trees of pride
TRANSCRIPT
8/6/2019 Trees of Pride
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EtextpreparedbyDianneBeanofPhoenix,Arizona.
TheTreesofPride
byGilbertK.Chesterton
THETREESOFPRIDE:I.THETALEOFTHEPEACOCKTREES
II.THEWAGEROFSQUIREVANEIII.THEMYSTERYOFTHEWELLIV.THECHASEAFTERTHETRUTH
THETREESOFPRIDE
I.THETALEOFTHEPEACOCKTREES
SquireVanewasanelderlyschoolboyofEnglisheducationandIrishextraction.HisEnglisheducation,atoneofthegreat
publicschools,hadpreservedhisintellectperfectlyandpermanentlyatthestageofboyhood.ButhisIrishextractionsubconsciouslyupsetinhimthepropersolemnityofanoldboy,andsometimesgavehimbackthebrighteroutlookofanaughtyboy.Hehadabodilyimpatiencewhichplayedtricksuponhimalmostagainsthiswill,andhadalreadyrenderedhimrathertooradiantafailureincivilanddiplomaticservice.ThusitistruethatcompromiseisthekeyofBritishpolicy,especiallyaseffectinganimpartialityamongthereligionsofIndia;butVane'sattempttomeettheMoslemhalfwaybykickingoffonebootatthegatesofthemosque,wasfeltnotsomuchtoindicatetrueimpartialityassomethingthatcouldonlybecalled
anaggressiveindifference.Again,itistruethatanEnglisharistocratcanhardlyenterfullyintothefeelingsofeitherpartyinaquarrelbetweenaRussianJewandanOrthodoxprocessioncarryingrelics;butVane'sideathattheprocessionmightcarrytheJewaswell,himselfavenerableandhistoricrelic,wasmisunderstoodonbothsides.Inshort,hewasamanwhoparticularlypridedhimselfonhavingnononsenseabouthim;withtheresultthathewasalwaysdoingnonsensicalthings.Heseemedtobestandingonhisheadmerelytoprovethathewashard-headed.
Hehadjustfinishedaheartybreakfast,inthesocietyofhisdaughter,atatableunderatreeinhisgardenbytheCornishcoast.For,havinga
gloriouscirculation,heinsistedonasmanyoutdoormealsaspossible,thoughspringhadbarelytouchedthewoodsandwarmedtheseasroundthatsouthernextremityofEngland.HisdaughterBarbara,agood-looking
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girlwithheavyredhairandafaceasgraveasoneofthegardenstatues,stillsatalmostmotionlessasastatuewhenherfatherrose.Afinetallfigureinlightclothes,withhiswhitehairandmustacheflyingbackwardsratherfiercelyfromafacethatwasgood-humoredenough,forhecarriedhisverywidePanamahatinhishand,hestrodeacrosstheterracedgarden,downsomestonestepsflankedwitholdornamentalurnstoamorewoodlandpathfringedwithlittletrees,andsodowna
zigzagroadwhichdescendedthecraggyClifftotheshore,wherehewastomeetaguestarrivingbyboat.Ayachtwasalreadyinthebluebay,andhecouldseeaboatpullingtowardthelittlepavedpier.
Andyetinthatshortwalkbetweenthegreenturfandtheyellowsandshewasdestinedtofind.hishard-headednessprovokedintoanotunfamiliarphasewhichtheworldwasinclinedtocallhot-headedness.ThefactwasthattheCornishpeasantry,whocomposedhistenantryanddomesticestablishment,werefarfrombeingpeoplewithnononsenseaboutthem.Therewas,alas!agreatdealofnonsenseaboutthem;withghosts,witches,andtraditionsasoldasMerlin,
theyseemedtosurroundhimwithafairyringofnonsense.Butthemagiccirclehadonecenter:therewasonepointinwhichthecurvingconversationoftherusticsalwaysreturned.ItwasapointthatalwaysprickedtheSquiretoexasperation,andeveninthisshortwalkheseemedtostrikeiteverywhere.Hepausedbeforedescendingthestepsfromthelawntospeaktothegardeneraboutpottingsomeforeignshrubs,andthegardenerseemedtobegloomilygratified,ineverylineofhisleatherybrownvisage,atthechanceofindicatingthathehadformedalowopinionofforeignshrubs.
"Wewishyou'dgetridofwhatyou'vegothere,sir,"heobserved,diggingdoggedly."Nothing'llgrowrightwiththemhere."
"Shrubs!"saidtheSquire,laughing."Youdon'tcallthepeacocktreesshrubs,doyou?Finetalltrees--yououghttobeproudofthem."
"Illweedsgrowapace,"observedthegardener."Weedscangrowashouseswhensomebodyplantsthem."Thenheadded:"HimthatsowedtaresintheBible,Squire."
"Oh,blastyour--"begantheSquire,andthenreplacedthemoreaptandalliterativeword"Bible"bythegeneralword"superstition."Hewashimselfarobustrationalist,buthewenttochurchtosethistenantsanexample.Ofwhat,itwouldhavepuzzledhimtosay.
Alittlewayalongthelowerpathbythetreesheencounteredawoodcutter,oneMartin,whowasmoreexplicit,havingmoreofagrievance.Hisdaughterwasatthattimeseriouslyillwithafeverrecentlycommononthatcoast,andtheSquire,whowasakind-heartedgentleman,wouldnormallyhavemadeallowancesforlowspiritsandlossoftemper.Buthecameneartolosinghisownagainwhenthepeasantpersistedinconnectinghistragedywiththetraditionalmonomaniaabouttheforeigntrees.
"IfshewerewellenoughI'dmoveher,"saidthewoodcutter,"aswecan'tmovethem,Isuppose.I'djustliketogetmy
chopperintothemandfeel'emcomecrashingdown."
"Onewouldthinktheyweredragons,"saidVane.
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"Andthat'saboutwhattheylooklike,"repliedMartin."Lookat'em!"
Thewoodmanwasnaturallyarougherandevenwilderfigurethanthegardener.Hisfacealsowasbrown,andlookedlikeanantiqueparchment,anditwasframedinanoutlandisharrangementofravenbeardandwhiskers,whichwasreallyafashionfifty
yearsago,butmighthavebeenfivethousandyearsoldorolder.Phoenicians,onefelt,tradingonthosestrangeshoresinthemorningoftheworld,mighthavecombedorcurledorbraidedtheirblue-blackhairintosomesuchquaintpatterns.ForthispatchofpopulationwasasmuchacornerofCornwallasCornwallisacornerofEngland;atragicanduniquerace,smallandinterrelatedlikeaCelticclan.TheclanwasolderthantheVanefamily,thoughthatwasoldascountyfamiliesgo.ForinmanysuchpartsofEnglanditisthearistocratswhoarethelatestarrivals.Itwasthesortofracialtypethatissupposedtobepassing,andperhapshasalreadypassed.
Theobnoxiousobjectsstoodsomehundredyardsawayfromthespeaker,whowavedtowardthemwithhisax;andtherewassomethingsuggestiveinthecomparison.Thatcoast,tobeginwith,stretchingtowardthesunset,wasitselfalmostasfantasticasasunsetcloud.Itwascutoutagainsttheemeraldorindigooftheseaingravenhornsandcrescentsthatmightbethecastormoldofsomesuchcrestedserpents;and,beneath,waspiercedandfrettedbycavesandcrevices,asifbytheboringofsomesuchtitanicworms.Overandabovethisdraconianarchitectureoftheearthaveilofgraywoodshungthinnerlikeavapor;woodswhichthewitchcraftoftheseahad,asusual,bothblightedandblownoutofshape.Totherightthetreestrailedalongtheseafrontinasingleline,eachdrawnoutinthinwildlineslikeacaricature.Attheotherend
oftheirextenttheymultipliedintoahuddleofhunchbackedtrees,awoodspreadingtowardaprojectingpartofthehighcoast.Itwasherethatthesightappearedtowhichsomanyeyesandmindsseemedtobealmostautomaticallyturning.
Outofthemiddleofthislow,andmoreorlesslevelwood,rosethreeseparatestemsthatshotupandsoaredintotheskylikealighthouseoutofthewavesorachurchspireoutofthevillageroofs.Theyformedaclumpofthreecolumnsclosetogether,whichmightwellbethemerebifurcation,orrathertrifurcation,ofonetree,thelowerpartbeinglostorsunkeninthethickwoodaround.EverythingaboutthemsuggestedsomethingstrangerandmoresouthernthananythingeveninthatlastpeninsulaofBritainwhichpushesoutfarthesttowardSpainandAfricaandthesouthernstars.Theirleatheryleafagehadsproutedinadvanceofthefaintmistofyellow-greenaroundthem,anditwasofanotherandlessnaturalgreen,tingedwithblue,likethecolorsofakingfisher.Butonemightfancyitthescalesofsomethree-headeddragontoweringoveraherdofhuddledandfleeingcattle.
"Iamexceedinglysorryyourgirlissounwell,"saidVaneshortly."Butreally--"andhestrodedownthesteeproadwithplungingstrides.
Theboatwasalreadysecuredtothelittlestonejetty,andtheboatman,ayoungershadowofthewoodcutter--
and,indeed,anephewofthatusefulmalcontent--salutedhisterritoriallordwiththesullenformalityofthefamily.TheSquireacknowledgeditcasuallyandhadsoonforgottenallsuch
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thingsinshakinghandswiththevisitorwhohadjustcomeashore.Thevisitorwasalong,looseman,veryleantobesoyoung,whoselong,finefeaturesseemedwhollyfittedtogetherofboneandnerve,andseemedsomehowtocontrastwithhishair,thatshowedinvividyellowpatchesuponhishollowtemplesunderthebrimofhiswhiteholidayhat.Hewascarefullydressedinexquisitetaste,thoughhehadcomestraightfrom
aconsiderableseavoyage;andhecarriedsomethinginhishandwhichinhislongEuropeantravels,andevenlongerEuropeanvisits,hehadalmostforgottentocallagripsack.
