New Arabian Nights

Story of the House with the Green Blinds

Francis Scrymgeour, a clerk in the Bank of Scotland at Edinburgh,

had attained the age of twenty-five in a sphere of quiet,

creditable, and domestic life. His mother died while he was young;

but his father, a man of sense and probity, had given him an

excellent education at school, and brought him up at home to

orderly and frugal habits. Francis, who was of a docile and

affectionate disposition, profited by these advantages with zeal,

and devoted himself heart and soul to his employment. A walk upon

Saturday afternoon, an occasional dinner with members of his

family, and a yearly tour of a fortnight in the Highlands or even

on the continent of Europe, were his principal distractions, and,

he grew rapidly in favour with his superiors, and enjoyed already a

salary of nearly two hundred pounds a year, with the prospect of an

ultimate advance to almost double that amount. Few young men were

more contented, few more willing and laborious than Francis

Scrymgeour. Sometimes at night, when he had read the daily paper,

he would play upon the flute to amuse his father, for whose

qualities he entertained a great respect.

One day he received a note from a well-known firm of Writers to the

Signet, requesting the favour of an immediate interview with him.

The letter was marked "Private and Confidential," and had been

addressed to him at the bank, instead of at home - two unusual

circumstances which made him obey the summons with the more

alacrity. The senior member of the firm, a man of much austerity

of manner, made him gravely welcome, requested him to take a seat,

and proceeded to explain the matter in hand in the picked

expressions of a veteran man of business. A person, who must

remain nameless, but of whom the lawyer had every reason to think

well - a man, in short, of some station in the country - desired to

make Francis an annual allowance of five hundred pounds. The

capital was to be placed under the control of the lawyer's firm and

two trustees who must also remain anonymous. There were conditions

annexed to this liberality, but he was of opinion that his new

client would find nothing either excessive or dishonourable in the

terms; and he repeated these two words with emphasis, as though he

desired to commit himself to nothing more.

Francis asked their nature.

"The conditions," said the Writer to the Signet, "are, as I have

twice remarked, neither dishonourable nor excessive. At the same

time I cannot conceal from you that they are most unusual. Indeed,

the whole case is very much out of our way; and I should certainly

have refused it had it not been for the reputation of the gentleman

who entrusted it to my care, and, let me add, Mr. Scrymgeour, the

interest I have been led to take in yourself by many complimentary

and, I have no doubt, well-deserved reports."

Francis entreated him to be more specific.

"You cannot picture my uneasiness as to these conditions," he said.

"They are two," replied the lawyer, "only two; and the sum, as you

will remember, is five hundred a-year - and unburdened, I forgot to

add, unburdened."

And the lawyer raised his eyebrows at him with solemn gusto.

"The first," he resumed, "is of remarkable simplicity. You must be

in Paris by the afternoon of Sunday, the 15th; there you will find,

at the box-office of the Comedie Francaise, a ticket for admission

taken in your name and waiting you. You are requested to sit out

the whole performance in the seat provided, and that is all."

"I should certainly have preferred a week-day," replied Francis. "

But, after all, once in a way - "

"And in Paris, my dear sir," added the lawyer soothingly. "I

believe I am something of a precisian myself, but upon such a

consideration, and in Paris, I should not hesitate an instant."

And the pair laughed pleasantly together.

"The other is of more importance," continued the Writer to the

Signet. "It regards your marriage. My client, taking a deep

interest in your welfare, desires to advise you absolutely in the

choice of a wife. Absolutely, you understand," he repeated.

"Let us be more explicit, if you please," returned Francis. "Am I

to marry any one, maid or widow, black or white, whom this

invisible person chooses to propose?"

"I was to assure you that suitability of age and position should be

a principle with your benefactor," replied the lawyer. "As to

race, I confess the difficulty had not occurred to me, and I failed

to inquire; but if you like I will make a note of it at once, and

advise you on the earliest opportunity."

"Sir," said Francis, "it remains to be seen whether this whole

affair is not a most unworthy fraud. The circumstances are

inexplicable - I had almost said incredible; and until I see a

little more daylight, and some plausible motive, I confess I should

be very sorry to put a hand to the transaction. I appeal to you in

this difficulty for information. I must learn what is at the

bottom of it all. If you do not know, cannot guess, or are not at

liberty to tell me, I shall take my hat and go back to my bank as

came."

"I do not know," answered the lawyer, "but I have an excellent

guess. Your father, and no one else, is at the root of this

apparently unnatural business."

"My father!" cried Francis, in extreme disdain. "Worthy man, I

know every thought of his mind, every penny of his fortune!"

"You misinterpret my words," said the lawyer. "I do not refer to

Mr. Scrymgeour, senior; for he is not your father. When he and his

wife came to Edinburgh, you were already nearly one year old, and

you had not yet been three months in their care. The secret has

been well kept; but such is the fact. Your father is unknown, and

I say again that I believe him to be the original of the offers I

am charged at present to transmit to you."

It would be impossible to exaggerate the astonishment of Francis

Scrymgeour at this unexpected information. He pled this confusion

to the lawyer.

"Sir," said he, "after a piece of news so startling, you must grant

me some hours for thought. You shall know this evening what

conclusion I have reached."

The lawyer commended his prudence; and Francis, excusing himself

upon some pretext at the bank, took a long walk into the country,

and fully considered the different steps and aspects of the case.

A pleasant sense of his own importance rendered him the more

deliberate: but the issue was from the first not doubtful. His

whole carnal man leaned irresistibly towards the five hundred a

year, and the strange conditions with which it was burdened; he

discovered in his heart an invincible repugnance to the name of

Scrymgeour, which he had never hitherto disliked; he began to

despise the narrow and unromantic interests of his former life; and

when once his mind was fairly made up, he walked with a new feeling

of strength and freedom, and nourished himself with the gayest

anticipations.

He said but a word to the lawyer, and immediately received a cheque

for two quarters' arrears; for the allowance was ante-dated from

the first of January. With this in his pocket, he walked home.

The flat in Scotland Street looked mean in his eyes; his nostrils,

for the first time, rebelled against the odour of broth; and he

observed little defects of manner in his adoptive father which

filled him with surprise and almost with disgust. The next day, he

determined, should see him on his way to Paris.

