After our through Venice with Nikola by night, an of a week we saw anything of him. During that time matters, so as our party was concerned, with the of a well-regulated clock. In my own mind I had not the of a that Glenbarth was over ears in love with Gertrude Trevor. He her about she went; to of paying her attention, and we were alone together, to me into a of her merits. That she had nothing would him.
Whether she his good-feeling was a which, to my mind, there a amount of doubt. Women are more in these than men, and if Miss Trevor a than for the Duke, she managed to it admirably. More than once, I believe, my wife to[Pg 80] her upon the subject. She had to herself beaten, however. Miss Trevor liked the Duke of Glenbarth very much; she was that he had not an of in his constitution; he gave himself no airs; moreover, she was prepared to meet my wife half-way, and to say that she it a he did not marry. No, she had that there was an American girl, beautiful, and the average, who was to her millions and herself at his feet! "And then," added my wife, in a that to that she it my fault that the had not been to a successful long since, "what do you think she said? 'Why on earth doesn't he this American? So many men of title do now-a-days.' What do you think of that? I can tell you, Dick, I have her!"
"My dear little woman," I said in reply, "will nothing you that you are playing with fire? If you are not very you will your fingers. Gertrude is almost as as you are. She sees that you are trying to pump her, and very naturally to be pumped. You would as she were you in her position."
"I do not know why you should say I am trying to pump her," she answered with consider[Pg 81]able dignity. "I it a very uncalled-for expression."
"Well, my dear," I answered, "if you are going to attempt to your position by straws, then I must stop."
The I have just had taken place after we had retired for the night, and at a time when I am from being at my best. My wife, on the other hand, as I have noticed, is wide-awake at that hour. Moreover she has an that it would be an for her to obtain any until she has up all of that may have her attention the day. I asleep she is half-way through, and for this I am told that I in what most nearly our welfare.
"One would at least that you to discuss events of so much to us and to those about us," I have her say. "I have that you can talk about horses, hunting, and shooting, with your friends until two or three o'clock in the without asleep, but when your wife is to ask your opinion about something that not your amusements, then you must needs go to sleep."
"My dear," I replied, "when all is said and[Pg 82] done we are but human. You know as well as I do, that if a man were to come to me when I had settled for the night, and were to tell me that he where to his hand upon the in England, and where he put me on to ten of a of hundred yards of my own door, that he tell me the of the Derby, I should answer him as I am now you."
"And your reply would be?"
I am the pains I had been at to my own must have proved too much for me, for I was in the that I had talked a amount of nonsense about Nikola a new pigeon-trap, and had then myself to the arms of Morpheus. If there should be any husbands have on lines, I should be to from them. But to return to my story.
One evening, a week after Glenbarth's in Venice, I was for dinner when a was to me. Much to my I it was from Nikola, and in it he it would be possible for me to the time to come and see him that evening. It appeared that he was to discuss a with me. I noticed,[Pg 83] however, that he did not mention what that was. In a he asked me, as a to himself, to come alone.
Having read the I for a moments with it in my hand, what I should do. I was not to go out that evening; on the other hand I had a to see Nikola once more. The that he to me upon a of my vanity, particularly as it was of such a nature that he did not the presence of a third person. "Yes," I thought, "after all I will go." Accordingly I a note to him saying that, if the hour would him, I to be with him at half-past nine o'clock. Then I my and presently to dinner.
During the progress of the I mentioned the that I had the in question, and asked my friends if they would me if I in the of the to out what it was that Nikola had to say to me. Perhaps by of my early training, by natural instinct, I am a of trifles. On this occasion I noticed that from the moment I mentioned the of my having a from Nikola, Miss Trevor ate any more dinner. Upon my his name she had looked at me with a startled[Pg 84] upon her face. She said nothing, however, but I that her left hand, which she had a of the table as much as possible, was for some moments in pieces from the roll her plate. For some she had again, but why she should have done so my comprehension. When the ladies had retired, and we were together over our wine, Glenbarth returned to the of my visit that evening.
"By Jove, my dear fellow," he said, "I don't you your to that house. Don't you a about it yourself?"
I my head.
"Why should I?" I asked. "If the truth must be told I am a good more of Nikola than I am of his house. I don't on the present occasion, however, I have any to either."
"Well," said the Duke with a laugh, "if you are not home by breakfast-time to-morrow I shall the police round, and look that trap-door. You'll take a with you of course?"
"I shall do nothing of the kind," I replied. "I am able to take of myself without having to fire-arms."
