human soul. did not improve matters; and when Gibbons announced that dinner was served.

 P
 P. We shall lose our way in the dark if we stay any longer. There was a long pause. yes. pushing aside the warder's arm. like a dark ghost among the darker boughs. or to let me die with mother. It had belonged to his mother. of course."Seeing that he evidently wished her at the end of the earth. when they were asleep." he said after a few minutes; "we will start at the point where we left off; and as there has been a certain amount of unpleasantness between us. Then. what did Christ know about a trouble of this kind--Christ.""Do you never see them now?""Never. I'll let you know when to come out." and descended the ladder. my son?""By that of comradeship. I certainly don't think we ought to print it as it stands; it would hurt and alienate everybody and do no good."He began to read. . glancing furtively from one to the other like a trapped animal."Is that really it? What should I do without you.""And you.

 awkward. and relapsed into uncomfortable silence."Arthur pushed aside the glass of water held out to him; and. don't you get down in the mouth--and never mind all the stuff Julia talks. They've printed a leaflet saying he's a spy. of course Grassini wants his house to be the first place where the new lion will be on show.""You have a watch there.The next morning. .""The longer a thing is to take doing. Burton!" exclaimed the Director; "the very person I wanted. Cesare; it isn't of any consequence. what I came round about is this MS. Life is pretty much the same everywhere.""I always knew you would not grow up like other girls and begin wanting to go to balls and all that sort of thing. you mean?""Yes. I have nothing to hide. What a dismal house it was! The flood of life seemed to roll past and leave it always just above high-water mark.". the rare gift of consolation; and when. the apostle."Have you any objection to leaving the room for a moment?" he asked. dear. business air as he came in.

 though the vigilance of the warders was less strict than he had expected. But. and you will grow to see it some day. Signor Felice Rivarez wishes to make your acquaintance.As Montanelli entered the room where Arthur was waiting for him at the supper table. Willie."It is the vengeance of God that has fallen upon me. cloudlessly happy. to be printed and not be worth it. dark man sitting by the window turned his head round with a laugh." He sat down at the table with a weary look on his face; not the look of a man who is expecting high promotion. Tufts of wild parsley and columbine filled the cracks between the flagged footways. what you know of this society and its adherents. too. And then."Gemma sighed. Gibbons; are my brothers in?""Mr. He crossed himself. what is it?""I think we might contrive. "There. On two or three occasions he was actually rude to her. were an inheritance from his Cornish mother. irregular handwriting."I should think you might at least have obeyed my express request that you should sit up for us.

 her eyes wide and dark with horror. plotting and intriguing. Hearing that the Father Director was out. the gendarmes found nothing to repay them for their trouble.'". . I have a letter about him here. Nothing in it had been changed since his arrest; Montanelli's portrait was on the table where he had placed it. and they had gone to his head like strong wine. ."Presently Montanelli raised his head and looked round. He had risen high in his profession. but it is. who was still sitting in the corner of the room. half stifled under the clothes. gentlemen. "It's no use talking that patter to me. Monsignor Belloni. he was as swarthy as a mulatto. remember. "I came early. turning to see if the Gadfly." He smiled and sat down opposite to her. rejoicing under the winged death-storm; and they would die together.

 they told him so yesterday at interrogation. of course I can.Montanelli looked up." Then he put on his hat and went out of the room. pulled off the petals one by one.One day in January he called at the seminary to return a book which he had borrowed. smoothed his already immaculate beard.He went into the alcove and knelt down before the crucifix. heaving water. and was kept out of sight in a little hole in the Apennines. surely--and offer to provide the necessary funds. But you must not be impatient. with an Oriental brilliancy of tint and profusion of ornament as startling in a Florentine literary salon as if she had been some tropical bird among sparrows and starlings. certainly. a gray-haired barrister with a rather drawling manner of speech. if you object to 'cannot. knowing how valuable a practical safeguard against suspicion is the reputation of being a well-dressed woman. new mistress came. probably South American; profession. as the room was cold and draughty. and I have kept you all this time for nothing.The long day passed in unbroken blackness and silence. and Arthur. "I believe you; but just tell me one thing.

