into the laboratory, threw +himself into a chair and—thought.</p> + +<p>That same evening at nine-thirty, in the interval between her first and +second "going on," Gladys hastened to her dressing-room, and was +preparing to partake of the light refreshments she had ordered, when—to +her horror—she perceived crawling towards her, across the floor, a huge +cockroach—a hideous black thing with spidery legs and long antennae +that it waved, to and fro, in the air, as it advanced. It was at least +double the size of any Gladys had hitherto seen, and her feelings can +best be appreciated by those who fear such things—her blood ran cold, +her flesh crawled, she sat glued to her chair, terrified to move, lest +it should run after her. She screamed, and her dresser, startled out of +her senses, came flying into the room.</p> + +<p>"What is it, madam? What is it?" she cried.</p> + +<p>Gladys pointed at the floor.</p> + +<p>"Kill it!" she shrieked. "Stamp on it! Oh, quick, quick, it is coming +towards me."</p> + +<p>But the moment the dresser caught sight of the cockroach, she sprang on +a chair and wound her skirts round her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, madam," she panted, "I daren't! I daren't go near it. I'm +frightened out of my life, at beetles. And there's another of them"—and +she pointed to the wainscoting—"and another! Why, the room's full of +them!"</p> + +<p>And so it was. Everywhere Gladys looked she saw beetles crawling +towards her—dozens upon dozens, hundreds upon hundreds—and all of the +same monstrous size and ultra-horrible appearance.</p> + +<p>"Look!" she screamed. "They are climbing on to my clothes. One's got +into my shoes, and another will be in them, in a second. There's +another—crawling up my cloak—and another on my skirt. Oh! Oh!" and her +cries, and those of the dresser, speedily brought a troop of actors and +actresses to the door. The instant, however, the cause of the alarm was +ascertained, there were loud yells, and a wild stampede down the +passages. The Stage Manager was called, but one glance at the floor was +enough for him—he fled. And in the end three of the supers had to be +fetched. Hot water, brooms, ashes, and quicklime were used, and although +thousands of the cockroaches were killed, thousands more came, and so +hopeless did the task of getting rid of them become, that the room +eventually had to be vacated, and the cracks under the door securely +sealed.</p> + +<p>Before Gladys left the theatre, she was called on the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Hamar," came the reply, in insinuating tones. "How do you like the +beetles? You'll never see the end of them till—"</p> + +<p>But Gladys rang off.</p> + +<p>On her return home something scuttled across the hall floor in front of +her. She sprang back with a scream. It was a gigantic cockroach. The +hall was full of them. She summoned the servants, and they set to work +to kill them. But they might as well have tried to stop Niagara, for as +fast as they squashed one battalion, another took its place. They came +out of cracks in the floor, from behind the wainscoting, from every +conceivable place in the kitchens, and in a dense black ribbon some six +inches broad, ascended the staircase. Gladys tried to barricade her room +against them, but it was of no avail. They came from under the boards of +the floor and poured down the chimney. They swarmed over the furniture, +in the cupboards, chest of drawers, the washstand (where they kept +continually falling into the water), in her clothes (her dressing-gown +was covered with them), over the bed, and the climax was reached when +they approached the chair she stood on. Too fascinated with horror to +move, she watched them crawling up to her. She was thus found by her +father. He had come to her assistance in the very nick of time, and +after lifting her from the chair and taking her to a place, as yet safe +from molestation, returned to her room, where, with savage blows, +smashing, equally, beetles and furniture, he remained till daybreak.</p> + +<p>With the first streak of dawn the beetles decamped, and the fray ended. +The work of devastation had been colossal. Corpses were strewn +everywhere—and it took the combined household hours, before all +evidences of the slaughter were obliterated. As for Gladys, she had not +slept all night and was a wreck.</p> + +<p>"I can never go through another night of it," she said to Miss +Templeton. "Do you think we shall ever get rid of the horrible things?"</p> + +<p>"We can but try, dear!" Miss Templeton said consolingly, and she +accompanied Gladys up to town, where they inquired of doctors, and +chemists, and all sorts of possible and impossible people; and returned +to Kew laden with chemicals, and patent beetle destroyers. But though +they tried remedies by the score, none were of use, and the beetles +repeated their performance of the preceding night.</p> + +<p>Gladys did not go to bed: surrounded with lighted candles, she sat on +the top of a wardrobe till daybreak. The following morning the house was +fumigated with sulphur; and people were told off to kill the +cockroaches, as they made their escape out of doors. By this means an +enormous number were killed; but at night they were just as bad as +before.</p> + +<p>An engineer friend then suggested a freezing-machine. The temperature of +the house was reduced to ten degrees below zero; the pipes froze (and +burst next day), the milk froze, the housemaid's toes and the cook's +little finger of the left hand froze, everything froze; and presumably +the beetles froze, for there was not one to be seen.</p> + +<p>However, it was quite impossible to resort again to this extreme +measure. John Martin had the most agonizing attacks of lumbago. Gladys +had neuralgia, and Miss Templeton—a slight touch of pleurisy.</p> + +<p>When Gladys reached the Imperial that evening, she found that the staff +had been battling with cockroaches all day, and that they had at last +succeeded in getting rid of them with a fumigation mixture of camphor, +cocculus, sulphur, bezonia and assafœtida—suggested to them by a +Hindoo student.</p> + +<p>For the next week not a beetle was to be seen at the theatre nor at the +Cottage; and Gladys was beginning to hope that Hamar had ceased plaguing +her (in despair of ever winning her), when the persecutions suddenly +broke out again.</p> + +<p>She had been in bed about half an hour, and was falling into a gentle +and much needed sleep, when a tremendous rap at the wall, close to her +head, awoke her with a start, and set her heart pulsating violently. +Thinking it must be some one on the landing, she got up and lit a +candle. There was no one there. The moment she got into bed again, the +rapping was repeated, and it continued, at intervals, all night. This +went on for a week, during which time Gladys was never once able to +sleep.</p> + +<p>A brief respite ensued; but it was abruptly terminated one morning, when +Gladys awoke feeling as if some big insect were attempting to penetrate +her body. Uttering a shriek of terror, she whipped the clothes from her, +and sprang out of bed. Miss Templeton, who slept in the next room, came +rushing in, and they both saw an enormous insect, half beetle and half +scorpion, dart under the pillow. John Martin was fetched, but although +he searched everywhere, not a trace of the insect could be found.</p> + +<p>That night, directly Gladys got in bed and blew out the light, she heard +a ticking sound on the sheets, and a huge insect with long hairy legs +ran up her sleeve. Her shrieks brought the whole household to the room, +but the insect was nowhere to be seen.</p> + +<p>She was thus plagued for nearly a fortnight. One insect only—never a +number, but only one, of prodigious size and terrifying form—appeared +to her in the least suspected places, <i>i. e.</i>, on the dressing-table or +chimney-piece, in her shoes, or pockets; crawled over her in the dark; +and could never be caught.</p> + +<p>These perpetual frights, and consequent sleeplessness, wore Gladys out. +She grew so ill that she had to give up acting, and go into a home to +try the rest cure.</p> + +<p>Hamar then communicated with her, through a third person, and offered to +leave off tormenting her, if she would agree to be engaged to him.</p> + +<p>"I never will!" she said.</p> + +<p>"Then I will never leave off persecuting you," was his retort.</p> + +<p>But he was wary. He had no wish to kill her or to damage her looks—so +he let her get well and remain thus for a brief space. When she was once +again in full vigour, acting at the Imperial, he recommenced his +unwelcome attentions.</p> + +<p>At first he confined his new plague to the servants at the Cottage. The +cook was one day turning out a drawer in the kitchen dresser, when she +was horrified out of her senses to find squatting there, a large, black +toad, which stared most malevolently at her, and then sprang in her +face. She shrieked to the housemaid to help her kill it, but before a +weapon could be got, the creature had bounced through an open window, +and disappeared.</p> + +<p>After this incident the servants knew no peace. Their bedclothes were +thrown off them at night, their dresses torn and bespattered with ink, +their brushes and combs thrown out of the window, and the water they +poured out to wash in was sometimes quite black, sometimes full of a +bright green sediment, and sometimes boiling, when it invariably cracked +both the jug and basin.</p> + +<p>Unable to stand these annoyances the servants left in a body. Their +successors fared the same, and worse. Besides having to endure the +above-named horrors, pebbles were thrown through the windows, their +chairs were pulled away as they were about to sit down (the cook, who +was one of those upon whom this trick was played, thereby seriously +injuring her spine), and all sorts of obstacles were placed on the +stairs, so that those who ran down unwarily tripped over them and hurt +themselves (two successive housemaids broke their legs, whilst another +sprained her wrist).</p> + +<p>The meat, too, was a constant worry—it went so bad that enormous +maggots crawled out of it by the thousand and covered the table and +floor; and the milk, of which a large quantity was taken daily, "turned" +in a very curious manner. After being deposited, in its usual place, in +the pantry, it began to darken; first of all it became light blue, then +deepened into an almost inky blackness, exhibiting curious zigzag lines; +and, lastly, the whole mass began to putrefy and to emit a stench so +overpowering that every one in the house retched, and the whole place +had to be disinfected. This occurred day after day. Nothing would stop +it. The dairyman who supplied the milk did all he could to counteract +it. He had his dairies constantly cleansed, he saw that the cattle had a +change of food, he bought an entirely new stock of dairy utensils, and +no milk was ever sent to the Cottage that he had not had carefully +analyzed.</p> + +<p>The troubles continued for three weeks, at the end of which period John +Martin received a telephone call from Hamar.</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" the latter said, "I guess you've had about enough of it by this +time. Wouldn't you like some sweet-smelling milk for a change, or do you +prefer to go on till you all get typhoid? The remedy, you know, lies in +your own hands. You've only to tell that daughter of yours to accept me, +and I'll undertake all your troubles shall cease."</p> + +<p>"I'll see you hanged first," John Martin answered.</p> + +<p>"Very well, then, you old mule," Hamar shouted, "look out for +yourself—and Miss Gladys."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII" />CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<h3>LOVE</h3> + + +<p>To bring about plagues of insects Hamar had resorted to a very simple +method. He had first of all made a wax image representing a +cockroach—scorpion—centipede, or whatever other species came into his +mind. Then, placing the image he had made in front of him, and repeating +the prayer he had learned from the Unknown, through the medium of Mrs. +Anderson-Waite's table, he had concentrated body, soul, and spirit on +plaguing Gladys with the insect, which the image represented. When his +concentration reached the highest degree, insects in their actual +physical bodies were transported from the tropics;<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23" /><a href="#Footnote_23_23"><sup>[23]</sup></a> but when he was +unable to concentrate to the utmost, only the ethereal projections of +the insects were obtainable; hence the hybrid—partly scorpion and +partly beetle, that appeared and disappeared in Gladys's bed and +bedroom.</p> + +<p>To produce the rappings on the walls of Gladys's room, he had made a wax +representation of a wall, and whilst concentrating to the very utmost, +had struck it with his knuckles.</p> + +<p>The plaguing of the servants Hamar had also accomplished by means of +images and concentration.</p> + +<p>But in order to bewitch milk, he had been obliged to resort to other +means. He had converted the mumia of an idiot into a magnes microcosmi; +and bribing the man who delivered the milk, he gave him instructions to +soak the magnes microcosmi, for a few minutes, in every portion that he +left at the Cottage.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24" /><a href="#Footnote_24_24"><sup>[24]</sup></a></p> + +<p>At length Hamar having failed to gain his object by plaguing Gladys and +the servants, set about tormenting John Martin. He made a wax image of +the latter, and after pronouncing the necessary prayer, stuck the image +full of pins, crying out as he did so "John Martin, I hate you. John +Martin, I curse you. John Martin, a plague on you." And each time Hamar +stuck a pin in the image he had made of John Martin, the real John +Martin felt an acute pain in the region of his body corresponding to +that in which the pin was stuck.</p> + +<p>The doctor, who was called in, could make nothing of the malady, but, +following the etiquette of the profession, cloaked his ignorance with a +look of profound wisdom, and the pronouncement that he would tell them, +in a day or two, what was the matter. In the meanwhile, he found it +necessary and politic to prescribe a non-committal mixture of chalk and +rhubarb, which, although disguised under the usual fanciful +pharmacopœia appellation, did not, however, allay the pain. Sharp, +agonizing pricks, now on the neck now in the chest, now in the most +sensitive part of the knee-cap, now under the toe-nail, now—most +painful of all—under the finger-nail—continued to torment John Martin, +who, though as a rule fairly stoical, could not stand these attacks with +any degree of composure. He screamed, and swore, and cursed, until the +whole household was terrified—and Gladys, pretty nearly out of her +mind.</p> + +<p>During a lull—an interval, wherein John Martin enjoyed a brief respite, +the telephone bell rang.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa," called a voice, "I'm Hamar. Haven't you had about enough of +it? Remember, you've only to say the word and I'll stop."