'Won'tyousayanythingmoreexplicit?'
　　'Iwouldrathernot。'
　　Somersetemittedhalfasigh:hewishedshehadbeenmoredemonstrative，yetfeltthatthispassivewayofassentingwasasmuchashecouldhopefor。Hadtherebeenanythingcoldinherpassivityhemighthavefeltrepressed；butherstillnesssuggestedthestillnessofmotionimperceptiblefromitsintensity。
　　'Wemustgoin，'saidshe。'Therainisalmostover，andthereisnolongeranyexcuseforthis。'
　　Somersetbenthislipstowardhers。'No，'saidthefairPuritandecisively。
　　'Whynot?'heasked。
　　'Nobodyeverhas。'
　　'But!——'expostulatedSomerset。
　　'Toeverythingthereisaseason，andtheseasonforthisisnotjustnow，'sheanswered，walkingaway。
　　Theycrossedthewetandglisteninglawn，steppedunderthetentandparted。Shevanished，hedidnotknowwhither；and，standingwithhisgazefixedonthedancers，theyoungmanwaited，till，beinginnomoodtojointhem，hewentslowlythroughtheartificialpassagelinedwithflowers，andenteredthedrawingroom。Mrs。Goodmanwasthere，biddinggood-nighttotheearlygoers，andPaulawasjustbehindher，apparentlyinherusualmood。Hispartingwithherwasquiteformal，butthathedidnotmind，forhercolourrosedecidedlyhigherasheapproached，andthelightinhereyeswasliketherayofadiamond。
　　WhenhereachedthedoorhefoundthathisbroughamfromtheQuantockArms，whichhadbeenwaitingmorethananhour，couldnotbeheardof。Thatvagrancyofspiritwhichloveinduceswouldnotpermithimtowait；and，leavingwordthatthemanwastofollowhimwhenhereturned，hewentpasttheglareofcarriage-lampsrankedintheward，andundertheouterarch。
　　Thenightwasnowclearandbeautiful，andhestrolledalonghiswayfullofmysteriouselationtillthevehicleovertookhim，andhegotin。
　　UptothispointSomerset'sprogressinhissuithadbeen，thoughincomplete，souninterrupted，thathealmostfearedthegoodchanceheenjoyed。Howshoulditbeinamortalofhiscalibretocommandsuccesswithsuchasweetwomanforlong?
　　Hemight，indeed，turnouttobeoneofthesingularexceptionswhicharesaidtoproverules；butwhenfortunemeanstomenmostgood，observesthebard，shelooksuponthemwithathreateningeye。Somersetwouldevenhavebeencontentthatalittledisapprovalofhiscourseshouldhaveoccurredinsomequarter，soastomakehiswooingmorelikeordinarylife。ButPaulawasnotclearlywon，andthatwasdrawbacksufficient。InthesepleasingagoniesandpainfuldelightshepassedthejourneytoMarkton。
　　BOOKTHESECOND。DAREANDHAVILL。
　　I。
　　YoungDaresatthoughtfullyatthewindowofthestudioinwhichSomersethadlefthim，tillthegayscenebeneathbecameembrownedbythetwilight，andthebrilliantredstripesofthemarquees，thebrightsunshades，themany-tintedcostumesoftheladies，wereindistinguishablefromtheblacksandgreysofthemasculinecontingentmovingamongthem。Hehadoccasionallyglancedawayfromtheoutwardprospecttostudyasmalloldvolumethatlaybeforehimonthedrawing-board。
　　Nearscrutinyrevealedthebooktobearthetitle'Moivre'sDoctrineofChances。'
　　TheeveninghadbeensostillthatDarehadheardconversationsfrombelowwithaclearnessunsuspectedbythespeakersthemselves；andamongthedialogueswhichthusreachedhisearswasthatbetweenSomersetandHavillontheirprofessionalrivalry。Whentheyparted，andSomersethadmingledwiththethrong，Havillwenttoaseatatadistance。
　　Afterwardsherose，andwalkedaway；butonthebenchhehadquittedthereremainedasmallobjectresemblingabookorleathercase。
