<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></SPAN>CHAPTER IV</h2>
<p>After our excursion through Venice with
Nikola by night, an interval of a week elapsed
before we saw anything of him. During that
time matters, so far as our party was concerned,
progressed with the smoothness of a well-regulated
clock. In my own mind I had not the shadow
of a doubt that Glenbarth was head over ears in
love with Gertrude Trevor. He followed her
about wherever she went; seemed never to tire
of paying her attention, and whenever we were
alone together, endeavoured to inveigle me into
a discussion of her merits. That she had faults
nothing would convince him.</p>
<p>Whether she reciprocated his good-feeling
was a matter which, to my mind, there existed
a considerable amount of doubt. Women are
proverbially more secretive in these affairs than
men, and if Miss Trevor entertained a warmer
feeling than friendship for the young Duke, she
certainly managed to conceal it admirably. More
than once, I believe, my wife endeavoured to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</SPAN></span>
sound her upon the subject. She had to confess
herself beaten, however. Miss Trevor liked the
Duke of Glenbarth very much; she was quite
agreed that he had not an atom of conceit in his
constitution; he gave himself no airs; moreover,
she was prepared to meet my wife half-way, and
to say that she thought it a pity he did not
marry. No, she had never heard that there was
an American millionaire girl, extremely beautiful,
and accomplished beyond the average, who was
pining to throw her millions and herself at his
feet! "And then," added my wife, in a tone
that seemed to suggest that she considered it my
fault that the matter had not been brought to
a successful conclusion long since, "what do you
think she said? 'Why on earth doesn't he marry
this American? So many men of title do now-a-days.'
What do you think of that? I can tell
you, Dick, I could have shaken her!"</p>
<p>"My dear little woman," I said in reply,
"will nothing convince you that you are playing
with fire? If you are not very careful you will
burn your fingers. Gertrude is almost as clever
as you are. She sees that you are trying to
pump her, and very naturally declines to be
pumped. You would feel as she does were you
in her position."</p>
<p>"I do not know why you should say I am
trying to pump her," she answered with consider<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</SPAN></span>able
dignity. "I consider it a very uncalled-for
expression."</p>
<p>"Well, my dear," I answered, "if you are
going to attempt to improve your position by
splitting straws, then I must stop."</p>
<p>The episode I have just described had taken
place after we had retired for the night, and at a
time when I am far from being at my best. My
wife, on the other hand, as I have repeatedly
noticed, is invariably wide-awake at that hour.
Moreover she has an established belief that it
would be an impossibility for her to obtain any
rest until she has cleared up all matters of
mystery that may have attracted her attention
during the day. I generally fall asleep
before she is half-way through, and for this
reason I am told that I lack interest in what
most nearly concerns our welfare.</p>
<p>"One would at least imagine that you could
remain awake to discuss events of so much
importance to us and to those about us," I have
known her say. "I have observed that you can
talk about horses, hunting, and shooting, with
your bachelor friends until two or three o'clock
in the morning without falling asleep, but when
your wife is anxious to ask your opinion about
something that does not concern your amusements,
then you must needs go to sleep."</p>
<p>"My dear," I replied, "when all is said and<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</SPAN></span>
done we are but human. You know as well as
I do, that if a man were to come to me when
I had settled down for the night, and were
to tell me that he knew where to lay his hand
upon the finest horse in England, and where he
could put me on to ten coveys of partridges within
a couple of hundred yards of my own front door,
that he could even tell me the winner of the
Derby, I should answer him as I am now
answering you."</p>
<p>"And your reply would be?"</p>
<p>I am afraid the pains I had been at to illustrate
my own argument must have proved too
much for me, for I was informed in the morning
that I had talked a vast amount of nonsense
about seeing Nikola concerning a new pigeon-trap,
and had then resigned myself to the arms
of Morpheus. If there should be any husbands
whose experience have run on similar lines, I
should be glad to hear from them. But to
return to my story.</p>
<p>One evening, exactly a week after Glenbarth's
arrival in Venice, I was dressing for dinner
when a letter was brought to me. Much to my
surprise I found it was from Nikola, and in it he
inquired whether it would be possible for me to
spare the time to come and see him that evening.