Mr.CyprianPaynterwasanAmericanwholivedinItaly.Therewasagooddealmoretobesaidabouthim,forhewasaveryacuteandcultivatedgentleman;butthosetwofactswould,perhaps,covermostoftheothers.StoringhismindlikeamuseumwiththewonderoftheOldWorld,butalllitupasbyawindowwiththewonderoftheNew,hehadfallenheirtosomethingoftheuniquecriticalpositionofRuskinorPater,andwasfurtherfamousasadiscovererofminorpoets.Hewasajudiciousdiscoverer,
andhedidnotturnallhisminorpoetsintomajorprophets.Ifhisgeesewereswans,theywerenotallSwansofAvon.Hehadevenincurredthedeadlysuspicionofclassicismbydifferingfromhisyoungfriends,thePunctuistPoets,whentheyproducedversificationconsistingexclusivelyofcommasandcolons.HehadamorehumanesympathywiththemodernflamekindledfromtheembersofCelticmythology,anditwasinrealitytherecentappearanceofaCornishpoet,asortofparalleltothenewIrishpoets,whichhadbroughthimonthisoccasiontoCornwall.Hewas,indeed,fartoowell-manneredtoallowahosttoguessthatanypleasurewasbeingsoughtoutsidehisownhospitality.HehadalongstandinginvitationfromVane,whomhehadmetinCyprusinthelatter'sdaysofundiplomaticdiplomacy;
andVanewasnotawarethatrelationshadonlybeenthusrenewedafterthecritichadreadMerlinandOtherVerses,byanewwriternamedJohnTreherne.NordidtheSquireevenbegintorealizethemuchmorediplomaticdiplomacybywhichhehadbeeninducedtoinvitethelocalbardtolunchontheverydayoftheAmericancritic'sarrival.
Mr.Paynterwasstillstandingwithhisgripsack,gazinginatranceoftrueadmirationatthehollowedcrags,toppedbythegray,grotesquewood,andcrestedfinallybythethreefantastictrees.
"Itislikebeingshipwreckedonthecoastoffairyland,"hesaid,
"Ihopeyouhaven'tbeenshipwreckedmuch,"repliedhishost,smiling."IfancyJakeherecanlookafteryouverywell."
Mr.Paynterlookedacrossattheboatmanandsmiledalso."Iamafraid,"hesaid,"ourfriendisnotquitesoenthusiasticforthislandscapeasIam."
"Oh,thetrees,Isuppose!"saidtheSquirewearily.
Theboatmanwasbynormaltradeafisherman;butashishouse,builtofblacktarredtimber,stoodrightontheforeshoreafewyardsfromthepier,hewasemployedinsuchcasesasasortofferryman.
Hewasabig,black-browedyouthgenerallysilent,butsomethingseemednowtostinghimintospeech.
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"Well,sir,"hesaid,"everybodyknowsit'snotnatural.Everybodyknowstheseablightstreesandbeatsthemunder,whenthey'reonlyjusttrees.Thesethingsthrivelikesomeunholygreatseaweedthatdon'tbelongtothelandatall.It'slikethe--theblessedseaserpentgotonshore,Squire,andeatingeverythingup."
"Thereissomestupidlegend,"saidSquireVanegruffly."Butcomeupintothegarden;Iwanttointroduceyoutomydaughter."
When,however,theyreachedthelittletableunderthetree,theapparentlyimmovableyoungladyhadmovedawayafterall,anditwassometimebeforetheycameuponthetrackofher.Shehadrisen,thoughlanguidly,andwanderedslowlyalongtheupperpathoftheterracedgardenlookingdownonthelowerpathwhereitranclosertothemainbulkofthelittlewoodbythesea.
Herlanguorwasnotafeeblenessbutratherafullnessoflife,likethatofachildhalfawake;sheseemedtostretchherselfandenjoyeverythingwithoutnoticinganything.Shepassedthewood,intothegrayhuddleofwhichasinglewhitepathvanishedthroughablackhole.Alongthispartoftheterraceransomethinglikealowrampartorbalustrade,emboweredwithflowersatintervals;andsheleanedoverit,lookingdownAtanotherglimpseoftheglowingseabehindtheclumpoftrees,andonanotherirregularpathtumblingdowntothepierandtheboatman'scottageonthebeach.
Asshegazed,sleepilyenough,shesawthatastrangefigurewasveryactivelyclimbingthepath,apparentlycomingfrom
thefisherman'scottage;soactivelythatamomentafterwardsitcameoutbetweenthetreesandstooduponthepathjustbelowher.Itwasnotonlyafigurestrangetoher,butonesomewhatstrangeinitself.Itwasthatofamanstillyoung,andseemingsomehowyoungerthanhisownclothes,whichwerenotonlyshabbybutantiquated;clothescommonenoughintexture,yetcarriedinanuncommonfashion.Heworewhatwaspresumablyalightwaterproof,perhapsthroughhavingcomeoffthesea;butitwasheldatthethroatbyonebutton,andhung,sleevesandall,morelikeacloakthanacoat.Herestedonebonyhandonablackstick;undertheshadowofhisbroadhathisblackhairhungdowninatuftortwo.Hisface,whichwasswarthy,butratherhandsomeinitself,woresomethingthatmayhavebeenaslightlyembarrassedsmile,buthadtoomuchtheappearanceofasneer.
Whetherthisapparitionwasatramporatrespasser,orafriendofsomeofthefishersorwoodcutters,BarbaraVanewasquiteunabletoguess.Heremovedhishat,stillwithhisunalteredandrathersinistersmile,andsaidcivilly:"Excuseme.TheSquireaskedmetocall."HerehecaughtsightofMartin,thewoodman,whowasshiftingalongthepath,thinningthethintrees;andthestrangermadeafamiliarsalutewithonefinger.
Thegirldidnotknowwhattosay."Haveyou--haveyoucomeaboutcuttingthewood?"sheaskedatlast.
"IwouldIweresohonestaman,"repliedthestranger."Martinis,Ifancy,adistantcousinofmine;weCornishfolkjust
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roundherearenearlyallrelated,youknow;butIdonotcutwood.Idonotcutanything,except,perhaps,capers.Iam,sotospeak,ajongleur."
"Awhat?"askedBarbara.
"Aminstrel,shallwesay?"answeredthenewcomer,andlookedup
athermoresteadily.Duringaratheroddsilencetheireyesrestedoneachother.Whatshesawhasbeenalreadynoted,thoughbyher,atanyrate,notintheleastunderstood.Whathesawwasadecidedlybeautifulwomanwithastatuesquefaceandhairthatshoneinthesunlikeahelmetofcopper.
"Doyouknow,"hewenton,"thatinthisoldplace,hundredsofyearsago,ajongleurmayreallyhavestoodwhereIstand,andaladymayreallyhavelookedoverthatwallandthrownhimmoney?"
"Doyouwantmoney?"sheasked,allatsea.
"Well,"drawledthestranger,"inthesenseoflackingit,perhaps,butIfearthereisnoplacenowforaminstrel,exceptniggerminstrel.Imustapologizefornotblackingmyface."
Shelaughedalittleinherbewilderment,andsaid:"Well,Ihardlythinkyouneeddothat."
"Youthinkthenativesherearedarkenoughalready,perhaps,"heobservedcalmly."Afterall,weareaborigines,andaretreatedassuch."
Shethrewoutsomedesperateremarkabouttheweatherorthescenery,andwonderedwhatwouldhappennext.
"Theprospectiscertainlybeautiful,"heassented,inthesameenigmaticmanner."ThereisonlyonethinginitIamdoubtfulabout."
Whileshestoodinsilenceheslowlyliftedhisblacksticklikealongblackfingerandpointeditatthepeacocktreesabovethewood.Andaqueerfeelingofdisquietfellonthegirl,asifhewere,bythatmeregesture,doingadestructiveactandcouldsendablightuponthegarden.
ThestrainedandalmostpainfulsilencewasbrokenbythevoiceofSquireVane,loudevenwhileitwasstilldistant.
"Wecouldn'ttmakeoutwhereyou'dgotto,Barbara,"hesaid."Thisismyfriend,Mr.CyprianPaynter."Thenextmomenthesawthestrangerandstopped,alittlepuzzled.itwasonlyMr.CyprianPaynterhimselfwhowasequaltothesituation.HehadseenmonthsagoaportraitofthenewCornishpoetinsomeAmericanliterarymagazine,andhefoundhimself,tohissurprise,theintroducerinsteadoftheintroduced.
"Why,Squire,"hesaidinconsiderableastonishment,"don'tyouknowMr.Treherne?Isupposed,ofcourse,hewasaneighbor."
"Delightedtoseeyou,Mr.Treherne,"saidtheSquire,recoveringhismannerswithacertaingenialconfusion."Sopleasedyouwereabletocome.ThisisMr.Paynter---my
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daughter,"and,turningwithacertainboisterousembarrassment,heledthewaytothetableunderthetree.
CyprianPaynterfollowed,inwardlyrevolvingapuzzlewhichhadtakenevenhisexperiencebysurprise.TheAmerican,ifintellectuallyanaristocrat,wasstillsociallyandsubconsciouslyademocrat.Ithadnevercrossedhismindthatthepoetshouldbecounted
luckytoknowthesquireandnotthesquiretoknowthepoet.ThehonestpatronageinVane'shospitalitywassomethingwhichmadePaynterfeelhewas,afterall,anexileinEngland.
TheSquire,anticipatingthetrialofluncheonwithastrangeliteraryman,haddealtwiththecasetactfullyfromhisownstandpoint.Countysocietymighthavemadetheguestfeellikeafishoutofwater;and,exceptfortheAmericancriticandthelocallawyeranddoctor,worthymiddle-classpeoplewhofittedintothepicture,hehadkeptitasafamilyparty.Hewasawidower,andwhenthemealhadbeenlaidoutonthegardentable,itwasBarbarawhopresidedashostess.Shehadthenewpoetonherrighthandanditmadeherveryuncomfortable.
Shehadpracticallyofferedthatfallaciousjongleurmoney,anditdidnotmakeiteasiertoofferhimlunch.