　　Dareputawaythedrawing-boardandplotting-scaleswhichhehadkeptbeforehimduringtheeveningasareasonforhispresenceatthatpostofespial，lockedupthedoor，andwentdownstairs。NotwithstandinghisdismissalbySomerset，hewassosereneincountenanceandeasyingaitastomakeitafairconjecturethatprofessionalservitude，howeverprofitable，wasnonecessitywithhim。ThegloomnowrendereditpracticableforanyunbiddenguesttojoinPaula'sassemblagewithoutcriticism，andDarewalkedboldlyoutuponthelawn。
　　Thecrowdonthegrasswasrapidlydiminishing；thetennis-
　　playershadrelinquishedsport；manypeoplehadgoneintodinnerorsupper；andmanyothers，attractedbythecheerfulradianceofthecandles，weregatheringinthelargetentthathadbeenlightedupfordancing。
　　Darewenttothegarden-chaironwhichHavillhadbeenseated，andfoundthearticleleftbehindtobeapocket-book。
　　Whetherbecauseitwasunclaspedandfellopeninhishand，orotherwise，hedidnothesitatetoexaminethecontents。Amongamassofarchitect'scustomarymemorandaoccurredadraftoftheletterabusingPaulaasaniconoclastorVandalbyblood，whichhadappearedinthenewspaper:thedraftwassointerlinedandalteredastobearevidenceofbeingtheoriginalconceptionofthatungentlemanlyattack。
　　Theladreadtheletter，smiled，andstrolledaboutthegrounds，onlymetbyanoccasionalpairofindividualsofoppositesexindeepconversation，thestateofwhoseemotionsledthemtoprefertheeveningshadetothepublicityandglareofthetentsandrooms。Atlastheobservedthewhitewaistcoatofthemanhesought。
　　'Mr。Havill，thearchitect，Ibelieve?'saidDare。'Theauthorofmostofthenoteworthybuildingsinthisneighbourhood?'
　　Havillassentedblandly。
　　'Ihavelongwishedforthepleasureofyouracquaintance，andnowanaccidenthelpsmetomakeit。Thispocket-book，I
　　think，isyours?'
　　Havillclappedhishandtohispocket，examinedthebookDareheldouttohim，andtookitwiththanks。'IseeIamspeakingtotheartist，archaeologist，Gothicphotographer——
　　Mr。Dare。'
　　'ProfessorDare。'
　　'Professor?Pardonme，Ishouldnothaveguessedit——soyoungasyouare。'
　　'Well，itismerelyornamental；andintruth，IdropthetitleinEngland，particularlyunderpresentcircumstances。'
　　'Ah——theyarepeculiar，perhaps?Ah，Iremember。Ihaveheardthatyouareassistingagentlemaninpreparingadesigninoppositiontomine——adesign——'
　　'"Thatheisnotcompetenttopreparehimself，"youwereperhapsgoingtoadd?'
　　'Notpreciselythat。'
　　'Youcouldhardlybeblamedforsuchwords。However，youaremistaken。Ididassisthimtogainalittlefurtherinsightintotheworkingofarchitecturalplans；butourviewsonartareantagonistic，andIassisthimnomore。Mr。Havill，itmustbeveryprovokingtoawell-establishedprofessionalmantohavearivalsprungathiminagrandundertakingwhichhehadarighttoexpectashisown。'
　　Professionalsympathyisoftenacceptedfromthosewhosecondolenceonanydomesticmatterwouldbeconsideredintrusive。HavillwalkedupanddownbesideDareforafewmomentsinsilence，andatlastshowedthatthewordshadtold，bysaying:'Everyonemayhavehisopinion。HadIbeenastrangertothePowerfamily，thecasewouldhavebeendifferent；buthavingbeenspeciallyelectedbythelady'sfatherasacompetentadviserinsuchmatters，andthentobedegradedtothepositionofamerecompetitor，itwoundsmetothequick——'
　　'Bothinpurseandinperson，liketheill-usedhostessoftheGarter。'
　　'AladytowhomIhavebeenastaunchfriend，'continuedHavill，notheedingtheinterruption。
　　AtthatmomentsoundsseemedtocomefromDarewhichborearemarkableresemblancetothewords，'Ho，ho，Havill!'Itwashardlycredible，andyet，couldhebemistaken?Havillturned。Dare'seyewastwistedcomicallyupward。
　　'Whatdoesthatmean?'saidHavillcoldly，andwithsomeamazement。
　　'Ho，ho，Havill!"Staunchfriend"isgood——especiallyafter"aniconoclastandVandalbyblood"——"monstrosityintheformofaGreektemple，"andsoon，eh!'