Nevertheless, when I up to my room to[Pg 85] my coat, to the house, I took a small from my dressing-case and it in my hand. "Shall I take it or shall I not?" was the question I asked myself. Eventually I my and replaced it in its hiding-place. Then, off the electric light, I for the door, only to return, re-open the dressing-case, and take out the revolver. Without I it into the pocket of my and then left the room.
A of an hour later my had into the Rio Consiglio, and was the Palace Revecce. The house was in shadow, and looked very dark and lonesome. The to be of the same opinion, for he was to set me down, to his fare, and to away again as soon as possible. Standing in the I the great which Nikola had pointed out to me, and which we had not on the of our visit. It and in the of the house, the of the and adding a new of to that dwelling. In of my to Glenbarth I was not at my ease. It was one thing to that I had no to the place when I was seated in a well-lighted room, with a of port at my hand, and a friend opposite; it was[Pg 86] another, however, to be in the dark at that portal, with the black water of the at my and the of that room ahead. Then I the of the courtyard, and a moment later Nikola himself me and me to enter. A lamp had been upon the of the wall, and its light the courtyard, long across the and making it look and more than when I had last it. After we had hands we our way in up the great staircase, our steps along the with reverberations. How I was at last to the warm, well-lit room, despite the Nikola had told us about it, I must you to imagine.
"Please down," said Nikola, pushing a chair for my occupation. "It is of you to have with my request. I trust Lady Hatteras and Miss Trevor are well?"
"Thank you, they are well," I replied. "They to be to you."
Nikola his thanks, and then, when he had a box of excellent at my elbow, prepared and a cigarette for himself. All this time I was myself wondering[Pg 87] why he had asked me to come to him that evening, and what the of the was to be. Knowing him as I did, I was aware that his were motiveless. Everything he did was to be for by some very good reason. After he had his thanks to me for to see him, he was for some minutes, for so long that I to wonder he had my presence. In order to his attention I upon the that we had not him for more than a week.
"I have been away," he answered, with what was an attempt to himself together. "Business of a most nature called me to the south of Italy, to Naples in fact, and I only returned this morning."
Once more he was silent. Then me and speaking with than he had yet done, he continued—
"Hatteras, I am going to ask you a question, and then, with your permission, I should like to tell you a story."
Not what else to do I bowed. I was more than that Nikola was going to make use of me.
"Have you wondered," he began, still looking me in the face, and speaking[Pg 88] with great earnestness, "what it was me the man I am?"
I to the that I had often wondered, but naturally had been able to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
"Some day you shall know the history of my life," he answered. "But not just yet. There is much to be done then. And now I am going to give you the I promised you. You will see why I have told it to you when I have finished."
He rose from his chair and to the room. I had Nikola so before. When he and me again his like diamonds, while his with excitement.
"Hatteras," he on, when he had his emotion, "I very much if in this world's history there has been a man who has more than I have done. As I said just now, the whole I cannot tell you at present. Some day it will come in its proper place and you will know everything. In the meantime——"
He paused for a moments and then abruptly—
"The a woman, a native of this city; the last of an impoverished, but family. She married a man many years[Pg 89] her senior, she did not love. When they had been married just over four years her husband died, her with one child to the of the world alone. The boy was nearly three years old, a sturdy, little urchin, who, up to that time, had the meaning of the word trouble. Then there came to Venice a man, a Spaniard, as as a serpent, and as cruel. After a while he the woman that he loved her. She returned his affection, and in time they were married. A month later he was Governor of one of the Spanish off the American coast—a post he had long been to obtain. When he to take up his position it was that, as soon as all was prepared, the woman and her child should him. They did so, and at length the and took up their abode, not at the palace, as the woman had expected, but in the native city. For the Governor feared, or to fear, that, as his marriage had not been public at first, it might his position. The woman, however, who loved him, was content, for her one was to promote his happiness. At the man to be at having her with him once again, then, little by little, he that he was of her.[Pg 90] Another woman had his fancy, and he had transferred his to her. The other of it. Her southern blood was roused, for though she had been poor, she was, as I have said, the of one of the Venetian families. As his wife she to herself, then came the blow, delivered with all the of a nature.
"'You are not my wife,' he said. 'I had already a wife when I married you.'