</p> + +<p>"Tell him I'll do nothing of the sort," John Martin said, "that he'll +never get the better of me this way."</p> + +<p>Miss Templeton gave the message, and Hamar replied "Wait! Wait and see!"</p> + +<p>He then thrust wool, pins, horsenails, straw, needles and moss into the +mouth of the image, and John Martin had such frightful pains in his +stomach that he went into convulsions; and, after an emetic had been +given him, vomited up all the above-named articles, save the pins and +needles which worked their way out through his flesh, causing him the +most exquisite tortures.</p> + +<p>Gladys, having given up going to the theatre in order to be with her +father during these attacks, now declared that she could no longer bear +to see him in such excruciating pain, whilst it was in her power to +prevent it.</p> + +<p>"Tell him," she said, "tell Hamar you'll accept his conditions. Don't +think of me! I would rather do anything than see you suffer like this."</p> + +<p>"I can hold out a bit longer," he groaned, "at any rate I needn't give +in yet."</p> + +<p>Every now and then there came a respite—perhaps for several hours, +perhaps for several days—then the tortures recommenced. And always John +Martin steeled himself to bear them. At last came the climax.</p> + +<p>Hamar, infuriated that his efforts, so far, had proved fruitless, +resolved, since time was pressing, to play his trump card and either +win, or lose all. He rang up Gladys on the telephone.</p> + +<p>"My patience is exhausted," he said. "I'll give you one more chance, and +one—only. Agree to be engaged to me at once—or I'll smite your father +with the most virulent form of cancer, and leave him to die."</p> + +<p>There was no question now in Gladys's mind as to what she should do. Of +all things in the world, she dreaded cancer most, and after the many +evidences Hamar had given her of his skill in Black Magic, she did not +doubt for one instant that he could, immediately he chose, carry out his +threat.</p> + +<p>"I have decided," she said faintly, "to—to—give in."</p> + +<p>"You accept me, then?" Hamar said.</p> + +<p>"Y-yes!"</p> + +<p>"When may I see you?"</p> + +<p>"When you like."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll come at once," Hamar replied. "<i>Au revoir.</i>"</p> + +<p>But Hamar, when he arrived at the Cottage, did not realize any of the +gleeful anticipations he had indulged in <i>en route</i>. Gladys was ill—so +Miss Templeton informed him—at the same time begging him, if he really +had any regard for Miss Martin, not to ask to see her for the next few +days; and to this request Hamar, seeing no alternative, was obliged to +assent.</p> + +<p>Shortly after he had gone, Shiel Davenport called, and found Gladys +alone in the garden.</p> + +<p>"I've been told that your father is ill," he said, "and should like to +hear better news of him. How is he?"</p> + +<p>"I think he's all right now," Gladys replied, "but he has suffered +frightfully. Indeed, we've all had a terrible time," And she told him +what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Then you've not been acting at the Imperial lately?" Shiel asked.</p> + +<p>"Not for the past week," Gladys replied. "I couldn't leave father."</p> + +<p>"How has Mr. Bromley Burnham got on without you?" Shiel asked bitterly.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," Gladys said quietly. "I have an understudy, +and from what I am told she has given every satisfaction. I have some +news which I fear won't be altogether welcome to you."</p> + +<p>Shiel turned a shade paler. "What is it?" he faltered.</p> + +<p>"I'm engaged to be married."</p> + +<p>For a few moments there was silence, and then Shiel exclaimed +mechanically "Engaged to be married! To whom?"</p> + +<p>"To Leon Hamar! I couldn't help it." And she explained the position.</p> + +<p>"But he'll never keep you to it," Shiel said. "He couldn't be such a +brute."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid he will," Gladys replied. "He's shown pretty clearly that +he's capable of anything. I've given him my promise—I must keep it."</p> + +<p>"Then it's good-bye to all interest in life—for me," Shiel said, with a +gulp. "I've thought of no one but you since we first met. For you—in +the hope of someday winning you, I've struggled on; I've reconciled +myself to a bare existence. Now I've lost you, I've lost everything. I +hate life. I shall—"</p> + +<p>"You'll do nothing of the sort," Gladys interrupted, "unless you want me +to regret ever having met you. I wonder that you say 'I've nothing to +live for'—when we can still be friends; and when you can, at least, win +my respect, by putting your shoulder to the wheel, and exerting yourself +to the utmost to get on."</p> + +<p>"And you—what about you?"</p> + +<p>"Never mind me—I can well look after myself."</p> + +<p>"You'll live in Hell," Shiel cried, her eyes goading him to madness. +"Even though you may not care for me, I do not choose to stand quietly +by, whilst you spend your life in Purgatory. Hamar has won you through +some diabolical trickery, and if I can't thwart him in any other +way—I'll kill him. He shan't marry you."</p> + +<p>"He will," Gladys sighed. "No one can stop him. He is omnipotent."</p> + +<p>Apparently, Gladys's statement was more or less true; and ninety-nine +men out of a hundred, in the same circumstances as Shiel, would have now +recognized the hopelessness of the situation. But Shiel was abnormal. As +he walked home from the Cottage that evening he kept on repeating to +himself "Gladys is my goal. I want only Gladys. I'll have only Gladys." +And having once made up his mind to get Gladys, it seemed to him, as if +out of every obstacle, that lay between him and Gladys, he could and +would merely make a stepping-stone. "Since," he argued to himself, +"all's fair in love and war, I'll win Gladys through another woman."</p> + +<p>And he straightway telephoned to Lilian Rosenberg to have tea with him.</p> + +<p>The latter had already made an engagement for the afternoon; but, all +the same, she accepted Shiel's invitation.</p> + +<p>"Will you do me a favour?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"If it is anything that lies in my power," she said. "What is it?"</p> + +<p>"I want you to find out how Hamar works his spells. I asked you +before?"</p> + +<p>"I know you did and I've not forgotten," Lilian said, "but I have to be +very careful. I've played the part of eavesdropper once or twice, and +heard enough to confirm me in my suspicions that Hamar is in touch with +evil, occult powers. I've heard him praying aloud to them on more than +one occasion, and I've also a shrewd idea he performs, at least, some of +his spells by means of wax images. But why do you want to know?"</p> + +<p>"Only curiosity. I am intensely interested in the occult."</p> + +<p>"You don't want to start a rival show, do you?" Lilian asked jestingly.</p> + +<p>"With a maximum capital of two pounds—and a minimum of knowledge!" +Shiel laughed. "Hardly. I wish I could. I would offer you the post of +manageress."</p> + +<p>"Partner!"</p> + +<p>"Well, partner, if you like. Would you take it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps!" she said, looking at him with a sudden shyness. "What a pity +you are not rich. Can't you get a post that would bring you in about +£200 a year for a start? I believe you really want something to +stimulate you, to make you work in grim earnest—then you would succeed. +There's grit in you—I love grit—but at present it's latent, it wants +bringing out."</p> + +<p>"You are very kind," Shiel said, "but I'm afraid I'm a hopeless case, +and, being such, have no business to be in your company. Will you come +to the theatre with me?"</p> + +<p>"The theatre! When you've no business to be in my company, and when it +is as much as you can do to pay the rent of a back attic!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind that. I've had tickets given me. I've been doing odd +bits of journalism lately, and a dramatic critic I know has given me two +stalls at the Imperial!"</p> + +<p>"The Imperial!" Lilian Rosenberg ejaculated. "That's where Gladys Martin +is acting, surely! I can't bear her!"</p> + +<p>"She's not the only person in the cast," Shiel observed drily, "and the +play's a good one! Do come!"</p> + +<p>With a little more persuasion Shiel gained her consent; and both he and +she enjoyed the play, or more correctly speaking, the occasion, +immensely. So long as Gladys was on the stage Shiel's eyes never once +left her; whilst throughout the performance Lilian Rosenberg saw only +Shiel, thought only of Shiel. The interest she had taken in him, the +interest she had so confidently asserted was only interest, had grown +apace—had grown out of all recognition. It needed only a fillip now to +convert that interest into something warmer; and the fillip was not long +in coming.</p> + +<p>Shiel was seeing Lilian home to her lodgings in Margaret Terrace, a +turning off Oakley Street, when a man knocked a woman down right in +front of them. He was just the ordinary type of street ruffian—the +whitewashed English labourer—and the woman, having without doubt been +served by him in the same manner fifty times before, was probably well +used to such treatment. But it was more than Shiel, who had spent so +much of his life where they treat women differently, could stand, and +before Lilian Rosenberg had time to remonstrate, he had rushed up to the +prostrate woman, and was holding the man at bay. A scuffle now began, in +which the woman, whom Shiel had helped to regain her feet, joined. Both +man and woman now attacked Shiel, who, placing himself with his back +against the railings, defended himself as best he could.</p> + +<p>The hour was late, there were no police about, and it seemed only too +probable that the fracas would end in a tragedy. The labourer was a +burly fellow, shorter than Shiel, but far broader and heavier, and any +one could see at a glance that Shiel stood no chance against him. Lilian +Rosenberg, at her wits' end to know what to do, ran into Oakley Street, +and as there was no one in sight, she made for the nearest lighted house +and rang the bell furiously. A man came to the door, whom, unheeding his +expostulations, she caught by the arm and dragged into the street.</p> + +<p>They arrived on the scene of action, just as the ruffian, breaking +through Shiel's guard, struck him a terrific blow on the forehead, which +sent him reeling against the railings. The newcomer (upon whom, both man +and woman, seeing Shiel incapacitated, instantly turned) would probably +have shared the same fate, had not the occupants of several of the +neighbouring houses—amongst whom were some half-dozen athletic young +men—roused by the noise, come out into the street, and the ruffian and +his companion, seeing the odds were against them, decamped.</p> + +<p>Shiel had not fully regained consciousness, when Lilian Rosenberg, +regardless of propriety, led him into her sitting-room, bathed his +forehead, dosed him with brandy, and making up a bed for him on the +sofa, bade him rest there, till the morning.</p> + +<p>When he took his departure, he had quite recovered, and Lilian Rosenberg +had, at last, realized that she loved him.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><p class="center">FOOTNOTES:</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23" /><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> There is no doubt that Moses inflicted the plagues, with +which he tormented Pharaoh, in this way.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24" /><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> In stage two this might have been performed by ethereal +projection, but Hamar could not resort to this method as the power of +projection had now passed from him.</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV" />CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<h3>THE SUBPŒNA</h3> + + +<p>A few days after the incident in Margaret Terrace, Shiel had an +inspiration. He was lunching with an old schoolfellow whom, quite by +chance, he had met in Lincoln's Inn, having previously lost sight of him +for many years, and the conversation, which had at first been confined +to the old days, had gradually drifted to what was ever uppermost in +Shiel's mind—namely, the Modern Sorcery Company, <i>i. e.</i> Hamar, Kelson +and Curtis.</p> + +<p>"Did you know," his friend remarked, "that the old statute, introduced +in Henry the Fifth's reign against sorcery, has never been repealed?"</p> + +<p>"You don't mean to say so," Shiel cried excitedly—a vague idea dawning +on him. "Tell me all about it."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's rather a long order. For one thing, it imposes all kinds +of penalties from capital punishment to fines. For another, it was in +force up to the beginning of George the Third's reign, when the last +case of a person being burned for witchery in England occurred, and +since then it has fallen into disuse."</p> + +<p>"Could it be revived?" Shiel asked, a sudden wild hope surging through +him.</p> + +<p>"For all I know to the contrary, it could," his friend—who, by the way, +was a barrister—replied. "Of course no one could be burned or hanged +under it, but they might be fined or imprisoned."</p> + +<p>"Then I wish to goodness you would file a case against the Modern +Sorcery Company! I'd move heaven and earth to get the scoundrels sent to +prison!" And he told his friend how matters stood between Gladys and +Hamar.</p> + +<p>The barrister—whose name was Sevenning—H.V. Sevenning, of T.C.D. and +Cheltenham College renown—was keenly interested. It was not only that +his sense of chivalry was stirred, but he saw sport. Consequently, the +foregoing conversation resulted in a prosecution which, taking place +some four weeks later, was reported in the London Herald as follows—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hl">Extraordinary Charge Heard at the Old Bailey.<br /> +Revival of an Ancient Statute.</p> + +<p> Yesterday, at the Old Bailey, before His Honour Judge Rosher, Leon + Hamar, Edward Curtis and Matthew Kelson, of the Modern Sorcery + Company Ltd., were indicted under the 23rd of Henry the Fifth, C. + 15, which makes it a capital offence to practise and administer + spells. The case for the prosecution promises to be a lengthy one. + An enormous number of witnesses, who are most anxious to make + statements, will be called; and it is anticipated that much of + their evidence will be of a most extraordinary nature.</p> + +<p> The accused are cited with having worked spells to the + injury—which injury, in many instances, has been fatal—of a vast + number of people, representative of every rank in life.</p> + +<p> Hilda, Countess of Ramsgate, who appeared in heavy mourning, was + the first witness called. In her evidence she stated, that it was + owing to an advertisement she had seen in the <i>Ladies' Meadow</i>, + that she had consulted the Modern Sorcery Company Ltd., with the + object of buying a spell to prevent her Pekingese pet, Brutus, + catching colds on his liver. She had hoped to see Mr. Kelson, as + she had heard that he was more sympathetic, where ladies were + concerned, than either Mr. Hamar or Mr. Curtis, but as Mr. Kelson + was engaged, she had consulted Mr. Edward Curtis instead. The + latter had given her a spell which he had assured her would have + the desired effect, but directly she got home, her adored Brutus + developed melancholia, and died raving mad, after having bitten her + child, who, by the way, had died, too.