The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-18

II have still chance to offer you. how
ever, and. perhaps you will find me by
no means the tryant YOU think
| There are certain services which you
can do me, and which. II you fall In
!! with my views, will not only wipe off
| the few thousands of your Indebtedness,
Ibut provide you with a capital sum which
| Will place you above the necessity for
| any such financial Inanoeuvres in the
| future ms yours--siall say infatuation?
has led You to resort to in the past.
'If You care to lunch with me at my
rooms In the Hotel Cecil, mt two o'clock,
tho day after Tomorrow Friday1--we
may discuss your affairs dultely. If not.
| then 7 must refer You to my solicitors
entirely.
Yours sincerely.
CONSTANTINE, SCHUABE"
| The big man gave IL lorrid sroan--
| half snarl, half gronn-the sound. which
comes from q strong animal desperate
and at bay.
lie crossed over TO tho fireplace and
pushed the latter down into glowing
| cavern among the Goals, holding it there
with the poker until 1t was utterly con-
sumed and duttered UP the chimney
from his sight in sheet OF asi--the
very color of his relaxed and pendulous
cheeks.
He opened another letter. n small, fra
gle thing written OH mauve paper, In
a large, irregular fland--a woman's
hand:
Is Bloomsbury Court Mansions
Dear Bob,-I shall expect you at tho
fiat tonight at eleven. without fail.
You'd better come, or things which you
won't like will happen.
You've just got to come.
Yours, GERTRUDE"
He put this letter into his pocket and
began to walk the room in long. silent
strides.
A little after five he put on a heavy
fur coat and left the now silent and
gloomy halls of the Museum.
The lamps OF IIolborn were lit and a
blaze OF light came from oxford Circus.
where the wlnking electric advertise
ments had just begun their work on the
tops of the houses
A policeman saiuted the Professor ms
he passed. and was rewarded by Il genial
smile and Jolly word of greeting. which
sent Il glow of pleasure through his SIX
feet.
Ilwellyn walked steadily on towards
the Marble Arch and Edgeware Road
rhe continual roar of the traffic helped
| his brain. 1t became active and able 10
think, to plan once more. The steady
I exercise warmed his blood and eSh!la-
rated him.
| There began to be almost a horrid
| pleasure in tho stress of his position.
! The danger was so immediate and fell;
| the blow would be so utterly irreparabie,
| that he was near to enjoying his walk
i while he could still consider the thing
| from detached point OF view.
| Throughout life that had always been
| his power. A strange residence had
| animated him in all chances and changes
| of fortune
| He was that almost inhuman phenome-
! non, sensualist with soul.
For many years. while his name be-
| came great In Europe and the solid bril-
| lancy of his work grew in lustre as he
| age. he had lived two lives. finding an
engrossing joy in each.
The lofty scientific world of which he
! was an ornament had no points OF con-
tact with that other and unspeakable
half-iife. Rumors had been brnited.
[ things said in secret by envlous and less
/ distinguished men, but they had never
| harmed him. His colleagues hardly UNI
| derstood them and cared moth ng. His
| work was all-sufficient; what did 1t mat
ter if smaller people with forked tongues
| Kissed horrors Of his private life?
| The other circles--the lost slaves Of
| pleasure-knew him well and We're con-
tent. He came into the nightworld n
| welcome guest They knew nothing of
| his work or fame beyond dim hintings OF
| things too undressing for them to
| bother about.
| He turned down the Edgeware Road
and then into quiet Upper Berkeley