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shelter of a coffee…shop。
It was on the stroke of noon when he awoke。 Dismally
searching in his pockets； he found himself reduced to half…a…
crown； and when he had paid the price of his distasteful
couch； saw himself obliged to return to the Superfluous
Mansion。 He sneaked into the hall and stole on tiptoe to the
cupboard where he kept his money。 Yet half a minute； he told
himself； and he would be free for days from his obseding
lodger； and might decide at leisure on the course he should
pursue。 But fate had otherwise designed： there came a tap
at the door and Zero entered。
'Have I caught you？' he cried； with innocent gaiety。 'Dear
fellow； I was growing quite impatient。' And on the speaker's
somewhat stolid face； there came a glow of genuine affection。
'I am so long unused to have a friend；' he continued； 'that I
begin to be afraid I may prove jealous。' And he wrung the
hand of his landlord。
Somerset was； of all men； least fit to deal with such a
greeting。 To reject these kind advances was beyond his
strength。 That he could not return cordiality for
cordiality； was already almost more than he could carry。
That inequality between kind sentiments which； to generous
characters； will always seem to be a sort of guilt； oppressed
him to the ground； and he stammered vague and lying words。
'That is all right；' cried Zero … 'that is as it should be …
say no more！ I had a vague alarm； I feared you had deserted
me； but I now own that fear to have been unworthy； and
apologise。 To doubt of your forgiveness were to repeat my
sin。 Come； then； dinner waits； join me again and tell me
your adventures of the night。'
Kindness still sealed the lips of Somerset； and he suffered
himself once more to be set down to table with his innocent
and criminal acquaintance。 Once more； the plotter plunged up
to the neck in damaging disclosures： now it would be the
name and biography of an individual； now the address of some
important centre； that rose； as if by accident； upon his
lips； and each word was like another turn of the thumbscrew
to his unhappy guest。 Finally； the course of Zero's bland
monologue led him to the young lady of two days ago： that
young lady； who had flashed on Somerset for so brief a while
but with so conquering a charm； and whose engaging grace；
communicative eyes； and admirable conduct of the sweeping
skirt； remained imprinted on his memory。
'You saw her？' said Zero。 'Beautiful； is she not？ She； too；
is one of ours： a true enthusiast： nervous； perhaps； in
presence of the chemicals； but in matters of intrigue； the
very soul of skill and daring。 Lake； Fonblanque； de Marly；
Valdevia； such are some of the names that she employs； her
true name … but there； perhaps； I go too far。 Suffice it；
that it is to her I owe my present lodging； and； dear
Somerset； the pleasure of your acquaintance。 It appears she
knew the house。 You see dear fellow； I make no concealment：
all that you can care to hear； I tell you openly。'
'For God's sake；' cried the wretched Somerset； 'hold your
tongue！ You cannot imagine how you torture me！'
A shade of serious discomposure crossed the open countenance
of Zero。
'There are times；' he said； 'when I begin to fancy that you
do not like me。 Why； why； dear Somerset； this lack of
cordiality？ I am depressed； the touchstone of my life draws
near； and if I fail' … he gloomily nodded … 'from all the
height of my ambitious schemes； I fall； dear boy； into
contempt。 These are grave thoughts； and you may judge my
need of your delightful company。 Innocent prattler； you
relieve the weight of my concerns。 And yet 。 。 。 and yet 。 。
。' The speaker pushed away his plate； and rose from table。
'Follow me；' said he； 'follow me。 My mood is on； I must have
air； I must behold the plain of battle。'
So saying； he led the way hurriedly to the top flat of the
mansion； and thence； by ladder and trap； to a certain leaded
platform； sheltered at one end by a great stalk of chimneys
and occupying the actual summit of the roof。 On both sides；
it bordered； without parapet or rail； on the incline of
slates； and； northward above all； commanded an extensive view
of housetops； and rising through the smoke； the distant
spires of churches。
'Here；' cried Zero； 'you behold this field of city； rich；
crowded； laughing with the spoil of continents； but soon； how
soon； to be laid low！ Some day； some night； from this coign
of vantage； you shall perhaps be startled by the detonation
of the judgment gun … not sharp and empty like the crack of
cannon； but deep…mouthed and unctuously solemn。 Instantly
thereafter； you shall behold the flames break forth。 Ay；' he
cried； stretching forth his hand； 'ay； that will be a day of
retribution。 Then shall the pallid constable flee side by
side with the detected thief。 Blaze！' he cried； 'blaze；
derided city！ Fall； flatulent monarchy； fall like Dagon！'
With these words his foot slipped upon the lead； and but for
Somerset's quickness； he had been instantly precipitated into
space。 Pale as a sheet； and limp as a pocket…handkerchief；
he was dragged from the edge of downfall by one arm； helped；
or rather carried； down the ladder； and deposited in safety
on the attic landing。 Here he began to come to himself；
wiped his brow； and at length； seizing Somerset's hand in
both of his； began to utter his acknowledgments。
'This seals it；' said he。 'Ours is a life and death
connection。 You have plucked me from the jaws of death； and
if I were before attracted by your character； judge now of
the ardour of my gratitude and love！ But I perceive I am
still greatly shaken。 Lend me； I beseech you； lend me your
arm as far as my apartment。'
A dram of spirits restored the plotter to something of his
customary self…possession； and he was standing； glass in hand
and genially convalescent； when his eye was attracted by the
dejection of the unfortunate young man。
'Good heavens； dear Somerset；' he cried； 'what ails you？ Let
me offer you a touch of spirits。'
But Somerset had fallen below the reach of this material
comfort。
'Let me be；' he said。 'I am lost； you have caught me in the
toils。 Up to this moment； I have lived all my life in the
most reckless manner； and done exactly what I pleased； with
the most perfect innocence。 And now … what am I？ Are you so
blind and wooden that you do not see the loathing you inspire
me with？ Is it possible you can suppose me willing to
continue to exist upon such terms？ To think；' he cried；
'that a young man； guilty of no fault on earth but
amiability； should find himself involved in such a damned
imbroglio！' And placing his knuckles in his eyes； Somerset
rolled upon the sofa。
'My God；' said Zero； 'is this possible？ And I so filled with
tenderness and interest！ Can it be； dear Somerset； that you
are under the empire of these out…worn scruples？ or that you
judge a patriot by the morality of the religious tract？ I
thought you were a good agnostic。'
'Mr。 Jones；' said Somerset； 'it is in vain to argue。 I boast