In that city, where he arrived long before the appointed date, he

put up at a modest hotel frequented by English and Italians, and

devoted himself to improvement in the French tongue; for this

purpose he had a master twice a week, entered into conversation

with loiterers in the Champs Elysees, and nightly frequented the

theatre. He had his whole toilette fashionably renewed; and was

shaved and had his hair dressed every morning by a barber in a

neighbouring street. This gave him something of a foreign air, and

seemed to wipe off the reproach of his past years.

At length, on the Saturday afternoon, he betook himself to the box-

office of the theatre in the Rue Richelieu. No sooner had he

mentioned his name than the clerk produced the order in an envelope

of which the address was scarcely dry.

"It has been taken this moment," said the clerk.

"Indeed!" said Francis. "May I ask what the gentleman was like?"

"Your friend is easy to describe," replied the official. "He is

old and strong and beautiful, with white hair and a sabre-cut

across his face. You cannot fail to recognise so marked a person."

"No, indeed," returned Francis; "and I thank you for your

politeness."

"He cannot yet be far distant," added the clerk. "If you make

haste you might still overtake him."

Francis did not wait to be twice told; he ran precipitately from

the theatre into the middle of the street and looked in all

directions. More than one white-haired man was within sight; but

though he overtook each of them in succession, all wanted the

sabre-cut. For nearly half-an-hour he tried one street after

another in the neighbourhood, until at length, recognising the

folly of continued search, he started on a walk to compose his

agitated feelings; for this proximity of an encounter with him to

whom he could not doubt he owed the day had profoundly moved the

young man.

It chanced that his way lay up the Rue Drouot and thence up the Rue

des Martyrs; and chance, in this case, served him better than all

the forethought in the world. For on the outer boulevard he saw

two men in earnest colloquy upon a seat. One was dark, young, and

handsome, secularly dressed, but with an indelible clerical stamp;

the other answered in every particular to the description given him

by the clerk. Francis felt his heart beat high in his bosom; he

knew he was now about to hear the voice of his father; and making a

wide circuit, he noiselessly took his place behind the couple in

question, who were too much interested in their talk to observe

much else. As Francis had expected, the conversation was conducted

in the English language

"Your suspicions begin to annoy me, Rolles," said the older man.

"I tell you I am doing my utmost; a man cannot lay his hand on

millions in a moment. Have I not taken you up, a mere stranger,

out of pure good-will? Are you not living largely on my bounty?"

"On your advances, Mr. Vandeleur," corrected the other.

"Advances, if you choose; and interest instead of goodwill, if you

prefer it," returned Vandeleur angrily. "I am not here to pick

expressions. Business is business; and your business, let me

remind you, is too muddy for such airs. Trust me, or leave me

alone and find some one else; but let us have an end, for God's

sake, of your jeremiads."

"I am beginning to learn the world," replied the other, "and I see

that you have every reason to play me false, and not one to deal

honestly. I am not here to pick expressions either; you wish the

diamond for yourself; you know you do - you dare not deny it. Have

you not already forged my name, and searched my lodging in my

absence? I understand the cause of your delays; you are lying in

wait; you are the diamond hunter, forsooth; and sooner or later, by

fair means or foul, you'll lay your hands upon it. I tell you, it

must stop; push me much further and I promise you a surprise."

"It does not become you to use threats," returned Vandeleur. "Two

can play at that. My brother is here in Paris; the police are on

the alert; and if you persist in wearying me with your

caterwauling, I will arrange a little astonishment for you, Mr.

Rolles. But mine shall be once and for all. Do you understand, or

would you prefer me to tell it you in Hebrew? There is an end to

all things, and you have come to the end of my patience. Tuesday,

at seven; not a day, not an hour sooner, not the least part of a

second, if it were to save your life. And if you do not choose to

wait, you may go to the bottomless pit for me, and welcome."

And so saying, the Dictator arose from the bench, and marched off

in the direction of Montmartre, shaking his head and swinging his

cane with a most furious air; while his companion remained where he

was, in an attitude of great dejection.

Francis was at the pitch of surprise and horror; his sentiments had

been shocked to the last degree; the hopeful tenderness with which

he had taken his place upon the bench was transformed into

repulsion and despair; old Mr. Scrymgeour, he reflected, was a far

more kindly and creditable parent than this dangerous and violent

intriguer; but he retained his presence of mind, and suffered not a

moment to elapse before he was on the trail of the Dictator.

That gentleman's fury carried him forward at a brisk pace, and he

was so completely occupied in his angry thoughts that he never so

much as cast a look behind him till he reached his own door.

His house stood high up in the Rue Lepic, commanding a view of all

Paris and enjoying the pure air of the heights. It was two storeys

high, with green blinds and shutters; and all the windows looking

on the street were hermetically closed. Tops of trees showed over

the high garden wall, and the wall was protected by CHEVAUX-DE-

FRISE. The Dictator paused a moment while he searched his pocket

for a key; and then, opening a gate, disappeared within the

enclosure.

Francis looked about him; the neighbourhood was very lonely, the

house isolated in its garden. It seemed as if his observation must

here come to an abrupt end. A second glance, however, showed him a

tall house next door presenting a gable to the garden, and in this

gable a single window. He passed to the front and saw a ticket

offering unfurnished lodgings by the month; and, on inquiry, the

room which commanded the Dictator's garden proved to be one of

those to let. Francis did not hesitate a moment; he took the room,

paid an advance upon the rent, and returned to his hotel to seek

his baggage.

The old man with the sabre-cut might or might not be his father; he

might or he might not be upon the true scent; but he was certainly

on the edge of an exciting mystery, and he promised himself that he

would not relax his observation until he had got to the bottom of

the secret.

From the window of his new apartment Francis Scrymgeour commanded a

complete view into the garden of the house with the green blinds.

Immediately below him a very comely chestnut with wide boughs

sheltered a pair of rustic tables where people might dine in the

height of summer. On all sides save one a dense vegetation

concealed the soil; but there, between the tables and the house, he

saw a patch of gravel walk leading from the verandah to the garden-

gate. Studying the place from between the boards of the Venetian

shutters, which he durst not open for fear of attracting attention,

Francis observed but little to indicate the manners of the

inhabitants, and that little argued no more than a close reserve

and a taste for solitude. The garden was conventual, the house had

the air of a prison. The green blinds were all drawn down upon the

outside; the door into the verandah was closed; the garden, as far

as he could see it, was left entirely to itself in the evening

sunshine. A modest curl of smoke from a single chimney alone

testified to the presence of living people.

