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that fear had begun already to assail me； when I became
aware； all at once and as though by some immediate but silent
incandescence； of a certain glimmering of light upon the
passage floor。 Towards this I groped my way with infinite
precaution； and having come at length as far as the angle of
the corridor； beheld the door of the butler's pantry standing
just ajar and a narrow thread of brightness falling from the
chink。 Creeping still closer； I put my eye to the aperture。
The man sat within upon a chair； listening； I could see； with
the most rapt attention。 On a table before him he had laid a
watch； a pair of steel revolvers； and a bull's…eye lantern。
For one second many contradictory theories and projects
whirled together in my head； the next； I had slammed the door
and turned the key upon the malefactor。 Surprised at my own
decision； I stood and panted； leaning on the wall。 From
within the pantry not a sound was to be heard； the man；
whatever he was； had accepted his fate without a struggle；
and now； as I hugged myself to fancy； sat frozen with terror
and looking for the worst to follow。 I promised myself that
he should not be disappointed； and the better to complete my
task； I turned to ascend the stairs。
The situation； as I groped my way to the first floor；
appealed to me suddenly by my strong sense of humour。 Here
was I； the owner of the house； burglariously present in its
walls； and there； in the dining…room； were two gentlemen；
unknown to me； seated complacently at supper； and only saved
by my promptitude from some surprising or deadly
interruption。 It were strange if I could not manage to
extract the matter of amusement from so unusual a situation。
Behind this dining…room； there is a small apartment intended
for a library。 It was to this that I cautiously groped my
way； and you will see how fortune had exactly served me。 The
weather； I have said； was sultry； in order to ventilate the
dining…room and yet preserve the uninhabited appearance of
the mansion to the front； the window of the library had been
widely opened； and the door of communication between the two
apartments left ajar。 To this interval I now applied my eye。
Wax tapers； set in silver candlesticks； shed their chastened
brightness on the damask of the tablecloth and the remains of
a cold collation of the rarest delicacy。 The two gentlemen
had finished supper； and were now trifling with cigars and
maraschino； while in a silver spirit lamp； coffee of the most
captivating fragrance was preparing in the fashion of the
East。 The elder of the two； he who had first arrived； was
placed directly facing me； the other was set on his left
hand。 Both； like the man in the butler's pantry； seemed to
be intently listening； and on the face of the second I
thought I could perceive the marks of fear。 Oddly enough；
however； when they came to speak； the parts were found to be
reversed。
'I assure you；' said the elder gentleman； 'I not only heard
the slamming of a door； but the sound of very guarded
footsteps。'
'Your highness was certainly deceived；' replied the other。
'I am endowed with the acutest hearing； and I can swear that
not a mouse has rustled。' Yet the pallor and contraction of
his features were in total discord with the tenor of his
words。
His highness （whom； of course； I readily divined to be Prince
Florizel） looked at his companion for the least fraction of a
second； and though nothing shook the easy quiet of his
attitude； I could see that he was far from being duped。 'It
is well；' said he； 'let us dismiss the topic。 And now； sir；
that I have very freely explained the sentiments by which I
am directed； let me ask you； according to your promise； to
imitate my frankness。'
'I have heard you；' replied the other； 'with great interest。'
'With singular patience；' said the prince politely。
'Ay； your highness； and with unlooked…for sympathy；' returned
the young man。 'I know not how to tell the change that has
befallen me。 You have； I must suppose； a charm； to which
even your enemies are subject。' He looked at the clock on
the mantelpiece and visibly blanched。 'So late！' he cried。
'Your highness … God knows I am now speaking from the heart …
before it be too late； leave this house！'
The prince glanced once more at his companion； and then very
deliberately shook the ash from his cigar。 'That is a
strange remark；' said he； 'and A PROPOS DE BOTTES； I never
continue a cigar when once the ash is fallen； the spell
breaks； the soul of the flavour flies away； and there remains
but the dead body of tobacco； and I make it a rule to throw
away that husk and choose another。' He suited the action to
the words。
'Do not trifle with my appeal；' resumed the young man； in
tones that trembled with emotion。 'It is made at the price
of my honour and to the peril of my life。 Go … go now！ lose
not a moment； and if you have any kindness for a young man；
miserably deceived indeed； but not devoid of better
sentiments； look not behind you as you leave。'
'Sir；' said the prince； 'I am here upon your honour； assure
you upon mine that I shall continue to rely upon that
safeguard。 The coffee is ready； I must again trouble you； I
fear。' And with a courteous movement of the hand； he seemed
to invite his companion to pour out the coffee。
The unhappy young man rose from his seat。 'I appeal to you；'
he cried； 'by every holy sentiment； in mercy to me； if not in
pity to yourself； begone before it is too late。'
'Sir；' replied the prince； 'I am not readily accessible to
fear； and if there is one defect to which I must plead
guilty； it is that of a curious disposition。 You go the
wrong way about to make me leave this house； in which I play
the part of your entertainer； and； suffer me to add； young
man； if any peril threaten us； it was of your contriving； not
of mine。'
'Alas； you do not know to what you condemn me；' cried the
other。 'But I at least will have no hand in it。' With these
words he carried his hand to his pocket； hastily swallowed
the contents of a phial； and； with the very act； reeled back
and fell across his chair upon the floor。 The prince left
his place and came and stood above him； where he lay
convulsed upon the carpet。 'Poor moth！' I heard his highness
murmur。 'Alas； poor moth！ must we again inquire which is the
more fatal … weakness or wickedness？ And can a sympathy with
ideas； surely not ignoble in themselves； conduct a man to
this dishonourable death？'
By this time I had pushed the door open and walked into the
room。 'Your highness；' said I； 'this is no time for
moralising； with a little promptness we may save this
creature's life； and as for the other； he need cause you no
concern； for I have him safely under lock and key。'
The prince had turned about upon my entrance； and regarded me
certainly with no alarm； but with a profundity of wonder
which almost robbed me of my self…possession。 'My dear
madam；' he cried at last； 'and who the devil are you？'
I was already on the floor beside the dying man。 I