It appeared that he was anxious to discuss a
certain important matter with me. I noticed,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</SPAN></span>
however, that he did not mention what that
matter was. In a postscript he asked me, as a
favour to himself, to come alone.</p>
<p>Having read the letter I stood for a few
moments with it in my hand, wondering what I
should do. I was not altogether anxious to go
out that evening; on the other hand I had a
strange craving to see Nikola once more. The
suggestion that he desired to consult me upon a
matter of importance flattered my vanity, particularly
as it was of such a nature that he did not
desire the presence of a third person. "Yes," I
thought, "after all I will go." Accordingly I
wrote a note to him saying that, if the hour
would suit him, I hoped to be with him at half-past
nine o'clock. Then I continued my dressing
and presently went down to dinner.</p>
<p>During the progress of the meal I mentioned
the fact that I had received the letter in question,
and asked my friends if they would excuse me
if I went round in the course of the evening to
find out what it was that Nikola had to say to
me. Perhaps by virtue of my early training,
perhaps by natural instinct, I am a keen observer
of trifles. On this occasion I noticed that from
the moment I mentioned the fact of my having
received a letter from Nikola, Miss Trevor ate
scarcely any more dinner. Upon my mentioning
his name she had looked at me with a startled<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</SPAN></span>
expression upon her face. She said nothing,
however, but I observed that her left hand, which
she had a trick of keeping below the table as
much as possible, was for some moments busily
engaged in picking pieces from the roll beside
her plate. For some reason she had suddenly
grown nervous again, but why she should have
done so passes my comprehension. When the
ladies had retired, and we were sitting together
over our wine, Glenbarth returned to the subject
of my visit that evening.</p>
<p>"By Jove, my dear fellow," he said, "I don't
envy you your excursion to that house. Don't
you feel a bit nervous about it yourself?"</p>
<p>I shook my head.</p>
<p>"Why should I?" I asked. "If the truth
must be told I am a good deal more afraid of
Nikola than I am of his house. I don't fancy
on the present occasion, however, I have any
reason to dread either."</p>
<p>"Well," said the Duke with a laugh, "if you
are not home by breakfast-time to-morrow
morning I shall bring the police round, and look
down that trap-door. You'll take a revolver
with you of course?"</p>
<p>"I shall do nothing of the kind," I replied.
"I am quite able to take care of myself without
having recourse to fire-arms."</p>
<p>Nevertheless, when I went up to my room to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</SPAN></span>
change my coat, prior to leaving the house, I
took a small revolver from my dressing-case and
weighed it in my hand. "Shall I take it or
shall I not?" was the question I asked myself.
Eventually I shook my head and replaced it in
its hiding-place. Then, switching off the electric
light, I made for the door, only to return, re-open
the dressing-case, and take out the revolver.
Without further argument I slipped it into the
pocket of my coat and then left the room.</p>
<p>A quarter of an hour later my gondolier had
turned into the Rio del Consiglio, and was approaching
the Palace Revecce. The house was in
deep shadow, and looked very dark and lonesome.
The gondolier seemed to be of the same opinion,
for he was anxious to set me down, to collect his
fare, and to get away again as soon as possible.
Standing in the porch I rang the great bell which
Nikola had pointed out to me, and which we had
not observed on the morning of our first visit.
It clanged and echoed somewhere in the rearmost
portion of the house, intensifying the loneliness
of the situation and adding a new element of
mystery to that abominable dwelling. In spite
of my boast to Glenbarth I was not altogether
at my ease. It was one thing to pretend that I
had no objection to the place when I was seated
in a well-lighted room, with a glass of port at
my hand, and a stalwart friend opposite; it was<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</SPAN></span>
quite another, however, to be standing in the
dark at that ancient portal, with the black water
of the canal at my feet and the anticipation of
that sombre room ahead. Then I heard the
sound of footsteps crossing the courtyard, and a
moment later Nikola himself stood before me and
invited me to enter. A solitary lamp had been
placed upon the coping of the wall, and its fitful
light illuminated the courtyard, throwing long
shadows across the pavement and making it look
even drearier and more unwholesome than when
I had last seen it. After we had shaken hands
we made our way in silence up the great staircase,
our steps echoing along the stone corridors with
startling reverberations. How thankful I was
at last to reach the warm, well-lit room, despite
the story Nikola had told us about it, I must
leave you to imagine.</p>
<p>"Please sit down," said Nikola, pushing a
chair forward for my occupation. "It is exceedingly
kind of you to have complied with my
request. I trust Lady Hatteras and Miss Trevor
are well?"</p>
<p>"Thank you, they are both well," I replied.