</p> + +<p> For the defence, Gerald Kirby, K.C., declared that the spell his + client had given the Countess was perfectly harmless; that it could + not possibly have produced either melancholia or madness. "Can any + dependence," he said, "be placed on a woman, who obviously thinks + more of her dog's death than that of her child!"</p> + +<p> The Court was adjourned till to-morrow. </p></div> + +<p>In the following day's paper, the evidence for the prosecution was +continued. Lady Marjorie Tatler, who, in the weekly and illustrated +journals, for no other reason than her reputed beauty, was reintroduced +over and over again to the long-suffering public, was the first to step +into the witness-box.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>She declared that Edward Curtis, instead of giving her a spell to + make Florillda win the Derby, had given her a diabolical something + that had brought out spots all over her face, and that she had to + undergo a most expensive treatment before they could be got rid of.</p> + +<p> In cross-examination, Lady Marjorie Tatler admitted that she had + asked Edward Curtis for a spell that would cause all the horses + running in that particular race, save Florillda, to be taken ill.</p> + +<p> For the defence, Gerald Kirby, K.C., explained that his client was + so disgusted at the immorality of Lady Marjorie's request, that he + had purposely given her a spell that would have no effect upon a + horse, and could not possibly bring out spots on her Ladyship's + face. "The spell Edward Curtis gave her," Gerald Kirby said, "was a + mixture of hempseed and sago, flavoured with violet powder, and my + client instructed her Ladyship to wear it next her heart." (Loud + laughter.)</p> + +<p> Lady Coralie Mars, the next witness, who declared she had sought a + spell to make the man, she was forced into marrying, fall into a + trance, just before the marriage ceremony was to take place; and + that, instead of bringing this about, the spell Edward Curtis had + sold her had caused her to have St. Vitus's Dance,—was adroitly + trapped into admitting that she had really wanted her fiancé + smitten with paralysis. "A wish," Gerald Kirby announced, with a + dramatic flourish of his hands, "that so aroused my client's + indignation that, instead of giving her the spell she wanted, he + gave her one that would make her affianced husband more than ever + hungry for the marriage hour to arrive. As for St. Vitus's Dance, + would any woman, with an emotional and hysterical-nature, such as + obviously was that of Lady Coralie Mars, ever be free from such a + complaint?"</p> + +<p> The Hon. Augusta Mapple, who stated that she had visited the Modern + Sorcery Company, for the purpose of obtaining a spell to bring + about a defeat of the Government, by afflicting the bulk of their + supporters with such bilious attacks as would necessitate their + absence from the House, and that, instead of giving her such a + spell, Edward Curtis had given her one which had caused every + member of her household to fall downstairs—admitted, under + cross-examination, that she had asked for a spell that would make + every supporter of the Government in the House be suddenly seized + with tetanus. "A diabolical request, your lordship," Gerald Kirby + said, "and one to which my client could not possibly accede. + Consequently, as a punishment for such cruelty, he sold her a spell + that would result in her having a sharp attack of toothache. It + could not possibly have produced any of the mishaps she attributes + to it." </p></div> + +<p>It is unnecessary to quote further. By far the greater number of these +witnesses, on being cross-examined by Mr. Kirby, who defended with an +ability that has rarely, if ever, been excelled, were made to confess +that they had wanted the spells for a far more subtle and dangerous +purpose than they had previously stated; admissions which, of course, +were highly prejudicial to the case for the prosecution.</p> + +<p>Shiel lost hope. He had looked forward to the trial with an excitement +that almost bordered on frenzy. It was never out of his mind. He thought +of it at meals, he thought of it at his work, he thought of it out of +doors, and, when he went to bed, he dreamed of it.</p> + +<p>"I'll save you! I'll save you yet!" he wrote to Gladys. "The trial can +only result in one thing—the breaking up and imprisonment of the trio."</p> + +<p>But when he read the papers each day, and saw how, in almost every +instance, evidence which ought to have been damning to the accused, had +been twisted into their favour, his heart sank.</p> + +<p>There was only one chance now—Lilian Rosenberg. She, of all the staff +employed in the Hall in Cockspur Street, was best acquainted with the +<i>modus operandi</i> of Messrs. Hamar, Curtis and Kelson.</p> + +<p>"We must get hold of that girl at all costs," H.V. Sevenning remarked to +Shiel. "You say you feel sure she likes you. Work upon her feelings to +show the Firm up."</p> + +<p>"I don't much like the idea of it," Shiel said, "but I suppose the end +justifies the means."</p> + +<p>"Of course it does!" Sevenning retorted. "It's your only chance of +saving Miss Martin."</p> + +<p>Acting on this suggestion, Shiel approached Lilian Rosenberg on the +subject.</p> + +<p>"What about the spells?" he asked her. "Have you found out yet how Hamar +works them?"</p> + +<p>"I have only heard him muttering in his room again," she said, her +cheeks paling. "And—you will only laugh at me—I have seen queer +shadows hovering in his doorway and stealing down the passages, shadows +that have terrified me. I never knew what real fear was before I came to +Cockspur Street, and for the past few weeks I have been almost too +afraid to open my room door, for fear I should see something standing +outside."</p> + +<p>"You have no doubt, I suppose, in your own mind, that the trio practise +sorcery?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly think they are helped in all they do by evil spirits."</p> + +<p>"Do you approve of such proceedings?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think them right. I don't think we have any right to pry into +the Unknown. Some day, undoubtedly, it will be given us to know, but +until that day comes, we had far better leave it alone."</p> + +<p>"If you think like that," Shiel said, "how can you reconcile yourself to +working for these people?"</p> + +<p>"How can I help myself?" Lilian Rosenberg answered. "Beggars can't be +choosers. I am not responsible for what they do."</p> + +<p>"But supposing you knew they were about to commit a very heinous crime, +wouldn't you feel it your duty to try and circumvent them?"</p> + +<p>"That depends," Lilian Rosenberg said. "If I could stop them without +running any risk of losing my post, then I would probably try to stop +them, but if stopping them meant being 'sacked,' I most certainly +shouldn't. It isn't so easy to get posts nowadays—especially good +paying posts like this. What do you take me for, a fool!"</p> + +<p>"Then you don't believe in self-sacrifice, even for a friend?" Shiel +said slowly.</p> + +<p>"That depends on the degree of friendship," Lilian replied. "If it were +for some one I liked very much, then—perhaps!"</p> + +<p>"Is there any one you like very much! I, somehow, couldn't fancy you +being very fond of any one."</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you?" Lilian said, with a faint laugh. "You don't think me +capable of any deep affection. You forget, perhaps, that a woman doesn't +always wear her heart on her sleeve."</p> + +<p>"I confess I don't understand women," Shiel said, "and I had best come +to the point at once. I happen to know that the trio—or at least one of +the trio—is contemplating doing something ultra-abominable—a cruel and +shameful wrong, which I particularly wish to prevent. But I may not be +able to do anything without your help! Will you help me?"</p> + +<p>"How <i>can</i> I?" Lilian asked.</p> + +<p>"Why, by finding out something which might be damning evidence against +them, or by stating your opinion in Court. There is only one way of +staying the trio from doing this dastardly thing, and that is by +getting this case, which is now being tried, to go against them."</p> + +<p>"Well, and supposing, by some chance, the defendants should win! What +would become of me?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! that is where your self-sacrifice would come in! It would be a +noble action."</p> + +<p>"How does this wrong, you say they are about to perpetrate, touch on you +personally?"</p> + +<p>"It touches on some one with whom I am personally acquainted."</p> + +<p>"Some one you like?"</p> + +<p>"Yes!"</p> + +<p>"A relation?"</p> + +<p>"That I can't say."</p> + +<p>"Then I can't help you. I am naturally inquisitive; curiosity is, as you +know, a woman's privilege. You must tell me all."</p> + +<p>"It's for a friend, then!"</p> + +<p>"A man?"</p> + +<p>"No," Shiel replied, "for a girl!"</p> + +<p>There was an emphatic silence, and then Lilian Rosenberg spoke.</p> + +<p>"Have I ever heard you mention her?"</p> + +<p>"Occasionally," Shiel replied.</p> + +<p>There was silence again. Then Lilian Rosenberg said slowly—</p> + +<p>"You surely don't mean Gladys Martin! I can think of no one else."</p> + +<p>"I do mean her!" Shiel replied, dropping his eyes. "She is to be coerced +into marrying Hamar."</p> + +<p>"The silly fool!" Lilian Rosenberg said. "I would like to see any one +trying to coerce me. And it is to serve <i>her</i> you want me to sacrifice +myself." And she turned away in disgust.</p> + +<p>After this interview, Lilian studiously avoided Shiel; and despairing, +at length, of ever winning her over, Shiel reported his failure to H.V. +Sevenning.</p> + +<p>"We must subpœna her," said Sevenning.</p> + +<p>"You'll never get her to speak that way," Shiel said. "If once she has +made up her mind not to do a thing, nothing will ever compel her."</p> + +<p>"I have heard that said of people before," H.V. Sevenning replied dryly, +"but it's wonderful what the witness-box can do; it loosens the most +mulish tongues in a marvellous manner."</p> + +<p>"It wouldn't hers," Shiel maintained.</p> + +<p>H.V. Sevenning, however, thought he knew best—what lawyer doesn't? +Moreover, it was all part of the game—the great game of becoming +notorious at all costs. He served the subpœna.</p> + +<p>Like most modern girls, Lilian Rosenberg was wholly selfish; and for +this fault only her parents were to blame. She had been brought up with +the one idea of pleasing herself, of saying and doing exactly what she +thought fit; and no one had ever thwarted her. Now, however, the +unforeseen had happened. She was smitten with the grand passion, and +confronted for the first time in her life with the startling proposition +of "self-sacrifice." She loved Shiel. She wouldn't marry him for the +very simple reason he had no money—but that only added poignancy to the +situation. She loved him all the more. She knew Shiel loved Gladys +Martin. Whether he could ever marry Gladys was another matter—but he +loved her all the same. And the proposition, that had been so abruptly +thrust upon Lilian Rosenberg, was that she should sacrifice herself, not +only to save Gladys Martin from marrying Hamar, but to pave the way for +Shiel, supposing Gladys could reconcile herself to penury, to marry her +himself. In other words she had been called upon to give up what was, at +the moment, dearest to her in the world, and to court all the +inconveniences and worries of being thrown out of employment—for if she +gave evidence that would in any way tend to damage the firm of Hamar, +Curtis & Kelson, she would undoubtedly lose her post and, in all +probability, never get another—at least not another as good—for the +sake of a woman whom she did not know, but, nevertheless, hated.</p> + +<p>Yet there was in her, as there is in almost every girl, however up to +date, a chord that responded to the heroic. A short time back she would +have scoffed at the very thought of self-sacrifice; but now, she +actually caught herself considering it. She kept on considering it, too, +until the trial was well advanced, and had practically made up her mind +to denounce the trio and go to the wall herself, when the subpœna was +served.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV" />CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<h3>CURTIS IN A NEW RÔLE</h3> + + +<p>In an instant, Lilian Rosenberg had decided the course she would adopt.</p> + +<p>"What a disgusting thing to do," she indignantly exclaimed. "I wouldn't +have believed it of Shiel. The idea of forcing me to give evidence—of +forcing me to save the situation for the sake of the woman he thinks he +loves! I shan't do it!"</p> + +<p>And she proved as good as her word. Apart from her importance as a +witness, considerable interest attached to her on account of her +appearance—she was infinitely more attractive than any of the women who +had hitherto appeared in the witness-box—though many of them were +so-called Society beauties.</p> + +<p>"You were wrong," was the look which Shiel read in H.V. Sevenning's +eyes, as Lilian Rosenberg took the oath. "She is on our side."</p> + +<p>But simple as Shiel was in many ways, he knew women better than the +lawyer, and the exceedingly sweet expression Lilian Rosenberg had +assumed, and which he knew to be quite foreign to her, filled him with +misgivings. Nor was he mistaken. The evidence she gave was entirely in +favour of the trio.</p> + +<p>The case for the prosecution was concluded. For the defence, Gerald +Kirby, K.C., resorted to satire. He characterized the whole proceedings +as the most absurd heard in any Court for the past two centuries, and +wondered, only, that it had been possible to procure a counsel for such +a ridiculous prosecution.