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Updated: September 20, 2025
At one end of the hall sprang the fair staircase that was itself one of the greatest glories of Harby, with its wonderful balustrade, on which, landing by landing, stood the glorious carved figures of the famous angels of Harby. Between the topmost pair of carven angels a woman stood for a second looking down upon the man below.
Had he been attentive he might have noticed that Evander now wrote another word that was also a name and more than a name: Death. But he did not notice, and as he ended with his odd tribute to his enemy, Evander looked up at him with a calm face. "I shall not quit you so soon," he said, in an even voice. "I have come to stay at Harby." Halfman looked at him, puzzled. "Stay at Harby," he repeated.
Rufus repeated, in derision. "Silence, sir!" Charles commanded. "Who are you?" he asked of Evander. Evander saluted. "Captain Evander Cloud, of the Parliamentary army." "How come you here?" the King inquired. Brilliana answered for him. "Your Majesty, he was taken prisoner treacherously, though the treachery was mine, three days ago. I offered his life in exchange for the life of Randolph Harby."
As at length it yielded the man of Harby opened one-half wide enough to admit the passage of a human body, and signalled to Halfman to come through. Halfman, smilingly observant, obeyed the invitation, and looked about him reflective while the gate was again put to and the key again turned in the lock to the same protesting discord.
He owed nothing to either, cared nothing for either; what he owned he owed to his sharp sword, his dull conscience, his rogue's luck, and his player's heart. Why, then, was he going to Harby when he ought to be busy in the village looking for that house with crimson eaves and the bee-haunted garden? He knew well enough, though he did not parcel out his knowledge into formal answers.
"He talks treason at Westminster; he is the King's enemy." Halfman leaned a little nearer to her across the table and spoke with a well-managed air of mystery. "Captain Cromwell is not only the King's enemy; he is also the enemy of the Lady Brilliana Harby." Brilliana shook her dark head proudly, and Halfman thought that her curls glanced like the arrows of Apollo.
"My business," answered Halfman, blithely, "is with the Lady of Harby," and before the other could shape the refusal of his eyes into an articulate grumble he went on, briskly, "Tell the Lady Brilliana Harby that an old soldier who is a Harby man born has some words to say to her which she may be willing to hear."
Both these spirits walked by Evander's side during his second day at Harby. The one that went in sable reminded him that his horizon was dwindling almost to his feet; the other, in rose and gold, hinted that it is better to be emperor for a day than beggar for a century. And truly through all that day Evander esteemed himself happier than an emperor.
D'ye see the way he be runnin' up an' down, poor man?" "Ay, an' his lad be where many o' your'n an' mine ha' been, eh, Dirk?" said Hark Harby. "Mabby he ken tell what 'tis ter be losin' his own, an' no help fur it, eh?" "Sh!" said Dirk; "the sea ben't able ter get sech a lad as his every day. If he be lost, 'tis a losin' fur more'n he, yender." This was before the beacon was kindled.
The man of Harby slackened his speed for a second, and there came an ugly look of quarrel into his face which made it plain as a map for Halfman that there was immediate chance of a brawl and a tussle. He would have relished it well enough, knowing pretty shrewdly how it would end, but he contented himself for the moment, having other business in hand, with cheerful comment.
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