In order that he might not be entirely idle, and to give a certain

colour to his way of life, Francis had purchased Euclid's Geometry

in French, which he set himself to copy and translate on the top of

his portmanteau and seated on the floor against the wall; for he

was equally without chair or table. From time to time he would

rise and cast a glance into the enclosure of the house with the

green blinds; but the windows remained obstinately closed and the

garden empty.

Only late in the evening did anything occur to reward his continued

attention. Between nine and ten the sharp tinkle of a bell aroused

him from a fit of dozing; and he sprang to his observatory in time

to hear an important noise of locks being opened and bars removed,

and to see Mr. Vandeleur, carrying a lantern and clothed in a

flowing robe of black velvet with a skull-cap to match, issue from

under the verandah and proceed leisurely towards the garden gate.

The sound of bolts and bars was then repeated; and a moment after

Francis perceived the Dictator escorting into the house, in the

mobile light of the lantern, an individual of the lowest and most

despicable appearance.

Half-an-hour afterwards the visitor was reconducted to the street;

and Mr. Vandeleur, setting his light upon one of the rustic tables,

finished a cigar with great deliberation under the foliage of the

chestnut. Francis, peering through a clear space among the leaves,

was able to follow his gestures as he threw away the ash or enjoyed

a copious inhalation; and beheld a cloud upon the old man's brow

and a forcible action of the lips, which testified to some deep and

probably painful train of thought. The cigar was already almost at

an end, when the voice of a young girl was heard suddenly crying

the hour from the interior of the house.

"In a moment," replied John Vandeleur.

And, with that, he threw away the stump and, taking up the lantern,

sailed away under the verandah for the night. As soon as the door

was closed, absolute darkness fell upon the house; Francis might

try his eyesight as much as he pleased, he could not detect so much

as a single c***k of light below a blind; and he concluded, with

great good sense, that the bed-chambers were all upon the other

side.

Early the next morning (for he was early awake after an

uncomfortable night upon the floor), he saw cause to adopt a

different explanation. The blinds rose, one after another, by

means of a spring in the interior, and disclosed steel shutters

such as we see on the front of shops; these in their turn were

rolled up by a similar contrivance; and for the space of about an

hour, the chambers were left open to the morning air. At the end

of that time Mr. Vandeleur, with his own hand, once more closed the

shutters and replaced the blinds from within.

While Francis was still marvelling at these precautions, the door

opened and a young girl came forth to look about her in the garden.

It was not two minutes before she re-entered the house, but even in

that short time he saw enough to convince him that she possessed

the most unusual attractions. His curiosity was not only highly

excited by this incident, but his spirits were improved to a still

more notable degree. The alarming manners and more than equivocal

life of his father ceased from that moment to prey upon his mind;

from that moment he embraced his new family with ardour; and

whether the young lady should prove his sister or his wife, he felt

convinced she was an angel in disguise. So much was this the case

that he was seized with a sudden horror when he reflected how

little he really knew, and how possible it was that he had followed

the wrong person when he followed Mr. Vandeleur.

The porter, whom he consulted, could afford him little information;

but, such as it was, it had a mysterious and questionable sound.

The person next door was an English gentleman of extraordinary

wealth, and proportionately eccentric in his tastes and habits. He

possessed great collections, which he kept in the house beside him;

and it was to protect these that he had fitted the place with steel

shutters, elaborate fastenings, and CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE along the

garden wall. He lived much alone, in spite of some strange

visitors with whom, it seemed, he had business to transact; and

there was no one else in the house, except Mademoiselle and an old

woman servant

"Is Mademoiselle his daughter?" inquired Francis.

"Certainly," replied the porter. "Mademoiselle is the daughter of

the house; and strange it is to see how she is made to work. For

all his riches, it is she who goes to market; and every day in the

week you may see her going by with a basket on her arm."

"And the collections?" asked the other.

"Sir," said the man, "they are immensely valuable. More I cannot

tell you. Since M. de Vandeleur's arrival no one in the quarter

has so much as passed the door."

"Suppose not," returned Francis, "you must surely have some notion

what these famous galleries contain. Is it pictures, silks,

statues, jewels, or what?"

"My faith, sir," said the fellow with a shrug, "it might be

carrots, and still I could not tell you. How should I know? The

house is kept like a garrison, as you perceive."

And then as Francis was returning disappointed to his room, the

porter called him back.

"I have just remembered, sir," said he. "M. de Vandeleur has been

in all parts of the world, and I once heard the old woman declare

that he had brought many diamonds back with him. If that be the

truth, there must be a fine show behind those shutters."

By an early hour on Sunday Francis was in his place at the theatre.

The seat which had been taken for him was only two or three numbers

from the left-hand side, and directly opposite one of the lower

boxes. As the seat had been specially chosen there was doubtless

something to be learned from its position; and he judged by an

instinct that the box upon his right was, in some way or other, to

be connected with the drama in which he ignorantly played a part.

Indeed, it was so situated that its occupants could safely observe

him from beginning to end of the piece, if they were so minded;

while, profiting by the depth, they could screen themselves

sufficiently well from any counter-examination on his side. He

promised himself not to leave it for a moment out of sight; and

whilst he scanned the rest of the theatre, or made a show of

attending to the business of the stage, he always kept a corner of

an eye upon the empty box.

The second act had been some time in progress, and was even drawing

towards a close, when the door opened and two persons entered and

ensconced themselves in the darkest of the shade. Francis could

hardly control his emotion. It was Mr. Vandeleur and his daughter.

The blood came and went in his arteries and veins with stunning

activity; his ears sang; his head turned. He dared not look lest

he should awake suspicion; his play-bill, which he kept reading

from end to end and over and over again, turned from white to red

before his eyes; and when he cast a glance upon the stage, it

seemed incalculably far away, and he found the voices and gestures

of the actors to the last degree impertinent and absurd.

From time to time he risked a momentary look in the direction which

principally interested him; and once at least he felt certain that

his eyes encountered those of the young girl. A shock passed over

his body, and he saw all the colours of the rainbow. What would he

not have given to overhear what passed between the Vandeleurs?

What would he not have given for the courage to take up his opera-

glass and steadily inspect their attitude and expression? There,

for aught he knew, his whole life was being decided - and he not

able to interfere, not able even to follow the debate, but

condemned to sit and suffer where he was, in impotent anxiety.

At last the act came to an end. The curtain fell, and the people

around him began to leave their places, for the interval. It was

only natural that he should follow their example; and if he did so,

it was not only natural but necessary that he should pass

immediately in front of the box in question. Summoning all his

courage, but keeping his eyes lowered, Francis drew near the spot.