</p> + +<p>"Even though," he remarked, "spirits such as have been specified by the +prosecution do exist—which is extremely dubious—there has never yet +been produced any reliable corroborative evidence respecting them, and +the Prosecution has wholly failed to prove, that it is through the +medium of these spirits, that the Modern Sorcery Company have worked +their spells. The marvellous feats that we have all seen performed in +Cockspur Street have been accomplished—as the defendants have all along +stated—through will—sheer will power and nothing else; and I intend +producing evidence to show that the secret of the wonderful efficacy of +all the charms and spells sold by the Sorcery Company, lies in will +power also. Whenever they have been consulted with regard to the +purchasing of a spell, the Firm have invariably pointed out this fact to +the purchasers, carefully explaining at the same time that the rings, +lockets and other articles sold to them were merely to assist them in +concentration. It is ridiculous to suppose that such trivial articles +could have produced, of themselves, such calamities as the witnesses for +the prosecution attributed to them. But, of course you did not believe +the statements of such witnesses. How could you? How could you expect +anything but falsehood from women who, upon cross-examination, had owned +that their object in obtaining the spells was a far more dangerous +object than they had at first led you to suppose. They sought spells +that would do evil, and that evil was not accomplished. Now, I ask you, +if the Firm worked their spells through the instrumentality of evil +spirits—for it is assuredly only evil spirits that are associated with +Sorcery—would not the spells they sold naturally have brought about the +sinister results for which they were required? Undoubtedly they would! +And they failed to produce the desired effect, simply because their +efficacy depended, not on spirit agency, but on human will power; which +power one could only too plainly see the society ladies—who had +witnessed for the prosecution—did not possess.</p> + +<p>"It may be asked, why the defendants, if they do not accomplish their +spells through black magic, style themselves 'The Sorcery Company'—and +so mislead the public? Obviously they do so purely for advertisement. +'The Sorcery Company' is an attractive title, a 'catchy' title, and for +this reason, which is surely a legitimate one, since it is strictly in +accordance with the prevailing custom of advertisement—the firm of +Hamar, Curtis and Kelson adopted it. They did not expect—they were not +so extraordinarily foolish as to expect—any one would take them +literally. They thought—as you and I think—that sorcery cannot be +taken seriously—that it is confined to fairy tales—and that, as a +fairy tale, it is potent only in the nursery."</p> + +<p>This was the gist of counsel's speech for the defence. A number of +witnesses then gave evidence for the defendants; and when the +prosecuting counsel rose, it was only too evident that he was pleading +for a lost cause. The Court with ill-concealed derision barely accorded +him a hearing.</p> + +<p>Two hours later the <i>Meteor</i>, always the first in the field when +sensations crop up, headed the first column of their front page with—</p> + +<p class="hl"> +Collapse of the Sorcery Case<br /> +Crushing Speech by Gerald Kirby, K.C.<br /> +Acquittal of the Defendants +</p> + +<p>"The Judge"—so the <i>Meteor</i> reported—"expressed himself in absolute +agreement with the defending counsel. 'The action,' he said, 'ought +never to have been brought—it was sublimely ridiculous to accuse any +one of being in league with forces in the existence of which no sane +person could possibly believe.'"</p> + +<p>Shiel was in despair. All chance of saving Gladys seemed to be fast +disappearing. He telephoned to her, and was answered by Miss Templeton.</p> + +<p>"Gladys," she said, "had gone out with Hamar, who had motored down to +the cottage the moment the trial was over and the verdict known."</p> + +<p>"I wish to God we had won the case," Shiel observed.</p> + +<p>"So do I," Miss Templeton replied, "and so did Gladys—she regards her +position now as absolutely hopeless!"</p> + +<p>"Tell her not to lose heart," Shiel answered hurriedly. "If I can't find +any other means, I'll—" but Miss Templeton rang off, and he spoke to +the wind.</p> + +<p>Full of wrath against Lilian Rosenberg, he went round to see her, and +met her, just as she was entering her house.</p> + +<p>"I've come to see you for the last time," he announced. "After the way +you behaved in Court, we can no longer be friends."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," she said in rather a faltering voice. "What have I +done?"</p> + +<p>"Only perjured yourself," Shiel retorted. "The tale you told the judge +was very different to the tale you told me, therefore it is impossible +for us to continue our friendship. I could never have anything to do +with a woman whose word I can't rely upon—whose character I scorn, whom +I despise—and—" he was going to add, "detest," but checked himself, +and unable to trust himself in her presence any longer, he gave her a +glance of the utmost contempt, and wheeling round, walked quickly away.</p> + +<p>As in a dream, Lilian Rosenberg went upstairs to her room, and throwing +herself on the bed, buried her face in the pillow and indulged in a fit +of crying. It was not the thought of losing Shiel that was so painful to +her—she might have grown reconciled to that—it was the thought of +losing his esteem. Most people would agree with her—would assure her +she had done the right thing in looking after number one. "What, after +all, is perjury?" she argued. "Nearly every one in this world perjure +themselves at one time or another—certainly all women."</p> + +<p>But it was not the opinion of the majority she cared about—it was the +respect of the one; the respect she had wilfully and spitefully +sacrificed.</p> + +<p>Was it too late to recover it?</p> + +<p>With regard to Gladys she was very sceptical. The reluctance to accept +Hamar as her future husband she still believed to be all pretence, and +she felt convinced that Gladys, in her heart of hearts, was only too +glad to get the chance of marrying any one so rich. This being so, she +could not bring herself to think she had done Shiel any actual wrong. +Gladys would never marry him. The only person she had harmed was +herself. She had lied, and Shiel was not the sort of man to condone an +offence of that sort easily. Still, weeping would do no good; it would +only make her ugly. She got up, had tea, and went out. She could think +better in the open air—it soothed her. For some reason or other—custom +perhaps—she strolled towards Cockspur Street, and there ran into one of +the few people she particularly wished to avoid—Kelson.</p> + +<p>He was delighted to see her.</p> + +<p>"It's nectar to me to be out again," he said. "Jerusalem!—it was awful +in the Courts. Have supper with me."</p> + +<p>It was a fine starlight night—the air cool and refreshing, and a wild +abandonment seized Lilian Rosenberg. She would have supped with the +devil had he asked her.</p> + +<p>"I've nothing to lose now," she said to herself. "Nothing! I'll have my +fling."</p> + +<p>"Where shall we go?" she asked. "It must be somewhere entertaining."</p> + +<p>"Why not to my rooms?" he said. "We can talk better there—we shall be +all alone!"</p> + +<p>She raised no objection, and they were about to step into a taxi, when +Hamar and Curtis suddenly put in appearance.</p> + +<p>"Matt!" Hamar cried, seizing his elbow. "I want a word with you."</p> + +<p>"Not now," Kelson protested, looking hungrily at Lilian.</p> + +<p>"Yes, now!" Hamar said. "At once! I shan't keep you more than five +minutes"—and he dragged Kelson away with him.</p> + +<p>The moment they had gone, Curtis, who was obviously the worse for drink, +addressed Lilian.</p> + +<p>"Kelson won't come back," he said. "Hamar is mad with him. He says if +he ever sees you two together again he'll sack you. Let me take his +place!"</p> + +<p>A sudden inspiration came to her. There were one or two things she badly +wanted to know—and with a bit of coaxing, Curtis, in his present state, +might tell her anything. She would try.</p> + +<p>"All right," she said. "I'll come."</p> + +<p>They got into the taxi and Curtis, as far as his fuddled senses would +allow, made violent love to her.</p> + +<p>After supper—they had supper in his rooms—he grew a great deal more +amorous. She let him sit close beside her, she let him put his arm round +her waist; but before she let him kiss her, she struck her bargain.</p> + +<p>"No!" she said, thrusting him away. "Not just yet. That can come +later—if you are good. I want you to tell me something first. About +this marriage of Mr. Hamar and Miss Martin—is it likely to come off?"</p> + +<p>"Ish it likely!" Curtis said with a stupid leer. "Ish it likely! Not +much. Leon means nothing! He only wants the fun of being engaged to a +pretty girl—like I wantsh fun with you. Nothing more."</p> + +<p>"Then he'll throw her over after a while."</p> + +<p>"After he gets what he wantsh to get."</p> + +<p>"And suppose she prove different to what he expects?"</p> + +<p>"After he pashes stage seven—that will be all right!" Curtis said +giving her waist an emphatic squeeze. "Everybody will be all right then. +You and Matt—for exshample—and I and—and—whishky!"</p> + +<p>"Stage seven! What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why don't—you know!" Curtis gurgled—and then a sudden gleam of +intelligence coming into his watery eyes, he added. "Then I shan't tell +you—nothing shall make me. It's a shecret!"</p> + +<p>"I won't kiss you till you do!" Lilian Rosenberg said.</p> + +<p>"I'll make you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, you won't," Lilian Rosenberg cried, disengaging herself from +his grasp, and rising. "Don't you dare touch me. I'm going."</p> + +<p>Curtis watched her with a helpless grin. Then he suddenly cried out, +"Come back! Come back, I shay!"</p> + +<p>"Well, will you do as I want?" Lilian Rosenberg said.</p> + +<p>"I'll do anything—anything to please you—if only you shtay with me."</p> + +<p>She sat down, and his arm once again encircled her.</p> + +<p>"Now," she said, pushing his face away. "Tell me!"</p> + +<p>Bit by bit she drew out of him the whole history of the compact with the +Unknown, how in stage five, the stage they were about to enter, they +would have fresh powers conferred upon them—their present power, <i>i. e.</i> +of working spells and causing diseases, being then cancelled; how they +would obtain supreme power over women when they reached the final +stage—stage seven; and how the compact would be broken and their ruin +brought about, should either of them marry, or should anything happen +before this final stage was reached, to disunite them.</p> + +<p>Lilian could account for a great deal now. The uncanny feeling she had +always experienced in the building; the curious enigmatical shadows she +had seen hovering about the doorways and flitting down the passages; +the extraordinary nature of the feats and spells; Hamar's mutterings and +his fury, whenever Kelson spoke to her—were no longer wholly +unintelligible. But she must know all. She must be most exacting.</p> + +<p>Finally, she got from Curtis everything there was to be got from him, +and she laughed immoderately, when he excused himself on the grounds +that it was all Leon's doings—Leon had told him to offer her a little +compensation for the loss of her escort.</p> + +<p>"And you have compensated me more than enough," Lilian Rosenberg said. +"Now you shall have your reward," and she kissed him—kissed him three +times for luck.</p> + +<p>"But you're not going?" he said, staggering to his feet and attempting +to hold her. "You're not going till the roshy morning sun shines +shaucily in on us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I am," she said. "I've had quite enough of you! Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>And before he could prevent her, she had run to the front door and let +herself out.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI" />CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<h3>IN HYDE PARK AT NIGHT</h3> + + +<p>But now that Lilian Rosenberg was possessed of all this information +respecting the trio, she was once again in doubt how to act, or whether +to act at all. Supposing she were to attempt to warn Gladys Martin +against Hamar, how would Gladys take the warning? Would she pay any +attention to it? The odds were she would not; that having set her heart +on marrying Hamar for his money, she would blind herself to his faults +and resolutely shut her ears to anything said against him. Also there +was the very great possibility of Gladys being rude to her—and even the +thought of this was more than she could bear to contemplate. If only +Shiel were reasonable! If only he could be made to see how utterly +ridiculous it was for him to think of winning such a girl as +Gladys—Gladys the pretty, dolly-faced, pampered actress, who had never +known a single hardship, had always had a well-lined purse, and would +never, never marry poverty! Then back to Lilian Rosenberg's mind came +her parting with Shiel—she recalled his intense scorn and indignation. +A liar! He did not wish to have anything to do with a liar! It's a good +thing every man is not so fastidious, she said to herself bitterly, or +the population of the world would soon fizz out. She laughed. He had +never questioned her morals in any other sense—perhaps, in his +innocence or assumed innocence, he had thought them spotless—at all +events he had most graciously ignored them. But a liar! A liar—he could +not put up with. And why! Because the lie had touched him on a sore +point. When lies do not touch a sore point, they, too, are ignored.</p> + +<p>She walked to the Imperial and looked again at Gladys's photographs. How +any man could fall madly in love with such a face, was more than she +could conceive. It was a mincing, maudlin, finicking face—it irritated +her intensely. She turned away from it in disgust, yet came back to have +another look—and yet another. God knows why! It fascinated her. Finally +she left it, fully resolved to let its odious original go to her +fate—without a warning. Soon after her return to the Hall in Cockspur +Street, she was sent for by Hamar.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell you," he said, "that you were on no account to encourage +Mr. Kelson?"</p> + +<p>"You did!" Lilian Rosenberg replied.</p> + +<p>"Will you kindly explain, then," Hamar said, "why you have disobeyed my +orders?"</p> + +<p>"How have I disobeyed them?" Lilian Rosenberg asked.</p> + +<p>"How!" Hamar retorted, his cheeks white with passion. "You dare to +inquire how! Why, you were on the point of accompanying him to his rooms +last night to supper, when I stopped you! I have overlooked your +disobedience so many times that I can do so no longer. Your services +will not be required by the Firm after to-day fortnight."</p> + +<p>"Won't they?" Lilian Rosenberg replied, her anger rising. "I think you +are mistaken. I know a great deal too much to make it safe for you to +part with me. I know—for instance—all about your Compact with the +Unknown!"</p> + +<p>"You know nothing," Hamar said, his voice faltering.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I do!" Lilian Rosenberg answered. "I know everything. I know +how you first got in communication with the Unknown in San Francisco; I +know how you receive fresh powers from the Unknown every three months +(the old powers being cancelled). I know the penalty you will undergo +should the Compact be broken—and—what is more—I know how the Compact +can be broken."</p> + +<p>"How the deuce have you learned all this?" Hamar stammered.</p> + +<p>"Never you mind. Am I to remain in your service or leave?"