The Soul Stealer

seen the interior of them. Such entertaining as the man about town did-and he was always one of

master was therefore the more surprised when Charli

coming to dinner. We've some business to talk over, so I shan't di

u're not in the habit of dining at home, and you've not got you

iam," his master

," the man answered, "we can hav

iam, but quite good. Shall we say a little bisque for the soup? Then perhaps a small Normandy sole. Afterwards a chicken cooked en casserole. As an entrée s

ccustomed preparations, and inwardly resolving that Mr. Eustace

myself. I'll have it sent up from the club. You've a

we certainl

n. We'll say a

owed and

mperturbably cheerful and suave as usual. He took no interest in the absorbing question as to whether young Harry Rayke-the Earl of Spaydes' son-would after all propose to Lithia Varallette, the well-kno

as night came to be darker and foggier still, Charliewood's ag

now exists in front of Buckingham Palace. The fog made him cough, the raw air was most unpleasant, and it was no ho

es were wet with perspiration, and only a hot bath before dressing for dinner and a couple of b

all outward appearances he was the usual Eustace Char

igh-class sporting prints, the subdued wall-paper, the comfortable padded chairs,

two, gleaming with glass and silver and lit b

iting. He looked round it wi

pon it, up to his throat. The apple moved up and down convulsively, and for a single moment the whole

upon the twitching nerves, the man whose whole life was discreet adventure, who

e the especial spirit deputed to look after the other side of him happened to chance that way, and remembering he had often found

about a quarter to eight, he heard someone upon the steps outside, in J

the lower regions, which were deep in the bowels of the earth, and no doubt Mr.

dy helping his guest off with his coat and showing him into the dining-room. William did not know that there were any sp

face of the host. "Awfully good of you to come and take me like this, but I thought we should be more comfortable here than at the Club.

e charming room and laughed-

emple," he said. "But you fellows who live

asily do without. Now, sit down and have a sherry and bitters. Dinner will be up in a minute. And try one of these cigarettes. It's a bad plan to smoke before dinner, I know, as a rule, but these little things just go with the sherry and bitte

ed out his feet towards the fire and enjoyed a moment of intense physical ease. The flames and the shaded electric lights shone upon his fine and happy face,

two more dinn

as they sat down to the hors d'?uvre. "Just p

Cambridge Club, had a beef-steak, looked at the evening papers, and then return

to-night, then?" Charl

ngagements during the last week or two, telling people I was going o

, and a slight glea

eople you're going out of town when yo

e habit of going to just now every one thinks I'm away. I'v

htly lifted a gl

know you very well, Rathbone, and I am sure I should hate to be impertinent in any way. But still, as you know, I go about everywhere, and one can't help hea

s, and as he did so Rathbone, whose glass was lifted in res

ed you?" Charliew

anything had got about. I didn't know that you knew. Oh, confound it," he concluded, "I don't wa

f in any way infringing the natural reticence that should be between men in our position. Still, you k

uest had arrived. There was a throbbing at his temples, his throat felt as if it were packed with warm flour. He hurriedly gulped down some champagne and went on. "

g rung for him at the psychological moment, knowing that the lit

o had been biting his lips in perplexity and drumming

on my word, if you'd let me, I should like to ta

that what you did say would be said in absolute confidence, and that if the experience of a man older

ll ask you for a hint as to what I ought to do. Miss Poole"-he mentioned the name with obvious reluctance-"has found that she made an-er, we

ver, in fact,"

other answered, "and of course t

?" Charlie

im at all. At the same time it's awfully bad form to make love to a girl who's engaged to any one else. And that, unconsciously, is just what I se

d a little and the

't your fault at all. But I do think it's very wrong if a girl who finds tha

do you know, that's just my point of vie

that I'm probably the most intimate frien

. "Then-what-then-why? And you really

cident in the first place, I am awfully glad that we did meet and that you are here to-night. I have talked the whole matter over with poor dear S

ay?" Rathbone

. And it was a wonderful revelation to me of the strength and beauty of my old friend

you see that it's impossible that I should meet a man

tically, what he said to me was this. 'You know this young fellow, Eustace. Is he a decent sort of man? A gentleman in

bone coloured

ewood

much older than she is. I am immersed, as you know, in grave, scientific pursuits, and I quite realize that I could not give her what as a young girl she has a right to expect. I don't say that I relinquish my claim upon her without a pang, but I have other interests, and my wife and love could in any case only be a part of my life. Do you know what I should like to do more than anyth

back his chair

istinguished and charming men of the day sees a beautiful and intellectual girl and thinks the time has come when he must marry. Of course, he can't really know what love is, like a younger man or a man who has not m

pers do for me. But, 'pon my soul, si

story-book. Even the most popular novels of to-da

kindness. "You mustn't miss this chicken, it is a ra

" Rathbone answere

ed. "Only people who are not able to dine do

ble nature flowed over the older man. An evil joy in his own powers came to him-a devilish satisfaction in his knowledge of the horri

r had once more entered and left the room, he bent

deal in this matter, Charliewood, more than yo

od waved

admire you for the way you have felt and spoken since you have been telling me about your engagement, from first to last. Such a lot of men would have congratulated themsel

rld I can do--" Rat

rrender Miss Poole. He is willing and anxious to make friends with you. In fact, I know he is most anxious to meet you. I admit that it

e answered. "I shall be proud to mee

We are sure to find Gouldesbrough in to-night after dinner. Suppose we walk up to Regent's Park and call on him

shall leave his house to-night feeling

last remark but merely pushed the

ogether turned up about their ears, were walking briskly towards Oxford Street. The fog was ver

fact, I think it would be a mistake to take a hansom on a night like this. The roads are horribly greasy. You can't see th

more prepared for the interview. I'm not a sybarite like you are, and after a dinner

lied; "then come along. We

thick fog that stung the nostrils and the eyes an

passed up Portland Place, turned to the left

far now," Cha

o, and his voice had

re cold, and this fog plays the deuce with the lungs. Do keep qu

ttle door in the high wall of Si

t. Nobody saw them as Charliewood opened the door with a pass-key, explaining to Rathbone th

ouse," he explained, still with

door, and it cli

ed against som

re! You must conduct me, Charliewood

the cold seemed to have penetrated the bones of h

ards or so. Then Rathbone saw a dim light above his head. It was t

ood said; "six steps, a

ey, opened the massive door of the

imly-lit place. "This is rather miserable, but Gouldesbrough has got a little snuggery down

ood's echoing footsteps as he led the way towards th

he place began to steal over his nerves and influence them, c

d that he was back again in the

they passed through, and it sw