His progress was slow, for the old gentleman before him moved with

incredible deliberation, wheezing as he went. What was he to do?

Should he address the Vandeleurs by name as he went by? Should he

take the flower from his button-hole and throw it into the box?

Should he raise his face and direct one long and affectionate look

upon the lady who was either his sister or his betrothed? As he

found himself thus struggling among so many alternatives, he had a

vision of his old equable existence in the bank, and was assailed

by a thought of regret for the past.

By this time he had arrived directly opposite the box; and although

he was still undetermined what to do or whether to do anything, he

turned his head and lifted his eyes. No sooner had he done so than

he uttered a cry of disappointment and remained rooted to the spot.

The box was empty. During his slow advance Mr. Vandeleur and his

daughter had quietly slipped away.

A polite person in his rear reminded him that he was stopping the

path; and he moved on again with mechanical footsteps, and suffered

the crowd to carry him unresisting out of the theatre. Once in the

street, the pressure ceasing, he came to a halt, and the cool night

air speedily restored him to the possession of his faculties. He

was surprised to find that his head ached violently, and that he

remembered not one word of the two acts which he had witnessed. As

the excitement wore away, it was succeeded by an overweening

appetite for sleep, and he hailed a cab and drove to his lodging in

a state of extreme exhaustion and some disgust of life.

Next morning he lay in wait for Miss Vandeleur on her road to

market, and by eight o'clock beheld her stepping down a lane. She

was simply, and even poorly, attired; but in the carriage of her

head and body there was something flexible and noble that would

have lent distinction to the meanest toilette. Even her basket, so

aptly did she carry it, became her like an ornament. It seemed to

Francis, as he slipped into a doorway, that the sunshine followed

and the shadows fled before her as she walked; and he was

conscious, for the first time, of a bird singing in a cage above

the lane.

He suffered her to pass the doorway, and then, coming forth once

more, addressed her by name from behind. "Miss Vandeleur," said

he.

She turned and, when she saw who he was, became deadly pale.

"Pardon me," he continued; "Heaven knows I had no will to startle

you; and, indeed, there should be nothing startling in the presence

of one who wishes you so well as I do. And, believe me, I am

acting rather from necessity than choice. We have many things in

common, and I am sadly in the dark. There is much that I should be

doing, and my hands are tied. I do not know even what to feel, nor

who are my friends and enemies."

She found her voice with an effort.

"I do not know who you are," she said.

"Ah, yes! Miss Vandeleur, you do," returned Francis "better than I

do myself. Indeed, it is on that, above all, that I seek light.

Tell me what you know," he pleaded. "Tell me who I am, who you

are, and how our destinies are intermixed. Give me a little help

with my life, Miss Vandeleur - only a word or two to guide me, only

the name of my father, if you will - and I shall be grateful and

content."

"I will not attempt to deceive you," she replied. "I know who you

are, but I am not at liberty to say."

"Tell me, at least, that you have forgiven my presumption, and I

shall wait with all the patience I have," he said. "If I am not to

know, I must do without. It is cruel, but I can bear more upon a

push. Only do not add to my troubles the thought that I have made

an enemy of you."

"You did only what was natural," she said, "and I have nothing to

forgive you. Farewell."

"Is it to be FAREWELL?" he asked.

"Nay, that I do not know myself," she answered. "Farewell for the

present, if you like."

And with these words she was gone.

Francis returned to his lodging in a state of considerable

commotion of mind. He made the most trifling progress with his

Euclid for that forenoon, and was more often at the window than at

his improvised writing-table. But beyond seeing the return of Miss

Vandeleur, and the meeting between her and her father, who was

smoking a Trichinopoli cigar in the verandah, there was nothing

notable in the neighbourhood of the house with the green blinds

before the time of the mid-day meal. The young man hastily allayed

his appetite in a neighbouring restaurant, and returned with the

speed of unallayed curiosity to the house in the Rue Lepic. A

mounted servant was leading a saddle-horse to and fro before the

garden wall; and the porter of Francis's lodging was smoking a pipe

against the door-post, absorbed in contemplation of the livery and

the steeds.

"Look!" he cried to the young man, "what fine cattle! what an

elegant costume! They belong to the brother of M. de Vandeleur,

who is now within upon a visit. He is a great man, a general, in

your country; and you doubtless know him well by reputation."

"I confess," returned Francis, "that I have never heard of General

Vandeleur before. We have many officers of that grade, and my

pursuits have been exclusively civil."

"It is he," replied the porter, "who lost the great diamond of the

Indies. Of that at least you must have read often in the papers."

As soon as Francis could disengage himself from the porter he ran

upstairs and hurried to the window. Immediately below the clear

space in the chestnut leaves, the two gentlemen were seated in

conversation over a cigar. The General, a red, military-looking

man, offered some traces of a family resemblance to his brother; he

had something of the same features, something, although very

little, of the same free and powerful carriage; but he was older,

smaller, and more common in air; his likeness was that of a

caricature, and he seemed altogether a poor and debile being by the

side of the Dictator.

They spoke in tones so low, leaning over the table with every

appearance of interest, that Francis could catch no more than a

word or two on an occasion. For as little as he heard, he was

convinced that the conversation turned upon himself and his own

career; several times the name of Scrymgeour reached his ear, for

it was easy to distinguish, and still more frequently he fancied he

could distinguish the name Francis.

At length the General, as if in a hot anger, broke forth into

several violent exclamations.

"Francis Vandeleur!" he cried, accentuating the last word.

"Francis Vandeleur, I tell you."

The Dictator made a movement of his whole body, half affirmative,

half contemptuous, but his answer was inaudible to the young man.

Was he the Francis Vandeleur in question? he wondered. Were they

discussing the name under which he was to be married? Or was the

whole affair a dream and a delusion of his own conceit and self-

absorption?

After another interval of inaudible talk, dissension seemed again

to arise between the couple underneath the chestnut, and again the

General raised his voice angrily so as to be audible to Francis.

"My wife?" he cried. "I have done with my wife for good. I will

not hear her name. I am sick of her very name."

And he swore aloud and beat the table with his fist.

The Dictator appeared, by his gestures, to pacify him after a

paternal fashion; and a little after he conducted him to the

garden-gate. The pair shook hands affectionately enough; but as

soon as the door had closed behind his visitor, John Vandeleur fell

into a fit of laughter which sounded unkindly and even devilish in

the ears of Francis Scrymgeour.