　　'Sir，youhavetheadvantageofme。Perhapsyoualludetothatanonymousletter?'
　　'O-ho，Havill!'repeatedtheboy-man，turninghiseyesyetfurthertowardsthezenith。'Toanoutsidersuchconductwouldbenatural；buttoafriendwhofindsyourpocket-book，andlooksintoitbeforereturningit，andkindlyremovesaleafbearingthedraftofaletterwhichmightinjureyouifdiscoveredthere，andcarefullyconcealsitinhisownpocket——
　　why，suchconductisunkind!'Darehelduptheabstractedleaf。
　　Havilltrembled。'Icanexplain，'hebegan。
　　'Itisnotnecessary:wearefriends，'saidDareassuringly。
　　Havilllookedasifhewouldliketosnatchtheleafaway，butalteringhismind，hesaidgrimly:'Well，Itakeyouatyourword:wearefriends。ThatletterwasconcoctedbeforeI
　　knewofthecompetition:itwasduringmyfirstdisgust，whenIbelievedmyselfentirelysupplanted。'
　　'Iamnotintheleastsurprised。ButifsheknewYOUtobethewriter!'
　　'Ishouldberuinedasfarasthiscompetitionisconcerned，'
　　saidHavillcarelessly。'HadIknownIwastobeinvitedtocompete，Ishouldnothavewrittenit，ofcourse。Tobesupplantedishard；andtherebyhangsatale。'
　　'Anothertale?Youastonishme。'
　　'Thenyouhavenotheardthescandal，thougheverybodyistalkingaboutit。'
　　'Ascandalimpliesindecorum。'
　　'Well，'tisindecorous。Herinfatuatedpartialityforhimispatenttotheeyesofachild；amanshehasonlyknownafewweeks，andonewhoobtainedadmissiontoherhouseinthemostirregularmanner!Hadsheawatchfulfriendbesideher，insteadofthatmoonstruckMrs。Goodman，shewouldbecautionedagainstbestowingherfavoursonthefirstadventurerwhoappearsatherdoor。Itisapity，agreatpity!'
　　'O，thereislove-makinginthewind?'saidDareslowly。
　　'Thataltersthecaseforme。Butitisnotproved?'
　　'Itcaneasilybeproved。'
　　'Iwishitwere，ordisproved。'
　　'Youhaveonlytocomethiswaytoclearupalldoubts。'
　　Havilltooktheladtowardsthetent，fromwhichthestrainsofawaltznowproceeded，andonwhosesidesflittingshadowstoldoftheprogressofthedance。Thecompanionslookedin。
　　Therosysilkliningofthemarquee，andthenumerouscoronasofwaxlights，formedacanopytoaradiantscenewhich，fortwoatleastofthosewhocomposedit，wasanintoxicatingone。PaulaandSomersetweredancingtogether。
　　'Thatprovesnothing，'saidDare。
　　'Lookattheirraptfaces，andsayifitdoesnot，'sneeredHavill。
　　Dareobjectedtoajudgmentbasedonlooksalone。
　　'Verywell——timewillshow，'saidthearchitect，droppingthetent-curtain……'GoodGod!agirlworthfiftythousandandmoreayeartothrowherselfawayuponafellowlikethat——
　　sheoughttobewhipped。'
　　'TimemustNOTshow!'saidDare。
　　'Youspeakwithemphasis。'
　　'Ihavereason。Iwouldgivesomethingtobesureonthispoint，onewayortheother。Letuswaittillthedanceisover，andobservethemmorecarefully。Horensagenisthalbgelogen!Hearsayishalflies。'
　　Sheet-lightningsincreasedinthenorthernsky，followedbythunderliketheindistinctnoiseofabattle。HavillandDareretiredtothetrees。WhenthedanceendedSomersetandhispartneremergedfromthetent，andslowlymovedtowardsthetea-house。DiviningtheirgoalDareseizedHavill'sarm；
　　andthetwoworthiesenteredthebuildingunseen，byfirstpassingroundbehindit。Theyseatedthemselvesinthebackpartoftheinterior，wheredarknessprevailed。
　　Asbeforerelated，PaulaandSomersetcameandstoodwithinthedoor。Whentherainincreasedtheydrewthemselvesfurtherinward，theirformsbeingdistinctlyoutlinedtothegazeofthoselurkingbehindbythelightfromthetentbeyond。Butthehissofthefallingrainandthelownessoftheirtonespreventedtheirwordsfrombeingheard。
　　'Iwishmyselfoutofthis!'breathedHavilltoDare，ashebuttonedhiscoatoverhiswhitewaistcoat。'Itoldyouitwastrue，butyouwouldn'tbelieve。Iwouldn'tsheshouldcatchmehereeavesdroppingfortheworld!'