"They both begged to be remembered to you."</p>
<p>Nikola bowed his thanks, and then, when he
had placed a box of excellent cigars at my elbow,
prepared and lighted a cigarette for himself.
All this time I was occupying myself wondering<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</SPAN></span>
why he had asked me to come to him that
evening, and what the upshot of the interview
was to be. Knowing him as I did, I was aware
that his actions were never motiveless. Everything
he did was to be accounted for by some
very good reason. After he had tendered his
thanks to me for coming to see him, he was
silent for some minutes, for so long indeed that
I began to wonder whether he had forgotten my
presence. In order to attract his attention I
commented upon the fact that we had not seen
him for more than a week.</p>
<p>"I have been away," he answered, with what
was plainly an attempt to pull himself together.
"Business of a most important nature called me
to the south of Italy, to Naples in fact, and I
only returned this morning."</p>
<p>Once more he was silent. Then leaning
towards me and speaking with even greater
impressiveness than he had yet done, he continued—</p>
<p>"Hatteras, I am going to ask you a question,
and then, with your permission, I should like to
tell you a story."</p>
<p>Not knowing what else to do I simply bowed.
I was more than ever convinced that Nikola was
going to make use of me.</p>
<p>"Have you ever wondered," he began, still
looking me straight in the face, and speaking<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</SPAN></span>
with great earnestness, "what it was first made
me the man I am?"</p>
<p>I replied to the effect that I had often
wondered, but naturally had never been able to
come to a satisfactory conclusion.</p>
<p>"Some day you shall know the history of my
life," he answered. "But not just yet. There
is much to be done before then. And now I am
going to give you the story I promised you.
You will see why I have told it to you when I
have finished."</p>
<p>He rose from his chair and began to pace the
room. I had never seen Nikola so agitated
before. When he turned and faced me again
his eyes shone like diamonds, while his body
quivered with suppressed excitement.</p>
<p>"Hatteras," he went on, when he had somewhat
mastered his emotion, "I doubt very much
if ever in this world's history there has been a
man who has suffered more than I have done.
As I said just now, the whole story I cannot tell
you at present. Some day it will come in its
proper place and you will know everything. In
the meantime——"</p>
<p>He paused for a few moments and then
continued abruptly—</p>
<p>"The story concerns a woman, a native of
this city; the last of an impoverished, but
ancient family. She married a man many years<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</SPAN></span>
her senior, whom she did not love. When they
had been married just over four years her
husband died, leaving her with one child to
fight the battles of the world alone. The
boy was nearly three years old, a sturdy, clever
little urchin, who, up to that time, had never
known the meaning of the word trouble. Then
there came to Venice a man, a Spaniard, as
handsome as a serpent, and as cruel. After a
while he made the woman believe that he loved
her. She returned his affection, and in due time
they were married. A month later he was
appointed Governor of one of the Spanish
islands off the American coast—a post he had
long been eager to obtain. When he departed
to take up his position it was arranged that,
as soon as all was prepared, the woman and
her child should follow him. They did so,
and at length reached the island and took up
their abode, not at the palace, as the woman
had expected, but in the native city. For the
Governor feared, or pretended to fear, that, as
his marriage had not been made public at first,
it might compromise his position. The woman,
however, who loved him, was content, for her
one thought was to promote his happiness. At
first the man made believe to be overjoyed at
having her with him once again, then, little by
little, he showed that he was tired of her.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</SPAN></span>
Another woman had attracted his fancy, and he
had transferred his affections to her. The other
heard of it. Her southern blood was roused, for
though she had been poor, she was, as I have
said, the descendant of one of the oldest Venetian
families. As his wife she endeavoured to defend
herself, then came the crushing blow, delivered
with all the brutality of a savage nature.</p>
<p>"'You are not my wife,' he said. 'I had
already a wife living when I married you.'</p>
<p>"She left him without another word and went
away to hide her shame. Six months later the
fever took her and she died. Thus the boy was
left, at five years old, without a friend or
protector in the world. Happily, however, a
humble couple took compassion on him, and,
after a time, determined to bring him up as their
own. The old man was a great scholar, and had
devoted all his life to the exhaustive study of
the occult sciences. To educate the boy, when
he grew old enough to understand, was his one
delight. He was never weary of teaching him,
nor did the boy ever tire of learning. It was a
mutual labour of love. Seven years later saw
