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really was such a handsome young man！ His hair was of a fine bright
chestnut color； with a natural curl in it。 His eyes were of the lightest
brown I had ever seenwith a singularly winning gentle modest expression
in them。 As for his complexionso creamy and spotless and fairhe had
no right to it： it ought to have been a woman's complexion； or at least a
boy's。 He looked indeed more like a boy than a man： his smooth face was
quite uncovered； either by beard； whisker； or mustache。 If he had asked
me； I should have guessed him （though he was really three years older） to
have been younger than Lucilla。
〃Our acquaintance has begun rather oddly； sir；〃 I said。 〃You spoke
strangely to me last night； and I have spoken hastily to you this
morning。 Accept my excusesand let us try if we can't do each other
justice in the end。 I have something more to say to you before we part。
Will you think me a very extraordinary woman； if I suggest that you may
as well invite _me_ next； to take a chair in your house？〃
He laughed with the pleasantest good temper； and led the way in。
We entered the room in which he had received Lucilla； and sat down
together on the two chairs near the windowwith this differencethat I
contrived to possess myself of the seat which he had occupied； and so to
place him with his face to the light。
〃Mr。 Dubourg；〃 I began； 〃you will already have guessed that I overheard
what Miss Finch said to you at parting？〃
He bowed； in silent acknowledgment that it was soand began to toy
nervously with the gold vase which Lucilla had left on the table。
〃What do you propose to do？〃 I went on。 〃You have spoken of the interest
you feel in my young friend。 If it is a true interest； it will lead you
to merit her good opinion by complying with her request。 Tell me plainly；
if you please。 Will you come and see us； in the character of a gentleman
who has satisfied two ladies that they can receive him as a neighbor and
a friend？ Or will you oblige me to warn the rector of Dimchurch that his
daughter is in danger of permitting a doubtful character to force his
acquaintance on her？〃
He put the vase back on the table； and turned deadly pale。
〃If you knew what I have suffered；〃 he said； 〃if you had gone through
what I have been compelled to endure〃 His voice failed him； his soft
brown eyes moistened； his head drooped。 He said no more。
In common with all women； I like a man to _be_ a man。 There was； to my
mind； something weak and womanish in the manner in which this Dubourg met
the advance which I had made to him。 He not only failed to move my
pityhe was in danger of stirring up my contempt。
〃I too have suffered；〃 I answered。 〃I too have been compelled to endure。
But there is this difference between us。 _My_ courage is not worn out。 In
your place； if I knew myself to be an honorable man； I would not allow
the breath of suspicion to rest on me for an instant。 Cost what it might；
I would vindicate myself。 I should be ashamed to cryI should speak。〃
That stung him。 He started up on his feet。
〃Have _you_ been stared at by hundreds of cruel eyes？〃 he burst out
passionately。 〃Have _you_ been pointed at； without mercy； wherever you
go？ Have you been put in the pillory of the newspapers？ Has the
photograph proclaimed _your_ infamous notoriety in all the shop…windows？〃
He dropped back into his chair； and wrung his hands in a frenzy。 〃Oh； the
public！〃 he exclaimed； 〃the horrible public！ I can't get away from
themI can't hide myself； even here。 You have had your stare at me； like
the rest；〃 he cried； turning on me fiercely。 〃I knew it when you passed
me last night。〃
〃I never saw you out of this place；〃 I answered。 〃As for the portraits of
you； whoever you may be； I know nothing about them。 I was far too anxious
and too wretched； to amuse myself by looking into shop…windows before I
came here。 You； and your name； are equally strange to me。 If you have any
respect for yourself； tell me who you are。 Out with the truth； sir！ You
know as well as I do that you have gone too far to stop。〃
I seized him by the hand。 I was wrought up by the extraordinary outburst
that had escaped him to the highest pitch of excitement： I was hardly
conscious of what I said or did。 At that supreme moment； we enraged； we
maddened each other。 His hand closed convulsively on my hand。 His eyes
looked wildly into mine。
〃Do you read the newspapers？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Have you seen？〃
〃I have _not_ seen the name of 'Dubourg'〃
'My name is not 'Dubourg。' 〃
〃What is it？〃
He suddenly stooped over me； and whispered his name in my ear。
In my turn I started； thunderstruck； to my feet。
〃Good God！〃 I cried。 〃You are the man who was tried for murder last
month； and who was all but hanged； on the false testimony of a clock！〃
CHAPTER THE EIGHTH
The Perjury of the Clock
WE looked at one another in silence。 Both alike； we were obliged to wait
a little and recover ourselves。
I may occupy the interval by answering two questions which will arise in
your minds in this place。 How did Dubourg come to be tried for his life？
And what was the connection between this serious matter and the false
testimony of a clock？
The reply to both these inquiries is to be found in the story which I
call the Perjury of the Clock。
In briefly relating this curious incidental narrative （which I take from
a statement of the circumstances placed in my possession） I shall speak
of our new acquaintance at Browndownand shall continue to speak of him
throughout these pagesby his assumed name。 In the first place； it was
the maiden name of his mother； and he had a right to take it if he
pleased。 In the second place； the date of our domestic drama at Dimchurch
goes back as far as the years 'fifty…eight and 'fifty…nine； and real
names are （now that it is all over） of no consequence to anybody。 With
〃Dubourg〃 we have begun。 With 〃Dubourg〃 let us go on to the end。
On a summer evening； some years ago； a man was found murdered in a field
near a certain town in the West of England。 The name of the field was；
〃Pardon's Piece。〃
The man was a small carpenter and builder in the town； who bore an
indifferent character。 On the evening in question； a distant relative of
his； employed as farm…bailiff by a gentleman in the neighborhood；
happened to be passing a stile which led from the field into a road； and
saw a gentleman leaving the field by way of this stile； rather in a
hurry。 He recognized the gentleman as Mr。 Dubourg。
The two passed each other on the road in opposite directions。 After a
certain lapse of timeestimated as being half an hourthe farm…bailiff
had occasion to pass back along the same road。 On reaching the stile； he
heard an alarm raised； and entered the field to see what was the matter。
He found several persons running from the farther side of Pardon's Piece
towards a boy who was standing at the back of a cattle…shed； in a remote
part of the enclosure； screaming with terror。 At the boy's feet lay； face
downwards； the dead body of a man； with his head horribly beaten in。 His
watch was under him； hanging out of his pocket by the chain。 It had
stoppedevidently in consequence of the