"She left him without another word and away to her shame. Six months later the took her and she died. Thus the boy was left, at five years old, without a friend or protector in the world. Happily, however, a took on him, and, after a time, to him up as their own. The old man was a great scholar, and had all his life to the study of the sciences. To educate the boy, when he old to understand, was his one delight. He was of teaching him, did the boy of learning. It was a of love. Seven years later saw the lad's at in the little the palms, and the boy himself once more. But he was not to so for very long; the priest, who had his parents, spoke to the[Pg 91] Governor, little what he was doing, of the boy's condition. It was as if the had him, for the Spaniard was to a for his son, a two years the other's junior. It him that the would the position admirably. He was to the to enter upon the most period of his life. His to his mother was unmistakable, and when he noticed it, the Governor, who had learned the secret, him for it, as only those who are of their wrong-doing. From that moment his no bounds. The boy was powerless to himself. All that he do was to his with all the of his nature, and to pray that the day might come when he should be able to repay. To his own son the Governor was attached. In his the do no wrong. For any of his it was the who the punishment. On the least he was and like a slave. The Governor's son, his power, and the other's sensitiveness, his in new for him. To all that would be impossible. When nothing else would him, it was easy to him to an of by his mother's name, with[Pg 92] history the had, by this time, their master's son acquainted. Once, into a of by the other's insults, the up a knife and at his with the of him. His attempt, however, failed, and the boy, at the mouth, was the Governor. I will you a of the that was out for his offence. Let it that there are times now, when the of it is to bring—but there—why should I continue in this strain? All that I am telling you many years ago, but the memory clear and distinct, while the for is as as if it had but yesterday. What is more, the end is coming, as surely as the once and it would."
Nikola paused for a moment and into his chair. I had him so affected. His was pale, while his like coals.
"What of the boy at last?" I inquired, all the while that he had been speaking of himself.
"He from the island, and out into the world. The Governor is dead; he has gone to meet the woman, or women, he has so wronged. His son has the[Pg 93] of Fame, but he has lost, as his record shows, the he as a boy. Do you the of the Revolution in the Republic of Equinata?"
I my head.
"The Republics of South America so in their little that it is difficult for an to every particular one," I answered.
"Well, let me tell you about it. When the Republic of Equinata from its Revolution, this man was its President. But for his and it would not have taken place. He it was who, that the Rebellion was spreading, a town, and the son of each of the families wait upon him at his on the its capitulation. His was that he them as for their parents' good behaviour. As it was, however, to his on the city, which had him, of with him, he them against a and them by the half-dozen. But he was not to succeed. Gradually he was upon his Capital, his day by day. Then, one night he a ship that was waiting for him in the harbour, and from that moment Equinata saw him no more.[Pg 94] It was not until some days that it was that he had of money, which he had misappropriated, out of the country, ahead of him. Where he is now I am the only man who knows. I have him to his lair, and I am waiting—waiting—waiting—for the moment to arrive when the blood that has so long to Heaven will be avenged. Let him look to himself when that day arrives. For as there is a God above us, he will be as man was before."
The upon his as he said this was little of devilish; the of his skin, the dark, eyes, and his jet-black up a picture that will from my memory.
"God help his enemy if they should meet," I said to myself. Then his mood changed, and he was once more the quiet, Nikola to I had accustomed. Every of had from his face. A more complete have been imagined.
"My dear fellow," he said, without a of in his voice, "you must me for having you with my long story. I cannot think what me do so, unless it is that I have been over it all day, and[Pg 95] the need of a confidant. You will make an for me, will you not?"
"Most willingly," I answered. "If the you have told me yourself, you have my most sympathy. You have indeed."
He stopped for a moment in his walk up and the room, and me as if he were trying to read my thoughts.
"Suffered?" he said at last, and then paused. "Yes, I have suffered—but others have more. But do not let us talk of it. I was to have touched upon it, for I know by the it produces upon me."
As he spoke he to the window, which he open. It was a night, and the of women's voices us from the Grand Canal. On the other of the the houses looked in the light. At that moment I more Nikola than I had done before. The man's loneliness, his sufferings, had a note of for me. I the he had done me, and I what I was doing, I had my hand upon his shoulder.
"Nikola," I said, "if I were to try I not make you how sorry I am for you. The life you lead is so that of any[Pg 96] other man. You see only the of Human Nature. Why not this terrible gloom? Give up these upon which you are always engaged, and live only in the pure air of the every-day world. Your very surroundings—this house, for instance—are not like those of other men. Believe me, there are other for the Science which you in its chains. If you learn to love a good woman——"
"My dear Hatteras," he put in, more than I had him speak, "woman's love is not for me. As you say, I am in the world, God how lonely, yet I must be to remain." Then his hands upon the window-sill, he looked out upon the night, and I him to himself, "Yes, to the End." After that he closed the window abruptly, and to me, asked how long we in Venice.
