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〃Chris！〃 said Mr。 Treffry reproachfully。 She shook her head； and did
not move； mournful and intent； her eyes seemed full of secret
knowledge。
Mr。 Treffry spoke：
〃I've no right to blame you； Mr。 Harz； and Chris tells me you came to
see me first； which is what I would have expected of you； but you
shouldn't have come back。〃
〃I came back； sir； because I found I was obliged。 I must speak out。〃
〃I ask nothing better；〃 Mr。 Treffry replied。
Harz looked again at Christian； but she made no sign； sitting with
her chin resting on her hands。
〃I have come for her；〃 he said； 〃I can make my livingenough for
both of us。 But I can't wait。〃
〃Why？〃
Harz made no answer。
Mr。 Treffry boomed out again： 〃 Why？ Isn't she worth waiting for？
Isn't she worth serving for？〃
〃I can't expect you to understand me；〃 the painter said。 〃My art is
my life to me。 Do you suppose that if it wasn't I should ever have
left my village； or gone through all that I've gone through； to get
as far even as I am？ You tell me to wait。 If my thoughts and my
will aren't free； how can I work？ I shan't be worth my salt。 You
tell me to go back to Englandknowing she is here； amongst you who
hate me； a thousand miles away。 I shall know that there's a death
fight going on in her and outside her against meyou think that I
can go on working under these conditions。 Others may be able； I am
not。 That's the plain truth。 If I loved her less〃
There was a silence； then Mr。 Treffry said：
〃It isn't fair to come here and ask what you're asking。 You don't
know what's in the future for you； you don't know that you can keep a
wife。 It isn't pleasant； either； to think you can't hold up your
head in your own country。〃
Harz turned white。
〃Ah！ you bring that up again！〃 he broke out。 〃Seven years ago I was
a boy and starving； if you had been in my place you would have done
what I did。 My country is as much to me as your country is to you。
I've been an exile seven years； I suppose I shall always be I've had
punishment enough； but if you think I am a rascal； I'll go and give
myself up。〃 He turned on his heel。
〃Stop！ I beg your pardon！ I never meant to hurt you。 It isn't easy
for me to eat my words；〃 Mr。 Treffry said wistfully； 〃let that count
for something。〃 He held out his hand。
Harz came quickly back and took it。 Christian's gaze was never for a
moment withdrawn； she seemed trying to store up the sight of him
within her。 The light darting through the half…closed shutters gave
her eyes a strange； bright intensity； and shone in the folds of her
white dress like the sheen of birds' wings。
Mr。 Treffry glanced uneasily about him。 〃God knows I don't want
anything but her happiness；〃 he said。 〃What is it to me if you'd
murdered your mother？ It's her I'm thinking of。〃
〃How can you tell what is happiness to her？ You have your own ideas
of happinessnot hers； not mine。 You can't dare to stop us； sir！〃
〃Dare？〃 said Mr。 Treffry。 〃Her father gave her over to me when she
was a mite of a little thing； I've known her all her life。 I've
I've loved herand you come here with your 'dare'！ 〃 His hand
dragged at his beard； and shook as though palsied。
A look of terror came into Christian's face。
〃All right； Chris！ I don't ask for quarter； and I don't give it！〃
Harz made a gesture of despair。
〃I've acted squarely by you； sir；〃 Mr。 Treffry went on； 〃I ask the
same of you。 I ask you to wait； and come like an honest man； when
you can say； 'I see my wayhere's this and that for her。' What
makes this art you talk of different from any other call in life？ It
doesn't alter facts； or give you what other men have no right to
expect。 It doesn't put grit into you； or keep your hands clean； or
prove that two and two make five。〃
Harz answered bitterly：
〃You know as much of art as I know of money。 If we live a thousand
years we shall never understand each other。 I am doing what I feel
is best for both of us。〃
Mr。 Treffry took hold of the painter's sleeve。
〃I make you an offer；〃 he said。 〃Your word not to see or write to
her for a year！ Then； position or not； money or no money； if she'll
have you； I'll make it right for you。〃
〃I could not take your money。〃
A kind of despair seemed suddenly to seize on Mr。 Nicholas Treffry。
He rose； and stood towering over them。
〃All my life〃 he said； but something seemed to click deep down in
his throat； and he sank back in his seat。
〃Go！〃 whispered Christian； 〃go！〃 But Mr。 Treffry found his voice
again： 〃It's for the child to say。 Well； Chris！〃
Christian did not speak。
It was Harz who broke the silence。 He pointed to Mr。 Treffry。
〃You know I can't tell you to come withthat； there。 Why did you
send for me？〃 And； turning； he went out。
Christian sank on her knees； burying her face in her hands。 Mr。
Treffry pressed his handkerchief with a stealthy movement to his
mouth。 It was dyed crimson with the price of his victory。
XXVI
A telegram had summoned Herr Paul from Vienna。 He had started
forthwith； leaving several unpaid accounts to a more joyful
opportunity； amongst them a chemist's bill； for a wonderful quack
medicine of which he brought six bottles。
He came from Mr。 Treffry's room with tears rolling down his cheeks；
saying：
〃Poor Nicholas！ Poor Nicholas！ Il n'a pas de chance！〃
It was difficult to find any one to listen； the women were scared and
silent； waiting for the orders that were now and then whispered
through the door。 Herr Paul could not bear this silence； and talked
to his servant for half an hour； till Fritz also vanished to fetch
something from the town。 Then in despair Herr Paul went to his room。
It was hard not to be allowed to helpit was hard to wait！ When the
heart was suffering； it was frightful！ He turned and； looking
furtively about him； lighted a cigar。 Yes； it came to every oneat
some time or other； and what was it； that death they talked of？ Was
it any worse than life？ That frightful jumble people made for
themselves！ Poor Nicholas！ After all； it was he that had the luck！
His eyes filled with tears； and drawing a penknife from his pocket；
he began to stab it into the stuffing of his chair。 Scruff； who sat
watching the chink of light under the door； turned his head； blinked
at him； and began feebly tapping with a claw。
It was intolerable； this uncertaintyto be near； and yet so far； was
not endurable！
Herr Paul stepped across the room。 The dog； following； threw his
black…marked muzzle upwards with a gruff noise； and went back to the
door。 His master was holding in his hand a bottle of champagne。
Poor Nicholas！ He had chosen it。 Herr Paul drained a glass。
Poor Nicholas！ The prince of fellows； and of what use was one？ They
kept him away from Nicholas！
Herr Paul's eyes fell on the t