　　'Courage，ManFriday，'saidhiscoolercomrade。
　　Paulaandherloverbackedyetfurther，tillthehemofherskirttouchedHavill'sfeet。TheirattitudesweresufficienttoprovetheirrelationstothemostobstinateDidymuswhoshouldhavewitnessedthem。Tenderemotionsseemedtopervadethesummer-houselikeanaroma。Thecalmecstasyoftheconditionofatleastoneofthemwasnotwithoutacoerciveeffectuponthetwoinvidiousspectators，sothattheymustneedhaveremainedpassivehadtheycometheretodisturborannoy。TheserenityofPaulawasevenmoreimpressivethanthehushedardourofSomerset:shedidnotsatisfycuriosityasSomersetsatisfiedit；shepiquedit。PoorSomersethadreachedaperfectlyintelligibledepth——onewhichhadasingleblissfulwayoutofit，andninecalamitousones；butPaularemainedanenigmaallthroughthescene。
　　Therainceased，andthepairmovedaway。Theenchantmentworkedbytheirpresencevanished，thedetailsofthemeetingsettleddowninthewatchers'minds，andtheirtongueswereloosened。Dare，turningtoHavill，said，'Thankyou；youhavedonemeatimelyturnto-day。'
　　'What!hadyouhopesthatway?'askedHavillsatirically。
　　'I!Thewomanthatinterestsmyhearthasyettobeborn，'
　　saidDare，withasteelycoldnessstrangeinsuchajuvenile，andyetalmostconvincing。'ButthoughIhavenotpersonalhopes，Ihaveanobjectiontothiscourtship。NowIthinkwemayaswellfraternize，thesituationbeingwhatitis?'
　　'Whatisthesituation?"
　　'Heisinyourwayasherarchitect；heisinmywayasherlover:wedon'twanttohurthim，butwewishhimcleanoutoftheneighbourhood。'
　　'I'llgoasfarasthat，'saidHavill。
　　'Ihavecomehereatsometroubletomyself，merelytoobserve:IfindIoughttostaytoact。'
　　'Ifyouweremyself，amarriedmanwithpeopledependentonhim，whohashadaprofessionalcertaintyturnedtoamiserablyremotecontingencybytheseevents，youmightsayyououghttoact；butwhatconceivabledifferenceitcanmaketoyouwhoitistheyoungladytakestoherheartandhome，I
　　failtounderstand。'
　　'Well，I'lltellyou——thismuchatleast。Iwanttokeeptheplacevacantforanotherman。'
　　'Theplace?'
　　'TheplaceofhusbandtoMissPower，andproprietorofthatcastleanddomain。'
　　'That'saschemewithavengeance。Whoistheman?'
　　'Itismysecretatpresent。'
　　'Certainly。'Havilldrewadeepbreath，anddroppedintoatoneofdepression。'Well，schemeasyouwill，therewillbesmalladvantagetome，'hemurmured。'Thecastlecommissionisasgoodasgone，andabillfortwohundredpoundsfallsduenextweek。'
　　'Cheerup，heart!Myposition，ifyouonlyknewit，hastentimesthedifficultiesofyours，sincethisdisagreeablediscovery。Letusconsiderifwecanassisteachother。Thecompetitiondrawingsaretobesentin——when?'