So another day had passed, and little more learnt. But the young

man remembered that the morrow was Tuesday, and promised himself

some curious discoveries; all might be well, or all might be ill;

he was sure, at least, to glean some curious information, and,

perhaps, by good luck, get at the heart of the mystery which

surrounded his father and his family.

As the hour of the dinner drew near many preparations were made in

the garden of the house with the green blinds. That table which

was partly visible to Francis through the chestnut leaves was

destined to serve as a sideboard, and carried relays of plates and

the materials for salad: the other, which was almost entirely

concealed, had been set apart for the diners, and Francis could

catch glimpses of white cloth and silver plate.

Mr. Rolles arrived, punctual to the minute; he looked like a man

upon his guard, and spoke low and sparingly. The Dictator, on the

other hand, appeared to enjoy an unusual flow of spirits; his

laugh, which was youthful and pleasant to hear, sounded frequently

from the garden; by the modulation and the changes of his voice it

was obvious that he told many droll stories and imitated the

accents of a variety of different nations; and before he and the

young clergyman had finished their vermouth all feeling of distrust

was at an end, and they were talking together like a pair of school

companions.

At length Miss Vandeleur made her appearance, carrying the soup-

tureen. Mr. Rolles ran to offer her assistance which she

laughingly refused; and there was an interchange of pleasantries

among the trio which seemed to have reference to this primitive

manner of waiting by one of the company.

"One is more at one's ease," Mr. Vandeleur was heard to declare.

Next moment they were all three in their places, and Francis could

see as little as he could hear of what passed. But the dinner

seemed to go merrily; there was a perpetual babble of voices and

sound of knives and forks below the chestnut; and Francis, who had

no more than a roll to gnaw, was affected with envy by the comfort

and deliberation of the meal. The party lingered over one dish

after another, and then over a delicate dessert, with a bottle of

old wine carefully uncorked by the hand of the Dictator himself.

As it began to grow dark a lamp was set upon the table and a couple

of candles on the sideboard; for the night was perfectly pure,

starry, and windless. Light overflowed besides from the door and

window in the verandah, so that the garden was fairly illuminated

and the leaves twinkled in the darkness.

For perhaps the tenth time Miss Vandeleur entered the house; and on

this occasion she returned with the coffee-tray, which she placed

upon the sideboard. At the same moment her father rose from his

seat.

"The coffee is my province," Francis heard him say.

And next moment he saw his supposed father standing by the

sideboard in the light of the candles.

Talking over his shoulder all the while, Mr. Vandeleur poured out

two cups of the brown stimulant, and then, by a rapid act of

prestidigitation, emptied the contents of a tiny phial into the

smaller of the two. The thing was so swiftly done that even

Francis, who looked straight into his face, had hardly time to

perceive the movement before it was completed. And next instant,

and still laughing, Mr. Vandeleur had turned again towards the

table with a cup in either hand.

"Ere we have done with this," said he, "we may expect our famous

Hebrew."

It would be impossible to depict the confusion and distress of

Francis Scrymgeour. He saw foul play going forward before his

eyes, and he felt bound to interfere, but knew not how. It might

be a mere pleasantry, and then how should he look if he were to

offer an unnecessary warning? Or again, if it were serious, the

criminal might be his own father, and then how should he not lament

if he were to bring ruin on the author of his days? For the first

time he became conscious of his own position as a spy. To wait

inactive at such a juncture and with such a conflict of sentiments

in his bosom was to suffer the most acute torture; he clung to the

bars of the shutters, his heart beat fast and with irregularity,

and he felt a strong sweat break forth upon his body.

Several minutes passed.

He seemed to perceive the conversation die away and grow less and

less in vivacity and volume; but still no sign of any alarming or

even notable event.

Suddenly the ring of a glass breaking was followed by a faint and

dull sound, as of a person who should have fallen forward with his

head upon the table. At the same moment a piercing scream rose

from the garden.

"What have you done?" cried Miss Vandeleur. "He is dead!"

The Dictator replied in a violent whisper, so strong and sibilant

that every word was audible to the watcher at the window.

"Silence!' said Mr. Vandeleur; "the man is as well as I am. Take

him by the heels whilst I carry him by the shoulders."

Francis heard Miss Vandeleur break forth into a passion of tears.

"Do you hear what I say?" resumed the Dictator, in the same tones.

"Or do you wish to quarrel with me? I give you your choice, Miss

Vandeleur."

There was another pause, and the Dictator spoke again.

"Take that man by the heels," he said. "I must have him brought

into the house. If I were a little younger, I could help myself

against the world. But now that years and dangers are upon me and

my hands are weakened, I must turn to you for aid."

"It is a crime," replied the girl.

"I am your father," said Mr. Vandeleur.

This appeal seemed to produce its effect. A scuffling noise

followed upon the gravel, a chair was overset, and then Francis saw

the father and daughter stagger across the walk and disappear under

the verandah, bearing the inanimate body of Mr. Rolles embraced

about the knees and shoulders. The young clergyman was limp and

pallid, and his head rolled upon his shoulders at every step.

Was he alive or dead? Francis, in spite of the Dictator's

declaration, inclined to the latter view. A great crime had been

committed; a great calamity had fallen upon the inhabitants of the

house with the green blinds. To his surprise, Francis found all

horror for the deed swallowed up in sorrow for a girl and an old

man whom he judged to be in the height of peril. A tide of

generous feeling swept into his heart; he, too, would help his

father against man and mankind, against fate and justice; and

casting open the shutters he closed his eyes and threw himself with

out-stretched arms into the foliage of the chestnut.

Branch after branch slipped from his grasp or broke under his

weight; then he caught a stalwart bough under his armpit, and hung

suspended for a second; and then he let himself drop and fell

heavily against the table. A cry of alarm from the house warned

him that his entrance had not been effected unobserved. He

recovered himself with a stagger, and in three bounds crossed the

intervening space and stood before the door in the verandah.

In a small apartment, carpeted with matting and surrounded by

glazed cabinets full of rare and costly curios, Mr. Vandeleur was

stooping over the body of Mr. Rolles. He raised himself as Francis

entered, and there was an instantaneous passage of hands. It was

the business of a second; as fast as an eye can wink the thing was

done; the young man had not the time to be sure, but it seemed to

him as if the Dictator had taken something from the curate's

breast, looked at it for the least fraction of time as it lay in

his hand, and then suddenly and swiftly passed it to his daughter.