</p> + +<p>"I think," Hamar said, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "it is better +that you should remain—better for all parties. I owe you some little +recompense for your loyalty to the Firm, and for the admirable way you +spoke up for the Firm in Court. I will make you out a cheque for a +hundred pounds now—and your salary shall be doubled at the end of this +week. Promise to keep out of Mr. Kelson's way in future—for the next +six months at any rate—after that time you may see him as often as you +like—and I will give you as a wedding present a cheque for twenty +thousand pounds!"</p> + +<p>"Twenty thousand pounds! You are joking!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not. I vow and declare I mean it. Is that a bargain?"</p> + +<p>"I will certainly think it well over," Lilian Rosenberg said, "and let +you know my decision later on."</p> + +<p>From what Curtis had told her she knew it was the last day of stage +four, that the trio that evening would be initiated into stage five—the +Stage of Cures, and a mad desire seized her to witness the initiation. +But how would the Unknown manifest itself on this occasion—and to which +of the trio? She could not keep a close watch on the three of them. If +only she had been friends with Shiel, they might, in some way, have +worked it together. Curtis had carefully avoided her since the supper; +but she had seen Kelson, and he had looked at her each time he met her +as if he yearned to fall down at her feet and worship her. Should she +attach herself to him for the evening—and run the risk of another +quarrel with Hamar? She dearly loved risks and dangers—and the danger +she would encounter in defying Hamar appealed to her sporting nature. It +was easy to secure Kelson—one glance from her eyes—and he would have +followed her to Timbuctoo.</p> + +<p>"Charing Cross—under clock—after show to-night," she whispered as she +flew hurriedly past him. "I want to speak to you."</p> + +<p>Now it so happened that Hamar had given Kelson orders to return to his +rooms, directly the performance was over, and to remain in them till +morning, in case he was wanted in connection with the initiation. But he +might have spared himself the trouble. It was Lilian, and Lilian only, +that Kelson now thought of—it was Lilian, and Lilian only, that he +would obey. The idea of meeting her—of having her all to himself—of +being able to do her a service—filled him with such uncontrollable +delight, that he hardly knew how to comport himself so as not to arouse +Hamar's suspicions. Directly the performance was over he sneaked out of +the Hall, and pretending not to hear Hamar, who called after him, he +jumped into a taxi, and was whirled away to the trysting-place. Lilian +Rosenberg, who arrived a moment later, was dressed in a new costume, and +Kelson thought her looking smarter and daintier than ever.</p> + +<p>"You shall kiss me at once," she said, "if you promise me one thing."</p> + +<p>"And what is that?" he asked, looking hungrily at her lips.</p> + +<p>"I want you to let me see the Unknown when it comes to you to-night," +she said.</p> + +<p>"Good God! What do you know about the Unknown!" he exclaimed, his jaws +falling, and a look of terror creeping into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"A great deal," she laughed, "so much that I want to learn more"—and of +what she knew she told him, just as much as she had told Hamar. "And +now," she said, "I repeat my promise—you shall have a kiss—think of +that—if only you will hide me somewhere so that I can see the Unknown +or its emissary."</p> + +<p>"I would do anything for a kiss," Kelson said, "but I fear it is +impossible to fulfil the condition, because I haven't the remotest idea +where or when the Unknown will appear. Besides, it is just as likely to +go to Hamar or Curtis as to come to me; and up to the present I haven't +felt the remotest suggestion of its favouring me. Is this the only +condition I can fulfil, so that you will let me kiss you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," Lilian Rosenberg replied. "I am not in the habit of being +kissed. Such an event can only happen in the most exceptional and +privileged circumstances—such, for example, as exist at the present +moment, when I ask you to put yourself to some considerable trouble—if +not actually to incur danger—in order to accomplish what I wish."</p> + +<p>"And yet I remember kissing you unconditionally," Kelson commented.</p> + +<p>"Memory is a fickle thing," Lilian Rosenberg replied, "and so is woman. +Times have changed. I'll leave you at once, unless you promise to do +your very utmost to grant my request."</p> + +<p>Kelson promised, and—after they had had supper at the Trocadero, +suggested that they should take a stroll in Hyde Park.</p> + +<p>"I hope you are not awfully shocked?" he inquired rather anxiously, "but +a sudden impulse has come over me to go there. I believe it is the will +of the Unknown. Will you come with me?"</p> + +<p>"We shan't be able to get in, shall we, it's so late?" Lilian Rosenberg +said. "Otherwise I should like to—I'm rather in a mood for adventure."</p> + +<p>"They don't shut the gates till twelve," Kelson said, "and it's not that +yet."</p> + +<p>"Very well, let's go, then. I'm game to go anywhere to see the Unknown," +and so saying Lilian rose from the table, and Kelson followed her into +the street.</p> + +<p>They took a taxi, and alighting at Hyde Park Corner entered the Park. It +was very dark and deserted.</p> + +<p>"It's nearly closing time," a policeman called out to them rather +curtly.</p> + +<p>"We are only taking a constitutional," Kelson explained. "We shall be +back in five minutes."</p> + +<p>They crossed the road to the statue, and were deliberating which +direction to take, when they heard a groan.</p> + +<p>"It's only some poor devil of a tramp," Kelson said. "The benches are +full of them—they stay here all night. We had better, perhaps, turn +back."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" Lilian Rosenberg replied. "I'm not a bit afraid. There's +another groan. I'm going to see what's up," and before he could stop her +she had disappeared in the darkness. "Here I am," she called; "come, +it's some one ill."</p> + +<p>Plunging on, in the darkness, Kelson at last found Lilian. She was +sitting on a chair under a tree, by the side of a man, who was lying, +curled up, on the ground.</p> + +<p>"He's had nothing to eat for two days, and has Bright's Disease," Lilian +Rosenberg announced. "Can't we do something for him?"</p> + +<p>"Two gentlemen told me just now," the man on the ground groaned, "that +if I stayed here for a couple of hours—they would pass by again and +guarantee to cure me. I reckoned there was no cure for Bright's Disease, +when it is chronic, like it is in my case; but they laughed, and said, +'We can—or at least—shall be able to cure anything.'"</p> + +<p>"What were the two gentlemen like?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"How could I tell?" the man moaned. "I couldn't see their faces any more +than I can see yours—but they talked like you. Twang—twang—twang—all +through their noses."</p> + +<p>"Sounds as if it might be Hamar and Curtis," Kelson remarked.</p> + +<p>"That's it!" the man ejaculated. "'Amar. I heard the other fellow call +him by that name."</p> + +<p>"How long ago is it since they were here?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"I can't say, perhaps ten minutes. I've lost count of time and +everything else, since I've slept out here. They talked of going to the +Serpentine."</p> + +<p>"We had better try and find them," Kelson said.</p> + +<p>"If you had the money couldn't you get shelter for the night," Lilian +Rosenberg said. "It must be awful to lie out here in the cold, feeling +ill and hungry."</p> + +<p>"I dare say some place would take me in," the man muttered, "only I +couldn't walk—at least no distance."</p> + +<p>"Well! here's five shillings," Lilian Rosenberg said, "put it somewhere +safe—and try and hobble to the gates. If they haven't closed them, you +will be all right."</p> + +<p>"Five shillings!" the man gasped; "that's—it's no good—I can't count. +I've no head now. Thank you, missy! God bless you. I'll get something +hot—something to stifle the pain." He struggled on to his knees, and +Lilian Rosenberg helped him to rise.</p> + +<p>"How could you be so foolish as to touch him," Kelson said, as they +started off down a path, they hoped would take them to the Serpentine. +"You may depend upon it, he was swarming with vermin—tramps always +are."</p> + +<p>"Very probably, but I run just as much risk in a 'bus, the twopenny +tube, or a cinematograph show. Besides, I can't see a human being +helpless without offering help. Listen! there's some one else groaning! +The Park is full of groans."</p> + +<p>What she said was true—the Park was full of groans. From every +direction, borne to them by the gently rustling wind, came the groans of +countless suffering outcasts—legions of homeless, starving men and +women. Some lay right out in the open on their backs, others under +cover of the trees, others again on the seats. They lay +everywhere—these shattered, tattered, battered wrecks of +humanity—these gangrened exiles from society, to whom no one ever +spoke; whom no one ever looked at; whom no one would even own that they +had seen; whose lot in life not even a stray cat envied. Here were two +of them—a man and a woman tightly hugged in each other's embrace—not +for love—but for warmth. Lilian Rosenberg almost fell over them, but +they took no notice of her. Every now and then, one of them would emerge +from the shelter of the trees, and cross the grass in the direction of +the distant, gleaming water, with silent, stealthy tread. Once a tall, +gaunt figure, suddenly sprang up and confronted the two adventurers; but +the moment Kelson raised his stick, it jabbered something wholly +unintelligible, and sped away into the darkness.</p> + +<p>"A scene like this makes one doubt the existence of a good God," Lilian +Rosenberg said.</p> + +<p>"It makes one doubt the existence of anything but Hell," Kelson said. +"Compared with all this suffering—the suffering of these thousands of +hungry, hopeless wretches—the bulk of whom are doubtless tortured +incessantly, with the pains of cancer and tuberculosis, to say nothing +of neuralgia and rheumatism—Dante's Inferno and Virgil's Hades pale +into insignificance. The devil is kind compared with God."</p> + +<p>"I believe you are right," Lilian Rosenberg said, "I never thought the +devil was half as bad as he was painted. The Park to-night gives the lie +direct to the ethics of all religions, and to the boasted efforts of all +governments, churches, chapels, hospitals, police, progress and +civilization. There is no misery, I am sure, to vie with it in any pagan +land, either now or at any other period in the world's history."</p> + +<p>"True," Kelson replied, "and why is it? It is because civilization has +killed charity. Giving—in its true sense—if it exists at all—is +rarely to be met with—giving in exchange—that is, in order to +gain—flourishes everywhere. People will subscribe for the erection of +monuments to kings and statesmen, or to well-known and, often, +richly-endowed charitable institutes, in exchange for the pleasure of +seeing, in the newspapers, a list of the subscribers' names, and +themselves included amongst those whom they consider a peg above them +socially; or in exchange for votes, or notoriety, they will give +liberally to the brutal strikers, or outings for poor."</p> + +<p>"I suppose, by the poor, you mean the pampered, ill-mannered and +detestably conceited County Council children," Lilian Rosenberg chimed +in. "I wouldn't give a farthing to such a miscalled charity, no—not if +I were rolling in riches."</p> + +<p>"And I think you would be right," Kelson replied. "But for these really +poor Park refugees it is a different matter. Obviously, no one will make +the slightest effort to work up the public interest on their behalf, +simply because they are labelled 'useless.' They belong nowhere—they +have no votes—they are too feeble to combine—they are even too feeble +to commit an atrocious murder; consequently, for the help they would +receive, they could give nothing in return. By the bye, I doubt if they +could muster between them a pair of suspenders—a bootlace—a +shirt-button, or even a—"</p> + +<p>Lilian Rosenberg caught him by the arm. "Stop," she said, "that's +enough. Don't get too graphic. What's the matter with that tree?"</p> + +<p>They were now close beside the banks of the Serpentine; the moon had +broken through its covering of black clouds, and they perceived some +twenty yards ahead of them, a tall, isolated lime, that was rocking in a +most peculiar manner.</p> + +<p class="cs" style="margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;"><a name="ILLUSTRATION3" id="ILLUSTRATION3" /><img src="images/image3.jpg" width="441" height="750" alt="[Illustration: THEY GAZED FASCINATED]" /><br /> +THEY GAZED FASCINATED</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII" />CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<h3>THE RIGHT GIRL TO MARRY</h3> + + +<p>Though the wind was nothing more than the usual night breeze of early +autumn, the lime-tree was swaying violently to and fro, as if under the +influence of a stupendous hurricane. Lilian Rosenberg and Kelson were so +fascinated that they stood and watched it in silence. At last it left +off swaying and became absolutely motionless. They then noticed, for the +first time, that there were three figures standing under its branches, +and that one of the figures was a policeman.</p> + +<p>"Hide quickly," Kelson whispered, "those two are Hamar and Curtis. +Quick, for God's sake—or they will see you."</p> + +<p>Lilian Rosenberg hid behind an elm.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa!" Kelson called out, advancing to the group.</p> + +<p>"Why it's you, Matt!" Curtis cried. "Hamar said you would come!"</p> + +<p>"Said I would come! How the deuce did he know?" Kelson exclaimed. "I +didn't know myself till the moment before I started."</p> + +<p>"I willed you," Hamar explained; "as soon as I got back to my rooms +after the Show, a voice said in my ears—I heard it distinctly—'Be at +the Serpentine—the south bank—underneath a lime-tree—you will know +which—at twelve to-night.' I looked round—there was no one there. +Naturally, concluding this was a message from the Unknown I hastened off +to Curtis, who was in his digs—and needless to say—eating, and having +dragged him away with me in a diabolical temper—I then sought you. +Where were you?"</p> + +<p>"Taking a walk. I felt I needed it."</p> + +<p>"Alone! Are you sure you weren't out with some girl."</p> + +<p>"I swear it."</p> + +<p>"It seems as if I'm not the only liar!" Lilian Rosenberg said to herself +in her place of concealment. "What would Shiel say to that?"</p> + +<p>"Humph! I don't know if I ought to believe you," Hamar remarked. "Did +you feel me willing you to come here?"</p> + +<p>"Rather!" Kelson said. "That is why I came. I seemed to hear your voice +say 'To Hyde Park—to Hyde Park—the Serpentine—the Serpentine.'" Then +sinking his voice he whispered, "What's up with the policeman, he looks +deuced queer?"