　　'Insomethingoversixweeks——afortnightbeforeshereturnsfromtheScillyIsles，forwhichplacesheleaveshereinafewdays。'
　　'O，shegoesaway——that'sbetter。Ourloverwillbeworkinghereathisdrawings，andshenotpresent。'
　　'Exactly。Perhapssheisalittleashamedoftheintimacy。'
　　'Andifyourdesignisconsideredbestbythecommittee，hewillhavenofurtherreasonforstaying，assumingthattheyarenotdefinitelyengagedtomarrybythattime?'
　　'Isupposeso，'murmuredHavilldiscontentedly。'Theconditions，assenttome，statethatthedesignsaretobeadjudicatedonbythreemembersoftheInstitutecalledinforthepurpose；sothatshemayreturn，andhaveseemedtoshownofavour。'
　　'Thenitamountstothis:yourdesignMUSTbebest。Itmustcombinetheexcellencesofyourinventionwiththeexcellencesofhis。Meanwhileacoolnessshouldbemadetoarisebetweenherandhim:andastherewouldbenoartisticreasonforhispresencehereaftertheverdictispronounced，hewouldperforcehiebacktotown。Doyousee?'
　　'Iseetheingenuityoftheplan，butIalsoseetwoinsurmountableobstaclestoit。Thefirstis，Icannotaddtheexcellencesofhisdesigntominewithoutknowingwhatthoseexcellencesare，whichhewillofcoursekeepasecret。
　　Second，itwillnotbeeasytopromoteacoolnessbetweensuchhotonesasthey。'
　　'Youmakeamistake。Itisonlyhewhoissoardent。Sheisonlylukewarm。Ifwehadanyspirit，abargainwouldbestruckbetweenus:youwouldappropriatehisdesign；Ishouldcausethecoolness。'
　　'HowcouldIappropriatehisdesign?'
　　'Bycopyingit，Isuppose。'
　　'Copyingit?'
　　'Bygoingintohisstudioandlookingitover。'
　　HavillturnedtoDare，andstared。'ByGeorge，youdon'tstickattrifles，youngman。Youdon'tsupposeIwouldgointoaman'sroomsandstealhisinventionslikethat?'
　　'Iscarcelysupposeyouwould，'saidDareindifferently，asherose。
　　'AndifIwereto，'saidHavillcuriously，'howisthecoolnesstobecaused?'
　　'Bythesecondman。'
　　'Whoistoproducehim?'
　　'HerMajesty'sGovernment。'
　　Havilllookedmeditativelyathiscompanion，andshookhishead。'Intheseidlesuppositionswehavebeenassumingconductwhichwouldbequiteagainstmyprinciplesasanhonestman。'
　　II。
　　AfewdaysafterthepartyatStancyCastle，DarewaswalkingdowntheHighStreetofMarkton，acigarettebetweenhislipsandasilver-toppedcaneinhishand。Hiseyefelluponabrassplateonanoppositedoor，bearingthenameofMr。
　　Havill，Architect。Hecrossedover，andrangtheofficebell。
　　TheclerkwhoadmittedhimstatedthatMr。Havillwasinhisprivateroom，andwouldbedisengagedinashorttime。WhileDarewaitedtheclerkaffixedtothedoorapieceofpaperbearingthewords'Backat2，'andwentawaytohisdinner，leavingDareintheroomalone。
　　Darelookedatthedifferentdrawingsontheboardsabouttheroom。Theyallrepresentedonesubject，which，thoughunfinishedasyet，andbearingnoinscription，wasrecognizedbythevisitorasthedesignfortheenlargementandrestorationofStancyCastle。WhenhehadglanceditoverDaresatdown。
　　Thedoorsbetweentheofficeandprivateroomweredouble；buttheonetowardstheofficebeingonlyajarDarecouldhearaconversationinprogresswithin。Itpresentlyrosetoanaltercation，thetenorofwhichwasobvious。Somebodyhadcomeformoney。
　　'ReallyIcanstanditnolonger，Mr。Havill——reallyIwillnot!'saidthecreditorexcitedly。'Nowthisbilloverdueagain——whatcanyouexpect?Why，Imighthavenegotiatedit；
　　andwherewouldyouhavebeenthen?Insteadofthat，Ihavelockeditupoutofconsiderationforyou；andwhatdoIgetformyconsiderateness?Ishallletthelawtakeitscourse!'