All this was over while Francis had still one foot upon the

threshold, and the other raised in air. The next instant he was on

his knees to Mr. Vandeleur.

"Father!" he cried. "Let me too help you. I will do what you wish

and ask no questions; I will obey you with my life; treat me as a

son, and you will find I have a son's devotion."

A deplorable explosion of oaths was the Dictator's first reply.

"Son and father?" he cried. "Father and son? What d-d unnatural

comedy is all this? How do you come in my garden? What do you

want? And who, in God's name, are you?"

Francis, with a stunned and shamefaced aspect, got upon his feet

again, and stood in silence.

Then a light seemed to break upon Mr. Vandeleur, and he laughed

aloud

"I see," cried he. "It is the Scrymgeour. Very well, Mr.

Scrymgeour. Let me tell you in a few words how you stand. You

have entered my private residence by force, or perhaps by fraud,

but certainly with no encouragement from me; and you come at a

moment of some annoyance, a guest having fainted at my table, to

besiege me with your protestations. You are no son of mine. You

are my brother's bastard by a fishwife, if you want to know. I

regard you with an indifference closely bordering on aversion; and

from what I now see of your conduct, I judge your mind to be

exactly suitable to your exterior. I recommend you these

mortifying reflections for your leisure; and, in the meantime, let

me beseech you to rid us of your presence. If I were not

occupied," added the Dictator, with a terrifying oath, "I should

give you the unholiest drubbing ere you went!"

Francis listened in profound humiliation. He would have fled had

it been possible; but as he had no means of leaving the residence

into which he had so unfortunately penetrated, he could do no more

than stand foolishly where he was.

It was Miss Vandeleur who broke the silence.

"Father," she said, "you speak in anger. Mr. Scrymgeour may have

been mistaken, but he meant well and kindly."

"Thank you for speaking," returned the Dictator. "You remind me of

some other observations which I hold it a point of honour to make

to Mr. Scrymgeour. My brother," he continued, addressing the young

man, "has been foolish enough to give you an allowance; he was

foolish enough and presumptuous enough to propose a match between

you and this young lady. You were exhibited to her two nights ago;

and I rejoice to tell you that she rejected the idea with disgust.

Let me add that I have considerable influence with your father; and

it shall not be my fault if you are not beggared of your allowance

and sent back to your scrivening ere the week be out."

The tones of the old man's voice were, if possible, more wounding

than his language; Francis felt himself exposed to the most cruel,

blighting, and unbearable contempt; his head turned, and he covered

his face with his hands, uttering at the same time a tearless sob

of agony. But Miss Vandeleur once again interfered in his behalf.

"Mr. Scrymgeour," she said, speaking in clear and even tones, "you

must not be concerned at my father's harsh expressions. I felt no

disgust for you; on the contrary, I asked an opportunity to make

your better acquaintance. As for what has passed to-night, believe

me it has filled my mind with both pity and esteem."

Just then Mr. Rolles made a convulsive movement with his arm, which

convinced Francis that he was only drugged, and was beginning to

throw off the influence of the opiate. Mr. Vandeleur stooped over

him and examined his face for an instant.

"Come, come!" cried he, raising his head. "Let there be an end of

this. And since you are so pleased with his conduct, Miss

Vandeleur, take a candle and show the bastard out."

The young lady hastened to obey.

"Thank you," said Francis, as soon as he was alone with her in the

garden. "I thank you from my soul. This has been the bitterest

evening of my life, but it will have always one pleasant

recollection."

"I spoke as I felt," she replied, "and in justice to you. It made

my heart sorry that you should be so unkindly used."

By this time they had reached the garden gate; and Miss Vandeleur,

having set the candle on the ground, was already unfastening the

bolts.

"One word more," said Francis. "This is not for the last time - I

shall see you again, shall I not?"

"Alas!" she answered. "You have heard my father. What can I do

but obey?"

"Tell me at least that it is not with your consent," returned

Francis; "tell me that you have no wish to see the last of me."

"Indeed," replied she, "I have none. You seem to me both brave and

honest."

"Then," said Francis, "give me a keepsake."

She paused for a moment, with her hand upon the key; for the

various bars and bolts were all undone, and there was nothing left

but to open the lock.

"If I agree," she said, "will you promise to do as I tell you from

point to point?"

"Can you ask?" replied Francis. "I would do so willingly on your

bare word."

She turned the key and threw open the door.

"Be it so," said she. "You do not know what you ask, but be it so.

Whatever you hear," she continued, "whatever happens, do not return

to this house; hurry fast until you reach the lighted and populous

quarters of the city; even there be upon your guard. You are in a

greater danger than you fancy. Promise me you will not so much as

look at my keepsake until you are in a place of safety."

"I promise," replied Francis.

She put something loosely wrapped in a handkerchief into the young

man's hand; and at the same time, with more strength than he could

have anticipated, she pushed him into the street.

"Now, run!" she cried.

He heard the door close behind him, and the noise of the bolts

being replaced.

"My faith," said he, "since I have promised!"

And he took to his heels down the lane that leads into the Rue

Ravignan.

He was not fifty paces from the house with the green blinds when

the most diabolical outcry suddenly arose out of the stillness of

the night. Mechanically he stood still; another passenger followed

his example; in the neighbouring floors he saw people crowding to

the windows; a conflagration could not have produced more

disturbance in this empty quarter. And yet it seemed to be all the

work of a single man, roaring between grief and rage, like a

lioness robbed of her whelps; and Francis was surprised and alarmed

to hear his own name shouted with English imprecations to the wind.

His first movement was to return to the house; his second, as he

remembered Miss Vandeleur's advice, to continue his flight with

greater expedition than before; and he was in the act of turning to

put his thought in action, when the Dictator, bareheaded, bawling

aloud, his white hair blowing about his head, shot past him like a

ball out of the cannon's mouth, and went careering down the street.

"That was a close shave," thought Francis to himself. "What he

wants with me, and why he should be so disturbed, I cannot think;

but he is plainly not good company for the moment, and I cannot do

better than follow Miss Vandeleur's advice."

So saying, he turned to retrace his steps, thinking to double and

descend by the Rue Lepic itself while his pursuer should continue

to follow after him on the other line of street. The plan was ill-

devised: as a matter of fact, he should have taken his seat in the

nearest cafe, and waited there until the first heat of the pursuit

was over. But besides that Francis had no experience and little

natural aptitude for the small war of private life, he was so

unconscious of any evil on his part, that he saw nothing to fear

beyond a disagreeable interview. And to disagreeable interviews he

felt he had already served his apprenticeship that evening; nor

could he suppose that Miss Vandeleur had left anything unsaid.

