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The Dynamiter
by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson
TO MESSRS。 COLE AND COX； POLICE OFFICERS
GENTLEMEN； … In the volume now in your hands； the authors
have touched upon that ugly devil of crime； with which it is
your glory to have contended。 It were a waste of ink to do
so in a serious spirit。 Let us dedicate our horror to acts
of a more mingled strain； where crime preserves some features
of nobility； and where reason and humanity can still relish
the temptation。 Horror； in this case； is due to Mr。 Parnell：
he sits before posterity silent； Mr。 Forster's appeal echoing
down the ages。 Horror is due to ourselves； in that we have
so long coquetted with political crime； not seriously
weighing； not acutely following it from cause to consequence；
but with a generous； unfounded heat of sentiment； like the
schoolboy with the penny tale； applauding what was specious。
When it touched ourselves （truly in a vile shape）； we proved
false to the imaginations； discovered； in a clap； that crime
was no less cruel and no less ugly under sounding names； and
recoiled from our false deities。
But seriousness comes most in place when we are to speak of
our defenders。 Whoever be in the right in this great and
confused war of politics； whatever elements of greed；
whatever traits of the bully； dishonour both parties in this
inhuman contest； … your side； your part； is at least pure of
doubt。 Yours is the side of the child； of the breeding
woman； of individual pity and public trust。 If our society
were the mere kingdom of the devil （as indeed it wears some
of his colours） it yet embraces many precious elements and
many innocent persons whom it is a glory to defend。 Courage
and devotion； so common in the ranks of the police； so little
recognised； so meagrely rewarded； have at length found their
commemoration in an historical act。 History； which will
represent Mr。 Parnell sitting silent under the appeal of Mr。
Forster； and Gordon setting forth upon his tragic enterprise；
will not forget Mr。 Cole carrying the dynamite in his
defenceless hands； nor Mr。 Cox coming coolly to his aid。
Robert Louis Stevenson
Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson
A NOTE FOR THE READER
IT is within the bounds of possibility that you may take up
this volume； and yet be unacquainted with its predecessor：
the first series of NEW ARABIAN NIGHTS。 The loss is yours …
and mine； or to be more exact； my publishers'。 But if you
are thus unlucky； the least I can do is to pass you a hint。
When you shall find a reference in the following pages to one
Theophilus Godall of the Bohemian Cigar Divan in Rupert
Street； Soho； you must be prepared to recognise； under his
features； no less a person than Prince Florizel of Bohemia；
formerly one of the magnates of Europe； now dethroned；
exiled； impoverished； and embarked in the tobacco trade。
R。 L。 S。
NEW ARABIAN NIGHTS
A SECOND SERIES
THE DYNAMITER
PROLOGUE OF THE CIGAR DIVAN
IN the city of encounters； the Bagdad of the West； and； to be
more precise； on the broad northern pavement of Leicester
Square； two young men of five… or six…and…twenty met after
years of separation。 The first； who was of a very smooth
address and clothed in the best fashion； hesitated to
recognise the pinched and shabby air of his companion。
'What！' he cried； 'Paul Somerset！'
'I am indeed Paul Somerset；' returned the other； 'or what
remains of him after a well…deserved experience of poverty
and law。 But in you； Challoner； I can perceive no change；
and time may be said； without hyperbole； to write no wrinkle
on your azure brow。'
'All；' replied Challoner； 'is not gold that glitters。 But we
are here in an ill posture for confidences； and interrupt the
movement of these ladies。 Let us； if you please； find a more
private corner。'
'If you will allow me to guide you；' replied Somerset； 'I
will offer you the best cigar in London。'
And taking the arm of his companion； he led him in silence
and at a brisk pace to the door of a quiet establishment in
Rupert Street； Soho。 The entrance was adorned with one of
those gigantic Highlanders of wood which have almost risen to
the standing of antiquities； and across the window…glass；
which sheltered the usual display of pipes； tobacco； and
cigars； there ran the gilded legend： 'Bohemian Cigar Divan；
by T。 Godall。' The interior of the shop was small； but
commodious and ornate； the salesman grave； smiling； and
urbane； and the two young men； each puffing a select regalia；
had soon taken their places on a sofa of mouse…coloured plush
and proceeded to exchange their stories。
'I am now；' said Somerset； 'a barrister； but Providence and
the attorneys have hitherto denied me the opportunity to
shine。 A select society at the Cheshire Cheese engaged my
evenings； my afternoons； as Mr。 Godall could testify； have
been generally passed in this divan； and my mornings； I have
taken the precaution to abbreviate by not rising before
twelve。 At this rate； my little patrimony was very rapidly；
and I am proud to remember； most agreeably expended。 Since
then a gentleman； who has really nothing else to recommend
him beyond the fact of being my maternal uncle； deals me the
small sum of ten shillings a week； and if you behold me once
more revisiting the glimpses of the street lamps in my
favourite quarter； you will readily divine that I have come
into a fortune。'
'I should not have supposed so；' replied Challoner。 'But
doubtless I met you on the way to your tailors。'
'It is a visit that I purpose to delay；' returned Somerset；
with a smile。 'My fortune has definite limits。 It consists；
or rather this morning it consisted； of one hundred pounds。'
'That is certainly odd；' said Challoner； 'yes； certainly the
coincidence is strange。 I am myself reduced to the same
margin。'
'You！' cried Somerset。 'And yet Solomon in all his glory … '
'Such is the fact。 I am； dear boy； on my last legs；' said
Challoner。 'Besides the clothes in which you see me； I have
scarcely a decent trouser in my wardrobe； and if I knew how；
I would this instant set about some sort of work or commerce。
With a hundred pounds for capital； a man should push his
way。'
'It may be；' returned Somerset； 'but what to do with mine is
more than I can fancy。 Mr。 Godall；' he added； addressing the
salesman； 'you are a man who knows the world： what can a
young fellow of reasonable education do with a hundred
pounds？'
'It depends；' replied the salesman； withdrawing his cheroot。
'The power of money is an article of faith in which I profess
myself a sceptic。 A hundred pounds will with difficulty
support you for a year； with somewhat more difficulty you may
spend it in a night； and without any difficulty at all you
may lose it in five minutes on the Stock Exchange。 If you
are of that stamp of man that rises； a penny would be as
useful； if you belong to those that fall； a penny would be no
more useless。 When I was myself thrown unexpectedly upon the
world； it was my fortu