Flames

above which was a long window giving onto the passage, and as the shrill tinkle of a bell announced their entrance

" he asked, in a husky voice, invaded

terrupte

, strange to say, w

come to England from my country to earn an honest living

id Julian

perfectly well. I give them the room. They go to bed. At four o'clock in the morning I hear a bell ring. I get up. I go on the landing to listen. I hear th

ad moved his position slightly and was now standing almo

n of him?" he said.

am no relation of his. This gentleman," and he pointed to

glanced from Valentine to Juli

are like-there is something; when the poor gentleman fell on the

ne said; "you

rr's face was as utterly different from yours,

through his window, and still violently scrutinizing Valentine,-"it is not the eyes. Bu

alentine calmly interposed. "Now

rd and leant his

s great friend," he said.

fat hands with a large

they remove him. They si

very hard upon you, an honest ma

oney into one of

only wish to see

r, I can

otesting fingers. They took it as an anemone ta

he poor gentleman, I have not the hea

unamiable expression. Taking a candlestick from a dirty marble-topped slab that projected from the passage-wall, he struck a match, lit the candle, and preceded them up the narrow flight of stairs, his boots creaking l

by a door numbered

that he go from me. Mon Dieu! I am glad when he is gone. My custom he is

lthily, forming "St!" w

e gas. It i

king the candle from him,

at whom the landlord again stared with a greedy consideration and

On a slab that stuck out under the mirror was placed a bundle of curling-pins tied with white tape, a small brush and comb, and a bottle of cherry-blossom scent. Near the mirror stood a narrow sofa covered with red rep. Upon this lay a man's upturned top-hat, in the corner of which reposed a pair of reindeer gloves. A walking-stick with a gold top stood against

und to face the bed. The room was now a glare of light, and in this glare of light the broad bed with its white counterpane and sheets stood out harshly enough. The sheets were turned smoot

't Marr! Valentin

ot

yet-wait

over the corpse. Then he drew away and looked at

nk down upon it. "This is strange. What is it death does to a man? Yes; this is Marr. I s

again upon

near together. Julian, in describing Marr to Valentine, had pronounced him Satanic, and this dead face was, in truth, somewhat Mephistophelean. An artist might well have painted it upon his canvas as a devil. But he must have reproduced merely the features and colouring, the blue, shaven cheeks, and hollow eye-sockets; for the expression of his devil he would have

lamation to Valentine, he sat, leaning one arm upon the head of the b

, was staring

andered round the house as a panther wanders round a bungalow by night. And the thin stream of people flowed by on the shining pavement beyond the iron railing of the narrow garden. They spoke, as they went, of all the minor things of life, details of home, details of p

il, and now it's just as if his body were thanking God because it had got rid of a soul

ul of Marr spoke, stared from the pure, proud face of Valentine. That was like a possession of his friend. It was horrible, as if a devil chose for a moment to lurk and to do evil in the sanctuary of a church, to blaspheme at the very altar. Valentine did not speak.

, that Valentine was pursuing Marr, uselessly

" Julian cr

ine lo

ly again, calm, pure, delicately reserved. The death-chamber no longer contained a

e, come here,

by the end of the bed

amined hi

posite to me ag

to you!

is the matter with this room? and me?

ou know I have never

was Marr as I knew him has utterly gone. Death has drive

pins and lifted his hand to the gas-chandelier. He had turned out one of the b

landlord put them out.

the landing to the upper parts of the house a light flickered down to them, and they per

-the gentleman who is dea

an't believe he's reall

aw the lady

f cours

hat was

's nose curle

h, a very common person. Not at a

ou

inst her. She wore a hat, sir, and feathers-well, m

ath

anding. Then he and Valentine descended the stairs. The landlord was waiting in the passage in an attentive attitude against the wall. He seemed taken unawares by their appearance, but his eyes immediately sought Valentine's face, still apparently questioning it with avidity. Julian noticed this, and recollected that the man had insisted on a likeness existing between Marr and Valentine. Possibly that fact, alt

moment?" Julian asked the man. "I

ly, sir, wit

e than doubtful decency. A table with a bottle and two or three glasses ranged on it occupied the middle of the floor. On a chair by the fire the Gil Bias was thrown in a crumpled attitude. One gas-burner

entleman who came las

always here. I mind my hous

a moment. What was the lady lik

ery chic, v

ar her go out

nsidering the advisableness of a little bluster.

e. Till the bell rang I

recognize

y look at her, a

d the gentleman. When y

up. I come in. He just

say nothing.

know," Julian said. "V

ll me

he lit windows of the bedroom on the first story. Marr was lying there in the bright illumination at ease, relieved of his soul. But, as Julian looked, the two windows sudde

n said; "a drop of rain more or less

e. "The atmosphere of th

no two opinions as to it

ourse

eary place

dies? I think not. I attach immen

tched Frenchman as the only witness of one's death. Still, I suppose it is

N

u watched him almost as i

I had never se

ndlord seeing a likene

us might be a relation, as we came to see Marr. I

t's impossible. T

ugh the dismal thoroughfares, towards the asp

had seen

inary interest in a man you knew so

my head that he had something to do

ossi

. I must tell him about Marr's death. Vale

t reply at once,

tell the

y we

gave th

in," Julian said prese

up sideways until the light of a g

So late? I a

od while at t

doctor will have come in, even if he

ian got out and rang

Levillier

m every moment. Will you come in and wait?"

. I rather want to see

He's with m

the cab, in which V

e home in a few minutes. Le

you

sur

re came into his voice a weariness, "I am rath

was obviously disapp

e sure-you're certain that you are

the step of the cab to loo

ired and sleepy, Julian. We

I want badly to have a

ht. Good

d-ni

s horse. Just as the cab was turning round Valentine leaned out over

egards to the d

ed, splashing thr

d still on

hat, Lawler

looked at hi

lentine

Valen

s,

. But his voice, didn

l voice, sir," Lawler said,

o-night," Ju

use and Lawler clos