"Thewholecountryside'sgonemad,"announcedtheSquire,bywayofthelatestlocalnews."It'saboutthisinfernallegendofours."
"Icollectlegends,"saidPaynter,smiling.
"YoumustrememberIhaven'tyethadachancetocollectyours.Andthis,"headded,lookingroundattheromanticcoast,"isafinetheaterforanythingdramatic."
"Oh,it'sdramaticinitsway,"admittedVane,notwithoutafaintsatisfaction."It'sallaboutthosethingsovertherewecallthepeacocktrees--Isuppose,becauseofthequeercoloroftheleaf,youknow,thoughIhaveheardtheymakeashrillnoiseinahighwindthat'ssupposedtobeliketheshriekofapeacock;somethinglikeabamboointhebotanicalstructure,perhaps.Well,thosetreesaresupposedtohavebeenbroughtoverfromBarbarybymyancestorSirWalterVane,oneoftheElizabethanpatriotsorpirates,orwhateveryoucallthem.Theysaythatattheendofhislastvoyagethevillagersgatheredonthebeachdownthereandsawtheboatstandinginfromthesea,andthenewtreesstoodupintheboatlikeamast,allgaywithleavesoutofseason,likegreenbunting.Andastheywatchedtheythoughtatfirstthattheboatwassteeringoddly,andthenthatitwasn'tsteeringatall;andwhenitdriftedtotheshoreatlasteverymaninthatboatwasdead,andSirWalterVane,withhissworddrawn,wasleaningupagainstthetreetrunk,asstiffasthetree."
"Nowthisisrathercurious,"remarkedPaynterthoughtfully."ItoldyouIcollectedlegends,andIfancyIcantellyouthebeginningofthestoryofwhichthatistheend,thoughitcomeshundredsofmilesacrossthesea."
Hetappedmeditativelyonthetablewithhisthin,taperfingers,
likeamantryingtorecallatune.Hehad,indeed,madeahobbyofsuchfables,andhewasnotwithoutvanityabouthisartistictouchintellingthem.
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"Oh,dotellusyourpartofit?"criedBarbaraVane,whoseairofsunnysleepinessseemedinsomevaguedegreetohavefallenfromher.
TheAmericanbowedacrossthetablewithaseriouspoliteness,andthenbeganplayingidlywithaquaintringonhislongfingerashetalked.
"IfyougodowntotheBarbaryCoast,wherethelastwedgeoftheforestnarrowsdownbetweenthedesertandthegreattidelesssea,youwillfindthenativesstilltellingastrangestoryaboutasaintoftheDarkAges.There,onthetwilightborderoftheDarkContinent,youfeeltheDarkAges.Ihaveonlyvisitedtheplaceonce,thoughitlies,sotospeak,oppositetotheItaliancitywhereIlivedforyears,andyetyouwouldhardlybelievehowthetopsy-turvydomandtransmigrationofthismythsomehowseemedlessmadthantheyreallyare,withthewoodloudwithlionsatnightandthatdarkredsolitudebeyond.TheysaythatthehermitSt.Securis,
livingthereamongtrees,grewtolovethemlikecompanions;since,thoughgreatgiantswithmanyarmslikeBriareus,theywerethemildestandmostblamelessofthecreatures;theydidnotdevourlikethelions,butratheropenedtheirarmstoallthelittlebirds.Andheprayedthattheymightbeloosenedfromtimetotimetowalklikeotherthings.AndthetreesweremovedupontheprayersofSecuris,astheywereatthesongsofOrpheus.Themenofthedesertwerestrickenfromafarwithfear,seeingthesaintwalkingwithawalkinggrove,likeaschoolmasterwithhisboys.Forthetreeswerethusfreedunderstrictconditionsofdiscipline.Theyweretoreturnatthesoundofthehermit'sbell,and,aboveall,tocopythewildbeastsinwalkingonlytodestroyanddevournothing.
Well,itissaidthatoneofthetreesheardavoicethatwasnotthesaint's;thatinthewarmgreentwilightofonesummereveningitbecameconsciousofsomethingsittingandspeakinginitsbranchesintheguiseofagreatbird,anditwasthatwhichoncespokefromatreeintheguiseofagreatserpent.Asthevoicegrewlouderamongitsmurmuringleavesthetreewastornwithagreatdesiretostretchoutandsnatchatthebirdsthatflewharmlesslyabouttheirnests,andpluckthemtopieces.Finally,thetempterfilledthetree-topwithhisownbirdsofpride,thestarrypageantofthepeacocks.Andthespiritofthebruteovercamethespiritofthetree,anditrentandconsumedtheblue-greenbirdstillnotaplumewasleft,andreturnedtothequiettribeoftrees.Buttheysaythatwhenspringcamealltheothertreesputforthleaves,butthisputforthfeathersofastrangehueandpattern.Andbythatmonstrousassimilationthesaintknewofthesin,andherootedthatonetreetotheearthwithajudgment,sothatevilshouldfallonanywhoremoveditagain.That,Squire,isthebeginninginthedesertsofthetalethatendedhere,almostinthisgarden."
"Andtheendisaboutasreliableasthebeginning,Ishouldsay,"saidVane."Yoursisaniceplaintaleforasmalltea-party;aquietlittlebitofstill-life,thatis."
"Whataqueer,horriblestory,"exclaimedBarbara."Itmakesonefeellikeacannibal."
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"ExAfrica,"saidthelawyer,smiling."itcomesfromacannibalcountry.Ithinkit'sthetouchofthetar-brush,thatnightmarefeelingthatyoudon'tknowwhethertheheroisaplantoramanoradevil.Don'tyoufeelitsometimesin'UncleRemus'?"
"True,"saidPaynter."Perfectlytrue."Andhelookedatthelawyer
withanewinterest.Thelawyer,whohadbeenintroducedasMr.Ashe,wasoneofthosepeoplewhoaremoreworthlookingatthanmostpeoplerealizewhentheylook.IfNapoleonhadbeenred-haired,andhadbentallhispowerswithacuriouscontentmentuponthepettylawsuitsofaprovince,hemighthavelookedmuchthesame;theheadwiththeredhairwasheavyandpowerful;thefigureinitsdark,quietclotheswascomparativelyinsignificant,aswasNapoleon's.HeseemedmoreatcaseintheSquire'ssocietythanthedoctor,who,thoughagentleman,wasashyone,andamereshadowofhisprofessionalbrother.
"Asyoutrulysay,"remarkedPaynter,"thestoryseemstouchedwithquitebarbarouselements,probablyNegro.Originally,though,
Ithinktherewasreallyahagiologicalstoryaboutsomehermit,thoughsomeofthehighercriticssaySt.Securisneverexisted,butwasonlyanallegoryofarboriculture,sincehisnameistheLatinforanax."
"Oh,ifyoucometothat,"remarkedthepoetTreherne,"youmightaswellsaySquireVanedoesn'texist,andthathe'sonlyanallegoryforaweathercock."Somethingashadetoocoolaboutthissallydrewthelawyer'sredbrowstgether.Helookedacrossthetableandmetthepoet'ssomewhatequivocalsmile.
"DoIunderstand,Mr.Treherne,"askedAshe,"thatyousupportthemiraculousclaimsofSt.Securisinthiscase.
Doyou,byanychance,believeinthewalkingtrees?"
"Iseemenastreeswalking,"answeredthepoet,"likethemancuredofblindnessintheGospel.Bytheway,doIunderstandthatyousupportthemiraculousclaimsofthat--thaumaturgist?"
Paynterintervenedswiftlyandsuavely."Nowthatsoundsafascinatingpieceofpsychology.Youseemenastrees?"
"AsIcan'timaginewhymenshouldwalk,Ican'timaginewhytreesshouldn't,"answeredTreherne.
"Obviously,itisthenatureoftheorganism",interposedthemedicalguest,Dr.BurtonBrown;"itisnecessaryintheverytypeofvegetablestructure."
"Inotherwords,atreesticksinthemudfromyear'sendtoyear'send,"answeredTreherne."Sodoyoustopinyourconsultingroomfromtentoeleveneveryday.Anddon'tyoufancyafairy,lookinginatyourwindowforaflashafterhavingjustjumpedoverthemoonandplayedmulberrybushwiththePleiades,wouldthinkyouwereavegetablestructure,andthatsittingstillwasthenatureoftheorganism?"
"Idon'thappentobelieveinfairies,"saidthedoctorratherstiffly,fortheargumentumadhominemwasbecomingtoocommon.Asulphurous
subconsciousangerseemedtoradiatefromthedarkpoet.
"Well,Ishouldhopenot,Doctor,"begantheSquire,inhis
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loudandfriendlystyle,andthenstopped,seeingtheother'sattentionarrested.Thesilentbutlerwaitingontheguestshadappearedbehindthedoctor'schair,andwassayingsomethinginthelow,leveltonesofthewelltrainedservant.Hewassosmoothaspecimenofthetypethatothersnevernoticed,atfirst,thathealsorepeatedthedarkportrait,howevervarnished,socommoninthisparticularfamilyofCornishCelts.Hisface
wassallowandevenyellow,andhishairindigoblack.HewentbythenameofMiles.SomefeltoppressedbythetribaltypeinthistinycornerofEngland.Theyfeltsomehowasifallthesedarkfaceswerethemasksofasecretsociety.
Thedoctorrosewithahalfapology."'Imustaskpardonfordisturbingthispleasantparty;Iamcalledawayonduty.Pleasedon'tletanybodymove.Wehavetobereadyforthesethings,youknow.PerhapsMr.Trehernewilladmitthatmyhabitsarenotsoveryvegetable,afterall."WiththisParthianshaft,atwhichtherewassomelaughter,hestrodeawayveryrapidlyacrossthesunnylawntowheretheroad
dippeddowntowardthevillage.
"Heisverygoodamongthepoor,"saidthegirlwithanhonorableseriousness.
"Acapitalfellow,"agreedtheSquire."WhereisMiles?Youwillhaveacigar,Mr.Treherne?"Andhegotupfromthetable;therestfollowed,andthegroupbrokeuponthelawn.
