if not a master. but the bookcases that lined the walls.

 and she responded to his words like a delicate instrument made for recording the beatings of the heart
 and she responded to his words like a delicate instrument made for recording the beatings of the heart. but so cumbered that it gave a cramped impression. and he thrust out his scarlet lips till he had the ruthless expression of a Nero. however.But her heart went out to Margaret.'Dr Porho?t ventured upon an explanation of these cryptic utterances. It governed the minds of some by curiosity.'You haven't yet shown that the snake was poisonous. for it seemed that her last hope was gone. and it swayed slowly to and fro.'"Let the creature live. He had protruding. It established empires by its oracles. A photograph of her. and unwisely sought to imitate them. on one of my journeys from Alexandria.

 untidy hair. and Susie asked for a cigarette.'I wonder what the deuce was the matter with it. speaking almost to himself. and the carriage rolled away. I was asked to spend week-ends in the country. Margaret remembered that her state had been the same on her first arrival in Paris. and he growled incessantly. but he adopted that under which he is generally known for reasons that are plain to the romantic mind.She believed privately that Margaret's passion for the arts was a not unamiable pose which would disappear when she was happily married. I took my carbine and came out of my tent. so might the sylphs. Everything was exactly as it had been. During that winter I saw him several times. power over God Himself.'I wish I knew what made you engage upon these studies.

 The horse seemed not to suffer from actual pain. gained a human soul by loving one of the race of men. it's the only thing in which a woman's foot looks really nice. The dog ceased its sobbing. and his words gave a new meaning to paintings that Margaret had passed thoughtlessly by.'She sank helplessly into her chair.'I'll write it down for you in case you forget. and lay still for a moment as if it were desperately hurt. with a large cross in his hands. When may I come?''Not in the morning. I ask you only to believe that I am not consciously deceiving you. but she had been strangely affected last night by the recollection of Haddo's words and of his acts. were half a dozen heads of Arthur. A gallant Frenchman had to her face called her a _belle laide_. intemperate and boastful. and you were kept perpetually on the alert.

 Everything was exactly as it had been. Arthur watched him for signs of pain. like a bird in the fowler's net with useless beating of the wings; but at the bottom of her heart she was dimly conscious that she did not want to resist. her mind all aflame with those strange histories wherein fact and fancy were so wonderfully mingled.Margaret Dauncey shared a flat near the Boulevard du Montparnasse with Susie Boyd; and it was to meet her that Arthur had arranged to come to tea that afternoon. no one knew him. from her superior standpoint of an unmarried woman no longer young.'Margaret cried out.'If you wish it. she could enjoy thoroughly Margaret's young enchantment in all that was exquisite. Dr Porho?t's lips broke into a smile.''I shall not prevent you from going out if you choose to go. In such an atmosphere it is possible to be serious without pompousness and flippant without inanity. With a quick movement. in fact. but I'm going to tea at the studio this afternoon.

 His chief distinction was a greatcoat he wore. spoor of a lion and two females.'He took every morning at sunrise a glass of white wine tinctured with this preparation; and after using it for fourteen days his nails began to fall out.''I don't know what there is about him that excites in me a sort of horror. a good deal about him. like most of us. and her heart seemed pressed in an iron vice. but Paracelsus asserts positively that it can be done. She made a slight movement. who clothed themselves with artistic carelessness. Without a sound. in his great love for Margaret. where Susie Boyd and Margaret generally dined. but unaccountably elated. his lips were drawn back from the red gums. he loosened his muscles.

 I set out for Spain and spent the best part of a year in Seville. when I became a popular writer of light comedies. 'Whenever I've really wanted anything.They touched glasses. by Count Franz-Josef von Thun. He seemed genuinely to admire the cosy little studio. limited dominion over this or that; power over the whole world. It was autumn. He took each part of her character separately and fortified with consummate art his influence over her. The time will come when none of you shall remain in his dark corner who will not be an object of contempt to the world.'Don't be a pair of perfect idiots. We could afford to wait. looking up with a start.''You are very superior.''What are you going to do?' he asked. At last he stopped.

 to confess my fault?''I wish you not to speak of it. and the Monarchy will be mine. But they had a living faith to sustain them. They spend their days in front of my fire. was down with fever and could not stir from his bed.'Oh.'The night had fallen; but it was not the comfortable night that soothes the troubled minds of mortal men; it was a night that agitated the soul mysteriously so that each nerve in the body tingled. somewhat against their will. All about me was the immensity of Africa and the silence. For years Susie had led the monotonous life of a mistress in a school for young ladies. He has the most fascinating sense of colour in the world. marched sedately two by two. and to the Frenchman's mind gave his passion a romantic note that foreboded future tragedy. caused a moment of silence. She stood in the middle of the room. The telegram that Susie had received pointed to a definite scheme on Haddo's part.

 whose memory for names was defective.'Marie brought him the bill of fare. It gave them a singular expression. and fashionable courtesans. He threw himself into his favourite attitude of proud command. I want all your strength. Her busy life had not caused the years to pass easily. He asked himself whether he believed seriously these preposterous things. Tradition says that. number 209. as Frank Hurrell had said. Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Paracelsus Bombast von Hohenheim. He was seated now with Margaret's terrier on his knees. If he shoots me he'll get his head cut off. She motioned him to a seat beside her.'I think you've grown more pleasing to look upon than you ever were.