</p> + +<p>"He's in a trance. We found him like this," Hamar said. "He is +undoubtedly under the control of the Unknown. I expect it to speak +through him every moment. Get ready to take down all he says. I've come +prepared," and he handed Kelson and Curtis, each, a pencil and a +reporter's notebook.</p> + +<p>He had hardly done so, when the policeman—a burly man well over six +feet in height, who was standing bolt upright as if at "attention," his +limbs absolutely rigid, his eyes wide open and expressionless—began to +speak in a soft, lisping voice that the trio at once identified with the +voice of the Unknown—the voice of the tree on that eventful night in +San Francisco.</p> + +<p>"The great secret of medicine—the secret of healing—will now be +revealed to you," the voice said. "Pay heed. In cases of tumours and +ulcers take a young seringa, lay it for half an hour over the stomach of +the afflicted person, then plant it with the mumia, <i>i. e.</i> either the +hair, blood, or spittle of the sick person, at midnight. As soon as the +seringa begins to rot, the ulcer will heal.</p> + +<p>"In phthisis pulmonalis, the mumia of the sick person should be planted +with a cutting of the catalpa, after the latter has been subjected for +some minutes to the breath of the diseased person. As soon as the +cutting shows signs of decay, the sick person will be cured.</p> + +<p>"In diabetes, plant the mumia of the patient with a bignonia, and as +soon as the latter begins to rot, the diabetes will go.</p> + +<p>"In appendicitis, cover the stomach of the sick person with a piece of +raw beef, until the sweat enters it. Then give the meat to a cat, and as +soon as the latter has eaten it, the patient will recover."</p> + +<p>"What becomes of the cat?" Kelson asked.</p> + +<p>"The appendicitis is transferred to it," the voice explained. "It should +be killed at once.</p> + +<p>"In cancer take the sea wrack Torrek Mendrek—a weed of deep mauve +colour streaked with white. It must be boiled for three hours in clear +spring water (3 ozs. of wrack to half a pint of water), and then let to +cool. When quite cold, a dessert-spoon of it should be taken by the +sufferer every four hours—and at the end of two days the disease will +have completely disappeared. The wrack is to be found at the twenty +fathom level, six miles west-south-west of the Scilly Isles.</p> + +<p>"In Bright's disease, the mumia of the afflicted should be planted at 1 +a.m., with a cutting of sassafras, after the latter has been slept on, +for one whole night, by the sufferer. As soon as the sassafras begins to +rot, the patient will be cured.</p> + +<p>"In dropsy, place a hare, that has been strangled, over the diseased +portion of the body, and let it remain there for one hour. Then bury the +hare, together with the mumia of the sick person, and as soon as the +hare begins to decay, the patient will recover.</p> + +<p>"In jaundice and liver diseases (apart from sarcoma), plant the mumia of +the afflicted, at 2 a.m., with a cutting of black walnut, and as soon as +the latter begins to decay, the sufferer will get well.</p> + +<p>"In all skin diseases, the mumia of the patient must be planted, at +midnight, with a cutting of hickory, and when the latter begins to rot +the disease disappears.</p> + +<p>"In all fevers, the mumia must be planted, at 3 a.m., with laurel +cuttings, after the latter have been placed under the bed of the patient +for one night. As soon as the cuttings show signs of rotting, the fever +abates.</p> + +<p>"In acute inflammations, diseases of the heart, rheumatism, and lumbago, +the mumia must be buried, at midnight, with a raven that has been +drowned, and placed on a chair by the left side of the patient for one +night. As soon as the raven begins to rot, the patient will be fully +restored to health.</p> + +<p>"In cases of insanity, hysteria, and nervous diseases the mumia of the +sufferer must be planted, at 2 a.m., with a cutting of white poplar, and +as soon as the latter shows evidences of decay, the afflicted will get +well.</p> + +<p>"In cases of hypochondria, and melancholia, the mumia of the sufferer +must be planted, at 4 a.m., with a crocus, and as soon as the latter +begins to rot, the disease will depart.</p> + +<p>"In every case it will be necessary to prelude the performance with the +following invocation—</p> + +<p>"'Oh most powerful and prescient Unknown, before whom the greatest of +the Atlanteans prostrate themselves. That was in the Beginning, that is +now and always will be. I conjure thee by the magic symbols of the +club-foot, the hand with the fingers clenched, and the bat, in this the +magical year of Kefana, to extend to me thy wonderful powers of healing. +Rena Vadoola Hipsano Eik Deoo Barrinaz.'"</p> + +<p>The lisping voice ceased, and, with a convulsive start, the policeman +came to himself.</p> + +<p>"Hulloa!" he said, in his natural gruff tones, rubbing his eyes. "I must +have 'dropped off.' Who are you? What are you doing in the Park at this +time of night?"</p> + +<p>"We've been watching you!" Hamar said. "It is a bit of a phenomenon to +see a London bobby asleep on his beat."</p> + +<p>"And to hear him talking in his sleep too," Curtis added.</p> + +<p>"I didn't know I was talking," the policeman muttered. "It all comes of +being too many hours on duty. What have you got those note-books out +for? Not been taking down anything about me, have you?"</p> + +<p>"Show us out of the Park and you'll hear no more about it," Hamar said.</p> + +<p>"And we'll give you half a sovereign into the bargain," Kelson chimed +in.</p> + +<p>"Follow me then," the policeman said. "I'll take you to one of the side +entrances."</p> + +<p>"Matt!" Hamar exclaimed as they passed the tree behind which Lilian +Rosenberg was hiding, "I smell scent—and what is more I recognize it. +It is Violette de mer—the scent that—Rosenberg uses! You were with her +this evening!"</p> + +<p>"I swear I wasn't!" Kelson replied. "I bought some scent in Regent +Street this afternoon."</p> + +<p>"Humph," Hamar grunted. "I have my doubts."</p> + +<p>They walked on in silence till they came to a small iron gate, where the +policemen left them, whilst he went to the lodge for the keys; and all +the while Kelson was in terror, lest Hamar should catch sight of Lilian +Rosenberg, who had kept close behind them, and was now standing, but a +few yards away, trying to conceal her identity and escape notice.</p> + +<p>But the policeman on his return with the keys called out to her, and +Kelson, fearing that she might be either taken in charge for loitering +there, in apparently suspicious circumstances, or made to remain in the +Park all night—neither of which contingencies he could possibly +permit—at once came forward, and explained that she was a friend of +his.</p> + +<p>The policeman was satisfied. The sight of another half-sovereign had +rendered him more than polite, and, without saying a word, he let them +all out together.</p> + +<p>The moment they were in the street, Hamar turned on Kelson, white with +passion.</p> + +<p>"So," he said, "I was right after all—liar! fool! You would risk all +our lives for a few hours' flirtation with this silly girl."</p> + +<p>"If it's only flirtation, Leon, what does it matter?" Curtis interposed. +"For goodness' sake shut up wrangling and let's get home. I'm starving."</p> + +<p>"I shall have something to say to you to-morrow morning," Hamar +remarked, in an undertone, to Lilian Rosenberg.</p> + +<p>"And I to you," was the furious reply. "I shall not forget the +disrespectful way in which you have just spoken of me, in alluding to +the scent."</p> + +<p>She signalled to a taxi, and giving Kelson a friendly good-night, jumped +into it and was speedily whirled away.</p> + +<p>On the whole, the evening had been a disappointment. She had wanted to +see the Unknown—the awful thing that had inspired Kelson and his +colleagues with such unmitigated horror—and instead she had seen only +an obsessed policeman—a cataleptic "copper"—who, had he not spoken in +a strangely uncanny voice, would certainly have seemed to her absolutely +ordinary.</p> + +<p>With regard to Hamar's displeasure, she was not in the slightest degree +disturbed. He would never dare say anything to her. And after all that +had occurred he would never venture to "sack her." All the same she +hated him. There was just sufficient in her conduct to make the name he +had called her by applicable—therefore her bitterest wrath and +indignation were aroused against him. He had behaved unpardonably. She +could kill him for it.</p> + +<p>"I'll just show him," she said to herself, "what that uncivil tongue of +his can do. He shall see that it can do him infinitely more harm than +all Kelson's love-making. For one thing I'll spoil his chances with +Gladys Martin; and—I wonder if I could make use of what I know about +him, as a means of getting friendly again with Shiel. At all events I'll +try."</p> + +<p>With this object in view she went round to Shiel's lodgings, and was +informed by the landlady that Shiel was ill.</p> + +<p>"Nothing serious I hope?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"It has been," the landlady replied, "but he is better now. It all came +through his not taking proper care of himself."</p> + +<p>"May I see him, do you think?" Lilian Rosenberg inquired.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," the landlady grumbled. "He's in a very touchy mood—no +one can do nothing right for him. But maybe there won't be any harm in +your trying," she added, her eyes wandering to the half-crown in Lilian +Rosenberg's fingers.</p> + +<p>She opened the door somewhat wider, and Lilian Rosenberg entered. Shiel +was immensely surprised to see her. Illness and solitude had very +considerably subdued him, and though at first he showed some resentment, +he speedily softened under her sympathetic solicitation for his health. +She put his room straight and dusted the furniture, got tea for him, and +when she had completely won him over by these kindly actions, and made +him beg her pardon for ever having spoken harshly to her, she broached +the subject all the while uppermost in her mind—the subject of Hamar +and Gladys.</p> + +<p>"He hasn't the slightest intention of marrying her," she said. "All he +wants is to make her his mistress, so as to be able to throw her over +the moment he gets tired of her, and then marry some one of title. He is +tremendously taken with her of course—her physical beauty, which he had +the impudence to tell me surpassed that of any other woman he had seen, +appeals strongly to his grossly sensual nature. If she won't give in to +him now, she will be obliged to do so in six months' time."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand you," Shiel said feebly; "why in six months' time?"</p> + +<p>Lilian Rosenberg then told him what she knew about the compact.</p> + +<p>"So you see," she added, "that if the final stage is reached no woman +will be safe—the trio will have any girl they fancy entirely at their +mercy."</p> + +<p>"How inconceivably awful!" Shiel exclaimed. "Surely there is some way of +stopping them."</p> + +<p>"There is only one way," Lilian said slowly, "the union between the +three must be broken—they must quarrel, and dissolve partnership."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure they will take good care not to do that."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure," Lilian Rosenberg replied. "Matthew Kelson is very +fond of me. With a little persuasion he would do anything I asked."</p> + +<p>"Then do you think you could bring about a rupture between him and +Hamar!" Shiel asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"I might!"</p> + +<p>"And you will—you will save Gladys Martin after all!"</p> + +<p>Lilian did not reply at once.</p> + +<p>"Do you think she is the sort of girl who would marry poverty," she +said, evasively, "poverty like this!" and she glanced round the room.</p> + +<p>"I won't ask her to!" Shiel exclaimed. "Whilst I have been lying in bed, +ill, I have thought of many things—and have come to the conclusion I +have no right ever to think of marrying. It is difficult for me to earn +enough to keep one person in comfort—and I've lost all hope of ever +earning enough to keep two."</p> + +<p>"Well, if you don't ask her," Lilian Rosenberg said, "there's one thing, +she will never ask you. And I think you are remarkably well out of it. +If you do ever marry, marry a girl that has grit—a girl that would be a +real 'pal' to you—a girl that would help you to win fame!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII" />CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<h3>WHOM WILL HE MARRY?</h3> + + +<p>Had Lilian Rosenberg been able to see the effect of her conversation +upon Shiel after she had left him, she would have been disappointed. He +had, prior to this interview with Lilian Rosenberg, as he told her, made +up his mind to abandon all idea of marrying Gladys Martin; and there is +a possibility that had her name not been mentioned, had she not been +recalled so vividly to his mind, he would have adhered to that +resolution—at all events so long as he refrained from seeing her. But +such is human nature—or at least man's nature—that directly Lilian +Rosenberg had left him, Shiel's love for Gladys burst out with such +wild, invigorated force that it swept reason and everything else before +it. Gladys! He could think of nothing else! Every detail in her +appearance, every word she had spoken, came back to him with exaggerated +intensity. Her beauty was sublime. There was no one like her, no one +that could inspire him with such a sense of ideality, no one that could +lead him on to such dizzy heights of greatness. It was all nonsense to +say, as Lilian Rosenberg had said, there were just as many good fish in +the sea as had ever come out of it—there was only one Gladys. Hamar +should never marry her—he would marry her himself. She must be told at +once of Hamar's infamous designs. A mad desire to see her came over +him, and disregardful of the doctor's orders that he should remain in +bed several more days, he got up, and dressing as fast as his weak +condition would allow him, took a taxi and drove to Waterloo.</p> + +<p>On reaching the Cottage, at Kew, he found Gladys at home, and to his +great joy, alone.</p> + +<p>There is nothing that appeals to a woman more than a sick man, and +Shiel, in coming to Gladys in his present condition, had unwittingly +played a trump card. Had he appeared well and strong she would probably +have received him none too cordially—for she was very tired of men just +then; but the moment her eyes alighted on his thin cheeks and she saw +the dark rings under his eyes, pity conquered. This man at least was not +to blame—he was not of the same pattern as other men, he was not like +so many men whose adulations had grown fulsome to her, and—he was +totally unlike Hamar.</p> + +<p>In very sympathetic tones she inquired how he was, and on learning that +he had been sufficiently ill to be kept in bed, asked why he had not +told her.</p> + +<p>"Aunty and I would have called to see you," she said, "and brought you +jelly and other nice things. Who waited on you, had you no nurse?"