The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-11

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for conversation"
They were approaching a side road
which led to Gortre'g rooms. B%chuabe's
great house was still q quarter OF n
mile away UP the hill.
DO not 60 home yeti said schua5a.
como to my house, see my books, and
let us talk. Make friends with tho nam.
You are disturbed and unstrung tonight.
YOU will not sleep. Come with me-"
Gortre hesitnted for q moment, and
then continued with him. He was hardly
conscious why he did 30, but even as
he accepted the Invitation his nerves
seemed recovered as by some powerful
tonic. A TRANCE confidence possessed
him. and he strobe on with the air and
manner OF a nan who has some fixed
purpose In his brain.
And as he talked casually with schu-
abe. he felt towards him no longer the
cold fear, the inexplicnble shrinking. He
regarded him rather as q vast and
powerful enemy, an evil. sinister tn
huence, indeed, but ono against which
he was armed with an armour not his
own. with weapons forged by great and
terrible hands.
SO they entered the drive and walked
up among the gaunt black trees toward
the house.
Mount Prospect was a large, castel-
lated modern building OF stone. In u
neighbourhood where architectural mon
strosities abounded, perhaps It outdid
them nIl in It's almost brutal ugliness
and vulgarity. 1t has been built by Con-
stantine S%chuabe's grandfather.
The present owner was little at Walk
town. His Parliamentary and social
duties bound him to London, and when
he had time for recreation the news
papers announced that he had gone
Abroad and until he was actually seen
again in the midst Of his friends his
disappearance were mysterious and
complete.
In London he "a a private set Of
rooms ut one OF the great hotels.
But despite his rare visits. the hideous
stone palace in tho smoky North held
all the treasures which he himself had
collected and which had been left 10
him by his father.
1t was understood that at his death
the pictures and library were to become
the property OF the citizens of Manches-
ter, held In trust for them by the cor
poration.
schuabe took a key from his pocket
and opened the heavy door In the porch.
II always keep the house full of ser
wants" he said. .'even when I am away.
for n d%ismantled house and caretakers
are horrible. But they will be all gone
to bed low, and we must look after
ourselves.'l
Opening an inner door. they passed
through some heavy padded curtains,
which fell behind them with a dull thud,
and came out into the great hall.
Ugly as the shell of the great building
was. tho interior was very different.
Here, set like a Jewel IN the midst of
the harsh. forbidding country. was =
treasure-house of ordered beauty which
had few equals In England.
Gortre drew a long. shuddering breath
OF pleasure as he looked round. Every
aesthetic influence within him responded
to what he saw. And how simple and
severe 1t all was, Simply a great domed
hall of white marble, brilliantly lit by
electric light hidden high above their
heads. On every side slender columns
rose towards the dome, beyond them
were tall archways leading to the rooms
of the house; dull. formless curtains,
striking no note of colour, hung from the
archways.
In the centre of the vast space. exact
~ under the dome. wasga large pool of
still green water, a square basin with
abrupt edges, having no fountain nor
gaudy fish to break It's smoothness.
And that was all, literally all, No
rugs covered the tesselated floor. not
q single seat stood anywhere. There
was not the slightest suggestion OF fur
niture or h%abitation. White. silent. and
beautiful! AS Gortrc stood there, he
knew, as If some special message had
been given him. that he had come for
some great hidden purpose, that 1t had
been foreordained. His whole soul SEEM
ed filled with a holy power. unseen
overs and p~rincipalities thronged round
him like sweet but awful friends.
He turned inquiringly towards his host.
Schuabe's face was very pale; the calm,
cruel eyes seemed agitated; he was
staring at the priest. Come" he said
in a voice which seemed to be without
It's usual confidence; come, this place
is cold-I have sometimes thought it A
little too bare and fantastic-come into
the library: let US eat and talk"
He turned and passed through the pill
lars on the right. Gartre followed him
through the dark. heavy curtains which
led to the library.
They found themselves in an immense
low-ceilinged room. The floor was cover
ed with a thick carpet Of u blue, and
their feet made no sound as they passed
over it towards the blazing fire, which
glowed in an old oak framework of
panelling and ingle-nook brought from
an ancient manor-house in Norfolk.
AT one end OF the room was a small
organ, cased. modern as the mechanism
was, In priceless Renaissance palHtcu
panels from Florence and set in a little
octagonal alcove hung with white and
yellow.
The enormous writing-table OF dark
wood stood in front of the fireplace and
was overed with books and papers. BY
1t was a smaller circular table laid. with
a white cloth and shining glass and
silver for a meal.
my valet is in bed" said schuabe;
II hate any one about me at night.
and I prefer to wait on myself then.
from the cool %cisterns OF the mid
night air my spirit drinks repose.' II
you will wait here a few moments !
will go and get some food. know
where to find some. Pray amuse your
self by looking at my books
He left the room nolselessly, and Basil
turned towards the walls. From ceiling
to floor the immense room was lined
with shelves of enamelled white wood,
here ana there carved with tiny tlorid
punches OF fruit and towers-Jacobean
work it seemed.
A few pictures here and there in spaces
between the shelves-the hectic fun
merry OF n Whistler nocturne. a woman,
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