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the doctrine of Free Will？ And are you devoid of any
tincture of philosophy； that you should harp on such exploded
fallacies？ Chance； the blind Madonna of the Pagan； rules
this terrestrial bustle； and in Chance I place my sole
reliance。 Chance has brought us three together； when we next
separate and go forth our several ways； Chance will
continually drag before our careless eyes a thousand eloquent
clues； not to this mystery only； but to the countless
mysteries by which we live surrounded。 Then comes the part
of the man of the world； of the detective born and bred。
This clue； which the whole town beholds without
comprehension； swift as a cat； he leaps upon it； makes it
his； follows it with craft and passion； and from one trifling
circumstance divines a world。'
'Just so；' said Challoner； 'and I am delighted that you
should recognise these virtues in yourself。 But in the
meanwhile； dear boy； I own myself incapable of joining。 I
was neither born nor bred as a detective； but as a placable
and very thirsty gentleman； and； for my part； I begin to
weary for a drink。 As for clues and adventures； the only
adventure that is ever likely to occur to me will be an
adventure with a bailiff。'
'Now there is the fallacy；' cried Somerset。 'There I catch
the secret of your futility in life。 The world teems and
bubbles with adventure； it besieges you along the street：
hands waving out of windows； swindlers coming up and swearing
they knew you when you were abroad； affable and doubtful
people of all sorts and conditions begging and truckling for
your notice。 But not you： you turn away； you walk your
seedy mill round； you must go the dullest way。 Now here； I
beg of you； the next adventure that offers itself； embrace it
in with both your arms； whatever it looks； grimy or romantic；
grasp it。 I will do the like； the devil is in it； but at
least we shall have fun； and each in turn we shall narrate
the story of our fortunes to my philosophic friend of the
divan； the great Godall； now hearing me with inward joy。
Come； is it a bargain？ Will you； indeed； both promise to
welcome every chance that offers； to plunge boldly into every
opening； and； keeping the eye wary and the head composed； to
study and piece together all that happens？ Come； promise：
let me open to you the doors of the great profession of
intrigue。'
'It is not much in my way；' said Challoner； 'but； since you
make a point of it； amen。'
'I don't mind promising；' said Desborough； 'but nothing will
happen to me。'
'O faithless ones！' cried Somerset。 'But at least I have
your promises； and Godall； I perceive； is transported with
delight。'
'I promise myself at least much pleasure from your various
narratives；' said the salesman； with the customary calm
polish of his manner。
'And now； gentlemen；' concluded Somerset； 'let us separate。
I hasten to put myself in fortune's way。 Hark how； in this
quiet corner； London roars like the noise of battle； four
million destinies are here concentred； and in the strong
panoply of one hundred pounds； payable to the bearer； I am
about to plunge into that web。'
CHALLONER'S ADVENTURE： THE SQUIRE OF DAMES
MR。 EDWARD CHALLONER had set up lodgings in the suburb of
Putney； where he enjoyed a parlour and bedroom and the
sincere esteem of the people of the house。 To this remote
home he found himself； at a very early hour in the morning of
the next day； condemned to set forth on foot。 He was a young
man of a portly habit； no lover of the exercises of the body；
bland； sedentary； patient of delay； a prop of omnibuses。 In
happier days he would have chartered a cab； but these
luxuries were now denied him； and with what courage he could
muster he addressed himself to walk。
It was then the height of the season and the summer； the
weather was serene and cloudless； and as he paced under the
blinded houses and along the vacant streets； the chill of the
dawn had fled； and some of the warmth and all the brightness
of the July day already shone upon the city。 He walked at
first in a profound abstraction； bitterly reviewing and
repenting his performances at whist； but as he advanced into
the labyrinth of the south…west； his ear was gradually
mastered by the silence。 Street after street looked down
upon his solitary figure； house after house echoed upon his
passage with a ghostly jar； shop after shop displayed its
shuttered front and its commercial legend； and meanwhile he
steered his course； under day's effulgent dome and through
this encampment of diurnal sleepers； lonely as a ship。
'Here；' he reflected； 'if I were like my scatter…brained
companion； here were indeed the scene where I might look for
an adventure。 Here； in broad day； the streets are secret as
in the blackest night of January； and in the midst of some
four million sleepers； solitary as the woods of Yucatan。 If
I but raise my voice I could summon up the number of an army；
and yet the grave is not more silent than this city of
sleep。'
He was still following these quaint and serious musings when
he came into a street of more mingled ingredients than was
common in the quarter。 Here； on the one hand； framed in
walls and the green tops of trees； were several of those
discreet； BIJOU residences on which propriety is apt to look
askance。 Here； too； were many of the brick…fronted barracks
of the poor； a plaster cow； perhaps； serving as ensign to a
dairy； or a ticket announcing the business of the mangler。
Before one such house； that stood a little separate among
walled gardens； a cat was playing with a straw； and Challoner
paused a moment； looking on this sleek and solitary creature；
who seemed an emblem of the neighbouring peace。 With the
cessation of the sound of his own steps the silence fell
dead； the house stood smokeless： the blinds down； the whole
machinery of life arrested； and it seemed to Challoner that
he should hear the breathing of the sleepers。
As he so stood； he was startled by a dull and jarring
detonation from within。 This was followed by a monstrous
hissing and simmering as from a kettle of the bigness of St。
Paul's； and at the same time from every chink of door and
window spirted an ill…smelling vapour。 The cat disappeared
with a cry。 Within the lodging…house feet pounded on the
stairs； the door flew back； emitting clouds of smoke； and two
men and an elegantly dressed young lady tumbled forth into
the street and fled without a word。 The hissing had already
ceased； the smoke was melting in the air； the whole event had
come and gone as in a dream； and still Challoner was rooted
to the spot。 At last his reason and his fear awoke together；
and with the most unwonted energy he fell to running。
Little by little this first dash relaxed； and presently he
had resumed his sober gait and begun to piece together； out
of the confused report of his senses； some theory of the
occurrence。 But the occasion of the sounds and stench that
had so suddenly assailed him； and the strange conjunction of
fugitives whom he had seen to is