</p> + +<p>Fearful lest he should give her the impression he was speaking for +effect, or trying to trade on her feelings (Shiel was one of those +people who are painfully exact), he told her as simply as he could just +how he had been placed.</p> + +<p>"But why come here," Gladys demanded, "when you were told to stay in bed +till the end of the week. It is frightfully risky."</p> + +<p>Shiel then explained to her the purport of his visit.</p> + +<p>"Then it was to warn me, to put me on my guard against Hamar, that you +disobeyed the doctor's orders," she said.</p> + +<p>Shiel nodded. "You are not displeased, are you?" he asked nervously.</p> + +<p>"I am displeased with you for thinking so little of yourself," Gladys +said, "and more than obliged to you for thinking so much of me. You know +I only consented to marry Mr. Hamar to save my father—and you say he no +longer has the power to work spells?"</p> + +<p>"I believe that to be a fact," Shiel replied.</p> + +<p>"Then he lied to me!" Gladys observed. "He threatened that unless I saw +him as often as he wished, and went with him wherever he wanted, and a +good many more things, he would inflict my father with every conceivable +disease. You are quite sure your information is correct?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely!"</p> + +<p>"Then, thank God!" Gladys said with a great sigh of relief. "I shall +know how to act now."</p> + +<p>"You will break off your engagement?" Shiel inquired eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No! I can't do that!" Gladys said sadly. "I've promised to marry Mr. +Hamar, and, therefore, marry him I must."</p> + +<p>"Promises made under such conditions are mere extortions, they don't +count."</p> + +<p>"I fear they do," Gladys replied. "I've never yet broken my word."</p> + +<p>"Then there's no hope for me," Shiel gasped. "I must go—it maddens me +to see you the affianced bride of that devil."</p> + +<p>He rose to go, but had hardly gained his feet, when his strength utterly +failed and he collapsed. Gladys helped him into a chair, and then flew +for some brandy. In the hall, she met her aunt, who had just returned +from an afternoon call. In a few words she explained what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Poor young man," Miss Templeton said. "I thought he looked very ill the +last time I saw him. And he came here solely to benefit you! Well, you +have a good deal to answer for, and your face is not only your own +misfortune, but other people's too. But it will never do for your father +to see Mr. Davenport. He went off in a very bad temper this morning, and +if he comes back and finds him here, there'll be a scene."</p> + +<p>Miss Templeton and Gladys consulted together for some minutes, and then +decided to send for a taxi and have Shiel conveyed back to his rooms, +Miss Templeton accompanying him.</p> + +<p>Miss Templeton knew that Shiel was poor, but like most people who have +lived in comfortable surroundings all their lives, she had no idea of +what poverty was like—the poverty of a seven-and-sixpenny a week room +in a back street; and when she saw it she nearly swooned.</p> + +<p>"Why this is a slum!" she ejaculated as the taxi stopped next door to a +fried fish shop in a narrow street swarming with children sucking bread +and jam, and rolling each other over in the gutters.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder the man is ill here!" she said to herself, as the door +of the house they stopped at opened and she snuffed the atmosphere. "The +place reeks—and—oh! gracious! is this the landlady?"</p> + +<p>Yet the woman was ordinary enough—the type of landlady one sees in all +back streets—greasy face, straggling hair, dirty blouse, black hands, +bitten fingernails, short skirts, prodigious feet, a grubby child +clinging on to her dress and every indication of the speedy arrival of +another.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you're 'is mother hain't you, mum?" she said, gaping at Miss +Templeton's rather fashionable clothes in open-mouthed wonder. "I told +'im 'ee ought not to go out, but 'ee never 'eeds what I says."</p> + +<p>Miss Templeton, though not particularly flattered at being taken for +Shiel's mother—since, like most ladies of mature age, she wished to be +regarded as much younger—nevertheless, thought it better not to +disillusion the woman. The poor, she told herself, often have very +decided views on propriety. With the woman's aid she got Shiel upstairs, +and, as he was too feeble to undress himself, despite his protestations, +helped to disrobe him. She had thought, when she first saw the slum, of +returning to Kew at once, but she did no such thing. She stayed with +Shiel; persuaded the landlady to make him some gruel (which proved to be +a sorry mess, but had at least the advantage of being hot), and bribed +one of the children to fetch the doctor. Shiel nearly died. Had it not +been for the careful nursing and good food provided by Miss Templeton, +who visited him every day, he would never have turned the corner.</p> + +<p>"The poor boy is terribly fond of you," Miss Templeton said to Gladys. +"In his delirium he talked of nothing but saving you from Leon +Hamar—from that devil Leon Hamar—and if one can place any reliance at +all, on the ravings of a sick man, a devil, Leon Hamar undoubtedly is. +What a pity it is Shiel hasn't money."</p> + +<p>These remarks were naturally not without effect on Gladys, and she could +not help growing more and more interested in the man, whose love for +her had proved so deep-rooted and ideal, that he had practically +sacrificed his life, in an attempt to serve her. Finally, she found +herself awaiting her aunt's daily report of his illness with an anxiety +that was almost acute.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, John Martin came home one evening in a rare state of +excitement.</p> + +<p>"What do you think!" he exclaimed, throwing a bundle of letters on the +table, "one of Dick's speculations has turned out trumps, after all. He +had invested several thousands of pounds—in Shiel's name—in +enamel-ivorine, the new stuff for stopping teeth, which looks exactly +like part of the teeth. I remember I thought it an absurd venture at the +time, but for once in a way I was wrong—"</p> + +<p>"Ahem!" interrupted Gladys.</p> + +<p>"There has been a sudden boom in the patent, every dentist is using it, +and, as a consequence, the shares have risen enormously. I've heard from +Dick's lawyer to-day that Shiel is now worth fifty thousand pounds!"</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" Miss Templeton ejaculated, "and Gladys has bound herself +to Hamar! I suppose," she said afterwards, when John Martin and she were +alone together, "that you would not have any objection to Shiel now, if +Gladys were free to marry him."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" John Martin said, "certainly not, I always liked Shiel. +A fine manly young fellow, very different to the type one usually meets +nowadays. I only wish Gladys were free!"</p> + +<p>"You would raise no obstacle to her becoming engaged to Shiel?"</p> + +<p>"None whatsoever! But what's the good of talking about an impossibility. +Gladys is stubbornness itself—when once she has made up her mind to do +a thing, nothing in God's world will make her not do it."</p> + +<p>"Wait," Miss Templeton said, "wait and see. I think I can see a possible +way out of it."</p> + +<p>She had learned much from Shiel in his "wanderings." He had constantly +alluded to Hamar, Curtis, Kelson—and Lilian Rosenberg; to the great +compact, and to the one possible way of breaking that compact—namely +through the instigation of a quarrel between the trio. From several of +the statements he had made, Miss Templeton deduced that Kelson was +greatly under the influence of Lilian Rosenberg—and it was from these +statements that she finally received an inspiration.</p> + +<p>Miss Templeton saw deeper than Shiel—it had always been her custom to +read between the lines. "Now," she argued, "if Kelson were so easily +influenced by Lilian Rosenberg, who was young and attractive, it was +almost a <i>sine quâ non</i> that he was in love with her," and as marriage +was one of the eventualities strictly forbidden to the trio in the +compact—"they must neither quarrel nor marry," Shiel had +exclaimed—here was their chance. Kelson must marry Lilian Rosenberg, +and by so doing, break the compact and overwhelm the trio in some sudden +and dire catastrophe. But the marriage must take place within six +months' time. How could that be arranged? Could Lilian Rosenberg be +bribed or persuaded into it? for of course Miss Templeton being a +woman—albeit an old maid—had at once divined that Lilian Rosenberg was +in love with Shiel—that she did not care a straw for Kelson, and that +to marry the latter she would need some very strong inducement. And the +only inducement she could think of was Lilian's genuine love for Shiel.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is upon this one weakness of Lilian's that I must work," she +said to herself. "It is the only way I can see of saving Gladys."</p> + +<p>Resolved at any rate to experiment upon these lines, she lost no time in +seeking out Lilian Rosenberg, who received her very coldly and was +distinctly rude.</p> + +<p>"What have my affairs to do with you? Who sent you here?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>"Humanity!" Miss Templeton replied. "I have come entirely of my own +accord to plead the cause of one who is seriously ill—possibly dying!"</p> + +<p>"Seriously ill!—possibly dying!" Lilian Rosenberg said incredulously, +nevertheless, turning pale. "Mr. Davenport is surely not as bad as all +that!"</p> + +<p>"When did you see him last?" Miss Templeton asked.</p> + +<p>"A fortnight ago," Lilian Rosenberg replied. "I have been inundated with +work the past two weeks."</p> + +<p>"Then you've not heard that he's had a relapse," Miss Templeton said, +"and is now in a most critical condition! He has something on his mind, +and the doctor assures me that whilst he is still worrying over that +something, there is no chance of his recovery."</p> + +<p>"Do you know what it is—the something?" Lilian Rosenberg asked, the +white on her cheeks intensifying.</p> + +<p>"Yes!" Miss Templeton said slowly, and trying to appear calm. "He is +very worried about Miss Martin's engagement to Mr. Hamar."</p> + +<p>"And why, pray?"</p> + +<p>"Because he knows all about Mr. Hamar—and the compact."</p> + +<p>"He has told you?"</p> + +<p>"I have gleaned it from what he has said in his delirium."</p> + +<p>"Has he been as ill as that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he has. He had a temperature of a hundred and four the day before +yesterday."</p> + +<p>For a few moments there was silence. Then Lilian Rosenberg said, "Can +you believe what a man says in delirium?"</p> + +<p>"In this instance I feel sure you can," Miss Templeton replied.</p> + +<p>"Why should Miss Martin's engagement be of such interest to Mr. +Davenport?"</p> + +<p>Miss Templeton thought for a moment. "Because," she said at last, "he is +in love with her."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure of it?"</p> + +<p>"Absolutely!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think she cares for him, even as much as that?" and she snapped +her fingers.</p> + +<p>"I think she may care for him a very great deal some day—she has begun +to care for him already!"</p> + +<p>"But she would never dream of marrying any one as badly off as Mr. +Davenport. He is practically starving."</p> + +<p>"He was—but he's not now. He's come into money." And she explained +about the fifty thousand pounds.</p> + +<p>"I see!" Lilian Rosenberg said after a prolonged pause, "that accounts +for her having just begun to care for him. Supposing there was some one +who had been fond of him all along—in the days when he hadn't a +halfpenny to his name, and every one else shunned him!"</p> + +<p>"I should feel very sorry for that person," Miss Templeton said, "but +setting aside the sacrifice of his happiness—it would be wrong for him +to marry her if his heart was fixed elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"Which you say it is."</p> + +<p>"Which I am sure it is!"</p> + +<p>"Well, supposing it is—what does it concern me? Why tell me all this?"</p> + +<p>"Because it lies in your power to put an end to the Compact and bring +about the catastrophe the Unknown threatened."</p> + +<p>"I think you credit me with rather too much. I do not quite see how I +can accomplish all this?"</p> + +<p>"But I do," Miss Templeton said, briskly. "I believe I am right in +saying Mr. Kelson is in love with you—that you can make him do pretty +well anything you please. Well, all you have to do is to lead him on to +propose and insist on his marrying you at once—or at all events before +the expiration of the Compact. If you succeed in doing this the Compact +will be broken!"</p> + +<p>"That may be," Lilian Rosenberg exclaimed, "but where, pray, should I +come in? Why on earth should I marry a man I don't care a snap for?"</p> + +<p>"Why!" Miss Templeton replied, slowly, "why, because by marrying a man +you don't care a snap for, you would save the life of a man—I am quite +sure, you care a very great deal for."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIX" id="CHAPTER_XXIX" />CHAPTER XXIX</h2> + +<h3>THE END AND "THE BEYOND"</h3> + + +<p>It took Lilian Rosenberg some time to make up her mind.</p> + +<p>"It's extraordinary," she said to herself, "how fond I am of Shiel. I +used to think it an impossibility for me to be really fond of anyone.... +The question is, however, am I sufficiently in love with him, to give +him up to that soft little cat—Gladys Martin! If it weren't for this +illness—if I could only persuade myself that he isn't as ill as Miss +Whatever-her-name-is—said, I shouldn't think twice—I should let things +be—but as I feel sure he is really ill—dangerously ill—and the only +chance of his recovery lies in the possibility of his marrying Martin—I +must deliberate. Shall I or shall I not? If it were any other woman I +shouldn't so much mind—but—Gladys Martin! I can't endure her. There is +one hope, however, namely—that if he marries her, he will soon tire of +her—and—and come to me. What a tremendous score off her that would be! +But, no! I wouldn't do that! Because—because—well there—just like my +infernal luck—I love him. Could I marry him, I wonder, even if there +were no Gladys Martin? It is doubtful! Yet I believe I could. But what +is the good of conceiving impossibilities! There is a Gladys +Martin—and—I can never have Shiel. The only question I have to settle +is—Shall she have him? Shall I marry Kelson so that Martin can marry +Shiel?"</p> + +<p>Lilian Rosenberg turned this question over in her mind for a whole day +and night, sometimes arriving at one decision, sometimes at another. In +the end—very elaborately dressed, and looking daintier than she had +ever done in her life, she waylaid Kelson and asked him to have tea with +her.</p> + +<p>Any pretty face, accentuated by all the allurements of a large mushroom +hat and hobble skirt, was enough for Kelson; but when that face belonged +to the one girl for whom, above all other girls, he had a colossal +weakness, he simply could not feast his eyes enough on it.