both the lad's benefactors at rest in the little
churchyard beneath the palms, and the boy
himself homeless once more. But he was not
destined to remain so for very long; the priest,
who had buried his adopted parents, spoke to the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</SPAN></span>
Governor, little dreaming what he was doing,
of the boy's pitiable condition. It was as if the
devil had prompted him, for the Spaniard was
anxious to find a playfellow for his son, a lad
two years the other's junior. It struck him that
the waif would fill the position admirably. He
was accordingly deported to the palace to enter
upon the most miserable period of his life. His
likeness to his mother was unmistakable, and
when he noticed it, the Governor, who had learned
the secret, hated him for it, as only those hate
who are conscious of their wrong-doing. From
that moment his cruelty knew no bounds. The
boy was powerless to defend himself. All
that he could do was to loathe his oppressor
with all the intensity of his fiery nature, and to
pray that the day might come when he should
be able to repay. To his own son the Governor
was passionately attached. In his eyes the latter
could do no wrong. For any of his misdeeds it
was the stranger who bore the punishment. On
the least excuse he was stripped and beaten like a
slave. The Governor's son, knowing his power,
and the other's inordinate sensitiveness, derived
his chief pleasure in inventing new cruelties for
him. To describe all that followed would be
impossible. When nothing else would rouse him,
it was easy to bring him to an ungovernable
pitch of fury by insulting his mother's name, with<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</SPAN></span>
whose history the servants had, by this time, made
their master's son acquainted. Once, driven into
a paroxysm of fury by the other's insults, the
lad picked up a knife and rushed at his tormentor
with the intention of stabbing him. His attempt,
however, failed, and the boy, foaming at the
mouth, was carried before the Governor. I will
spare you a description of the punishment that
was meted out for his offence. Let it suffice that
there are times even now, when the mere thought
of it is sufficient to bring—but there—why should
I continue in this strain? All that I am telling
you happened many years ago, but the memory
remains clear and distinct, while the desire for
vengeance is as keen as if it had happened but
yesterday. What is more, the end is coming,
as surely as the lad once hoped and prophesied
it would."</p>
<p>Nikola paused for a moment and sank into his
chair. I had never seen him so affected. His
face was deathly pale, while his eyes blazed like
living coals.</p>
<p>"What became of the boy at last?" I inquired,
knowing all the while that he had been speaking
of himself.</p>
<p>"He escaped from the island, and went out
into the world. The Governor is dead; he
has gone to meet the woman, or women, he has
so cruelly wronged. His son has climbed the<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</SPAN></span>
ladder of Fame, but he has never lost, as his
record shows, the cruel heart he possessed as a
boy. Do you remember the story of the Revolution
in the Republic of Equinata?"</p>
<p>I shook my head.</p>
<p>"The Republics of South America indulge
so constantly in their little amusements that it
is difficult for an outsider to remember every
particular one," I answered.</p>
<p>"Well, let me tell you about it. When the
Republic of Equinata suffered from its first
Revolution, this man was its President. But for
his tyranny and injustice it would not have taken
place. He it was who, finding that the Rebellion
was spreading, captured a certain town,
and bade the eldest son of each of the influential
families wait upon him at his headquarters on
the morning following its capitulation. His
excuse was that he desired them as hostages for
their parents' good behaviour. As it was, however,
to wreak his vengeance on the city, which
had opposed him, instead of siding with him,
he placed them against a wall and shot them
down by the half-dozen. But he was not
destined to succeed. Gradually he was driven
back upon his Capital, his troops deserting day
by day. Then, one night he boarded a ship
that was waiting for him in the harbour, and
from that moment Equinata saw him no more.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</SPAN></span>
It was not until some days afterwards that it
was discovered that he had despatched vast
sums of money, which he had misappropriated,
out of the country, ahead of him. Where he is
now hiding I am the only man who knows. I
have tracked him to his lair, and I am waiting—waiting—waiting—for
the moment to arrive
when the innocent blood that has so long cried
to Heaven will be avenged. Let him look to
himself when that day arrives. For as there is
a God above us, he will be punished as man was
never punished before."</p>
<p>The expression upon his face as he said this was
little short of devilish; the ghastly pallor of his
skin, the dark, glittering eyes, and his jet-black
hair made up a picture that will never fade from
my memory.</p>
<p>"God help his enemy if they should meet,"
I said to myself. Then his mood suddenly
changed, and he was once more the quiet, suave
Nikola to whom I had become accustomed.
