The Trespasser, Volume 1.

ed. In the main building many lights were burning. There came a rattle of wheels behind him, and he shifted to let a carriage pass. Throug

, which struck Gaston, he knew not why. Perhaps it was the easy finesse of ceremonial. He looked at Brillon. He had seen him sit arms folded like that, looking from the top of

llon; we a

on looked down on him neutrally, and dismounted. Jacques did the same. The footm

?" he presently said. There

otman

r footman came down, and made as if to take the bridle. Gasto

addle-bags and taken them off. Gaston spoke to the horse, patted his neck, and gave him to the groom. Then he went up the steps, follo

"I might warn him, but it's best for th

sir?" aske

u a

by,

man Brillon here, and

name

into the light of the candles, and said i

, in spite of themselves, clung to Gaston's.

," he said m

ave you

ture on the

picture

ton Belw

t the corners of

ell, then you know what

into the

ustices'

ices' roo

like no Belward he had ever seen. Left to himself, Gaston looked round on a large, severe room. Its use dawned on him. This was part of the life: Sir William was a Justice of the Peace. But why had he been brought here? Why not to the library as himself had suggested? There would be some awkward hours for Falby in the future. Gaston had as winning a smile, as sweet a manner, as

?" he

library, sir? Sir Will

look, but his eyes were c

hate to enter this roo

e not,

ill, Falby

ssi

th the serpent and

ssi

not think that himself was so bizarre. Nor was he. But he looked unusual; as one of high civilisation might, through long absence in primitive countries, return in uncommon clothing, and with a ma

g for the staircase. Ladies with the grand air looked at him curiously, and two

a little gasping cry, and catchi

Robert Belward!

e-nez. She caught Gaston's profi

ert never had such a back,

her voice, and it carried distinctly t

ric, my dear! Did you see the boots and the sash? Why, bless me, if you are not shak

turned sharply to see if her daughters had been listening. She saw tha

s of your own, you would probably be more careful-tho

d up the staircase, Mr

ing at each other and

our. A crutch lay against one arm of her chair, and her left hand leaned on an ebony silver-topped cane. There was something painful, haunting, in the face -a weirdness in the whole picture. The face was looking into the sunlight, but the effect was rather of moonlig

was a face, so dim that one moment it seemed not to be there, and then suddenly to flash in-as a picture from beyond sails, lightn

like Gaston's, trained to observe, with the sight of a hawk and a sense of the mysterious, could have seen so quickly or so d

almost be fierceness, and the fingers of his fine hands opened and shut nervously. Though of no great stature, he had singular dignity. He was in evening- dress, and as he raised a hand to his chin quickly

epped forward respectfully. A bewildered, almost shrinking look came into

moothness, his voice had the ring of distance, which co

u as Sir Gaston Belward.

s the slow reply. "I did

was Falby's conclusio

ward, just

ade a quick gesture, as if driving away some f

ou be s

ng-table. His look was now steady and p

Belward? May I ask fo

so unlike anything he had ever met, save, to an extent, in his father, that it int

trembled on a paper-kn

for my heritage-with in

, then drew back to the table and steadied himself against it. Gaston rose also: his instinct

lward was

ather i

e year

lips. Presently he took out his handkerchief and coughed into it nervously. His

ore?" he asked at last, i

for a man than

I ask

tion-gives up too soon-throws awa

y-five when h

m fi

ed up sharply, p

this life: I k

t wo

South, the seas at fou

top-boots, the peeping sash

mother?" he

an of

of impatience, and looked s

s bolt, to have it over. "

roadly, with a touch of defiance, and leaned an ar

said coldly: "Have you th

ome papers fr

er from my father, and

pan

ened and read them one by one, his son's brief letter last-it was mere

nt Falby ent

ments, and all the gue

adyship, and ask her to

lb

eemed to be a moment's hesitatio

r luggage? Will you c

e cold outstre

have no evening-dress with

tic figure, a half- apprehensive smile as the

if anything

ll-cord. A ser

ve Mr. Gaston the room in the north tower. Then, from the press in the same room lay out the evening-dress which you will find there....

ays ago

tated. You will probably be in time for t

thes do not

ight and nearly as large, and

wenty-seven years before. The taciturn housekeeper, eyeing him excitedly the wh

ou here in my

parlourmaid,

e housekeep

ned, hiding her dour wrinkle

right hand if he

istled so

, so you will not need to risk a finger for me. I am goin

fingers twitched in his, t

, Sir. It's-it's like

om emotion was not graceful. "H'm!" said Gaston, as he shut the door. "P