Indeed, the young man was sore both in body and mind - the one was

all bruised, the other was full of smarting arrows; and he owned to

himself that Mr. Vandeleur was master of a very deadly tongue.

The thought of his bruises reminded him that he had not only come

without a hat, but that his clothes had considerably suffered in

his descent through the chestnut. At the first magazine he

purchased a cheap wideawake, and had the disorder of his toilet

summarily repaired. The keepsake, still rolled in the

handkerchief, he thrust in the meanwhile into his trousers pocket.

Not many steps beyond the shop he was conscious of a sudden shock,

a hand upon his throat, an infuriated face close to his own, and an

open mouth bawling curses in his ear. The Dictator, having found

no trace of his quarry, was returning by the other way. Francis

was a stalwart young fellow; but he was no match for his adversary

whether in strength or skill; and after a few ineffectual struggles

he resigned himself entirely to his captor.

"What do you want with me?" said he.

"We will talk of that at home," returned the Dictator grimly.

And he continued to march the young man up hill in the direction of

the house with the green blinds.

But Francis, although he no longer struggled, was only waiting an

opportunity to make a bold push for freedom. With a sudden jerk he

left the collar of his coat in the hands of Mr. Vandeleur, and once

more made off at his best speed in the direction of the Boulevards.

The tables were now turned. If the Dictator was the stronger,

Francis, in the top of his youth, was the more fleet of foot, and

he had soon effected his escape among the crowds. Relieved for a

moment, but with a growing sentiment of alarm and wonder in his

mind, be walked briskly until he debauched upon the Place de

l'Opera, lit up like day with electric lamps.

"This, at least," thought he, "should satisfy Miss Vandeleur."

And turning to his right along the Boulevards, he entered the Cafe

Americain and ordered some beer. It was both late and early for

the majority of the frequenters of the establishment. Only two or

three persons, all men, were dotted here and there at separate

tables in the hall; and Francis was too much occupied by his own

thoughts to observe their presence.

He drew the handkerchief from his pocket. The object wrapped in it

proved to be a morocco case, clasped and ornamented in gilt, which

opened by means of a spring, and disclosed to the horrified young

man a diamond of monstrous bigness and extraordinary brilliancy.

The circumstance was so inexplicable, the value of the stone was

plainly so enormous, that Francis sat staring into the open casket

without movement, without conscious thought, like a man stricken

suddenly with idiocy.

A hand was laid upon his shoulder, lightly but firmly, and a quiet

voice, which yet had in it the ring of command, uttered these words

in his ear -

"Close the casket, and compose your face."

Looking up, he beheld a man, still young, of an urbane and tranquil

presence, and dressed with rich simplicity. This personage had

risen from a neighbouring table, and, bringing his glass with him,

had taken a seat beside Francis.

"Close the casket," repeated the stranger, "and put it quietly back

into your pocket, where I feel persuaded it should never have been.

Try, if you please, to throw off your bewildered air, and act as

though I were one of your acquaintances whom you had met by chance.

So! Touch glasses with me. That is better. I fear, sir, you must

be an amateur."

And the stranger pronounced these last words with a smile of

peculiar meaning, leaned back in his seat and enjoyed a deep

inhalation of tobacco.

"For God's sake," said Francis, "tell me who you are and what this

means? Why I should obey your most unusual suggestions I am sure I

know not; but the truth is, I have fallen this evening into so many

perplexing adventures, and all I meet conduct themselves so

strangely, that I think I must either have gone mad or wandered

into another planet. Your face inspires me with confidence; you

seem wise, good, and experienced; tell me, for heaven's sake, why

you accost me in so odd a fashion?"

"All in due time," replied the stranger. "But I have the first

hand, and you must begin by telling me how the Rajah's Diamond is

in your possession."

"The Rajah's Diamond!" echoed Francis.

"I would not speak so loud, if I were you," returned the other.

"But most certainly you have the Rajah's Diamond in your pocket. I

have seen and handled it a score of times in Sir Thomas Vandeleur's

collection."

"Sir Thomas Vandeleur! The General! My father!" cried Francis.

"Your father?" repeated the stranger. "I was not aware the General

had any family."

"I am illegitimate, sir," replied Francis, with a flush.

The other bowed with gravity. It was a respectful bow, as of a man

silently apologising to his equal; and Francis felt relieved and

comforted, he scarce knew why. The society of this person did him

good; he seemed to touch firm ground; a strong feeling of respect

grew up in his bosom, and mechanically he removed his wideawake as

though in the presence of a superior.

"I perceive," said the stranger, "that your adventures have not all

been peaceful. Your collar is torn, your face is scratched, you

have a cut upon your temple; you will, perhaps, pardon my curiosity

when I ask you to explain how you came by these injuries, and how

you happen to have stolen property to an enormous value in your

pocket."

"I must differ from you!" returned Francis hotly. "I possess no

stolen property. And if you refer to the diamond, it was given to

me not an hour ago by Miss Vandeleur in the Rue Lepic."

"By Miss Vandeleur of the Rue Lepic!" repeated the other. "You

interest me more than you suppose. Pray continue."

"Heavens!" cried Francis.

His memory had made a sudden bound. He had seen Mr. Vandeleur take

an article from the breast of his drugged visitor, and that

article, he was now persuaded, was a morocco case.

"You have a light?" inquired the stranger.

"Listen," replied Francis. "I know not who you are, but I believe

you to be worthy of confidence and helpful; I find myself in

strange waters; I must have counsel and support, and since you

invite me I shall tell you all."

And he briefly recounted his experiences since the day when he was

summoned from the bank by his lawyer.

"Yours is indeed a remarkable history," said the stranger, after

the young man had made an end of his narrative; "and your position

is full of difficulty and peril. Many would counsel you to seek

out your father, and give the diamond to him; but I have other

views. Waiter!" he cried.

The waiter drew near.

"Will you ask the manager to speak with me a moment?" said he; and

Francis observed once more, both in his tone and manner, the

evidence of a habit of command.

The waiter withdrew, and returned in a moment with manager, who

bowed with obsequious respect.

"What," said he, "can I do to serve you?"

"Have the goodness," replied the stranger, indicating Francis, "to

tell this gentleman my name."

"You have the honour, sir," said the functionary, addressing young

Scrymgeour, "to occupy the same table with His Highness Prince

Florizel of Bohemia."