Every sign of passion had vanished from his
face. A transformation more complete could
scarcely have been imagined.</p>
<p>"My dear fellow," he said, without a trace of
emotion in his voice, "you must really forgive me
for having bored you with my long story. I
cannot think what made me do so, unless it is
that I have been brooding over it all day, and<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</SPAN></span>
felt the need of a confidant. You will make an
allowance for me, will you not?"</p>
<p>"Most willingly," I answered. "If the story
you have told me concerns yourself, you have
my most heartfelt sympathy. You have suffered
indeed."</p>
<p>He stopped for a moment in his restless walk
up and down the room, and eyed me carefully
as if he were trying to read my thoughts.</p>
<p>"Suffered?" he said at last, and then paused.
"Yes, I have suffered—but others have suffered
more. But do not let us talk of it. I was
foolish to have touched upon it, for I know by
experience the effect it produces upon me."</p>
<p>As he spoke he crossed to the window, which
he threw open. It was a glorious night, and
the sound of women's voices singing reached
us from the Grand Canal. On the other
side of the watery highway the houses looked
strangely mysterious in the weird light. At that
moment I felt more drawn towards Nikola than
I had ever done before. The man's loneliness,
his sufferings, had a note of singular pathos for
me. I forgot the injuries he had done me, and
before I knew what I was doing, I had placed
my hand upon his shoulder.</p>
<p>"Nikola," I said, "if I were to try I could not
make you understand how truly sorry I am for
you. The life you lead is so unlike that of any<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</SPAN></span>
other man. You see only the worst side of
Human Nature. Why not leave this terrible
gloom? Give up these experiments upon which
you are always engaged, and live only in
the pure air of the commonplace every-day
world. Your very surroundings—this house, for
instance—are not like those of other men. Believe
me, there are other things worth living for
besides the Science which binds you in its chains.
If you could learn to love a good woman——"</p>
<p>"My dear Hatteras," he put in, more softly
than I had ever heard him speak, "woman's love
is not for me. As you say, I am lonely in the
world, God knows how lonely, yet lonely I must
be content to remain." Then leaning his hands
upon the window-sill, he looked out upon the
silent night, and I heard him mutter to
himself, "Yes, lonely to the End." After that
he closed the window abruptly, and turning to
me, asked how long we contemplated remaining
in Venice.</p>
<p>"I cannot say yet," I answered, "the change
is doing my wife so much good that I am
anxious to prolong our stay. At first we thought
of going to the South of France, but that idea
has been abandoned, and we may be here another
month."</p>
<p>"A month," he said to himself, as if he were
reflecting upon something; then he added some<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</SPAN></span>what
inconsequently, "You should be able to see
a great deal of Venice in a month."</p>
<p>"And how long will you be here?" I asked.</p>
<p>He shook his head.</p>
<p>"It is impossible to say," he answered. "I
never know my own mind for two days together.
