The Man with a Secret

face I lov

ars ha

are for i

ove i

orget wha

went

sing in, the grey veil of the sky was rent here and there showing a patch of pale cold bl

the gargoyles, leering demoniacally at the silent figure. The great square tower, built of rough stone, stood out massively against the dull grey sky, and round it every now and then flashed the pigeons who lived therein, gleaming white in the faint light of the sun. He could hear the hoarse murmur of the river flowing past,

d temptations into its present state. It was true that he was to all appearances thoroughly bad, and that many had cause to regret his friendship, yet oc

ant. With an involuntary sigh he walked down to the Gar and, seating himself on a flat tombstone which set forth the virtues of Susan Pelle

se of these many years--the shining river, the confused mass of houses huddled under the dusky cloud of London smoke, and far away the swelling dome of St. Paul's looking aerial and fairy-like against the twilight sky, while above the great mass gleamed the golden cross shining in the firmament like the visionary symbol of Constantine. They were poor, not

e the glory of the sunset had departed; and beside him silently stood a veiled woman. He jumped to his feet in surprise, feelin

y!" he gasped, r

ont of her black dress, "the very woman, Basil Beaumont, whom you

ing laugh, relapsed once more into the bitter-tongued, cynical man of the world. He rapidly rolled a cigarette and, having

Humph! it's a long time--and now we meet again! You've alt

ghed bi

since you left me was the kind to

uire Garsworth, I understand--not a very wearying position! Trouble tel

hink one needs to live in the world to know what trouble is? You are wrong. D

he asked,

h to go to service in London you said you loved me, and

did expect

s and met me there by appointment. I

ress, yes;

rn--a boy whom I idolized. But, instead of that being a bond to draw us closer t

ently. "You were a drag on me, and I could not endure poverty, even w

eart, according to your calculation; it enabled me to pay

u not stay

itted with you seemed to cut me off for ever from all hope of mercy. I resolved to sin no more--to expiate, if I could, by pr

ad the

I was his mother; no, I did not wish our sin to be visited on his

sure," said Beaumont, with a

was the child's nurse, and placed him in the care of Doctor Larcher to be brought up. What little money I could spare out of my salary

no idea you had such inventive powers. But there i

aim him?" she a

lf, without troubling about a hulking boy. You need never

nald

umont's nerveless fingers, and h

ered under his breath; "th

e s

lent for a few momen

on," he said, coolly, looking at Patience. "You d

as some expiat

brought him up because he was your son--not because

at knowledge of shame; le

n't trouble me in the slightest. In fa

mean?" she as

ine tenor voice, and I don't see why

im like an enraged tigres

t by you--I've brought him up all these years by myself without troubling you for money--he thinks his birth is hon

r," he said coolly, "I

m," she panted with a look of despai

aughed in a

gers in the air. "I'm not going to lose the chance of

l him you are

wil

deserted us bo

d at the sting

he said angrily, "and make him d

er who deserted him when a child and now want to make money out him; you would disgrace him in his own e

ill st

wil

tion, but how do you p

, how you left both him and me to starve in the streets of London and only claim him as a son to make

s my

r slave. As to the rest, I'll take care that everyone in the village knows

held the trump card, so suddenly forsook

say nothing to hi

u like, but do not dare to reveal my secret to Reginald Blake--if you do it will

ience--my

rel you were and a scoundrel you are--don't touch me, don't come near me, but breat

and fled away into the darkness leaving him standing alone by the river. He remained silent for a few moment

ea of such luck. Ah, you she cat, I'll cut your claws yet; I'll make

him as he lighted his ciga

er, so does he--it appears," continued Mr. Beaumont saunteri