"Remarkableman,Treherne,"saidtheAmericantothelawyerconversationally.
"Remarkableistheword,"assentedAsherathergrimly.
"ButIdon'tthinkI'llmakeanyremarkabouthim."
TheSquire,tooimpatienttowaitfortheyellow-facedMiles,hadbetakenhimselfindoorsforthecigars,andBarbarafoundherselfoncemorepairedoffwiththepoet,asshefloatedalongtheterracegarden;butthistime,symbolicallyenough,uponthesameleveloflawn.Mr.Trehernelookedlesseccentricafterhavingshedhiscuriouscloak,andseemedaquieterandmorecasualfigure.
"Ididn'tmeantoberudetoyoujustnow,"shesaidabruptly.
"Andthat'stheworstofit,"repliedthemanofletters,"forI'mhorriblyafraidIdidmeantoberudetoyou.WhenIlookedupandsawyouuptheresomethingsurgedupinmethatwasinalltherevolutionsofhistory.Oh,therewasadmirationinittoo!Perhapstherewasidolatryinalltheiconoclasts."
Heseemedtohaveapowerofreachingratherintimateconversationinonesilentandcat-likebound,ashehadscaledthesteeproad,anditmadeherfeelhimtobedangerous,andperhapsunscrupulous.Shechangedthesubjectsharply,notwithoutitmovementtowardgratifyingherowncuriosity.
"WhatDIDyoumeanbyallthataboutwalkingtrees?"sheasked."Don'ttellmeyoureallybelieveinamagictreethateatsbirds!"
"Ishouldprobablysurpriseyou,"saidTrehernegravely,"morebywhatIdon'tbelievethanbywhatIdo."
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Then,afterapause,liemadeageneralgesturetowardthehouseandgarden."I'mafraidIdon'tbelieveinallthis;forinstance,inElizabethanhousesandElizabethanfamiliesandthewayestateshavebeenimproved,andtherestofit.Lookatourfriendthewoodcutternow."Andhepointedtothemanwiththequaintblackbeard,whowasstillplyinghisaxupon
thetimberbelow.
"Thatman'sfamilygoesbackforages,anditwasfarricherandfreerinwhatyoucalltheDarkAgesthanitisnow.WaittilltheCornishpeasantwritesahistoryofCornwall."
"Butwhatintheworld,"shedemanded,"hasthistodowithwhetheryoubelieveinatreeeatingbirds?"
"WhyshouldIconfesswhatIbelievein?"hesaid,amuffleddrumofmutinyinhisvoice."Thegentrycamehereandtookourlandandtookourlaborandtookourcustoms.
Andnow,afterexploitation,avilerthing,education!Theymusttakeourdreams!"
"Well,thisdreamwasratheranightmare,wasn'tit?"askedBarbara,smiling;andthenextmomentgrewquitegrave,sayingalmostanxiously:"Buthere'sDoctorBrownbackagain.Why,helooksquiteupset."
Thedoctor,ablackfigureonthegreenlawn,was,indeed,comingtowardthemataveryvigorouswalk.Hisbodyandgaitverymuchyoungerthanhisface,whichseemedprematurelylinedaswithworry;hisbrowwasbald,andprojectedfromthestraight,darkhairbehindit.Hewasvisiblypalerthanwhenheleftthelunchtable.
"Iamsorrytosay,MissVane,"hesaid,"thatIamthebearerofbadnewstopoorMartin,thewoodmanhere.Hisdaughterdiedhalfanhourago."
"Oh,"criedBarbarawarmly,"IamSOsorry!"
"SoamI,"saidthedoctor,andpassedonratherabruptly;herandownthestonestepsbetweenthestoneurns;andtheysawhimintalkwiththewoodcutter.Theycouldnotseethewoodcutter'sface.Hestoodwithhisbacktothem,buttheysawsomethingthatseemedmoremovingthananychangeofcountenance.Theman'shandholdingtheaxrosehighabovehishead,andforaflashitseemedasifhewouldhavecutdownthedoctor.Butinfacthewasnotlookingatthedoctor.Hisfacewassettowardthecliff,where,sheeroutofthedwarfforest,rose,giganticandgildedbythesun,thetreesofpride.
Thestrongbrownhandmadeamovementandwasempty.Theaxwentcirclingswiftlythroughtheair,itsheadshowinglikeasilvercrescentagainstthegraytwilightofthetrees.Itdidnotreachitstallobjective,butfellamongtheundergrowth,shakingupaflyinglitterofbirds.Butinthepoet'smemory,fullofprimalthings,somethingseemedtosaythathehadseenthebirdsofsomepaganaugury,theaxofsomepagansacrifice.
Amomentafterthemanmadeaheavymovementforward,asiftorecoverhistool;butthedoctorputahandonhisarm.
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"Nevermindthatnow,"theyheardhimsaysadlyandkindly."TheSquirewillexcuseyouanymorework,Iknow."
SomethingmadethegirllookatTreherne.Hestoodgazing,hisheadalittlebent,andoneofhisblackelf-lockshadfallenforwardoverhisforehead.Andagainshehadthesenseofashadowover
thegrass;shealmostfeltasifthegrasswereahostoffairies,andthatthefairieswerenotherfriends.
II.THEWAGEROFSQUIREVANE
ItwasmorethanamonthbeforethelegendofthepeacocktreeswasagaindiscussedintheSquire'scircle.Itfelloutoneevening,whenhiseccentrictasteformealsinthegardenthatgatheredthecompanyroundthesametable,nowlitwithalampandlaidoutfordinnerinaglowingspringtwilight.
Itwaseventhesamecompany,forinthefewweeksinterveningtheyhadinsensiblygrownmoreandmoreintoeachother'slives,formingalittlegrouplikeaclub.TheAmericanaesthetewasofcoursethemostactiveagent,hisresolutiontopluckouttheheartoftheCornishpoet'smysteryleadinghimagainandagaintoinfluencehisflightyhostforsuchreunions.EvenMr.Ashe,thelawyer,seemedtohaveswallowedhishalf-humorousprejudices;andthedoctor,thougharathersadandsilent,wasacompanionableandconsiderateman.PaynterhadevenreadTreherne'spoetryaloud,andhereadadmirably;hehadalsoreadotherthings,notaloud,grubbingupeverythingintheneighborhood,fromguidebookstoepitaphs,thatcouldthrowalightonlocalantiquities.
Anditwasthateveningwhenthelamplightandthelastdaylighthadkindledthecolorsofthewineandsilveronthetableunderthetree,thatheannouncedanewdiscovery.
"Say,Squire,"heremarked,withoneofhisrareAmericanisms,"aboutthosebogeytreesofyours;Idon'tbelieveyouknowhalfthetalestoldroundhereaboutthem.Itseemstheyhaveawayofeatingthings.NotthatIhaveanyethicalobjectiontoeatingthings,"hecontinued,helpinghimselfelegantlytogreencheese."ButIhavemoreorless,broadlyspeaking,anobjectiontoeatingpeople."
"Eatingpeople!"repeatedBarbaraVane.
"Iknowaglobe-trottermustn'tbefastidious,"repliedMr.Paynter."ButIrepeatfirmly,anobjectiontoeatingpeople.Thepeacocktreesseemtohaveprogressedsincethehappydaysofinnocencewhentheyonlyatepeacocks.Ifyouaskthepeoplehere--thefishermanwholivesonthatbeach,orthemanthatmowsthisverylawninfrontofus--they'lltellyoutalestallerthananytropicaloneIbroughtyoufromtheBarbaryCoast.IfyouaskthemwhathappenedtothefishermanPeters,whogotdrunkonAllHallowsEve,they'lltellyouhelosthiswayinthatlittlewood,tumbleddownasleepunderthewickedtrees,andthen--evaporated,vanished,waslickeduplikedewbythesun.IfyouaskthemwhereHarryHawkeis,thewidow'slittleson,
they'lljusttellyouhe'sswallowed;thathewasdaredtoclimbthetreesandsitthereallnight,anddidit.WhatthetreesdidGodknows;thehabitsofavegetableogreleaveonealittlevague.
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Buttheyevenaddtheagreeabledetailthatanewbranchappearsonthetreewhensomebodyhaspeteredoutinthisstyle."
"Whatnewnonsenseisthis?"criedVane."Iknowthere'ssomecrazyyarnaboutthetreesspreadingfever,thougheveryeducatedmanknowswhytheseepidemicsreturnoccasionally.AndIknowtheysayyoucantellthenoiseofthemamongothertreesinagale,andIdaresayyoucan.
ButevenCornwallisn'talunaticasylum,andatreethatdinesonapassingtourist--"
"Well,thetwotalesarereconcilableenough,"putinthepoetquietly."Iftherewereamagicthatkilledmenwhentheycameclose,it'slikelytostrikethemwithsicknesswhentheystandfaroff.Intheoldromancethedragon,thatdevourspeople,oftenblastsotherswithasortofpoisonousbreath."
Ashelookedacrossatthespeakersteadily,nottosaystonily.
"DoIunderstand,"heinquired,"thatyouswallowthe
swallowingtreestoo?"
Treherne'sdarksmilewasstillonthedefensive;hisfencingalwaysannoyedtheother,andheseemednotwithoutmaliceinthematter.
"Swallowingisametaphor,"hesaid,"aboutme,ifnotaboutthetrees.Andmetaphorstakeusatonceintodreamland--nobadplace,either.Thisgaren,Ithink,getsmoreandmorelikeadreamatthiscornerofthedayandnight,thatmightleadusanywhere."
Theyellowhornofthemoonhadappearedsilentlyandasifsuddenlyovertheblackhornsoftheseaweed,seemingtoannounceasnightsomethingwhichtillthenhadbeenevening.
