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the conscience； we have all harboured guilty thoughts： and
if it flashed into your mind to sell my flesh and blood； my
anguish in the dock； and the sweat of my death agony … it was
a thought； dear sir； you were as incapable of acting on； as I
of any further question of your honour。' At these words； the
speaker； with a very open； smiling countenance； like a
forgiving father； offered Somerset his hand。
It was not in the young man's nature to refuse forgiveness or
dissect generosity。 He instantly； and almost without
thought； accepted the proffered grasp。
'And now；' resumed the lodger； 'now that I hold in mine your
loyal hand； I lay by my apprehensions； I dismiss suspicion； I
go further … by an effort of will； I banish the memory of
what is past。 How you came here； I care not： enough that
you are here … as my guest。 Sit ye down； and let us； with
your good permission； improve acquaintance over a glass of
excellent whisky。'
So speaking； he produced glasses and a bottle： and the pair
pledged each other in silence。
'Confess；' observed the smiling host； 'you were surprised at
the appearance of the room。'
'I was indeed；' said Somerset； 'nor can I imagine the purpose
of these changes。'
'These；' replied the conspirator； 'are the devices by which I
continue to exist。 Conceive me now； accused before one of
your unjust tribunals； conceive the various witnesses
appearing； and the singular variety of their reports！ One
will have visited me in this drawing…room as it originally
stood； a second finds it as it is to…night； and to…morrow or
next day； all may have been changed。 If you love romance （as
artists do）； few lives are more romantic than that of the
obscure individual now addressing you。 Obscure yet famous。
Mine is an anonymous； infernal glory。 By infamous means； I
work towards my bright purpose。 I found the liberty and
peace of a poor country； desperately abused； the future
smiles upon that land； yet； in the meantime； I lead the
existence of a hunted brute； work towards appalling ends； and
practice hell's dexterities。'
Somerset； glass in hand； contemplated the strange fanatic
before him； and listened to his heated rhapsody； with
indescribable bewilderment。 He looked him in the face with
curious particularity； saw there the marks of education； and
wondered the more profoundly。
'Sir；' he said … 'for I know not whether I should still
address you as Mr。 Jones … '
'Jones； Breitman； Higginbotham； Pumpernickel； Daviot；
Henderland； by all or any of these you may address me；' said
the plotter； 'for all I have at some time borne。 Yet that
which I most prize； that which is most feared； hated； and
obeyed； is not a name to be found in your directories； it is
not a name current in post…offices or banks； and； indeed；
like the celebrated clan M'Gregor； I may justly describe
myself as being nameless by day。 But；' he continued； rising
to his feet； 'by night； and among my desperate followers； I
am the redoubted Zero。'
Somerset was unacquainted with the name； but he politely
expressed surprise and gratification。 'I am to understand；'
he continued； 'that； under this alias； you follow the
profession of a dynamiter？'
The plotter had resumed his seat and now replenished the
glasses。
'I do；' he said。 'In this dark period of time； a star … the
star of dynamite … has risen for the oppressed； and among
those who practise its use； so thick beset with dangers and
attended by such incredible difficulties and disappointments；
few have been more assiduous； and not many … ' He paused；
and a shade of embarrassment appeared upon his face … 'not
many have been more successful than myself。'
'I can imagine；' observed Somerset； 'that； from the sweeping
consequences looked for； the career is not devoid of
interest。 You have； besides； some of the entertainment of
the game of hide and seek。 But it would still seem to me … I
speak as a layman … that nothing could be simpler or safer
than to deposit an infernal machine and retire to an adjacent
county to await the painful consequences。'
'You speak； indeed；' returned the plotter； with some evidence
of warmth； 'you speak； indeed； most ignorantly。 Do you make
nothing； then； of such a peril as we share this moment？ Do
you think it nothing to occupy a house like this one； mined；
menaced； and； in a word； literally tottering to its fall？'
'Good God！' ejaculated Somerset。
'And when you speak of ease；' pursued Zero； 'in this age of
scientific studies； you fill me with surprise。 Are you not
aware that chemicals are proverbially fickle as woman； and
clockwork as capricious as the very devil？ Do you see upon
my brow these furrows of anxiety？ Do you observe the silver
threads that mingle with my hair？ Clockwork； clockwork has
stamped them on my brow … chemicals have sprinkled them upon
my locks！ No； Mr。 Somerset；' he resumed； after a moment's
pause； his voice still quivering with sensibility； 'you must
not suppose the dynamiter's life to be all gold。 On the
contrary； you cannot picture to yourself the bloodshot vigils
and the staggering disappointments of a life like mine。 I
have toiled （let us say） for months； up early and down late；
my bag is ready； my clock set； a daring agent has hurried
with white face to deposit the instrument of ruin； we await
the fall of England； the massacre of thousands； the yell of
fear and execration； and lo！ a snap like that of a child's
pistol； an offensive smell； and the entire loss of so much
time and plant！ If；' he concluded； musingly； 'we had been
merely able to recover the lost bags； I believe with but a
touch or two； I could have remedied the peccant engine。 But
what with the loss of plant and the almost insuperable
scientific difficulties of the task； our friends in France
are almost ready to desert the chosen medium。 They propose；
instead； to break up the drainage system of cities and sweep
off whole populations with the devastating typhoid
pestilence： a tempting and a scientific project： a process；
indiscriminate indeed； but of idyllical simplicity。 I
recognise its elegance； but； sir； I have something of the
poet in my nature； something； possibly； of the tribune。 And；
for my small part； I shall remain devoted to that more
emphatic； more striking； and （if you please） more popular
method； of the explosive bomb。 Yes；' he cried； with unshaken
hope； 'I will still continue； and； I feel it in my bosom； I
shall yet succeed。'
'Two things I remark；' said Somerset。 'The first somewhat
staggers me。 Have you； then … in all this course of life；
which you have sketched so vividly … have you not once
succeeded？'
'Pardon me；' said Zero。 'I have had one success。 You behold
in me the author of the outrage of Red Lion Court。'
'But if I remember right；' objected Somerset； 'the thing was
a FIASCO。 A scavenger's barrow and some copies of the WEEKLY
BUDGET … these were the only victims。'
'You will pardon me again；' returned Zero with positive
asperity： 'a child was injured。'
'And that fitly brings me to my second point；