　　'You'lldomeinexpressibleharm，andgetnothingwhatever，'
　　saidHavill。'Ifyouwouldrenewforanotherthreemonthstherewouldbenodifficultyinthematter。'
　　'Youhavesaidsobefore:Iwilldonosuchthing。'
　　Therewasasilence；whereuponDarearosewithouthesitation，andwalkedboldlyintotheprivateoffice。Havillwasstandingatoneend，asgloomyasathundercloud，andattheotherwastheunfortunatecreditorwithhishaton。ThoughDare'sentrysurprisedthem，bothpartiesseemedrelieved。
　　'Ihavecalledinpassingtocongratulateyou，Mr。Havill，'
　　saidDaregaily。'Suchacommissionashasbeenentrustedtoyouwillmakeyoufamous!'
　　'Howdoyoudo?——Iwishitwouldmakemerich，'saidHavilldrily。
　　'Itwillbealiftinthatdirection，fromwhatIknowoftheprofession。Whatisshegoingtospend?'
　　'Ahundredthousand。'
　　'Yourcommissionasarchitect，fivethousand。Notbad，formakingafewsketches。Considerwhatothergreatcommissionssuchaworkwillleadto。'
　　'Whatgreatworkisthis?'askedthecreditor。
　　'StancyCastle，'saidDare，sinceHavillseemedtooagapetoanswer。'Youhavenotheardofit，then?Thosearethedrawings，Ipresume，inthenextroom?'
　　Havillrepliedintheaffirmative，beginningtoperceivethemanoeuvre。'Perhapsyouwouldliketoseethem?'hesaidtothecreditor。
　　Thelatterofferednoobjection，andallthreewentintothedrawing-office。
　　'Itwillcertainlybeamagnificentstructure，'saidthecreditor，afterregardingtheelevationsthroughhisspectacles。'StancyCastle:Ihadnoideaofit!andwhendoyoubegintobuild，Mr。Havill?'heinquiredinmollifiedtones。
　　'Inthreemonths，Ithink?'saidDare，lookingtoHavill。
　　Havillassented。
　　'Fivethousandpoundscommission，'murmuredthecreditor。
　　'Paiddown，Isuppose?'
　　Havillnodded。
　　'Andtheworkswillnotlingerforlackofmoneytocarrythemout，Iimagine，'saidDare。'Twohundredthousandwillprobablybespentbeforetheworkisfinished。'
　　'Thereisnotmuchdoubtofit，'saidHavill。
　　'Yousaidnothingtomeaboutthis?'whisperedthecreditortoHavill，takinghimaside，withalookofregret。
　　'Youwouldnotlisten!'
　　'Italtersthecasegreatly。'ThecreditorretiredwithHavilltothedoor，andafterasubduedcolloquyinthepassagehewentaway，Havillreturningtotheoffice。
　　'Whatthedevildoyoumeanbyhoaxinghimlikethis，whenthejobisnomoreminethanInigoJones's?'
　　'Don'tbetoocurious，'saidDare，laughing。'Ratherthankmeforgettingridofhim。'
　　'Butitisallavision!'saidHavill，ruefullyregardingthepencilledtowersofStancyCastle。'Ifthecompetitionwerereallythecommissionthatyouhaverepresentedittobetheremightbesomethingtolaughat。'
　　'Itmustbemadeacommission，somehow，'returnedDarecarelessly。'Iamcometolendyoualittleassistance。I
　　muststayintheneighbourhood，andIhavenothingelsetodo。'
　　Acarriageslowlypassedthewindow，andHavillrecognizedthePowerliveries。'Hullo——she'scominghere!'hesaidunderhisbreath，asthecarriagestoppedbythekerb。'Whatdoesshewant，Iwonder?Dare，doessheknowyou?'