Anightbreezecameinbetweenthetreesandracedstealthilyacrosstheturf,andastheyceasedspeakingtheyheard,notonlytheseethinggrass,buttheseaitselfmoveandsoundinallthecracksandcavesroundthemandbelowthemandoneveryside.Theyallfeltthenotethathadbeenstruck--theAmericanasanartcriticandthepoetasapoet;andtheSquire,whobelievedhimselfboilingwithanimpatiencepurelyrational,didnotreallyunderstandhisownimpatience.Inhim,moreperhapsthantheothers--morecertainlythanheknewhimself--theseawindwenttotheheadlikewine.
"Credulityisacuriousthing,"wentonTreherneinalowvoice."Itismorenegativethanpositive,andyetitisinfinite.Hundredsofmenwillavoidwalkingunderaladder;theydon'tknowwherethedooroftheladderwilllead.Theydon'treallythinkGodwouldthrowathunderboltatthemforsuchathing.Theydon'tknowwhatwouldhappen,thatisjustthepoint;butyettheystepasideasfromaprecipice.Sothepoorpeopleheremayormaynotbelieveanything;theydon'tgointothosetreesatnight."
"IwalkunderaladderwheneverIcan,"criedVane,inquiteunnecessaryexcitement.
"YoubelongtoaThirteenClub,"saidthepoet."Youwalkunderaladder
onFridaytodinethirteenatatable,everybodyspillingthesalt.Butevenyoudon'tgointothosetreesatnight."
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SquireVanestoodup,hissilverhairflaminginthewind.
"I'llstopallnightinyourtomfoolwoodandupyourtomfooltrees,"hesaid."I'lldoitfortwopenceortwothousandpounds,ifanyonewilltakethebet."
Withoutwaitingforreply,hesnatcheduphiswidewhitehatandsettled
itonwithafiercegesture,andhadgoneoffingreatleoninestridesacrossthelawnbeforeanyoneatthetablecouldmove.
ThestillnesswasbrokenbyMiles,thebutler,whodroppedandbrokeoneoftheplateshecarried.Hestoodlookingafterhismasterwithhislong,angularchinthrustout,lookingyel-lowerwhereitcaughttheyellowlightofthelampbelow.Hisfacewasthussharplyinshadow,butPaynterfanciedforamomentitwasconvulsedbysomepassionpassingsurprise.Butthefacewasquiteasusualwhenitturned,andPaynterrealizedthatanightoffancieshadbegun,likethecrosspurposesofthe"MidsummerNight'sDream."
Thewoodofthestrangetrees,towardwhichtheSquirewaswalking,laysofarforwardontheheadland,whichultimatelyalmostoverhungthesea,thatitcouldbeapproachedbyonlyonepath,whichshoneclearlylikeasilverribboninthetwilight.Theribbonranalongtheedgeofthecliff,wherethesinglerowofdeformedtreesranbesideitalltheway,andeventuallyplungedintotheclosermassoftreesbyonenaturalgateway,ameregapinthewood,lookingdark,likealion'smouth.Whatbecameofthepathinsidecouldnotbeseen,butitdoubtlessledroundthehiddenrootsofthegreatcentraltrees.TheSquirewasalreadywithinayardortwoofthisdarkentrywhenhisdaughterrosefromthetableandtookasteportwo
afterhimasiftocallhimback.
Trehernehadalsorisen,andstoodasifdazedattheeffectofhisidledefiance.WhenBarbaramovedheseemedtorecoverhimself,andsteppingafterher,saidsomethingwhichPaynterdidnothear.Hesaiditcasuallyandevendistantlyenough,butitclearlysuggestedsomethingtohermind;for,afteramoment'sthought,shenoddedandwalkedback,nottowardthetable,butapparentlytowardthehouse.Paynterlookedafterherwithamomentarycuriosity,andwhenheturnedagaintheSquirehadvanishedintotheholeinthewood.
"He'sgone,"saidTreherne,withaclangoffinalityinhistones,liketheslammingofadoor.
"Well,supposehehas?"criedthelawyer,rousedatthevoice."TheSquirecangointohisownwood,Isuppose!Whatthedevil'sallthefussabout,Mr.Paynter?Don'ttellmeyouthinkthere'sanyharminthatplantationofsticks."
"No,Idon't,"saidPaynter,throwingonelegoveranotherandlightingacigar."ButIshallstopheretillhecomesout."
"Verywell,"saidAsheshortly,"I'llstopwithyou,ifonlytoseetheendofthisfarce."
Thedoctorsaidnothing,buthealsokepthisseatandacceptedoneoftheAmerican'scigars.IfTrehernehadbeenattendingtothematterhemighthavenoted,withhissardonicsuperstition,
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acuriousfact--that,whileallthreemenweretacitlycondemningthemselvestostayoutallnightifnecessary,all,byoneblankomissionoroblivion,assumedthatitwasimpossibletofollowtheirhostintothewoodjustinfrontofthem.ButTreherne,thoughstillinthegarden,hadwanderedawayfromthegardentable,andwaspacingalongthesinglelineoftreesagainstthedarksea.Theyhadintheirregularinterstices,showingtheseaasthroughaseries
ofwindows,somethingofthelookoftheghostorskeletonofacloister,andhe,havingthrownhiscoatoncemoreoverhisneck,likeacape,passedtoandfroliketheghostofsomenotverysanemonk.
Allthesemen,whetherskepticsormystics,lookedbackfortherestoftheirlivesonthatnightasonsomethingunnatural.Theysatstillorstartedupabruptly,andpacedthegreatgardeninlongdetours,sothatitseemedthatnothreeofthemweretogetheratatime,andnoneknewwhowouldbehiscompanion;yettheirramblingremainedwithinthesamedimandmazyspace.Theyfellintosnatchesofuneasyslumber;thesewereverybrief,andyettheyfeltasifthewholesitting,strolling,oroccasional
speakinghadbeenpartsofasingledream.
Paynterwokeonce,andfoundAshesittingoppositehimatatableotherwiseempty;hisfacedarkinshadowandhiscigar-endliketheredeyeofaCyclops.Untilthelawyerspoke,inhissteadyvoice,Paynterwaspositivelyafraidofhim.Heansweredatrandomandnoddedagain;whenheagainwokethelawyerwasgone,andwhatwasoppositehimwasthebald,palebrowofthedoctor;thereseemedsuddenlysomethingominousinthefamiliarfactthatheworespectacles.AndyetthevanishingAshehadonlyvanishedafewyardsaway,forheturnedatthatinstantandstrolledbacktothetable.WithajerkPaynterrealizedthathisnightmarewasbutatrick
ofsleeporsleeplessness,andspokeinhisnaturalvoice,butratherloud.
"Soyou'vejoinedusagain;where'sTreherne?"
"Oh,stillrevolving,Isuppose,likeapolarbearunderthosetreesonthecliff,"repliedAshe,motioningwithhiscigar,"lookingatwhatanolder(andyouwillforgivemeforthinkingasomewhatbetter)poetcalledthewine-darksea.Itreallyhasasortofpurpleshade;lookatit."
Paynterlooked;hesawthewine-darkseaandthefantastictreesthatfringedit,buthedidnotseethepoet;thecloisterwasalreadyemptyofitsrestlessmonk.
"Gonesomewhereelse,"hesaid,withfutilityfarfromcharacteristic."He'llbebackherepresently.Thisisaninterestingvigil,butavigillosessomeofitsintensitywhenyoucan'tkeepawake.Ah!Here'sTreherne;sowe'reallmustered,asthepoliticiansaidwhenMr.Colmancamelatefordinner.No,thedoctor'soffagain.howrestlessweallare!"Thepoethaddrawnnear,hisfeetwerefallingsoftonthegrass,andwasgazingatthemwithasingularattentiveness.
"Itwillsoonbeover,"hesaid.
"What?"snappedAsheveryabruptly.
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"Thenight,ofcourse,"repliedTreherneinamotionlessmanner."Thedarkesthourhaspassed."
"Didn'tsomeotherminorpoetremark,"inquiredPaynterflippantly,"thatthedarkesthourbeforethedawn--?MyGod,whatwasthat?Itwaslikeascream."
"Itwasascream,"repliedthepoet."Thescreamofapeacock."
Ashestoodup,hisstrongpalefaceagainsthisredhair,andsaidfuriously:"Whatthedevildoyoumean?"
"Oh,perfectlynaturalcauses,asDr.Brownwouldsay,"repliedTreherne."Didn'ttheSquiretellusthetreeshadashrillnoteoftheirownwhenthewindblew?Thewind'sbeatingupagainfromthesea;Ishouldn'twonderiftherewasastormbeforedawn."
Dawnindeedcamegraduallywithagrowingnoiseofwind,
andthepurpleseabegantoboilaboutthedarkvolcaniccliffs.Thefirstchangeintheskyshoweditselfonlyintheshapesofthewoodandthesinglestemsgrowingdarkerbutclearer;andabovethegrayclump,againstaglimpseofgrowinglight,theysawalofttheeviltrinityofthetrees.IntheirlonglinesthereseemedtoPayntersomethingfaintlyserpentineandevenspiral.Hecouldalmostfancyhesawthemslowlyrevolvingasinsomecyclicdance,butthis,again,wasbutalastdelusionofdreamland,forafewsecondslaterhewasagainasleep.Indreamshetoiledthroughatangleofinconclusivetales,eachfilledwiththesamestressandnoiseofseaandseawind;andaboveandoutsideallothervoicesthewailingoftheTreesofPride.
Whenhewokeitwasbroadday,andabloomofearlylightlayonwoodandgardenandonfieldsandfarmsformilesaway.Thecomparativecommonsensethatdaylightbringseventothesleeplessdrewhimalertlytohisfeet,andshowedhimallhiscompanionsstandingaboutthelawninsimilarattitudesofexpectancy.Therewasnoneedtoaskwhattheywereexpecting.Theywerewaitingtohearthenocturnalexperiences,comicorcommonplaceorwhatevertheymightprovetobe,ofthateccentricfriend,whoseexperiment(whetherfromsomesubconsciousfearorsomefancyofhonor)theyhadnotventuredtointerrupt.Hourfollowedhour,andstillnothingstirredinthewoodsaveanoccasionalbird.TheSquire,likemostmenofhistype,wasanearlyriser,anditwasnotlikelythathewouldinthiscasesleeplate;itwasmuchmorelikely,intheexcitementinwhichhehadleftthem,thathewouldnotsleepatall.Yetitwasclearthathemustbesleeping,perhapsbysomereactionfromastrain.BythetimethesunwashighinheavenAshethelawyer,turningtotheothers,spokeabruptlyandtothepoint.
