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'Lilian, said the young Barndale, inwardly delirious at his own daring and the supernal beauty of her smile, but on the outside of him quite calm and assured, and a trifle masterful, 'I came because I learned that you were com-ing. If you are displeased with me for that, I will land at Corfu and go home. And bury my misery, he added in a tone so hollow and sepulchral that you or I had laughed.
Barndale was displaying his mangled darling to Papa Leland in the salle
'Yes, said the awakener, 'the Mum, the Pater, and the Kid. Mr. Barndale did not look like the sort of man to be vastly shocked at these terms of irreverence, yet it is a fact that his brown and bearded cheeks flushed like any schoolgirl's. 'Stopping at the Hotel de la Ville, said the awakener, 'and adoing of the Grand Tower, my pippin. I'm playing cicerone. Come up and have a smoke and a jaw.
If I get down there to-night I shall stay, and I want to write some letters. Goodbye, old fellow. Send us a line in the morning. 'All right, said Barndale. 'Good-bye. The sculls dipped, and he shot into the darkness. For a few minutes we follow Barndale. He pulled down stream rapidly, for the train by which he intended to reach town was already nearly due. There was nobody at the landing place.
'I shall go with you quietly, said Barndale. 'I have two things to impress upon you. Let no apparent evidence in any other direction throw you off the scent on which I have set you. Next: send a smart man to Thames Ditton and let him collect evidence of all the grounds on which I am suspected. Now I am ready.
Of his manly ways, his good and honest heart, this story will tell you something, though perchance not much. If you do not like Barndale before you part with him, believe me, it is my fault, who tell his story clumsily, and not his. For the lady of his love there might be more to say, if I were one of those clever people who read women.
'Because you are too polite, Mr. Barndale, to pry into a lady's secrets. 'There is a secret here, then? 'No. 'You are contradictory, Miss Leland? 'You are obtuse, Mr. Barndale. If there be a secret it is as open as 'As what? 'As your door was yesterday when you spoke to your servant. 'Then you ? 'Yes, responds Miss Lilian, severely. I know you gentlemen.
She repeated it with so serious an air, so precisely as if it were an original notion which had just then occurred to her, that Barndale winced under it every time she used it. His mind was quite made up on this matter. He would go away and forget her. He believed she liked him, in a friendly sisterly sort of way, and that made him feel more hopeless.
Why did you laugh when I said that it was singular that we should be making this pleasant journey together? 'Did I laugh? she asked demurely. Then quite suddenly, and with an air of denunciation. 'Ask James. Barndale rises obediently. 'No, no, says the lady. 'Sit down, Mr. Barndale. I was only joking. There was no reason. And now the young lady is blushing. 'Did I really laugh?
The stiletto flew clean over the wall, so swift and dexterous was the twist which Barndale gave the murderous hand that held it. 'Get the girl away, said Barndale rapidly to Leland. The crowd gathered round, alarmed, curious, eager to observe. Barndale helped the Greek to his feet. 'Are you hurt? he asked.