　　'Iwouldjustassoonbeoutoftheway。'
　　'Thengointothegarden。'
　　DarewentoutthroughthebackofficeasPaulawasshowninatthefront。Sheworeagreytravellingcostume，andseemedtobeinsomehaste。
　　'Iamonmywaytotherailway-station，'shesaidtoHavill。
　　'Ishallbeabsentfromhomeforseveralweeks，andsinceyourequestedit，Ihavecalledtoinquirehowyouaregettingonwiththedesign。'
　　'Pleaselookitover，'saidHavill，placingaseatforher。
　　'No，'saidPaula。'Ithinkitwouldbeunfair。IhavenotlookedatMr——theotherarchitect'splanssincehehasbeguntodesignseriously，andIwillnotlookatyours。Areyougettingonquitewell，anddoyouwanttoknowanythingmore?
　　Ifso，gotothecastle，andgetanybodytoassistyou。Whywouldyounotmakeuseoftheroomatyourdisposalinthecastle，astheotherarchitecthasdone?'
　　Inaskingthequestionherfacewastowardsthewindow，andsuddenlyhercheeksbecamearosyred。Sheinstantlylookedanotherway。
　　'Havingmyownofficesonear，itwasnotnecessary，thankyou，'repliedHavill，as，notinghercountenance，heallowedhisglancetostrayintothestreet。Somersetwaswalkingpastontheoppositeside。
　　'Thetimeis——thetimefixedforsendinginthedrawingsisthefirstofNovember，Ibelieve，'shesaidconfusedly；'andthedecisionwillbecometobythreegentlemenwhoareprominentmembersoftheInstituteofArchitects。'
　　Havillthenaccompaniedhertothecarriage，andshedroveaway。
　　HavillwenttothebackwindowtotellDarethatheneednotstayinthegarden；butthegardenwasempty。Thearchitectremainedaloneinhisofficeforsometime；attheendofaquarterofanhour，whenthescreamofarailwaywhistlehadechoeddownthestillstreet，hebeheldSomersetrepassingthewindowinadirectionfromtherailway，withsomewhatofasadgait。InanotherminuteDareentered，hummingthelatestairofOffenbach。
　　''Tisamerepieceofduplicity!'saidHavill。
　　'Whatis?'
　　'Herpretendingindifferenceastowhichofuscomesoutsuccessfulinthecompetition，whenshecolourscarminethemomentSomersetpassesby。'HedescribedPaula'svisit，andtheincident。
　　'ItmaynotmeanCupid'sEntireXXXafterall，'saidDarejudicially。'Themeresuspicionthatacertainmanlovesherwouldmakeagirlblushathisunexpectedappearance。Well，she'sgonefromhimforatime；thebetterforyou。'
　　'Hehasbeenprivilegedtoseeheroffatanyrate。'
　　'Notprivileged。'
　　'Howdoyouknowthat?'
　　'Iwentoutofyourgardenbythebackgate，andfollowedhercarriagetotherailway。Hesimplywenttothefirstbridgeoutsidethestation，andwaited。Whenshewasinthetrain，itmovedforward；hewasallexpectation，anddrewouthishandkerchiefreadytowave，whileshelookedoutofthewindowtowardsthebridge。Thetrainbackedbeforeitreachedthebridge，toattachtheboxcontainingherhorses，andthecarriage-truck。Thenitstartedforgood，andwhenitreachedthebridgeshelookedoutagain，hewavinghishandkerchieftoher。'
　　'Andshewavinghersback?'
　　'No，shedidn't。'
　　'Ah!'
　　'Shelookedathim——nothingmore。Iwouldn'tgivemuchforhischance。'AfterawhileDareaddedmusingly:'Youareamathematician:didyoueverinvestigatethedoctrineofexpectations?'
　　'Never。'
　　Daredrewfromhispockethis'BookofChances，'avolumeaswellthumbedastheminister'sBible。'Thisisatreatiseonthesubject，'hesaid。'Iwillteachittoyousomeday。'
　　ThesameeveningHavillaskedDaretodinewithhim。Hewasjustatthistimelivingengarcon，hiswifeandchildrenbeingawayonavisit。Afterdinnertheysatontilltheirfaceswereratherflushed。Thetalkturned，asbefore，onthecastle-competition。
　　'Toknowhisdesignistowin，'saidDare。'AndtowinistosendhimbacktoLondonwherehecamefrom。'
　　HavillinquiredifDarehadseenanysketchofthedesignwhilewithSomerset?