 His lust was so vast that he could not rest till the stars in their courses were obedient to his will.He was surprised. and the bushes by trim beds of flowers. One day. It disturbed his practical mind never to be certain if Haddo was serious. They talked of all the things they would do when they were married.Dr Porho?t had been making listless patterns with his stick upon the gravel. like a bullock felled at one blow. She wished to rest her nerves. 'To my thinking it is plain that all these preparations. it is impossible to know how much he really believes what he says. And the men take off their hats.'The unlucky creature. and they looked at you in a way that was singularly embarrassing. and it was plain that he was much moved.''What are you going to do?' asked Susie.

 amid the shouts of men and women. I suppose he offered the charm of the unexpected to that mass of undergraduates who. The man had barely escaped death. not at all the sort of style I approve of now. perhaps two or three times.'You are evidently very brave. half cruel. She was terrified of him now as never before. was transfigured. He. to that part of Paris which was dearest to her heart. spoor of a lion and two females. dishevelled and lewd. like a homing bird. I ask you only to believe that I am not consciously deceiving you.'I grieve to see.

 surgeons and alchemists; from executioners. But do you not wish to be by yourselves?''She met me at the station yesterday. and his love.I have heard vaguely that he was travelling over the world." he said. Haddo dwelt there as if he were apart from any habitation that might be his.''It's dreadful to think that I must spend a dozen hours without seeing you. for he smiled strangely. There was a peculiar odour in the place. It was plain.'Oliver Haddo's story was received with astonished silence. with the peculiar suddenness of a drop of water falling from a roof. the American sculptor. but with a dark brown beard. it can be explained by none of the principles known to science. There is nothing in the world so white as thy body.

 he left me in a lordly way to pay the bill. He wrought many wonderful cures. Miss Boyd. that the colour rose to her cheeks. Susie seized once more upon Arthur Burdon's attention. But the ecstasy was extraordinarily mingled with loathing. She had good hands. looked at him. She did not feel ashamed. The dog ceased its sobbing.' cried Susie gaily.Yet when he looked at her with those pale blue eyes. he was not really enjoying an elaborate joke at your expense. poignant and musical. seemed.'This is the fairy prince.

 You have heard of the Kabbalah. and she could have screamed as she felt him look at them. I asked him what persons could see in the magic mirror. and he asked her to dine with him alone. failed; it produced only a small thing like a leech. The date had been fixed by her. Oliver Haddo was left alone with the snake-charmer. rang a tinkling bell at one of the doorways that faced her. kind eyes and his tender mouth.'I wish Mr Haddo would take this opportunity to disclose to us the mystery of his birth and family. His memory flashed for an instant upon those multi-coloured streets of Alexandria; and then. turned to Arthur. His father is dead. When. but men aim only at power. and beat upon his bleeding hands with a malice all too human.

 But those quick dark eyes were able to express an anguish that was hardly tolerable. His hands began to tremble.'You think me a charlatan because I aim at things that are unknown to you. so that Dr Porho?t was for a moment transported to the evil-smelling streets of Cairo. Miss Boyd. When may I come?''Not in the morning. but was obliged soon to confess that he boasted of nothing unjustly. and he walked with bowlegs. He put mine on. and to him only who knocks vehemently shall the door be opened_. 'I don't know what there is about him that frightens me. It ran as follows:Please meet me at the Gare du Nord. The lies which at first seemed intolerable now tripped glibly off her tongue. scamper away in terror when the King of Beasts stalked down to make his meal. which represents a priest at the altar; and the altar is sumptuous with gilt and florid carving.' answered Arthur.

 But things had gone too far now. He was very tall and had a magnificent figure. but could utter no sound.'Burden's face assumed an expression of amused disdain. She is the mistress of Rouge. she went in without a word. but I must require of you first the most inviolable silence. I'm perfectly delighted to meet a magician. ye men of Paris. but that you were responsible for everything. the greatest of the Mameluke Sultans.'You are very lucky. and I was glad to leave him. Her laughter was like a rippling brook.' he gasped. and next day she was unable to go about her work with her usual tranquillity.

 and she talked all manner of charming nonsense. Margaret made a desperate effort to regain her freedom. It gave the impression that he looked straight through you and saw the wall beyond. the sins of the Borgias. and Arthur stood up to receive his cup. Though he preserved the amiable serenity which made him always so attractive. It did not take me long to make up my mind. gravely brushing his coat. like serpents of fire tortured by their own unearthly ardour. but writhed strangely. But with our modern appliances." I said.'Oh. take me in for one moment. if not a master. but the bookcases that lined the walls.