"Shallwegointothewoodnow?"askedPaynter,andalmostseemedtohesitate.
"Iwillgoin,"saidTrehernesimply.Then,drawinguphisdarkheadinanswertotheirglances,headded:
"No,donottroubleyourselves.Itisneverthebelieverwhoisafraid."
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Forthesecondtimetheysawamanmountthewhitecurlingpathanddisappearintothegraytangledwood,butthistimetheydidnothavetowaitlongtoseehimagain.
Afewminuteslaterhereappearedinthewoodlandgateway,andcameslowlytowardthemacrossthegrass.Hestopped
beforethedoctor,whostoodnearest,andsaidsomething.Itwasrepeatedtotheothers,andwentroundtheringwithlowcriesofincredulity.Theothersplungedintothewoodandreturnedwildly,andwereseenspeakingtoothersagainwhogatheredfromthehouse;thewildwirelesstelegraphywhichistheeducationofcountrysidecommunitiesspreaditfartherandfartherbeforethefactitselfwasfullyrealized;andbeforenightfallaquarterofthecountyknewthatSquireVanehadvanishedlikeaburstbubble.
Widelyasthewildstorywasrepeated,andpatientlyasitwaspondered,itwaslongbeforetherewaseventhebeginningofasequeltoit.
IntheintervalPaynterhadpolitelyremovedhimselffromthehouseofmourning,orratherofquestioning,butonlysofarasthevillageinn;forBarbaraVanewasgladofthetraveler'sexperienceandsympathy,inadditiontothataffordedherbythelawyeranddoctorasoldfriendsofthefamily.EvenTrehernewasnotdiscouragedfromhisoccasionalvisitswithaviewtohelpingthehuntforthelostman.Thefiveheldmanycounselsroundtheoldgardentable,atwhichtheunhappymasterofthehousehaddinedforthelasttime;andBarbaraworeheroldmaskofstone,ifitwasnowamoretragicmask.Shehadshownnopassionafterthefirstmorningofdiscovery,whenshehadbrokenforthonce,speakingstrangelyenoughintheviewofsomeofherhearers.
Shehadcomeslowlyoutofthehouse,towhichherownorsomeoneelse'swisdomhadrelegatedherduringthenightofthewager;anditwasclearfromherfacethatsomebodyhadtoldherthetruth;Miles,thebutler,stoodonthestepsbehindher;anditwasprobablyhe.
"Donotbemuchdistressed,MissVane,"saidDoctorBrown,inalowandratheruncertainvoice."Thesearchinthewoodhashardlybegun.Iamconvincedweshallfind--somethingquitesimple."
"Thedoctorisright,"saidAshe,inhisfirmtones;"Imyself--"
"Thedoctorisnotright,"saidthegirl,turningawhitefaceonthespeaker,"Iknowbetter.Thepoetisright.Thepoetisalwaysright.Oh,hehasbeenherefromthebeginningoftheworld,andseenwondersandterrorsthatareallroundourpath,andonlyhidingbehindabushorastone.Youandyourdoctoringandyourscience--why,youhaveonlybeenhereforafewfumblinggenerations;andyoucan'tconquerevenyourownenemiesoftheflesh.Oh,forgiveme,Doctor,Iknowyoudosplendidly;butthefevercomesinthevillage,andthepeopledieanddieforallthat.Andnowit'smypoorfather.GodhelpusallITheonlythingleftistobelieveinGod;forwecan'thelpbelievingindevils."Andsheleftthem,stillwalkingquiteslowly,butinsuchafashionthatnoone
couldgoafterher.
Thespringhadalreadybeguntoripenintosummer,andspreadagreen
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tentfromthetreeoverthegardentable,whentheAmericanvisitor,sittingtherewithhistwoprofessionalcompanions,brokethesilencebysayingwhathadlongbeeninhismind.
"Well,"hesaid,"Isupposewhateverwemaythinkitwisetosay,wehaveallbeguntothinkofapossibleconclusion.Itcan'tbeputverydelicatelyanyhow;but,afterall,
there'saverynecessarybusinesssidetoit.WhatarewegoingtodoaboutpoorVane'saffairs,apartfromhimself?Isupposeyouknow,"headded,inalowvoicetothelawyer,"whetherhemadeawill?"
"Helefteverythingtohisdaughterunconditionally,"repliedAshe."Butnothingcanbedonewithit.There'snoproofwhateverthathe'sdead.""Nolegalproof?"remarkedPaynterdryly.AwrinkleofirritationhadappearedinthebigbaldbrowofDoctorBrown;andhemadeanimpatientmovement.
"Ofcoursehe'sdead,"hesaid."What'sthesenseofallthis
legalfuss?Wewerewatchingthissideofthewood,weren'twe?Amancouldn'thaveflownoffthosehighcliffsoverthesea;hecouldonlyhavefallenoff.Whatelsecanhebebutdead?"
"Ispeakasalawyer,"returnedAshe,raisinghiseyebrows."Wecan'tpresumehisdeath,orhaveaninquestoranythingtillwefindthepoorfellow'sbody,orsomeremainsthatmayreasonablybepresumedtobehisbody."
"Isee,"observedPaynterquietly."Youspeakasalawyer;butIdon'tthinkit'sveryhardtoguesswhatyouthinkasaman."
"IownI'dratherbeamanthanalawyer,"saidthedoctor,ratherroughly."I'dnonotionthelawwassuchanass.What'sthegoodofkeepingthepoorgirloutofherproperty,andtheestateallgoingtopieces?Well,Imustbeoff,ormypatientswillbegoingtopiecestoo."
Andwithacurtsalutationhepursuedhispathdowntothevillage.
"Thatmandoeshisduty,ifanybodydoes,"remarkedPaynter."Wemustpardonhis--shallIsaymannersormanner?"
"Oh,Ibearhimnomalice,"repliedAshegood-humoredly,"ButI'mgladhe'sgone,because--well,becauseIdon'twanthimtoknowhowjollyrightheis."Andheleanedbackinhischairandstaredupattheroofofgreenleaves.
"Youaresure,"saidPaynter,lookingatthetable,"thatSquireVaneisdead?"
"Morethanthat,"saidAshe,stillstaringattheleaves."I'msureofhowhedied."
"Ah!"saidtheAmerican,withanintakeofbreath,andtheyremainedforamoment,onegazingatthetreeandtheotheratthetable.
"Sureisperhapstoostrongaword,"continuedAshe."Butmyconvictionwillwantsomeshaking.Idon'tenvythecounselforthedefense."
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"Thecounselforthedefense,"repeatedPaynter,andlookedupquicklyathiscompanion.Hewasstruckagainbytheman'sNapoleon'icchinandjaw,ashehadbeenwhentheyfirsttalkedofthelegendofSt.Securis.
"Then,"hebegan,"youdon'tthinkthetrees--"
"Thetreesbedamned!"snortedthelawyer."Thetreehadtwolegsonthatevening.Whatourfriendthepoet,"headded,withasneer,"wouldcallawalkingtree.Aproposofourfriendthepoet,youseemedsurprisedthatnighttofindhewasnotwalkingpoeticallybytheseaallthetime,andIfearIaffectedtoshareyourignorance.IwasnotsosurethenasIamnow."
"Sureofwhat?"demandedtheother.
"Tobeginwith,"saidAshe,"I'msureourfriendthepoetfollowedVaneintothewoodthatnight,forIsawhimcomingoutagain."
Paynterleanedforward,suddenlypalewithexcitement,andstruckthewoodentablesothatitrattled.
"Mr.Ashe,you'rewrong,"hecried."You'reawonderfulmanandyou'rewrong.You'veprobablygottonsoftrueconvincingevidence,andyou'rewrong.Iknowthispoet;Iknowhimasapoet;andthat'sjustwhatyoudon't.Iknowyouthinkhegaveyoucrookedanswers,andseemedtobeallsmilesandblacklooksatonce;butyoudon'tunderstandthetype.Iknownowwhyyoudon'tunderstandtheIrish.Sometimesyouthinkit'ssoft,andsometimessly,andsometimesmurderous,andsometimesuncivilized;andallthetimeit'sonlycivilized;quiveringwiththesensitiveironyofunderstandingallthat
youdon'tunderstand."
"Well,"saidAsheshortly,"we'llseewho'sright."
"Wewill,"criedCyprian,androsesuddenlyfromthetable.Allthedroopingoftheaesthetehaddroppedfromhim;hisYankeeaccentrosehigh,likeahornofdefiance,andtherewasnothingabouthimbuttheNewWorld.
"IguessIwilllookintothismyself,"hesaid,stretchinghislonglimbslikeanathlete."Isearchthatlittlewoodofyoursto-morrow.It'sabitlate,orI'ddoitnow."
"Thewoodhasbeensearched,"saidthelawyer,risingalso.
"Yes,"drawledtheAmerican."It'sbeensearchedbyservants,policemen,localpoliceman,andquitealotofpeople;anddoyouknowIhaveanotionthatnobodyroundhereislikelytohavesearcheditatall."
"Andwhatareyougoingtodowithit?"askedAshe.
"WhatIbettheyhaven'tdone,"repliedCyprian."I'mgoingtoclimbatree."
Andwithaquaintairofrenewedcheerfulnesshetookhimselfawayatarapidwalktohisinn.