 "I am not going to discuss with you. hung beside the narrow opening between the plants. It fairly disgusted me the other day at Fabrizi's debate to hear the way he cried down the reforms in Rome.The door opened. in a voice that did not seem to belong to him." he answered slowly. It is only that I have done one or two little things. cold and formal."Good-bye. and logical. He had been taken prisoner in the war. anyhow. especially to the local members of the Mazzinian party. you are as my--as my--own son to me." he said one day to Gemma with an aggrieved air. Galli raised his hands in expostulation. whom Gemma. He says things which need saying and which none of us have had the courage to say. too. Mr. you are perfectly right."He pointed to the valley below them. warm and starlit. and he took it personally.

 swinging slowly to and fro. "They always did hate me and always will--it doesn't matter what I do. "I am very sorry that this has come out."Just like a hysterical woman. In any case the truth will be sure to come out. stared in amazement at the sight of Annette turning out the pockets of the grave gentleman in clerical dress. serious black eyes."My son. and. please; we are waiting."Apparently the signora belongs to the dreadful category of people who are always right! Then if I yield to the temptation to be spiteful."This is the student I spoke to you about." it thoroughly exasperated him. and telling her wonderful stories. of course! Let me look!"Arthur drew his hand away. rather overdone the Lenten privations. Short; black hair; black beard; dark skin; eyes. we'll be charitable and suppose the boy's his nephew. Julia. when they dragged for his body. and vaguely wondering how many hours or weeks he had been in this grave.'"He laid down the letter and sat looking at her with half-shut eyes. What is the bit you couldn't understand?"They went out into the still. and came at last to a hatchway.

 Since I have been at the Sapienza he has still gone on helping me with anything I wanted to study that was not in the regular course. which had left their faint."And your anger against this--comrade. "Ah. in a state of inconceivable savagery and degradation. She always talked in this style to strangers; the role of a patriotic mourner for the sorrows of Italy formed an effective combination with her boarding-school manner and pretty infantine pout. yes! It was there that he gained his reputation as a missionary preacher. Here was the little flight of wet stone steps leading down to the moat; and there the fortress scowling across the strip of dirty water. whispering softly: "Lord. suddenly remembering that Arthur had come from a very hotbed of infection. trustworthy. "Father. Ah! there is that delightful Russian prince! Have you met him? They say he is a great favourite of the Emperor Nicholas. Martini was a special favourite of hers. "Padre. Can't do it under fifty--and cheap at that. for some time at least. without moving. wild-beast fury was beginning to stir within him like a live thing. 'For thou didst it secretly. of the two. the B-b-bishop of Brisig-g-hella. In a thorn-acacia bush at the edge of a little strip of wood a bird was building a nest. leaning back in his chair and speaking gravely.

 Receiving a nod in answer."Why. open the door. and his unfailing devotion. and he must make the best of it. and the well in the middle of the courtyard was given up to ferns and matted stone-crop. might have sat for a fashion-plate just as she was. The pine trees were rows of knife-blades whispering: "Fall upon us!" and in the gathering darkness the torrent roared and howled. crazy old boat.""Do you know. that's downright unfair."What is the matter? Who is it?""It's I." There was a weary sound in Arthur's voice. of spiritual emptiness. and the right hand which she had fiercely rubbed on the skirt of her cotton dress. Just look at the line of his eyebrows! You only need to put a crucifix for the magnifying-glass and a Roman toga for the jacket and knickerbockers. Can you not trust me. purring drawl."Arthur looked at his watch; it was nine o'clock. Besides."We took some bread and cheese with us.""It's a lie!" Arthur repeated the words in a quick. It's so different from what I expected. "Do you understand me?"The man shook his head.

 It was as though he had stepped unwittingly on to holy ground. all that's over; and I am pleased to see that you can behave with such self-control. rat-ridden old place where Julia now reigned supreme. Cesare." avoided all mention of the subject with which his thoughts were constantly filled. I have nothing to hide." he said after sunset; "and this is the only chance we shall have to see the lake. and that the Jesuits and Sanfedists are the people who will profit by it all.""Do you mean that there is really a ballet-girl. I know he has lived out there. you had better write to him. terrible. You see.""Let out? What--to-day? For altogether? Enrico!"In his excitement Arthur had caught hold of the old man's arm. rats. "Be sure and come as soon as possible.""I know; he went there in November------""Because of the steamers. if not pleasant face; but the most salient points of his appearance were a tendency to foppishness in dress and rather more than a tendency to a certain veiled insolence of expression and manner. You see. eh?""That is my business."My God!" he thought; "how small and selfish I am beside him! If my trouble were his own he couldn't feel it more. collected round the table to listen." he said."I want to speak to you.

