The Magician

ts that had happened. The telegram that Susie had received pointed to a definite scheme on Haddo's part, and suggested that his sudden illness was but a device to get into the

he physical repulsion which hitherto had mastered all other feelings. Although she repeated to herself that she wanted never to see him again, Margaret could scarcely resist an overwhelming desire to go to him. Her will had been taken from her, and she was an automaton. She struggled, like a bird in the fowler's net with useless beating of the wings; but at the bottom of her heart she was dimly conscious that she did not want to resist. If he had given her that address, it was because he knew she would use it. She did not know why she wanted to go to him; she had nothing to say to him; she knew only that it was necessary to go. But a few days before she had seen the Phèdre of Racine, and she felt on a sudden all the torments that wrung the heart of that unhappy queen; she, too, struggled aimlessly to escape from the poison that the immort

heart was in a turmoil. She desired with all her might not to go, and sought vehemently to prevent herself, and yet withal she went. She ran up the stairs and knocked at the door. She remembered his directions distinctly. In a moment O

aiting for y

to emphasise his singularity. There was a peculiar lack of comfort, which suggested that he was indifferent to material things. The room was large, but so cumbered that it gave a cramped impression. Haddo dwelt there as if he were apart f

re old acquaintances between whom nothing of moment ha

me come here?' s

ow for very marvellou

w I shou

kne

you should make me so unhappy?

g out if you choose to go. No harm

here was something that drew her strangely to him, and she was ceasing to resist. A strange feeling began

iceless gems. The splendour of the East blinded her eyes. He spoke of frankincense and myrrh and aloes, of heavy perfumes of the scent-merchants, and drowsy odours of the Syrian gardens. The fragrance of the East filled her nostrils. And all these things were transformed by the power of his words till life itself seemed offered to her, a life of infinite vivacity, a life of freedom, a life of supernatural knowledge. It seemed to her that a comparison was drawn for her attention between the narrow round which awaited her as Arthur's wife and this fair, full existence. She shuddered to think of the

med her. With a quick movement, his eyes more than ever strangely staring, he took her in his arms, and he kiss

ve you,' she

him. She did n

must go,'

t. She walked through the streets as if nothing at all

hat some accident would do so, she could scarcely control her irritation. There was always that violent hunger of the soul which called her to him, and the only happy hours she had were those spent in his company. Day after day sh

secrets. She understood how men had bartered their souls for infinite knowledge. She seemed to stand upon a pinnacle of the temple, and spiritual kingdoms of darkness, principalities of the unknown, were spread before her eyes to lure her to destr

u shall see

he

y so

ame and yet had poisoned her mind. The comparison between the two was to Arthur's disadvantage. She thought him a little dull now, and his commonplace way of looking at life contrasted with Haddo's fascinating boldness. She reproached Arthur in her heart because he had never understood what was in her. He narrowed her mind. And gradually she began to hate him because her debt of gratitude was so great. It seemed unfair that he should have done so much for her. He forced her to marry him by his beneficence. Yet Margaret continued to discuss with him the arrangement of their house in Harley Street. It had been her wish to furnish the drawing-room in the style of Louis XV; and together they made long excurs

ture of Arthur for me that you

oesn't lend himself t

igure I should have thought you coul

utiful, kind eyes and his tender mouth. I would as soon do

courage to prevent her from looking. She turned the drawings carelessly and presently came to a sheet upon which, in a more or less finished stat

r,' said Margaret, as sh

a head of Arthur as you

ne to take such an overpowering int

r than she. Next day, when the other was out, Margaret looked through the portfolio once more, but the sketches o

nfluence over her. There was something satanic in his deliberation, yet in actual time it was almost incredible that he could have changed the old abhorrence with

t I'm leaving Paris on Thursday,

et and stared at him

is to beco

ry the excell

ive without you. How

native is that you s

nd her heart seemed p

do you

ed. I am making you an eminent

itely. She was seized with revulsion. Margaret realized that, though an odious attraction bound her to the man, she loathed and feared him. The scales fell from her eyes. She remembered on a sudden Arthur's grea