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HeappearedatdaybreaknextmorningoutsidetheVaneArmswithalltheairofonesettingoutonhistravelsindistantlands.Hehadafieldglassslungoverhisshoulder,andaverylargesheathknifebuckledbyabeltroundhiswaist,andcarriedwiththecoolbravadoofthebowieknifeofacowboy.Butinspiteofthisbackwoodsman'ssimplicity,orperhapsratherbecauseofit,heeyedwithrisingrelishthepicturesqueplan
andskylineoftheantiquatedvillage,andespeciallythewoodensquareoftheoldinnsignthathungoverhishead;ashield,ofwhichthechargesseemedtohimameremedleyofbluedolphins,goldcrosses,andscarletbirds.Thecolorsandcubiccornersofthatpaintedboardpleasedhimlikeaplayorapuppetshow.Hestoodstaringandstraddlingforsomemomentsonthecobblesofthelittlemarketplace;thenhegaveashortlaughandbegantomountthesteepstreetstowardthehighparkandgardenbeyond.Fromthehighlawn,abovethetreeandtable,hecouldseeononesidethelandstretchawaypastthehouseintoagreatrollingplain,whichundertheclearedgesofthedawnseemeddottedwithpicturesquedetails.Thewoodshereandthereontheplainlooked
likegreenhedgehogs,asgrotesqueastheincongruousbeastsfoundunaccountablywalkingintheblankspacesofmediaevalmaps.Theland,cutupintocoloredfields,recalledtheheraldryofthesignboard;thisalsowasatonceancientandgay.Ontheothersidethegroundtoseawardsweptdownandthenupagaintothefamousorinfamouswood;thesquareofstrangetreeslaysilentlytiltedontheslope,alsosuggesting,ifnotamap,orleastabird's-eyeview.Onlythetriplecenterpieceofthepeacocktreesroseclearoftheskyline;andthesestoodupintranquilsunlightasthingsalmostclassical,atriangulartempleofthewinds.Theyseemedpaganinanewerandmoreplacidsense;andhefeltanewerandmoreboyishcuriosityandcouragefortheconsultingoftheoracle.
Inallhiswanderingshehadneverwalkedsolightly,fortheconnoisseurofsensationshadfoundsomethingtodoatlast;hewasfightingforafriend.
Hewasbroughttoastandstillonce,however,andthatattheverygatewayofthegardenofthetreesofknowledge.justoutsidetheblackentryofthewood,nowcurtainedwithgreenerandlargerleafage,hecameonasolitaryfigure.
ItwasMartin,thewoodcutter,wadinginthebrackenandlookingabouthiminratheralostfashion.Themanseemedtobetalkingtohimself.
"Idroppedithere,"hewassaying."ButI'llneverworkwithitagainIreckon.Doctorwouldn'tletmepickitup,whenIwantedtopickitup;andnowthey'vegotit,likethey'vegottheSquire.Woodandiron,woodandiron,buteatingit'snothingtothem."
"Come!"saidPaynterkindly,rememberingtheman'sdomestictrouble."MissVanewillseeyouhaveanythingyouwant,Iknow.Andlookhere,don'tbroodonallthosestoriesabouttheSquire.Istheretheslightesttraceofthetreeshavinganythingtodowithit?Isthereeventhisextrabranchtheidiotstalkedabout?"
TherehadbeengrowingonPaynterthesuspicionthatthemanbeforehimwasnotperfectlysane;yethewasmuchmorestartledbythesudden
andcoldsanitythatlookedfor.aninstantoutofthewoodman'seyes,asheansweredinhisordinarymanner.
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"Well,sir,didyoucountthebranchesbefore?"
Thenheseemedtorelapse;andPaynterlefthimwanderingandwaveringintheundergrowth;andenteredthewoodlikeoneacrosswhosesunnypathashadowhasfallenforaninstant.
Divingunderthewood,hewassoonthreadingaleafypathwhich,
evenunderthatsummersun,shoneonlywithanemeraldtwilight,asifitwereonthefloorofthesea.Itwoundaboutmoreshakilythanhehadsupposed,asifresolvedtoapproachthecentraltreesasiftheyweretheheartofthemazeatHamptonCourt.Theyweretheheartofthemazeforhim,anyhow;hesoughtthemasstraightasacrookedroadwouldcarryhim;and,turningafinalcorner,hebeheld,forthefirsttime,thefoundationsofthosetowersofvegetationhehadasyetonlyseenfromabove,astheystoodwaist-highinthewoodland.Hefoundthesuspicioncorrectwhichsupposedthetreebranchedfromonegreatroot,likeacandelabrum;thefork,thoughstainedandslimywithgreenfungoids,wasquiteneartheground,andofferedafirstfoothold.Heputhisfootinit,andwithoutaflashofhesitationwentaloft,
likeJackclimbingtheBeanstalk.
Abovehimthegreenroofofleavesandboughsseemedsealedlikeafirmamentoffoliage;but,bybendingandbreakingthebranchestorightandleftheslowlyforcedapassageupward;andhadatlast,andsuddenly,thesensationcomingoutonthetopoftheworld.Hefeltasifhehadneverbeenintheopenairbefore.Seaandlandlayinacirclebelowandabouthim,ashesatastrideabranchofthetalltree;hewasalmostsurprisedtoseethesunstillcomparativelylowinthesky;asifhewerelookingoveralandofeternalsunrise.
"SilentuponapeakinDarien,"heremarked,inaneedlessly
loudandcheerfulvoice;andthoughtheclaim,thusexpressed,wasillogical,itwasnotinappropriate.HedidfeelasifhewereaprimitiveadventurerjustcometotheNewWorld,insteadofamoderntravelerjustcomefromit.
"Iwonder,"heproceeded,"whetherIamreallythefirstthateverburstintothissilenttree.Itlookslikeit.Those--"
Hestoppedandsatonhisbranchquitemotionless,buthiseyeswereturnedonabranchalittlebelowit,andtheywerebrilliantwithavigilance,likethoseofamanwatchingasnake.
Whathewaslookingatmight,atfirstsight,havebeenalargewhitefungusspreadingonthesmoothandmonstroustrunk;butitwasnot.
Leaningdowndangerouslyfromhisperch,hedetacheditfromthetwigonwhichithadcaught,andthensatholdingitinhishandandgazingatit.ItwasSquireVane'swhitePanamahat,buttherewasnoSquireVaneunderit.Paynterfeltanamelessreliefintheveryfactthattherewasnot.
Thereintheclearsunlightandseaair,foraninstant,allthetropicalterrorsofhisownidletalesurroundedandsuffocatedhim.Itseemedindeedsomedemontreeoftheswamps;avegetableserpent
thatfedonmen.Eventhehideousfarceinthefancyofdigestingawholemanwiththeexceptionofhishat,seemedonlytosimplifythenightmare.Andhefoundhimselfgazingdullyatoneleafofthetree,whichhappened
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tobeturnedtowardhim,sothattheoddmarkings,whichhadpartlymadethelegend,reallylookedalittleliketheeyeinapeacock'sfeather.Itwasasifthesleepingtreehadopenedoneeyeuponhim.
Withasharpefforthesteadiedhimselfinmindandpostureonthebough;hisreasonreturned,andhebegantodescendwiththehatinhisteeth.Whenhewasbackintheunderworldofthewood,hestudiedthehatagain
andwithcloserattention.Inoneplaceinthecrowntherewasaholeorrent,whichcertainlyhadnotbeentherewhenithadlastlainonthetableunderthegardentree.Hesatdown,litacigarette,andreflectedforalongtime.
Awood,evenasmallwood,isnotaneasythingtosearchminutely;butheprovidedhimselfwithsomepracticaltestsinthematter.Inonesensetheverydensityofthethicketwasahelp;hecouldatleastseewhereanyonehadstrayedfromthepath,bybrokenandtrampledgrowthsofeverykind.Aftermanyhours'industry,hehadmadeasortofnewmapoftheplace;andhaddecidedbeyonddoubtthatsomepersonorpersonshad
sostrayed,forsomepurpose,inseveraldefineddirections.Therewasawayburstthroughthebushes,makingashortcutacrossaloopofthewanderingpath;therewasanotherforkingoutfromitasanalternativewayintothecentralspace.Buttherewasoneespeciallywhichwasunique,andwhichseemedtohim,themorehestudiedit,topointtosomeessentialofthemystery.
Oneofthesebeatenandbrokentrackswentfromthespaceunderthepeacocktreesoutwardintothewoodforabouttwentyyardsandthenstopped.Beyondthatpointnotatwigwasbrokennoraleafdisturbed.Ithadnoexit,buthecouldnotbelievethatithadnogoal.Aftersomefurtherreflection,heknelt
downandbegantocutawaygrassandclaywithhisknife,andwassurprisedattheeasewithwhichtheydetachedthemselves.Inafewmomentsawholesectionofthesoilliftedlikealid;itwasaroundlidandpresentedaquaintappearance,likeaflatcapwithgreenfeathers.Forthoughthediscitselfwasmadeofwood,therewasalayerofearthonitwiththelivegrassstillgrowingthere.Andtheremovaloftheroundlidrevealedaroundhole,blackasnightandseeminglybottomless.Paynterunderstooditinstantly.Itwasratherneartheseaforawelltobesunk,butthetravelerhadknownwellssunkevennearer.Herosetohisfeetwiththegreatknifeinhishand,afrownonhisface,andhisdoubtsresolved.Henolongershrankfromnamingwhatheknew.Thiswasnotthefirstcorpsethathadbeenthrowndownawell;here,withoutstoneorepitaph,wasthegraveofSquireVane.Inaflashallthemythologicalfolliesaboutsaintsandpeacockswereforgotten;hewasknockedonthehead,aswithastoneclub,bythehumancommonsenseofcrime.
CyprianPaynterstoodlongbythewellinthewood,walkedrounditinmeditation,examineditsrimandtheringofgrassaboutit,searchedthesurroundingsoilthoroughly,camebackandstoodbesidethewelloncemore.Hisresearchesandreflectionshadbeensolongthathehadnotrealizedthatthedayhadpassedandthatthewoodandtheworldrounditwerebeginningalreadytobesteepedintheenrichmentofevening.Thedayhadbeenradiantlycalm;theseaseemedtobeas
stillasthewell,andthewellwasasstillasamirror.Andthen,quitewithoutwarning,themirrormovedofitselflikealivingthing.