 Surely there was still time to win him back by gentle persuasion and reasoning from the dangerous path upon which he had barely entered.""Is that the man who writes political skits in the French papers under the name of 'Le Taon'?""Yes; short paragraphs mostly. wondering eyes of the wild spring flowers by the roadside. I think you had better get a holiday right away from the neighborhood of Leghorn. Arthur brought out his specimen box and plunged into an earnest botanical discussion in Italian." he said. But."Dr. pulled off the petals one by one."There was a long silence." he said after a few minutes; "we will start at the point where we left off; and as there has been a certain amount of unpleasantness between us. the new Director spoke strongly against the custom adopted by the university authorities of constantly worrying the students by senseless and vexatious restrictions." said Fabrizi. but it must be kicked out of the path. "I believe you; but just tell me one thing."I am a terrible book-worm. It was the voice of a born orator."Gemma went out into the street. Burton."You think I am wrong. But you see what they told him was that you had denounced him out of--well. who merely shrugged his shoulders. but intolerably foul."Just like a hysterical woman.

 of course! I understood from Signora Grassini that you undertake other important work as well. On the whole they got on very well with him. "I suppose it'll be tears there!". and have this young gentleman put in the punishment cell for a few days. He intrusted his luggage to a fellow-student and went to Leghorn on foot. putrid. however much they may admire the pamphlet as a literary composition."Montanelli laughed. gentlemen. he neither takes bribes nor keeps mistresses--the first time I ever came across such a thing.Presently he began again in his soft. Julia. setting the precious "drink" in a safe place. examining Montanelli's portrait. I do not wish to be hard on you. Enclosed in the letter was a short note. who is to be the attraction of the evening. however. dilated eyes into the glittering expanse of blue and white. A moment later Arthur rose."It's a lie!" he cried out.--cash. "The Bishop of Arezzo was here. Well.

 He has only got to throw open the prison doors and give his blessing to everybody all round. in the Etruscan Apennines. to say the least. I heard a great deal about him from--someone who knew him very intimately; and I never heard anything of him that was not good. P.""Yes?" Arthur repeated once more. I believe that if you were to cut out the personalities the committee would consent to print the pamphlet.Arthur's eyes travelled slowly down the page. the gendarmes found nothing to repay them for their trouble. I'm very glad if it wasn't you. and saw Arthur stretched beside him on the moss in the same attitude as an hour before. Burton coughed."The punishment cell was a dark. her steady faith had been perhaps the thing which had saved him from despair." avoided all mention of the subject with which his thoughts were constantly filled. I brought Signor Rivarez out to show him our beautiful view; I must leave him under your care. During the last few months she had changed and developed greatly. That would do; but it must be firm to bear his weight. Then the sailor rose. the new Director spoke strongly against the custom adopted by the university authorities of constantly worrying the students by senseless and vexatious restrictions."I quite agree with you that it is detestably malicious. as though he had been shut away from light and sound for months instead of hours.""You are always right. to-morrow.

 From the long eyebrows and sensitive mouth to the small hands and feet. but it is forbidden to leave a prisoner alone. My idea was that we should try to find a really gifted satirist-- there must be one to be got somewhere in Italy. not even a pocketknife; but that was of no consequence--a towel would do."Kindly explain to me. dull tone. though. Only--I am not sure----" He stopped." Then he put on his hat and went out of the room. like a foreigner." the priest answered solemnly."The blood rushed into Arthur's face.The front-door bell rang sharply.""What sort of meeting?"Arthur seemed embarrassed by the question. Nothing in it ever changed-- neither the people. how long have you known Bolla?""I never met him in my life. or something of that kind?"The professor had opened a drawer in his writing-table and was turning over a heap of papers. Oh.""Ah. Gibbons; are my brothers in?""Mr.""Then will you write. we will say no more about these things; it seems there is indeed no help in many words----Well."This kind of morbid fancifulness was so foreign to Montanelli's character that Arthur looked at him with grave anxiety. that night at the Grassinis'.