Francis rose with precipitation, and made a grateful reverence to

the Prince, who bade him resume his seat.

"I thank you," said Florizel, once more addressing the functionary;

"I am sorry to have deranged you for so small a matter."

And he dismissed him with a movement of his hand.

"And now," added the Prince, turning to Francis, "give me the

diamond."

Without a word the casket was handed over.

"You have done right," said Florizel, "your sentiments have

properly inspired you, and you will live to be grateful for the

misfortunes of to-night. A man, Mr. Scrymgeour, may fall into a

thousand perplexities, but if his heart be upright and his

intelligence unclouded, he will issue from them all without

dishonour. Let your mind be at rest; your affairs are in my hand;

and with the aid of heaven I am strong enough to bring them to a

good end. Follow me, if you please, to my carriage."

So saying the Prince arose and, having left a piece of gold for the

waiter, conducted the young man from the cafe and along the

Boulevard to where an unpretentious brougham and a couple of

servants out of livery awaited his arrival.

"This carriage," said he, "is at your disposal; collect your

baggage as rapidly as you can make it convenient, and my servants

will conduct you to a villa in the neighbourhood of Paris where you

can wait in some degree of comfort until I have had time to arrange

your situation. You will find there a pleasant garden, a library

of good authors, a cook, a cellar, and some good cigars, which I

recommend to your attention. Jerome," he added, turning to one of

the servants, "you have heard what I say; I leave Mr. Scrymgeour in

your charge; you will, I know, be careful of my friend."

Francis uttered some broken phrases of gratitude.

"It will be time enough to thank me," said the Prince, "when you

are acknowledged by your father and married to Miss Vandeleur."

And with that the Prince turned away and strolled leisurely in the

direction of Montmartre. He hailed the first passing cab, gave an

address, and a quarter of an hour afterwards, having discharged the

driver some distance lower, he was knocking at Mr. Vandeleur's

garden gate.

It was opened with singular precautions by the Dictator in person.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

"You must pardon me this late visit, Mr. Vandeleur," replied the

Prince.

"Your Highness is always welcome," returned Mr. Vandeleur, stepping

back.

The Prince profited by the open space, and without waiting for his

host walked right into the house and opened the door of the SALON.

Two people were seated there; one was Miss Vandeleur, who bore the

marks of weeping about her eyes, and was still shaken from time to

time by a sob; in the other the Prince recognised the young man who

had consulted him on literary matters about a month before, in a

club smoking-room.

"Good evening, Miss Vandeleur," said Florizel; "you look fatigued.

Mr. Rolles, I believe? I hope you have profited by the study of

Gaboriau, Mr. Rolles."

But the young clergyman's temper was too much embittered for

speech; and he contented himself with bowing stiffly, and continued

to gnaw his lip.

"To what good wind," said Mr. Vandeleur, following his guest, "am I

to attribute the honour of your Highness's presence?"

"I am come on business," returned the Prince; "on business with

you; as soon as that is settled I shall request Mr. Rolles to

accompany me for a walk. Mr. Rolles," he added with severity, "let

me remind you that I have not yet sat down."

The clergyman sprang to his feet with an apology; whereupon the

Prince took an armchair beside the table, handed his hat to Mr.

Vandeleur, his cane to Mr. Rolles, and, leaving them standing and

thus menially employed upon his service, spoke as follows:-

"I have come here, as I said, upon business; but, had I come

looking for pleasure, I could not have been more displeased with my

reception nor more dissatisfied with my company. You, sir,"

addressing Mr. Rolles, "you have treated your superior in station

with discourtesy; you, Vandeleur, receive me with a smile, but you

know right well that your hands are not yet cleansed from

misconduct. I do not desire to be interrupted, sir," he added

imperiously; "I am here to speak, and not to listen; and I have to

ask you to hear me with respect, and to obey punctiliously. At the

earliest possible date your daughter shall be married at the

Embassy to my friend, Francis Scrymgeour, your brother's

acknowledged son. You will oblige me by offering not less than ten

thousand pounds dowry. For yourself, I will indicate to you in

writing a mission of some importance in Siam which I destine to

your care. And now, sir, you will answer me in two words whether

or not you agree to these conditions."

"Your Highness will pardon me," said Mr. Vandeleur, "and permit me,

with all respect, to submit to him two queries?"

"The permission is granted," replied the Prince.

"Your Highness," resumed the Dictator, "has called Mr. Scrymgeour

his friend. Believe me, had I known he was thus honoured, I should

have treated him with proportional respect."

"You interrogate adroitly," said the Prince; "but it will not serve

your turn. You have my commands; if I had never seen that

gentleman before to-night, it would not render them less absolute."

"Your Highness interprets my meaning with his usual subtlety,"

returned Vandeleur. "Once more: I have, unfortunately, put the

police upon the track of Mr. Scrymgeour on a charge of theft; am I

to withdraw or to uphold the accusation?"

"You will please yourself," replied Florizel. "The question is one

between your conscience and the laws of this land. Give me my hat;

and you, Mr. Rolles, give me my cane and follow me. Miss

Vandeleur, I wish you good evening. I judge," he added to

Vandeleur, "that your silence means unqualified assent."

"If I can do no better," replied the old man, "I shall submit; but

I warn you openly it shall not be without a struggle."

"You are old," said the Prince; "but years are disgraceful to the

wicked. Your age is more unwise than the youth of others. Do not

provoke me, or you may find me harder than you dream. This is the

first time that I have fallen across your path in anger; take care

that it be the last."

With these words, motioning the clergyman to follow, Florizel left

the apartment and directed his steps towards the garden gate; and

the Dictator, following with a candle, gave them light, and once

more undid the elaborate fastenings with which he sought to protect

himself from intrusion.

"Your daughter is no longer present," said the Prince, turning on

the threshold. "Let me tell you that I understand your threats;

and you have only to lift your hand to bring upon yourself sudden

and irremediable ruin."

The Dictator made no reply; but as the Prince turned his back upon

him in the lamplight he made a gesture full of menace and insane

fury; and the next moment, slipping round a corner, he was running

at full speed for the nearest cab-stand.

(Here, says my Arabian, the thread of events is finally diverted

from THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN BLINDS. One more adventure, he adds,

and we have done with THE RAJAH'S DIAMOND. That last link in the

chain is known among the inhabitants of Bagdad by the name of THE

ADVENTURE OF PRINCE FLORIZEL AND A DETECTIVE.)