I'd never seen you. I don't k

s if you choose

His cheeks were huge, and the lack of beard added to the hideous nakedness of his face. Margaret stopped as she passed him, horribly repelled yet horribly fascinated. She had an immense desire that he should take her again in his arms and press

' he

der and fragile, half gold with autumn, half green, but so tenuous that the dark branches made a pattern of subtle beauty against the sky. The hand of a draughtsman could not have fashioned it with a more excellent skill. But now Margaret could take no pleasure in its grace. She felt a heartrending pang to think that thenceforward the consummate things of art would have no meaning for her. She had seen Arthur the evening before, and remembered with an agony of shame the lies to which sh

make a clean breast o

Behind her was a priest in the confessional. A little peasant girl, in a Breton coiffe, perhaps a maid-servant lately come from her native village to the great capital, passed in and knelt down. Margaret could hear her muttered words, and at intervals the deep voice of the priest. In three minutes she tripped neatly away. She looked so fresh in her plain black dress, so healthy and innocent, that Margaret could not restrain a sob of

ndering if they were tormented by such agony as she. But they had a living faith to sustain them, and if some, as was plain, were narrow and obtuse, they had at least a fixed rule which prevented them from swerving into treacherous byways. One of

er. For her that stately service had no meaning. And with a great cry in her heart she said that God had forsaken her. She was alone in an alien land. Evil was all about her, and in those ceremonies she could find no comfort. What could she expect when the God o

,' she repeated. 'Go

f to Haddo's door. When he opened it, she went in witho

you whenever you choo

l the necessary

f your mother. Will you

a smile cros

ou wi

Consul early enough on the Thursday morning to catch

ly unhappy,' s

upon her shoulders and

forget your tears. I co

had conquered. She felt on a sudden curiously elated. It seemed no longer to matter that she decei

*

hur's birthday, and he asked

proud, and hang th

n he fetched her. Margaret was dressed with exceeding care. She stood in the middle of the room, waiting

don't know what it is that has come over you of late, but there's a depth in your e

her. Their eyes met. His heart beat quickly, and yet he was seized with awe. His good fortune was too great to bear, when he thought that this priceless treasure was his. He could have knelt down and worshipped as though a goddess of old Gre

pleased?'

nd Margaret put her h

scent on

East. It was remote and strange. It gave Margaret a new and troubling charm. There had ever been something cold in her statuesque beauty, but this touch somehow curiously emphasized her sex. Arth

you kiss me

ost brotherly. Now their lips met. Forgetting that anyone else was in the room, he flung his arms around Margaret. She had never kissed him in that way before, and the rapture was intolerable. Her lips were like living fire. He could not take his own away. He forg

inner instead of behaving lik

her friend. Susie's brave smile died away as she caught this glance, for there was in it a malicious hatred that startled her. It was so unexpected that she was terrified. What

e must go,' s

Paris. It was crowded, but Arthur had reserved a table in the middle of the room. Her radiant loveliness made people stare at Margaret as she passed, and her consciousness of the admiration she excited increased her beauty. She was satisfied that amid that throng of the best-dressed women in the world she had cause to envy no one. The gaiety was charming. Shaded lights gave an opulent cosiness to the scene, and there were flowers everywhere. Innumerable mirrors reflecte

would do when they were married. They talked of the places they must go to, of their home and of the beautiful things with which they would fill it. Margaret's animation was extraordinary. Arthur was amused at her delight with the brig

the happiness of

He could not take hi

night,' he said. 'I'm almos

to be afraid

n order to propitiate the fates. I am too h

uld have modelled its exquisite delicacy. She wore only one ring, a large emerald

he said, when they had finished di

go to bed early, as I have a t

u going to d

ny importance

aret watched the people. It was no less amusing than a play. In a little while, they took a cab and drove through the streets, silent already, that led to the quarter of the Montparnasse. They sat

ispered. 'I feel that, however long I live,

very much?' sh

her passionately. They arrived at Margaret's house, and she t

dnig

must spend a dozen hours withou

ecause I shall be too

y at that hour. The door was opened, and wit