Bat Wing

responded with his meeting some problem to the heart of which the lance of his keen wit failed to penetrate. His humour might not display itself in the spoken word, he mer

in England, but his observation was entirely introspective; although he moved amid the hustle o

habitation, I detected the fact that I had ceased to exist so far as Harley was concerned. Knowing this mood of old, I pursued my way alone, pre

moving swans. But I would have been prepared to wager that he saw neither swans nor lake, but mentally was far

hands and I determined to employ it in exploring part of the neighbourhood. Accordingly I filled and lighted my pipe and strolled leisurely al

ountryside. A herd of very fine Jersey cattle presently claimed inspection, and a little farther on I found mysel

t presently I found myself in a very small village, the principal

a neat, round, red little person, and as she retired, having placed a foam-capped mug upon the counter, her glance rested for a moment upon the only other occupant of the room, a man seated in an a

mug, I leaned back against the count

ntleman, and a stick and soft hat lay upon the ledge near his glass. But the thing about him which had immediate

ip, were responsible for my imagining a close resemblance where only a slight one existed. But inspection of that strange, dar

d I was startled to note that he spoke with a fa

bemused, but by no means drunk, and although his

ral occupations in which I hav

ot a ficti

ation necessary fo

ky. "Nevertheless," he said, and raised his finger solemn

clearly resemble him in more ways than one. I must really ask you

I must replenish my glass, and I should be hono

said, "but I would r

ed the American with grav

alf a crown, until the landlady appeared. She treated

ned to his seat and having added a ve

of Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, but n

gloomy but lofty manner, I bowed

zes, an acquaintance, they narrowed. This indicated retrospection. For a moment they turned aside. You were focussing a fugitive idea, a memory. You captured it. You looked at me again, and your successive glances read as follows: The hair worn uncom

seeming mésalliance which not infrequently begets genius: a powerful and original mind allied to a weak will. I wondered what Mr. Colin Camber's occupation might be, and somewhat, too, I w

ting, Mr. Camber," I said. "You are a

fellowmen, a study which I have pursued in various parts of the worl

th a look which had g

by-domestic worries, and-er-" He emptied his glass at a draught. "Surely, Mr. Knox, you are going to repl

eared behind the counter. "Time, please, gent

rising. "What is that? You dec

swered the landlady, "but I can s

ttered, his speech becoming slur

ar sir," I said, genially, "we must bow to the law, I s

peaking the words as though they possessed some deep dramatic signi

r heavily, and I stood

g what I should do. Th

hich I could never have

the step which led u

t beside me stood a wr

nd a tweed cap, he wo

was like a smiling ma

y credit the evidence

f the last places in wh

ative o

n, and fixing his melancho

a tone of cold anger, "

ed the Chin

it, sir, vellee

ded Mr. Camber. "Answer m

iling up into the other's face with a so

Camber in a cha

the wrinkled Chinese face. Then he looked at Mrs. Woot

" he announced. "My wife de

Knox, I should esteem it a friendly action if you would spare me an hour of your company before you leave Surrey. My visito

the Chinaman, and having watched them go, I turned

her head

for months past," she said. "I am afra

comes here every day and is a

the landlady, "and his poor

muttered, "and suc

ugs and glasses from the counter,

long in this neighbourho

ouse at Mid-Hatton. I remember the time well enough because of a

omething of a sensation," I murmured.

it had been vacant for a long time. It belong

take it, is a

believ

r, glanced up at the clock and then at

ning the smile, "but the queer people who se

and Spanish men and what-not. If some of the old gentry that lived here befor

hall hope to see more of Mr. Camber, and of y

ied, "but as to Mr. Camber, I really doubt if he would kn

all

as started on the rampage like, but some of the people he has met in

been well received?

n indignation. "He either does not remember what he says or does when he is in dr

s of the "old gentry," as outlined by Mrs. Wootton; for certainly it would seem that