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life； I should be haunted by quotations from works of an
inexact and even fanciful description； but here；' he added；
'is another： 〃Othello's occupation's gone。〃 Yes； dear
Somerset； it is gone； I am no more a dynamiter； and how； I
ask you； after having tasted of these joys； am I to
condescend to a less glorious life？'
'I cannot describe how you relieve me；' returned Somerset；
sitting down on one of several boxes that had been drawn out
into the middle of the floor。 'I had conceived a sort of
maudlin toleration for your character； I have a great
distaste； besides； for anything in the nature of a duty； and
upon both grounds； your news delights me。 But I seem to
perceive；' he added； 'a certain sound of ticking in this
box。'
'Yes；' replied Zero； with the same slow weariness of manner；
'I have set several of them going。'
'My God！' cried Somerset； bounding to his feet。
'Machines？'
'Machines！' returned the plotter bitterly。 'Machines indeed！
I blush to be their author。 Alas！' he said； burying his face
in his hands； 'that I should live to say it！'
'Madman！' cried Somerset； shaking him by the arm。 'What am I
to understand？ Have you； indeed； set these diabolical
contrivances in motion？ and do we stay here to be blown up？'
'〃Hoist with his own petard？〃' returned the plotter musingly。
'One more quotation： strange！ But indeed my brain is struck
with numbness。 Yes； dear boy； I have； as you say； put my
contrivance in motion。 The one on which you are sitting； I
have timed for half an hour。 Yon other … '
'Half an hour！ … ' echoed Somerset； dancing with trepidation。
'Merciful Heavens； in half an hour？'
'Dear fellow； why so much excitement？' inquired Zero。 'My
dynamite is not more dangerous than toffy； had I an only
child； I would give it him to play with。 You see this
brick？' he continued； lifting a cake of the infernal compound
from the laboratory…table。 'At a touch it should explode；
and that with such unconquerable energy as should bestrew the
square with ruins。 Well now； behold！ I dash it on the
floor。'
Somerset sprang forward； and with the strength of the very
ecstasy of terror； wrested the brick from his possession。
'Heavens！' he cried； wiping his brow； and then with more care
than ever mother handled her first…born withal； gingerly
transported the explosive to the far end of the apartment：
the plotter； his arms once more fallen to his side；
dispiritedly watching him。
'It was entirely harmless；' he sighed。 'They describe it as
burning like tobacco。'
'In the name of fortune；' cried Somerset； 'what have I done
to you； or what have you done to yourself； that you should
persist in this insane behaviour？ If not for your own sake；
then for mine； let us depart from this doomed house； where I
profess I have not the heart to leave you； and then； if you
will take my advice； and if your determination be sincere；
you will instantly quit this city； where no further
occupation can detain you。'
'Such； dear fellow； was my own design；' replied the plotter。
'I have； as you observe； no further business here； and once I
have packed a little bag； I shall ask you to share a frugal
meal； to go with me as far as to the station； and see the
last of a broken…hearted man。 And yet；' he added； looking on
the boxes with a lingering regret； 'I should have liked to
make quite certain。 I cannot but suspect my underlings of
some mismanagement； it may be fond； but yet I cherish that
idea： it may be the weakness of a man of science； but yet；'
he cried； rising into some energy； 'I will never； I cannot if
I try； believe that my poor dynamite has had fair usage！'
'Five minutes！' said Somerset； glancing with horror at the
timepiece。 'If you do not instantly buckle to your bag； I
leave you。'
'A few necessaries；' returned Zero； 'only a few necessaries；
dear Somerset； and you behold me ready。'
He passed into the bedroom； and after an interval which
seemed to draw out into eternity for his unfortunate
companion； he returned； bearing in his hand an open Gladstone
bag。 His movements were still horribly deliberate； and his
eyes lingered gloatingly on his dear boxes； as he moved to
and fro about the drawing…room； gathering a few small
trifles。 Last of all； he lifted one of the squares of
dynamite。
'Put that down！' cried Somerset。 'If what you say be true；
you have no call to load yourself with that ungodly
contraband。'
'Merely a curiosity； dear boy；' he said persuasively； and
slipped the brick into his bag； 'merely a memento of the past
… ah； happy past； bright past！ You will not take a touch of
spirits？ no？ I find you very abstemious。 Well；' he added；
'if you have really no curiosity to await the event … '
'I！' cried Somerset。 'My blood boils to get away。'
'Well； then；' said Zero； 'I am ready； I would I could say；
willing； but thus to leave the scene of my sublime endeavours
… '
Without further parley； Somerset seized him by the arm； and
dragged him downstairs； the hall…door shut with a clang on
the deserted mansion； and still towing his laggardly
companion； the young man sped across the square in the Oxford
Street direction。 They had not yet passed the corner of the
garden； when they were arrested by a dull thud of an
extraordinary amplitude of sound； accompanied and followed by
a shattering FRACAS。 Somerset turned in time to see the
mansion rend in twain； vomit forth flames and smoke； and
instantly collapse into its cellars。 At the same moment； he
was thrown violently to the ground。 His first glance was
towards Zero。 The plotter had but reeled against the garden
rail； he stood there； the Gladstone bag clasped tight upon
his heart； his whole face radiant with relief and gratitude；
and the young man heard him murmur to himself： 'NUNC
DIMITTIS； NUNC DIMITTIS！'
The consternation of the populace was indescribable； the
whole of Golden Square was alive with men； women； and
children； running wildly to and fro； and like rabbits in a
warren； dashing in and out of the house doors。 And under
favour of this confusion； Somerset dragged away the lingering
plotter。
'It was grand；' he continued to murmur： 'it was
indescribably grand。 Ah； green Erin； green Erin； what a day
of glory！ and oh； my calumniated dynamite； how triumphantly
hast thou prevailed！'
Suddenly a shade crossed his face； and pausing in the middle
of the footway； he consulted the dial of his watch。
'Good God！' he cried； 'how mortifying！ seven minutes too
early！ The dynamite surpassed my hopes； but the clockwork；
fickle clockwork； has once more betrayed me。 Alas； can there
be no success unmixed with failure？ and must even this red…
letter day be chequered by a shadow？'
'Incomparable ass！' said Somerset； 'what have you done？
Blown up the house of an unoffending old lady； and the whole
earthly property of the only person who is fool enough to
befriend you！'
'You do not understand these matters；' replied Zero； with an
air of great dignity。 'This will shake England to the heart。
Gladstone； the truculent old man；