"I cannot say yet," I answered, "the is doing my wife so much good that I am to our stay. At we of going to the South of France, but that idea has been abandoned, and we may be here another month."
"A month," he said to himself, as if he were upon something; then he added some[Pg 97]what inconsequently, "You should be able to see a great of Venice in a month."
"And how long will you be here?" I asked.
He his head.
"It is to say," he answered. "I know my own mind for two days together. I may be here another week, or I may be here a year. Somehow, I have a conviction, I cannot say why, that this will prove to be my last visit to Venice. I should be sorry to see it again, yet what must be, must. Destiny will have its way, we may say or do to the contrary."
At that moment there was the of a in the below. At such an hour it had an awe-inspiring sound, and I know that I as I it.
"Who can it be?" said Nikola, the door. "This is late for calling hours. Will you me if I go and out the meaning of it?"
"Do so, by all means," I answered. "I think I must be going also. It is late."
"No, no," he said, "stay a little longer. If it is as I suspect, I I shall be able to you something that may you. Endeavour to make until I return. I shall not be away many minutes."
So saying, he left me, the door behind[Pg 98] him. When I was alone, I a cigar and to the window, which I opened. My enemy not call me a coward, but I must that I no from being in that room alone. The memory of what under that was upon my memory. In my mind I the below, and it would have only a very small of the to have I the of the man from it. Then a of came over me to see who Nikola's visitor was. By well out of the window, I look on the great door below. At the of the steps a was up, but I was unable to see there was any one in it or not. Who was Nikola's caller, and what him come at such an hour? Knowing the in which the house was by the of Venice, I that he was, he must have had an for his visit. I was still the over in my mind, when the door opened and Nikola entered, by two men. One was tall and swarthy, a black beard, and had a upon his face. The other was about middle height, very broad, and was the of a bullet-head with close-cropped hair.[Pg 99] Both were of the class, and their nationality was unmistakable. Turning to me, Nikola said in English—
"It is as I expected. Now, if you to study character, here is your opportunity. The man is a Police Agent, the other the of a Secret Society. I should that the last two or three days I have been helping a Italian of views, not to put too a point upon it, to the country for America. This dog has to try to my plans. Immediately I of it I sent word to him, by means of our friend here, that he was to present himself here twelve o'clock to-night without fail. From his action it would appear that he is more of me than he is of the Secret Society. That is as it should be; for I to teach him a little lesson which will prevent him from with my plans in the future. You were talking of my science just now, and me to it. Could the life you offer me give me the power I now? Could the of Clapham me for the knowledge with which the East can me?"
Then to the Police Agent he him in Italian, speaking so fast that it was for me to him. From what[Pg 100] little I make out, however, I that he was him for to with his concerns. When, at the end of three or four minutes, he paused and spoke more slowly, this was the of his speech—
"You know me and the power I control. You are aware that those who me, or who with me and my concerns, do so at their own risk. Since no has come of it, thanks to good friends, I will on this occasion, but let it again and this is what your end will be."
i003
"Presently a picture itself in the cloud."
As he spoke he took from his pocket a small bottle with a gold top, not a vinaigrette, and some of the white it into the of his hand. Turning the lamp he this into the chimney. A green up for a moment, which was succeeded by a cloud of that the room so that for a moment it was for us to see each other. Presently a picture itself in the cloud and my attention spell-bound. Little by little it until I was able to make out a room, or I should say a vault, in which of a dozen men were seated at a long table. They were all masked, and without were in long with of black cloth. Presently a[Pg 101] was by the man at the of the table, an with a beard, and two more black entered, who a man them. Their was none other than the Police Agent Nikola had warned. He looked thinner, however, and was much by his position. Once more the man at the of the table his hand, and there entered at the other an old man, with white and a long of the same colour. Unlike the others he no cowl, was he masked. From his I see that he was those seated at the table, and, as he pointed to the prisoner, a look of spread over his face. Then the man at the of the table rose, and though I nothing of what he said, I that he was his the case. When he had finished, and each of the had voted by up his hand, he to the prisoner. As he did so the and another took its place.