I may be here another week, or I may be here
a year. Somehow, I have a conviction, I cannot
say why, that this will prove to be my last visit
to Venice. I should be sorry never to see it
again, yet what must be, must. Destiny will
have its way, whatever we may say or do to the
contrary."</p>
<p>At that moment there was the sound of a
bell clanging in the courtyard below. At such
an hour it had an awe-inspiring sound, and I
know that I shuddered as I heard it.</p>
<p>"Who can it be?" said Nikola, turning towards
the door. "This is somewhat late for calling
hours. Will you excuse me if I go down and
find out the meaning of it?"</p>
<p>"Do so, by all means," I answered. "I think
I must be going also. It is getting late."</p>
<p>"No, no," he said, "stay a little longer. If
it is as I suspect, I fancy I shall be able to show
you something that may interest you. Endeavour
to make yourself comfortable until I return. I
shall not be away many minutes."</p>
<p>So saying, he left me, closing the door behind<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</SPAN></span>
him. When I was alone, I lit a cigar and
strolled to the window, which I opened. My
worst enemy could not call me a coward, but I
must confess that I derived no pleasure from
being in that room alone. The memory of what
lay under that oriental rug was vividly impressed
upon my memory. In my mind I could smell
the vaults below, and it would have required
only a very small stretch of the imagination to
have fancied I could hear the groans of the
dying man proceeding from it. Then a feeling
of curiosity came over me to see who Nikola's
visitor was. By leaning well out of the window,
I could look down on the great door below.
At the foot of the steps a gondola was drawn
up, but I was unable to see whether there
was any one in it or not. Who was Nikola's
mysterious caller, and what made him come
at such an hour? Knowing the superstitious
horror in which the house was held by the populace
of Venice, I felt that whoever he was, he
must have had an imperative reason for his visit.
I was still turning the subject over in my mind,
when the door opened and Nikola entered,
followed by two men. One was tall and swarthy,
wore a short black beard, and had a crafty
expression upon his face. The other was about
middle height, very broad, and was the possessor
of a bullet-head covered with close-cropped hair.<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</SPAN></span>
Both were of the lower class, and their nationality
was unmistakable. Turning to me, Nikola said
in English—</p>
<p>"It is as I expected. Now, if you care to
study character, here is your opportunity. The
taller man is a Police Agent, the other the chief
of a notorious Secret Society. I should first
explain that within the last two or three days
I have been helping a young Italian of rather
advanced views, not to put too fine a point upon
it, to leave the country for America. This
dog has dared to try to upset my plans.
Immediately I heard of it I sent word to him,
by means of our friend here, that he was to
present himself here before twelve o'clock to-night
without fail. From his action it would appear
that he is more frightened of me than he is of the
Secret Society. That is as it should be; for I
intend to teach him a little lesson which will prevent
him from interfering with my plans in the
future. You were talking of my science just
now, and advising me to abandon it. Could the
life you offer me give me the power I possess
now? Could the respectability of Clapham
recompense me for the knowledge with which
the East can furnish me?"</p>
<p>Then turning to the Police Agent he addressed
him in Italian, speaking so fast that it was
impossible for me to follow him. From what<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</SPAN></span>
little I could make out, however, I gathered
that he was rating him for daring to interfere
with his concerns. When, at the end of three
or four minutes, he paused and spoke more
slowly, this was the gist of his speech—</p>
<p>"You know me and the power I control.
You are aware that those who thwart me, or
who interfere with me and my concerns, do so
at their own risk. Since no harm has come of
it, thanks to certain good friends, I will forgive
on this occasion, but let it happen again and
this is what your end will be."</p>
<div class="figcenter"><SPAN name="i003" name="i003"></SPAN> <ANTIMG src="images/i003.jpg" alt="i003" /> <p class="caption">"Presently a picture shaped itself in the cloud."</p> </div>
<p>As he spoke he took from his pocket a small
glass bottle with a gold top, not unlike a
vinaigrette, and emptied some of the white
powder it contained into the palm of his hand.
Turning down the lamp he dropped this into
the chimney. A green flame shot up for a
moment, which was succeeded by a cloud of
perfumed smoke that filled the room so completely
that for a moment it was impossible for
us to see each other. Presently a picture shaped
itself in the cloud and held my attention spell-bound.