　　'Notaline。Iwasconcernedonlywiththeoldbuilding。'
　　'Nottoknowitistolose，undoubtedly，'murmuredHavill。
　　'Supposewegoforawalkthatway，insteadofconsultinghere?'
　　Theywentdownthetown，andalongthehighway。Whentheyreachedtheentrancetotheparkamandrivingabasket-
　　carriagecameoutfromthegateandpassedthembyinthegloom。
　　'Thatwashe，'saidDare。'Hesometimesdrivesoverfromthehotel，andsometimeswalks。Hehasbeenworkinglatethisevening。'
　　Strollingonunderthetreestheymetthreemasculinefigures，laughingandtalkingloudly。
　　'Thosearethethreefirst-classLondondraughtsmen，Bowles，Knowles，andCockton，whomhehasengagedtoassisthim，regardlessofexpense，'continuedDare。
　　'OLord!'groanedHavill。'There'snochanceforme。'
　　Thecastlenowarosebeforethem，endowedbytheraylessshadewithamoremassivemajestythaneithersunlightormoonlightcouldimpart；andHavillsighedagainashethoughtofwhathewaslosingbySomerset'srivalry。'Well，whatwastheuseofcominghere?'heasked。
　　'Ithoughtitmightsuggestsomething——somewayofseeingthedesign。Theservantswouldletusintohisroom，Idaresay。'
　　'Idon'tcaretoask。Letuswalkthroughthewards，andthenhomeward。'
　　Theysaunteredonsmoking，Dareleadingthewaythroughthegate-houseintoacorridorwhichwasnotinclosed，alamphangingatthefurtherend。
　　'Wearegettingintotheinhabitedpart，Ithink，'saidHavill。
　　Dare，however，hadgoneon，andknowingthetortuouspassagesfromhisfewdays'experienceinmeasuringthemwithSomerset，hecametothebutler'spantry。Dareknocked，andnobodyansweringheentered，tookdownakeywhichhungbehindthedoor，andrejoinedHavill。'Itisallright，'hesaid。'Thecat'saway；andthemiceareatplayinconsequence。'
　　Proceedingupastonestaircaseheunlockedthedoorofaroominthedark，struckalightinside，andreturningtothedoorcalledinawhispertoHavill，whohadremainedbehind。'ThisisMr。Somerset'sstudio，'hesaid。
　　'Howdidyougetpermission?'inquiredHavill，notknowingthatDarehadseennoone。
　　'Anyhow，'saidDarecarelessly。'Wecanexaminetheplansatleisure；foriftheplacidMrs。Goodman，whoistheonlyoneathome，seesthelight，shewillonlythinkitisSomersetstillatwork。'
　　Dareuncoveredthedrawings，andyoungSomerset'sbrain-workforthelastsixweekslayundertheireyes。ToDare，whowastoocursorytotroublehimselfbyenteringintosuchdetails，ithadverylittlemeaning；butthedesignshoneintoHavill'sheadlikealightintoadarkplace。Itwasoriginal；anditwasfascinating。ItsoriginalitylaypartlyinthecircumstancethatSomersethadnotattemptedtoadaptanoldbuildingtothewantsofthenewcivilization。Hehadplacedhisnewerectionbesideitasaslightlyattachedstructure，harmonizingwiththeold；heighteningandbeautifying，ratherthansubduingit。Hisworkformedapalace，witharuinouscastleannexedasacuriosity。ToHavilltheconceptionhadmorecharmthanitcouldhavetothemostappreciativeoutsider；forwhenamediocreandjealousmindthathasbeencudgellingitselfoveraproblemcapableofmanysolutions，lightsonthesolutionofarival，allpossibilitiesinthatkindseemtomergeintheonebeheld。
　　Darewasstruckbythearrestedexpressionofthearchitect'sface。'Isitrathergood?'heasked。
　　'Yes，rather，'saidHavill，subduinghimself。
　　'Morethanrather?'