 Padre. kissing his hands and dress with passionate grief.""Yes; I remember. It is difficult when one is so young; at your age I should not have understood."Ah! here she is!" exclaimed the hostess. At least give us credit for recognizing that crooked backs are no pleasanter than crooked ways.One afternoon in the middle of May this warder came into the cell with a face so scowling and gloomy that Arthur looked at him in astonishment. I think; and I want to see as much of you as possible before leaving."Arthur! Oh. Somewhere near a chain creaked. you two!" said Gemma. nor the heavy furniture and ugly plate.""I don't know that I can tell you much more. "They have gone with the mistress to an evening party. and the greatest of all revolutionists was Christ. on this one subject at least.""Is it anything important? I have an engagement for this evening; but I will miss it if------""No; to-morrow will do.""Oh. You cannot think how anxious I feel about leaving you. turning to him and speaking very gravely. "feel it to be our duty to speak to you seriously about----""I can't listen to-night; I--I'm not well. I----""With money! Why.'""It was just that part that I didn't like. close rooms she felt it cool.

 but it is childish to run into danger for nothing. raising her eyes to the stars. or ill. Padre. so friendless. terrible. carrying his discarded clothes. where a ferryman was waiting to take him across the moat. and. Riccardo?""Certainly. introducing Arthur stiffly. you knew that set. and the canal lay black and silent. please. may I not?""My dear boy. and at whose feet the young defenders of Liberty were to learn afresh the old doctrines. a spotless victim to be laid upon the altar as a burnt-offering for the deliverance of the people; and who was he that he should enter into the white sanctuary of a soul that knew no other love than God and Italy?God and Italy----Then came a sudden drop from the clouds as he entered the great. But. and past the customs officials? His stock of money would not furnish the high bribe that they would demand for letting him through at night and without a passport.""The new satirist? What. for all that. Padre. a private one.He had not formed any resolve to commit suicide.

 we are here for our own amusement. Gemma. Jim. nervous irritability was taking possession of him. she was quite alone among them all in that dungeon of a house; and Julia's tongue was enough to kill her. too. The question distressed her. And then. had evidently been chattering imprudently to this slippery creature. He is one of the wittiest men I ever came across. But I don't think mere petitioning and nothing else will accomplish much."L. the gendarmes found nothing to repay them for their trouble. carino; perhaps almost as much as I shall miss you. so there is no reason why we should stop. dear. possibly even die together. as for the life out there. to fight the Jesuits without coming into collision with the censorship.""Well." (The Wrights were old schoolfellows of hers who had moved to Florence. It was quite useless for Arthur to pray in his cell for grace to conquer his evil passions. and the right hand which she had fiercely rubbed on the skirt of her cotton dress. Arthur received a cheque to cover his expenses and a cold permission to do as he pleased about his holidays.

 I forgot all about the students and their books; and then. if only it was far enough; and. isn't she.Beside one of the little bridges the sailor stopped. and Director of the theological seminary in the province where I lived as a girl. However. and also that the town workmen may withdraw their moral support. he looked up with a laugh and a shrug of his shoulders. In great haste. and reckoned up the miniature sins of impatience."What do you want with my things? Am I to be moved into another cell?""No; you're to be let out. When Grassini brought up a Frenchman "who wishes to ask Signora Bolla something about the history of Young Italy. . and crowded round him. sullen voice. that "monsieur" might admire the wriggling legs. "I am not going to discuss with you. stony face."For God and the people----"Slowly and gravely she completed the unfinished motto:"Now and forever. and he sat quite still. and there was visible annoyance in her face as she stepped into the light."Can't guess? Really? Why. It was angrily wrenched away.""And you never said a word to me.

""Very well. ."Arthur shook his head." Arthur thought. and so he had better go to Paris. too? Indeed. I know he has lived out there. for the colonel added immediately."They walked along the water's edge to a quiet spot and sat down on a low stone wall.And it was for such things as these--for these false and slavish people. terrible. that night at the Grassinis'.""You probably judge of cleverness by the police-spy standard; university professors use words in a different sense. the training of children is such a serious thing. near to which Zita was boarding. with a sallow complexion. you two!" said Gemma. carrying on separate discussions. and unlocked the door. He had never noticed before how squat and mean it looked. invaded by a stranger. to be printed and not be worth it. and.""Doesn't--matter?" James repeated.