Little by little it developed until I was
able to make out a room, or rather I should say
a vault, in which upwards of a dozen men were
seated at a long table. They were all masked,
and without exception were clad in long monkish
robes with cowls of black cloth. Presently a<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</SPAN></span>
sign was made by the man at the head of the
table, an individual with a venerable grey beard,
and two more black figures entered, who led a
man between them. Their prisoner was none other
than the Police Agent whom Nikola had warned.
He looked thinner, however, and was evidently
much frightened by his position. Once more
the man at the head of the table raised his hand,
and there entered at the other side an old man,
with white hair and a long beard of the same
colour. Unlike the others he wore no cowl,
nor was he masked. From his gestures I could
see that he was addressing those seated at
the table, and, as he pointed to the prisoner,
a look of undying hatred spread over his face.
Then the man at the head of the table rose,
and though I could hear nothing of what he
said, I gathered that he was addressing his
brethren concerning the case. When he had
finished, and each of the assembly had voted by
holding up his hand, he turned to the prisoner.
As he did so the scene vanished instantly and
another took its place.</p>
<p>It was a small room that I looked upon now,
furnished only with a bed, a table, and a chair.
At the door was a man who had figured as a
prisoner in the previous picture, but now sadly
changed. He seemed to have shrunk to half his
former size, his face was pinched by starvation,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</SPAN></span>
his eyes were sunken, but there was an even
greater look of terror in them than had been
there before. Opening the door of the room
he listened, and then shut and locked it again.
It was as if he were afraid to go out, and yet
knew that if he remained where he was, he must
perish of starvation. Gradually the room began
to grow dark, and the terrified wretch paced
restlessly up and down, listening at the door
every now and then. Once more the picture
vanished as its companion had done, and a third
took its place. This proved to be a narrow
street-scene by moonlight. On either side the
houses towered up towards the sky, and since
there was no one about, it was plain that the
night was far advanced. Presently, creeping
along in the shadow, on the left-hand side,
searching among the refuse and garbage of the
street for food, came the man I had seen afraid
to leave his attic. Times out of number
he looked swiftly behind him, as if he thought
it possible that he might be followed. He was
but little more than half-way up the street, and
was stooping to pick up something, when two
dark figures emerged from a passage on the left,
and swiftly approached him. Before he had
time to defend himself, they were upon him,
and a moment later he was lying stretched out
upon his back in the middle of the street, a dead<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</SPAN></span>
man. The moon shone down full and clear
upon his face, the memory of which makes me
shudder even now. Then the picture faded away
and the room was light once more. Instinctively
I looked at the Police Agent. His usually
swarthy face was deathly pale, and from the
great beads of perspiration that stood upon his
forehead, I gathered that he had seen the
picture too.</p>
<p>"Now," said Nikola, addressing him, "you
have seen what is in store for you if you persist
in pitting yourself against me. You recognized
that grey-haired man, who had appealed to the
Council against you. Then, rest assured of
this! So surely as you continue your present
conduct, so surely will the doom I have just
revealed to you overtake you. Now go, and
remember what I have said."</p>
<p>Turning to the smaller man, Nikola placed his
hand in a kindly fashion upon his shoulder.</p>
<p>"You have done well, Tomasso," he said, "and
I am pleased with you. Drop our friend here
at the usual place, and see that some one keeps
an eye on him. I don't think, however, he will
dare to offend again."</p>
<p>On hearing this, the two men left the room and
descended to the courtyard together, and I could
easily imagine with what delight one of them
would leave the house. When they had gone,<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</SPAN></span>
Nikola, who was standing at the window, turned
to me, saying—</p>
<p>"What do you think of my conjuring?"</p>
<p>I knew not what answer to make that would
satisfy him. The whole thing seemed so impossible
that, had it not been for the pungent odour
that still lingered in the room, I could have
believed I had fallen asleep and dreamed it
all.</p>
<p>"You can give me no explanation, then?"
said Nikola, with one of his inscrutable smiles.
"And yet, having accumulated this power, this
knowledge, call it what you will, you would still
bid me give up Science. Come, my friend, you
have seen something of what I can do; would
you be brave enough to try, with my help, to
look into what is called The Great Unknown,
and see what the Future has in store for you?