</p> + +<p>"Have tea with you? Of course I will," he said. "But we must be careful. +Hamar is about. If you walk on up the Haymarket, I'll follow in a taxi, +and pick you up, directly I get to a safe distance."</p> + +<p>"I see you are as much in awe of Mr. Hamar as ever," Lilian Rosenberg +laughed. "I'm not! I've found him out—he's all talk. But do as you +will—get your taxi and I'll walk on—we'll have tea in my new flat."</p> + +<p>Kelson was so delighted he hardly knew if he stood on his head or his +heels. "You are prettier than ever," he said, as the taxi-door shut and +they sped away. "I declare there seems no limit to your beauty."</p> + +<p>"Only because you're partial," she said. "I shall grow ugly one day. +Perhaps—soon." With a savage energy, she set to work to completely +overcome him. With a languishing expression in her eyes—eyes, which she +made use of mercilessly, without giving him a moment's respite—she +watched his whole being vibrate with love and adoration.</p> + +<p>They had hardly entered the drawing-room of her flat when he threw +himself at her feet, and poured forth his worship of her in the most +extravagant phrases.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Mr. Kelson," she said at length, withdrawing the hand it +seemed as if he would never leave off kissing, "this is all very well; +but I daresay you make love to countless other girls in this same +fashion. How can I tell if you are really serious?"</p> + +<p>"Don't I look as if I am?" he cried.</p> + +<p>"One can never judge correctly by looks," she replied; "they are +terribly deceptive. You are very emphatic in your avowals of love, but +you say nothing about marriage."</p> + +<p>"Then you do care for me! Jerusalem! How happy I should be if only I +thought that!"</p> + +<p>"Think it, then," Lilian Rosenberg said, "and let us come to an +understanding. Can you afford to keep a wife—keep her, as I should +expect to be kept—plenty of new dresses, jewelry, theatres, balls, +motors, Ascot, Henley, Cowes?"</p> + +<p>"I reckon I could do all that," Kelson replied. "I've just over a +hundred and fifty thousand pounds in the bank, and with this 'cure' +business, I'm taking on an average ten thousand per week. I would settle +a hundred thousand on you, and make you a handsome allowance—a thousand +a week—more if you wanted it."</p> + +<p>"Well!" Lilian Rosenberg said after a slight pause, during which Kelson +had again seized her hand and was kissing it convulsively, "to quote one +of your Americanisms—I reckon I'll fix up with you. On one condition, +however."</p> + +<p>"And that," Kelson murmured, still kissing her feverishly.</p> + +<p>"That we marry a week to-day!"</p> + +<p>Kelson dropped her hand as if he had been shot. "We can't!" he cried. +"The Compact!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, damn the Compact!" Lilian Rosenberg said coolly. "You marry me +then—or not at all!"</p> + +<p>"You are joking—you know what the Compact means!"</p> + +<p>"I know what you think it means. For my own part I don't see that you +have the slightest reason to fear. The Unknown cannot really harm you. +All you have to do is to turn religious. Anyhow you must risk it—that +is to say, if you want me."</p> + +<p>"It will lead to a quarrel with Hamar," Kelson said desperately. "The +Firm will dissolve—and I shan't get a cent more money."</p> + +<p>"I'll be content with what you have in the bank now. We can live on the +interest of fifty thousand. The hundred thousand you will, of course, +settle on me at once."</p> + +<p>He was silent. She taunted him, she ridiculed him; she at last lost her +temper with him—whereupon he succumbed. The marriage should take place +at a registry office within the week.</p> + +<p>"There'll be no time for a trousseau!" he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, hang the trousseau!" she said. "I shall have the hundred thousand +pounds. And now for a word of advice. Be sure that you do not let Hamar +get any inkling of our approaching marriage, and be most careful to +avoid doing anything that might arouse his suspicions. It isn't that I'm +afraid of him—but I don't want rows—I'm sick to death of them!"</p> + +<p>"You can rely on me to be careful, darling!" Kelson said, kissing her +on the lips. "I'll be discretion itself," and so he meant to be. All the +same—as is the case with every lover—every lover worthy of the name of +lover—who loves with all the full, ripe vigour of genuine passion, his +heart played havoc with his head; and he was blind to everything save +visions of his beloved. In other circumstances this would not have +mattered very much, but with Hamar's lynx eyes continually watching him, +it was certain to lead to disaster.</p> + +<p>"Ed!" Hamar said to Curtis one day. "Matt's been getting into mischief. +I know the symptoms well. He can't look me in the face, and every now +and then, when he fancies my attention is attracted elsewhere, I catch +him peeping furtively at me as if he were frightened out of his life I +should ferret out some secret. It would be deplorable if now that we +have got so near the end of the Compact, we should be held up by some +idiotic blunder—some nonsensical love affair of his. I wonder whether +it's Rosenberg or some other girl. Will you find out?"</p> + +<p>"How can I?" Curtis growled. "I'm not his keeper."</p> + +<p>"I know that!" Hamar said. "Come be reasonable. You want to be a +Crœsus—so that you can eat and drink your head off—don't you! Well! +You will! You will be one of the three wealthiest men in the world—you +will have the world at your feet, if only you stick to me for the next +seven months: till we have passed the seventh stage. If you don't—if +either you or Matt deliberately quarrel with me, or marry—then, as I've +dinned into your ears a thousand times, the Compact will be broken, +and—not only that, but some frightful catastrophe will wipe us off. +Now will you do what I ask? Come—a dinner with me every night this +week, at the Piccadilly—champagne—and no vegetables!"</p> + +<p>"All right," Curtis said sulkily, "for the good of the cause I suppose I +must, but I hate spying."</p> + +<p>Two nights later in a private room at the Piccadilly, after dinner, when +the champagne and liqueurs had got into Curtis's head and he was leaning +back in his chair, smiling and silly, Hamar suddenly said, "Ed! you +remember what I told you—about watching Kelson. Have you discovered +anything?"</p> + +<p>"Shupposing I have," Curtis replied, "shupposing I haven't—whatch +then?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I know you have," Hamar said, striving to hide his eagerness. +"Come, tell me, another liqueur—I'll square it with the Unknown—it +won't hurt you!"</p> + +<p>"Won't it!" Curtis gurgled. "Wont'ch it! I'll tell you everything. +No—nothingsh, I mean."</p> + +<p>But Hamar when once he had smelt a rat, was not easily put off. He +coaxed, and coaxed, and eventually succeeded.</p> + +<p>"Leonsh!" Curtis said, with a sudden burst of drunken confidence. +"Leonsh! it's worse than either you or I shuspected. I caught them alone +this morning—in my offish."</p> + +<p>"Them! Rosenberg and Matt!"</p> + +<p>"Yesh, of course, shilly! I told Matt I was going out. He thought I +had—so into the room I came—quite unshuspected, unobsherved. She was +sitting on hish knees, cuddling—and he was putting a ring on her +finger. 'Four more days, darling,' shays he, 'and we are married! +Jerushalem! Damn the Compact and damnsh Hamar!' 'Hamar doesn't +shuspect, does he?' Rosenberg shays. 'Not a bit—not in the slightest,' +old Matt replieshes, 'why it is I who amsh brave now.' Then he kisshes +her, and fearing they would detect my presence, I slipsh quietly out."</p> + +<p>"Will you swear this is true?" Leon said, his voice trembling with +excitement.</p> + +<p>"I'll schwear it!" Curtis answered, "but you look crossh. Whatsh the +matter, Leon? <i>God! What's the matter!</i>"</p> + +<p>An hour later, as Kelson was rising from his chair in front of the fire +to gaze, for the hundredth time that evening, into the eyes of Lilian +Rosenberg's portrait on the mantelshelf, the door of his room flew open +and in staggered Curtis—white, wet and bloated.</p> + +<p>"Great heavens!" Kelson cried. "What the deuce have you been doing to +yourself? You look a perfect devil!"</p> + +<p>"I am one!" Curtis groaned. "I am one, Matt! I've given your show away."</p> + +<p>"My show away! Why, what the deuce do you mean?"</p> + +<p>In a string of broken sentences Curtis explained what had happened. "I'm +damned sorry, Matt, old man," he pleaded. "It was the drink that did +it—I didn't know what I was saying till it was too late—till I saw +Leon's face—and that cleared my brain—brought me to myself. It was +hellish. I remember the moment I mentioned the word marriage—he sprang +up from his chair, and as he hurried out, I heard him mutter, 'I'll go +to her straight—I'll—' Matt, old man, he meant mischief. I'm certain +of it. Come with me to her flat—for God's sake—COME." And catching +hold of Kelson, who leaned against the mantelshelf, dazed and +stupefied, he dragged him into the street.</p> + +<p>To revert to Hamar. Curtis's information had transformed him. He was, +now, another creature. Prior to his conversation with Curtis, he had +suspected, at the most, that Kelson might be contemplating a secret +engagement to Lilian Rosenberg—but a hasty marriage—a marriage in a +few days' time—he had never dreamt that Kelson could be as mad as that. +It was outrageous! It was abominable! It was sheer wholesale homicide! +At all costs the marriage must be stopped. And mad with rage, Hamar +dashed out of the hotel, and calling a taxi, drove direct to Lilian +Rosenberg's flat.</p> + +<p>He found her alone—alone—and with a strange expression in her eyes—an +expression he had never noticed in them before. She was in the act of +examining a magnificent diamond ring.</p> + +<p>"You're quite out of breath," she said coolly, "didn't you come up by +the lift?"</p> + +<p>"I've come to talk business," Hamar panted. "It's no use looking like +that. I know your secret."</p> + +<p>"My secret!" Lilian Rosenberg replied, opening her eyes and simulating +the greatest unconcern, "what secret? I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you do!" Hamar said, "you understand only too well—you +deceitful minx. Had I only been smart—I should have given you the sack +months ago. This marriage of yours with Kelson shall not come off."</p> + +<p>"My marriage with Mr. Kelson!" Lilian Rosenberg said, turning a trifle +pale. "I really don't know what you are talking about."</p> + +<p>"You do!" Hamar shouted, his fury rising. "You do! You know all about +it. You were seen sitting on his knee this morning, and all your +conversation was overheard. I have found out everything. And I tell you, +you shan't marry him."</p> + +<p>"I shan't marry him!" Lilian Rosenberg said with provoking coolness. +"Whoever thinks I want to marry him?"</p> + +<p>"He does—I do!" Hamar shouted—his voice rising to a scream. "You've +hoodwinked me long enough—you hoodwink me no longer. You've encouraged +him from the first—made eyes at him every time you've seen him—taken +advantage of my absence to prowl about the passages to waylay him—had +him round to your rooms and visited him in his. You've no sense of shame +or honour—you've broken your promises to me—you're a liar!"</p> + +<p>"Anything else Mr. Hamar!" Lilian Rosenberg said, her eyes glittering. +"When you've quite finished, perhaps—you'll kindly go and leave me in +peace."</p> + +<p>"Go! Leave you in peace!" Hamar shouted. "Damn you, curse your +impertinence! Go! I'll not budge an inch till I wring from you an +oath—a solemn binding oath, that you'll break off your engagement with +Kelson at once."</p> + +<p>"Really, Mr. Hamar!" Lilian Rosenberg said, "I cannot put up with quite +so much noise. Will you go, or shall I ring for the porter to turn you +out?"</p> + +<p>She moved in the direction of the bell as she spoke, but before she +could touch it Hamar had intercepted her.</p> + +<p>"Stop this foolery!" he said catching hold of her wrist, "I'm in grim +earnest—the lives of all three of us are at stake—jeopardized through +you—through your infernal greed and selfishness. Do you hear!"</p> + +<p>"Please let go my wrist," she said quietly.</p> + +<p>"I won't!" he shouted. "I'll squeeze, crush it, break it! Break you, +too, unless you swear to break off your marriage!"</p> + +<p>"I'll swear nothing," Lilian Rosenberg said faintly. "You're a brute. +Let me go or I'll cry for help."</p> + +<p>She screamed, but before she could repeat the scream, Hamar had her by +the throat—and then blind with passion and before he fully realized +what he was about, he had shaken her to and fro—like a terrier shakes a +rat—and had dashed her on the floor.</p> + +<p>For some minutes he stood rocking with passion, and then, his eyes +falling on the inanimate form at his feet, he gave a great gasping cry +and bent over it.</p> + +<p>"God in Heaven!" he ejaculated, "she's dead! I've killed her!"</p> + +<p>He was still bending over her—still feeling her lifeless pulse, still +trying to resuscitate her—feebly wondering how he had killed her, +feverishly debating the best course to pursue—when Curtis and Kelson +burst in on him.</p> + +<p>At the sight of Lilian Rosenberg's lifeless body both men started back. +"Great God! Hamar!" Curtis gasped. "What have you done to her?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing!" Hamar said, turning a ghastly face to them. "I—I found her +like this!"</p> + +<p>"Liar!" Kelson shouted beside himself with fury. "Liar! We heard her +scream. Look at your hands—there's blood on them! You've killed her!"</p> + +<p>Before Curtis could stop him he sprang at Hamar, and the next moment +both men were rolling on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Call for the police, Ed!" Kelson gasped, "the police—or—" But before +he could utter another syllable, walls, floor and ceiling shook with +loud, devilish laughter. There was then silence—enthralling, +impressive, omnipotent silence—the electric light went out—and the +room filled with luminous, striped figures.</p> + +<p class="cs"><a name="ILLUSTRATION4" id="ILLUSTRATION4" /><img src="images/image4.jpg" width="416" height="750" alt="[Illustration: THE ROOM FILLED WITH LUMINOUS, STRIPED FIGURES]" /><br /> +THE ROOM FILLED WITH LUMINOUS, STRIPED FIGURES</p> + +<p> </p> +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14317 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/14317-h/images/atl-a.png b/14317-h/images/atl-a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..641c817 --- /dev/null +++ b/14317-h/images/atl-a.png diff --git a/14317-h/images/atl-b.png b/14317-h/images/atl-b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e5bd0d --- /dev/null +++ b/14317-h/images/atl-b.png diff --git a/14317-h/images/atl-c.png b/14317-h/images/atl-c.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a36c6fd --- /dev/null +++ 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