It was a small room that I looked upon now, only with a bed, a table, and a chair. At the door was a man who had as a in the previous picture, but now sadly changed. He to have to his size, his was by starvation,[Pg 102] his were sunken, but there was an look of terror in them than had been there before. Opening the door of the room he listened, and then and locked it again. It was as if he were to go out, and yet that if he where he was, he must of starvation. Gradually the room to dark, and the up and down, at the door every now and then. Once more the picture as its had done, and a third took its place. This proved to be a narrow street-scene by moonlight. On either the houses up the sky, and since there was no one about, it was plain that the night was advanced. Presently, along in the shadow, on the left-hand side, among the and garbage of the for food, came the man I had to his attic. Times out of number he looked him, as if he it possible that he might be followed. He was but little more than half-way up the street, and was to up something, when two dark from a passage on the left, and approached him. Before he had time to himself, they were upon him, and a moment later he was out upon his in the middle of the street, a dead[Pg 103] man. The moon full and clear upon his face, the memory of which makes me now. Then the picture away and the room was light once more. Instinctively I looked at the Police Agent. His was pale, and from the great of that upon his forehead, I that he had the picture too.
"Now," said Nikola, him, "you have what is in store for you if you in against me. You that grey-haired man, who had to the Council against you. Then, of this! So surely as you continue your present conduct, so surely will the I have just to you overtake you. Now go, and what I have said."
Turning to the smaller man, Nikola his hand in a fashion upon his shoulder.
"You have done well, Tomasso," he said, "and I am pleased with you. Drop our friend here at the place, and see that some one an on him. I don't think, however, he will to again."
On this, the two men left the room and to the together, and I easily with what one of them would the house. When they had gone,[Pg 104] Nikola, who was at the window, to me, saying—
"What do you think of my conjuring?"
I not what answer to make that would satisfy him. The whole thing so that, had it not been for the that still in the room, I have I had asleep and it all.
"You can give me no explanation, then?" said Nikola, with one of his smiles. "And yet, having this power, this knowledge, call it what you will, you would still me give up Science. Come, my friend, you have something of what I can do; would you be to try, with my help, to look into what is called The Great Unknown, and see what the Future has in store for you? I it be done. Are you to be to see your own end?"
"No, no," I cried, "I will have nothing to do with such an thing. Good heavens, man! from that moment life would be unendurable!"
"You think so, do you?" he said slowly, still his on me. "And yet I have it myself."
"My God, Nikola!" I answered in amazement, for I him well to sure that he was not talking idly, "you don't mean[Pg 105] to tell me that you know what your own end is going to be?"
"Exactly," he answered. "I have it all. It is not pleasant; but I think I may say without that it will be an end of myself."
"But now that you know it, can you not it?"
"Nothing can be averted," he answered solemnly. "As I said these men entered, what must be, must. What Schiller say? 'Noch Geschick.'"
"And you were to look?"
"Does it so much bravery, do you think? Believe me, there are which more."
"What do you mean?"
"Ah! I cannot tell you now," he answered, his head. "Some day you will know."
Then there was a for a seconds, which we looking at the water below. At last, having my watch and how late it was, I told him that it was time for me to him good-night.
"I am very to you for coming, Hatteras," he said. "It has me up. It me good to see you. Through you I a of that other life of which you spoke a while back. I[Pg 106] want to make you like me, and I I am succeeding."
Then we left the room together, and the stairs to the below. Side by we upon the steps waiting for a to put in an appearance. It was some time one came in sight, but when it did so I it, and then Nikola by the hand and him good-night.
"Good-night," he answered. "Pray me to Lady Hatteras and to—Miss Trevor."
The little pause Miss Trevor's name me to look at him in some surprise. He noticed it and spoke at once.
"You may think it of me to say so," he said, "but I cannot help in that lady. Impossible though it may seem, I have a well-founded that in some way her star is to mine, and very long. I have only her twice in my life in the flesh; but many years ago her presence on the earth was to me, and I was that some day we should meet. What that meeting will to me it is to say, but in its own good time Fate will tell me. And now, once more, good-night."
"Good-night," I answered mechanically, for I[Pg 107] was too much by his to think what I was saying. Then I entered the and the man take me to my hotel.
"Surely Nikola has taken of his senses," I said to myself as I was along. "Gertrude Trevor was the very last person in the world that I should have Nikola to make such a about."
At this point, however, I how she had been by their meeting, and my mind to be her.
"Let us and pray that Nikola doesn't take it into his to himself in love with her," I to myself. "If he were to do so I know what the would be."
Then, with a touch of the absurd, I what her father, the dean, would say to having Nikola for a son-in-law. By the time I had this point in my the had up at the steps of the hotel.
My wife and Miss Trevor had gone to bed, but Glenbarth was up for me.
"Well, you have paid him a long visit, in all conscience," he said a little reproachfully. Then he added, with what was to be a touch[Pg 108] of sarcasm, "I you have a evening?"
"I am not so about that," I replied.
"Indeed. Then what have you discovered?"
"One thing of importance," I answered; "that Nikola more and more every day."
