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expand and hover on his seat； and with a vague sense of
nightmare； the young man rose unsteadily to his feet； and；
refusing the proffer of a third grog； insisted that the hour
was late and he must positively get to bed。
'Dear me；' observed Zero； 'I find you very temperate。 But I
will not be oppressive。 Suffice it that we are now fast
friends； and； my dear landlord； AU REVOIR！'
So saying the plotter once more shook hands； and with the
politest ceremonies； and some necessary guidance； conducted
the bewildered young gentleman to the top of the stair。
Precisely； how he got to bed； was a point on which Somerset
remained in utter darkness； but the next morning when； at a
blow； he started broad awake； there fell upon his mind a
perfect hurricane of horror and wonder。 That he should have
suffered himself to be led into the semblance of intimacy
with such a man as his abominable lodger； appeared； in the
cold light of day； a mystery of human weakness。 True； he was
caught in a situation that might have tested the aplomb of
Talleyrand。 That was perhaps a palliation； but it was no
excuse。 For so wholesale a capitulation of principle； for
such a fall into criminal familiarity； no excuse indeed was
possible； nor any remedy； but to withdraw at once from the
relation。
As soon as he was dressed； he hurried upstairs； determined on
a rupture。 Zero hailed him with the warmth of an old friend。
'Come in；' he cried； 'dear Mr。 Somerset！ Come in； sit down；
and； without ceremony； join me at my morning meal。'
'Sir；' said Somerset； 'you must permit me first to disengage
my honour。 Last night； I was surprised into a certain
appearance of complicity； but once for all； let me inform you
that I regard you and your machinations with unmingled horror
and disgust； and I will leave no stone unturned to crush your
vile conspiracy。'
'My dear fellow；' replied Zero； with an air of some
complacency； 'I am well accustomed to these human weaknesses。
Disgust？ I have felt it myself； it speedily wears off。 I
think none the worse； I think the more of you； for this
engaging frankness。 And in the meanwhile； what are you to
do？ You find yourself； if I interpret rightly； in very much
the same situation as Charles the Second （possibly the least
degraded of your British sovereigns） when he was taken into
the confidence of the thief。 To denounce me； is out of the
question； and what else can you attempt？ No； dear Mr。
Somerset； your hands are tied； and you find yourself
condemned； under pain of behaving like a cad； to be that same
charming and intellectual companion who delighted me last
night。'
'At least；' cried Somerset； 'I can； and do； order you to
leave this house。'
'Ah！' cried the plotter； 'but there I fail to follow you。
You may； if you please； enact the part of Judas； but if； as I
suppose； you recoil from that extremity of meanness； I am； on
my side； far too intelligent to leave these lodgings； in
which I please myself exceedingly； and from which you lack
the power to drive me。 No； no； dear sir； here I am； and here
I propose to stay。'
'I repeat；' cried Somerset； beside himself with a sense of
his own weakness； 'I repeat that I give you warning。 I am
the master of this house； and I emphatically give you
warning。'
'A week's warning？' said the imperturbable conspirator。
'Very well： we will talk of it a week from now。 That is
arranged； and in the meanwhile； I observe my breakfast
growing cold。 Do； dear Mr。 Somerset； since you find yourself
condemned； for a week at least； to the society of a very
interesting character； display some of that open favour； some
of that interest in life's obscurer sides； which stamp the
character of the true artist。 Hang me； if you will； to…
morrow； but to…day show yourself divested of the scruples of
the burgess； and sit down pleasantly to share my meal。'
'Man！' cried Somerset； 'do you understand my sentiments？'
'Certainly；' replied Zero； 'and I respect them！ Would you be
outdone in such a contest？ will you alone be partial？ and in
this nineteenth century； cannot two gentlemen of education
agree to differ on a point of politics？ Come； sir： all your
hard words have left me smiling； judge then； which of us is
the philosopher！'
Somerset was a young man of a very tolerant disposition and
by nature easily amenable to sophistry。 He threw up his
hands with a gesture of despair； and took the seat to which
the conspirator invited him。 The meal was excellent； the
host not only affable； but primed with curious information。
He seemed； indeed； like one who had too long endured the
torture of silence； to exult in the most wholesale
disclosures。 The interest of what he had to tell was great；
his character； besides； developed step by step； and Somerset；
as the time fled； not only outgrew some of the discomfort of
his false position； but began to regard the conspirator with
a familiarity that verged upon contempt。 In any
circumstances； he had a singular inability to leave the
society in which he found himself； company； even if
distasteful； held him captive like a limed sparrow； and on
this occasion； he suffered hour to follow hour； was easily
persuaded to sit down once more to table； and did not even
attempt to withdraw till； on the approach of evening； Zero；
with many apologies； dismissed his guest。 His fellow…
conspirators； the dynamiter handsomely explained； as they
were unacquainted with the sterling qualities of the young
man； would be alarmed at the sight of a strange face。
As soon as he was alone； Somerset fell back upon the humour
of the morning。 He raged at the thought of his facility； he
paced the dining…room； forming the sternest resolutions for
the future； he wrung the hand which had been dishonoured by
the touch of an assassin； and among all these whirling
thoughts； there flashed in from time to time； and ever with a
chill of fear； the thought of the confounded ingredients with
which the house was stored。 A powder magazine seemed a
secure smoking…room alongside of the Superfluous Mansion。
He sought refuge in flight； in locomotion； in the flowing
bowl。 As long as the bars were open； he travelled from one
to another； seeking light； safety； and the companionship of
human faces； when these resources failed him； he fell back on
the belated baked…potato man； and at length； still pacing the
streets； he was goaded to fraternise with the police。 Alas；
with what a sense of guilt he conversed with these guardians
of the law； how gladly had he wept upon their ample bosoms；
and how the secret fluttered to his lips and was still denied
an exit！ Fatigue began at last to triumph over remorse； and
about the hour of the first milkman； he returned to the door
of the mansion； looked at it with a horrid expectation； as
though it should have burst that instant into flames； drew
out his key； and when his foot already rested on the steps；
once more lost heart and fled for repose to the grisly
shelter of a coffee…shop。
It was on the stroke of noon when he awoke。 Dismally
searching in h