The Velvet Glove

blish a mental centre of gravity round which other minds hov

at the edge of that pit and looked in. I do not know to this day whether there is gold at th

an. For the majority of human beings are gregarious. They meet together in order to quarrel. The majority of women prefer to sit and squabble round o

rry-boat after midnight. He noted the unusual proceeding with a tolerant shrug. It will be remembered that he closed his glasses with a smile--not a smile of amusement or of contempt--not even a deep smile such as people wear in books. It

countenance that are moulded by conceit and vanity. A smile is frequently misconstrued by the simple-hearted into the outward

al with a man of perfect self-control. And the man who controls himself is usual

d made it. But years had made it the face of a man that nothing could rouse. He was of medium height, with rather narrow shoulders, but upright and lithe. He was clean shaven and of a pleasant ruddiness. His eyes were a bluish gray, and lo

arrion said that he had known him all his life. And the Count de Sa

struck the half hour. It was more than thirty minutes since the ferry-boat had sidled across the river, and Mon glance

ndered such useful aid to a stricken traveler. The light of Mon's lamp showed this holy man to be large and heavy of face, with the narrow forehead of the fanatic. With such a face and head, this could not be a

be no verbal message. From the mysterious folds

s still living. You had better

lding the letter to the candle, and, when it was ignited, throwi

a struggle in the street, and I was sent out to see what it signified. I found a man lying

s compact hea

man said

g, Exce

my brother. Go, and

f complete self-satisfaction which is only found

far to go, and knew the shortest ways through the narrow streets. He could hear a muleteer shouting at his beasts on the bridge as he crossed the Calle Don Jaime I. The streets w

Gregorio and turned into an open doorway that led into the patio of a great four-side

d priest of benevolent face. "He is conscious. He

se me, though he has not seen me for twenty

and the priest fingered the

of the law," he

get signed if we can; but, failing that, the other will do. You see the difference. In this one the pin is from left to r

ed with his narrow gaze the movements of the

to say. And his air was that of a quiet pilot know

able near at hand stood a basin, a bottle, and a few evidences of surgical aid. But the doctor had gone. Two friar

assy eyes, thinking deeply and quickly. At times his expression was one of wonder, as if a conviction forced itself upon

in coming," replied the friar. "Rather give you

y. As he spoke the door opened and an old man ca

ehind the dying man's head. The notary moved the table so that in looking at h

atement or a last test

since they have killed me. I wil

was not pleasa

tinued--and hearing t

aid, "is Franci

red the not

be a notary of Saragossa

otary of Sara

go de Cuba. And I have a

love of money perhaps hid itself beneath the brown hood of the men

, "some cordial, o

pause he

my son Leon de Mogente. To my daughter Juanita de Mogente I left a sufficiency. I wish now to make a will

, but sat upright rather suddenly in obedience to a signal

that he devotes no part of it to the

y straight while h

nte suddenly, with a change of mann

up at Evasio Mon,

for him at two

ill sign

ok of doubt towards the dark doorway behind the sick

ow, my friend. Send

ngly nodde

y too glad, it would seem, to rise and go into the next r

ogente was a sparely-built man, with a white and oddly-rounded forehead. His eyes were dark

. "It is you. You look l

pressed exultation. Evasio Mon, watching him from the doorway, smile

wish to b

y deares

your mother," he said. "She was a foo

bedside," pleaded the son. He was a feeble man-

," answered Mogente, without even

again, and seemed to seek

r fortune," he suggested at l

on was shaki

puzzled silence. He was at fault again. Mogente seemed to be

rion," he asked suddenl

d door. "No--but your will--your will. Try and remember wh

, n

--your d

o be directed, not toward

more confidently. "That is rig

nodded h

nct voice. "For I will sign nothing that I have no

s earthly possessions to Juanita de Mogente, his only daughter. Being no notary, this elderly priest wrote out a plain-spoken documen

signed his name to it. After this he lay quite still, so still that at last the notary,