I fancy it could be done. Are you to be
tempted to see your own end?"</p>
<p>"No, no," I cried, "I will have nothing to do
with such an unholy thing. Good heavens, man!
from that moment life would be unendurable!"</p>
<p>"You think so, do you?" he said slowly, still
keeping his eyes fixed on me. "And yet I have
tried it myself."</p>
<p>"My God, Nikola!" I answered in amazement,
for I knew him well enough to feel sure
that he was not talking idly, "you don't mean<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</SPAN></span>
to tell me that you know what your own end is
going to be?"</p>
<p>"Exactly," he answered. "I have seen it all.
It is not pleasant; but I think I may say without
vanity that it will be an end worthy of
myself."</p>
<p>"But now that you know it, can you not
avert it?"</p>
<p>"Nothing can be averted," he answered
solemnly. "As I said before these men entered,
what must be, must. What does Schiller
say? '<i>Noch niemand entfloh dem verhangten
Geschick.</i>'"</p>
<p>"And you were brave enough to look?"</p>
<p>"Does it require so much bravery, do you
think? Believe me, there are things which
require more."</p>
<p>"What do you mean?"</p>
<p>"Ah! I cannot tell you now," he answered,
shaking his head. "Some day you will know."</p>
<p>Then there was a silence for a few seconds,
during which we both stood looking down at the
moonlit water below. At last, having consulted
my watch and seeing how late it was, I told him
that it was time for me to bid him good-night.</p>
<p>"I am very grateful to you for coming, Hatteras,"
he said. "It has cheered me up. It does me good
to see you. Through you I get a whiff of that
other life of which you spoke a while back. I<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</SPAN></span>
want to make you like me, and I fancy I am
succeeding."</p>
<p>Then we left the room together, and went
down the stairs to the courtyard below. Side
by side we stood upon the steps waiting for a
gondola to put in an appearance. It was some
time before one came in sight, but when it did
so I hailed it, and then shook Nikola by the
hand and bade him good-night.</p>
<p>"Good-night," he answered. "Pray remember
me kindly to Lady Hatteras and to—Miss
Trevor."</p>
<p>The little pause before Miss Trevor's name
caused me to look at him in some surprise. He
noticed it and spoke at once.</p>
<p>"You may think it strange of me to say so,"
he said, "but I cannot help feeling interested in
that young lady. Impossible though it may
seem, I have a well-founded conviction that in
some way her star is destined to cross mine, and
before very long. I have only seen her twice in
my life in the flesh; but many years ago her
presence on the earth was revealed to me, and
I was warned that some day we should meet.
What that meeting will mean to me it is impossible
to say, but in its own good time Fate will
doubtless tell me. And now, once more, good-night."</p>
<p>"Good-night," I answered mechanically, for I<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</SPAN></span>
was too much surprised by his words to think
what I was saying. Then I entered the gondola
and bade the man take me back to my
hotel.</p>
<p>"Surely Nikola has taken leave of his senses,"
I said to myself as I was rowed along. "Gertrude
Trevor was the very last person in the world
that I should have expected Nikola to make such
a statement about."</p>
<p>At this point, however, I remembered how
curiously she had been affected by their first
meeting, and my mind began to be troubled
concerning her.</p>
<p>"Let us hope and pray that Nikola doesn't
take it into his head to imagine himself in love
with her," I continued to myself. "If he were
to do so I scarcely know what the consequences
would be."</p>
<p>Then, with a touch of the absurd, I wondered
what her father, the eminently respected dean,
would say to having Nikola for a son-in-law.
By the time I had reached this point in my
reverie the gondola had drawn up at the steps
of the hotel.</p>
<p>My wife and Miss Trevor had gone to bed, but
Glenbarth was sitting up for me.</p>
<p>"Well, you have paid him a long visit, in all
conscience," he said a little reproachfully. Then
he added, with what was intended to be a touch<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</SPAN></span>
of sarcasm, "I hope you have spent a pleasant
evening?"</p>
<p>"I am not quite so certain about that," I
replied.</p>
<p>"Indeed. Then what have you discovered?"</p>
<p>"One thing of importance," I answered;
"that Nikola grows more and more inscrutable
every day."<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</SPAN></span></p>
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