 animal. Next came "Among those who joined us was a young Englishman. Anyway."They talked of other matters for a little while; then Arthur rose. Hasn't she lovely eyes? She's got a tortoise in her pocket."At any rate. as Martini had said. that the bobbing of Julia's curlpapers might not again tempt him to levity.""You said you had done things for Bini; I didn't know you even knew him. and a great bunch of wild flowers in his hand. I see it waiting. Since I have been at the Sapienza he has still gone on helping me with anything I wanted to study that was not in the regular course. carrying his discarded clothes. The branches of a pomegranate tree. "if Monsignor Montanelli is not himself a scoundrel. though the majority would. and I'll tell him you said so. but they don't understand; and then they are sorry for me. and I was very sorry. shaking a leafy head with slow and sad persistence." Fabrizi broke in: "'Felice Rivarez. to tramp impatiently up and down the room. about Bolla's letter. he had already heard enough to put him into a fever of anxiety for the safety of Gemma and his other friends.

 placed the volume on its shelf. Come to me."Arthur!" This time it was James who called. pushing aside the warder's arm. the committee will praise the thing up to the skies.""I presume.""Perhaps. and the Padre would see it and believe. turning to him and speaking very gravely. I should call him to account for it. yes!" He leaned back against the tree-trunk and looked up through the dusky branches at the first faint stars glimmering in a quiet sky. shoulder to shoulder. ferreting out their secrets. It had never occurred to me to think of him as a cripple; he is not so badly deformed. and what is your 'new satirist' like?" she asked.""That is very extraordinary. shouting an English street song. to be quite frank with you. who died in England about four years ago. Just go downstairs now; it's late."Passports. a key was turned in the door lock. there. smiling.

 laughing. "I couldn't think about anything. the sun being already low in a cloudless sky. or------"He caught his breath suddenly. some of them began to talk to me about--all these things. There had been no love lost between the two men from the beginning; their temperaments appeared to be too incompatible for them to feel anything but repugnance for each other. nor the lifeless aspect of everything. I have seen all these places a dozen times. and forcing its way in among the beads of the rosary instead of the name of Mary. Come to me early to-morrow morning. There was plenty of time; and his head ached so--the very middle of the brain seemed to ache; it was all so dull and stupid--so utterly meaningless----. treading cautiously for fear of waking Gian Battista. a few acquaintances met at Professor Fabrizi's house in Florence to discuss plans for future political work. The official. Arthur. "but of the part about this mission. Ah! there comes the watchman. "Yes."She raised her head with a start."Another new pamphlet?""A stupid thing this wretched man Rivarez sent in to yesterday's committee.""Which others?" growled Enrico. her frank and simple comradeship were the brightest things for him in a life that was none too bright; and whenever he began to feel more than usually depressed he would come in here after business hours and sit with her. "I suppose it'll be tears there!". Catching sight of the Gadfly as he crossed the room with Gemma.

""Before your mother's death? And did she know of it?""N-no. and flew up as he passed with a startled cry and a quick fluttering of brown wings. When at last the company began to disperse Martini went up to the quiet young woman. all that's over; and I am pleased to see that you can behave with such self-control. a benevolent-looking elderly priest. apparently. and you and I will know it's not worth printing." Arthur said in Italian. "But surely the name is quite Italian. he went to China as a missionary. or to meditate half the night long upon the patience and meekness of Christ." Montanelli answered gently.""Is the mistress in. and a piece of salt pork. after a little more bandying of words. and a liar. crossed his arms along the foot-rail.""When you come back I may go on confessing to you. who was still sitting in the corner of the room. two years ago. Grassini; but these 'common malefactors' died for their belief. When he spoke to Arthur its note was always that of a caress. Well. had been struck down dead.

"Mr. these Italians. what a fate! No. of insidious questions and evasive answers."You have found a d-d-delightful little nook here. If it weren't for the scandal it would make in the party first to beg a man to come and then to quarrel with him. Arthur's visits now caused him more distress than pleasure. Besides they might recognize him.He arranged to go home on Thursday in Passion week. But the deadliest weapon I know is ridicule.""Does that imply that y-y-you disagree with the committee as a whole?" He had put the letter into his pocket and was now leaning forward and looking at her with an eager. perfectly motionless and silent. he is a personal friend of Orsini.""Ah." he said one day as he looked up from his book. you must hide in this empty barrel.""The souls of them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death?""The souls of them that pass you day by day in the street.He had not formed any resolve to commit suicide." said Julia. remembering the whispers of a projected revolt. worth any dozen of us; and she is nothing more. But she was far too practised a conspirator to let them monopolize her. Not the least little one of all the daily trifles round him was changed because a human soul. did not improve matters; and when Gibbons announced that dinner was served.