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Inthewell,inthewood,thewaterleaptandgurgled,withagrotesquenoiselikesomethingswallowing,andthensettledagainwithasecondsound.Cypriancouldnotseeintothewellclearly,fortheopening,fromwherehestood,wasanellipse,amereslit,andhalfmaskedbythistlesandrankgrasslikeagreenbeard.Forwherehestoodnowwasthreeyardsawayfromthewell,
andhehadnotyethimselfrealizedthathehadsprungbackallthatdistancefromthebrinkwhenthewaterspoke.
III.THEMYSTERYOFTHEWELL
CyprianPaynterdidnotknowwhatheexpectedtoseeriseoutofthewell--thecorpseofthemurderedmanormerelythespiritofthefountain.Anyhow,neitherofthemroseoutofit,andherecognizedafteraninstantthatthiswas,afterall,perhapsthemorenaturalcourseofthings.Oncemorehepulled
himselftogether,walkedtotheedgeofthewellandlookeddown.Hesaw,asbefore,adimglimmerofwater,atthatdepthnobrighterthanink;hefanciedhestillheardafaintconvulsionandmurmur,butitgraduallysubsidedtoanutterstillness.Shortofsuicidallydivingin,therewasnothingtobedone.Herealizedthat,withallhisequipment,hehadnotevenbroughtanythinglikearopeorbasket,andatlengthdecidedtoreturnforthem.Asheretracedhisstepstotheentrance,herecurredto,andtookstockof,hismoresoliddiscoveries.Somebodyhadgoneintothewood,killedtheSquireandthrownhimdownthewell,buthedidnotadmitforamomentthatitwashisfriendthepoet;butifthelatterhadactuallybeenseencomingoutofthewoodthematterwasserious.
Ashewalkedtherapidlydarkeningtwilightwasclovenwithredgleams,thatmadehimalmostfancyforamomentthatsomefantasticcriminalhadsetfiretothetinyforestashefled.Asecondglanceshowedhimnothingbutoneofthoseredsunsetsinwhichsuchserenedayssometimesclose.
Ashecameoutofthegloomygateoftreesintothefullglowhesawadarkfigurestandingquitestillinthedimbracken,onthespotwherehehadleftthewoodcutter.Itwasnotthewoodcutter.
Itwastoppedbyatallblackhatofafuneraltype,andthewholefigurestoodsoblackagainstthefieldofcrimsonfirethatedgedtheskylinethathecouldnotforaninstantunderstandorrecallit.Whenhedid,itwaswithanoddchangeinthewholechannelofhisthoughts.
"DoctorBrown!"hecried."Why,whatareyoudoinguphere?"
"IhavebeentalkingtopoorMartin,"answeredthedoctor,andmadearatherawkwardmovementwithhishandtowardtheroaddowntothevillage.Followingthegesture,Paynterdimlysawanotherdarkfigurewalkingdownintheblood-reddistance.Healsosawthatthehandmotioningwasreallyblack,andnotmerelyinshadow;and,comingnearer,foundthedoctor'sdresswasreallyfunereal,downtothedetailofthedarkgloves.
ItgavetheAmericanasmallbutqueershock,asifthiswereactuallyanundertakercomeuptoburythecorpsethatcouldnotbefound.
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"PoorMartin'sbeenlookingforhischopper,"observedDoctorBrown,"butItoldhimI'dpickeditupandkeptitforhim.Betweenourselves,Ihardlythinkhe'sfittobetrustedwithit."Then,seeingtheglanceathisblackgarb,headded:"I'vejustbeentoafuneral.Didyouknowthere'sbeenanotherloss?PoorJakethefisherman'swife,downinthecottageontheshore,
youknow.Thisinfernalfever,ofcourse."
Astheybothturned,facingtheredeveninglight,Paynterinstinctivelymadeacloserstudy,notmerelyofthedoctor'sclothes,butofthedoctor.Dr.BurtonBrownwasa,tall,alertman,neatlydressed,whowouldotherwisehavehadanalmostmilitaryairbutforhisspectaclesandanalmostpainfulintellectualisminhisleanbrownfaceandbaldbrow.Thecontrastwasclinchedbythefactthat,whilehisfacewasoftheascetictypegenerallyconceivedasclean-shaven,hehadastripofdarkmustachecuttooshortforhimtobite,andyetamouththatoftenmovedasiftryingtobiteit.
Hemighthavebeenaveryintelligentarmysurgeon,buthehadmorethelookofanengineeroroneofthoseservicesthatcombineamilitarysilencewithamorethanmilitaryscience.Paynterhadalwaysrespectedsomethingruggedlyreliableabouttheman,andafteralittlehesitationhetoldhimallthediscoveries.
ThedoctortookthehatofthedeadSquireinhishand,andexamineditwithfrowningcare.Heputonefingerthroughtheholeinthecrownandmoveditmeditatively.AndPaynterrealizedhowfancifulhisownfatiguemusthavemadehim;forsosillyathingastheblackfingerwagglingthroughtherentinthatfrayedwhiterelicunreasonably
displeasedhim,Thedoctorsoonmadethesamediscoverywithprofessionalacuteness,andapplieditmuchfurther.ForwhenPaynterbegantotellhimofthemovingwaterinthewellhelookedathimamomentthroughhisspectacles,andthensaid:
"Didyouhaveanylunch?"
Paynterforthefirsttimerealizedthathehad,asafact,workedandthoughtfuriouslyalldaywithoutfood.
"Pleasedon'tfancyImeanyouhadtoomuchlunch,"saidthemedicalman,withmournfulhumor."Onthecontrary,Imeanyouhadtoolittle.Ithinkyouareabitknockedout,andyournervesexaggeratethings.Anyhow,letmeadviseyounottodoanymoreto-night.There'snothingtobedonewithoutropesorsomesortoffishingtackle,ifwiththat;butIthinkIcangetyousomeofthesortofgrapplingironsthefishermenusefordragging.PoorJake'sgotsome,Iknow;I'llbringthemroundtoyoutomorrowmorning.Thefactis,I'mstayingthereforabitashe'sratherinastate,andIthinkisbetterformetoaskforthethingsandnotastranger.Iamsureyou'llunderstand."
Paynterunderstoodsufficientlytoassent,andhardlyknewwhyhestoodvacantlywatchingthedoctormakehiswaydownthesteep
roadtotheshoreandthefisher'scottage.Thenhethrewoffthoughtshehadnotexamined,orevenconsciouslyentertained,andwalkedslowlyandratherheavilybacktotheVaneArms.
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Thedoctor,stillfunerealinmanner,thoughnolongersoincostume,appearedpunctuallyunderthewoodensignnextmorning,ladenwithwhathehadpromised;anapparatusofhooksandahangingnetforhoistingupanythingsunktoareasonabledepth.Hewasabouttoproceedonhisprofessionalround,andsaidnothingfurthertodetertheAmericanfromproceeding
onhisownveryunprofessionalexperimentasadetective.Thatbuoyantamateurhadindeedrecoveredmost,ifnotall,ofyesterday'sbuoyancy,wasnowwellfittedtopassanymedicalexamination,andreturnedwithallhisownenergytothesceneofyesterday'slabors.
Itmaywellhavebrightenedandmadebreezierhissecondday'stoilthathehadnotonlythesunlightandthebird'ssinginginthelittlewood,tosaynothingofamorescientificapparatustoworkwith,butalsohumancompanionship,andthatofthemostintelligenttype.Afterleavingthedoctorandbeforeleavingthevillagebehadbethoughthimselfofseekingthelittlecourtorsquarewherestood
thequietbrownhouseofAndrewAshe,solicitor,andtheoperationsofdraggingwereworkedindoubleharness.Twoheadswerepeeringoverthewellinthewood:oneyellow-haired,leanandeager;theotherredhaired,heavyandpondering;andifitbetruethattwoheadsarebetterthanone,itistruerthatfourhandsarebetterthantwo.Inanycase,theirunitedandrepeatedeffortsborefruitatlast,ifanythingsohardandmeagerandforlorncanbecalledafruit.Itweighedlooselyinthenetasitwaslifted,androlledoutonthegrassyedgeofthewell;itwasabone.
Ashepickeditupandstoodwithitinhishand,frowning.
"WewantDoctorBrownhere,"hesaid."Thismaybethebone
ofsomeanimal.Anydogorsheepmightfallintoahiddenwell."Thenhebrokeoff,forhiscompanionwasalreadydetachingasecondbonefromthenet.
Afteranotherhalfhour'seffortPaynterhadoccasiontoremark,"Itmusthavebeenratheralargedog."Therewerealreadyaheapofsuchwhitefragmentsathisfeet.
"Ihaveseennothingyet,"saidAshe,speakingmoreplainly."Thatiscertainlyahumanbone.""Ifancythismustbeahumanbone,"saidtheAmerican.
Andheturnedawayalittleashehandedtheotheraskull.
Therewasnodoubtofwhatsortofskull;therewastheoneuniquecurvethatholdsthemysteryofreason,andunderneathitthetwoblackholesthathadheldhumaneyes.Butjustabovethatontheleftwasanotherandsmallerblackhole,whichwasnotaneye.
Thenthelawyersaid,withsomethinglikeaneffort:"Wemayadmititisamanwithoutadmittingitis--anyparticularman.Theremaybesomething,afterall,inthatyarnaboutthedrunkard;hemayhavetumbledintothewell.Undercertainconditions,aftercertainnaturalprocesses,Ifancy,thebonesmightbe
strippedinthisway,evenwithouttheskillofanyassassin.Wewantthedoctoragain."
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Thenheaddedsuddenly,andtheverysoundofhisvoicesuggestedthathehardlybelievedhisownwords.
"Haven'tyougotpoorVane'shatthere?"
HetookitfromthesilentAmerican'shand,andwithasortofhurryfitteditonthebonyhead.
"Don't!"saidtheotherinvoluntarily.
Thelawyerhadputhisfinger,asthedoctorhaddone,throughtheholeinthehat,anditlayexactlyovertheholeintheskull.
"Ihavethebetterrighttoshrink,"hesaidsteadily,butinavibrantvoice."IthinkIamtheolderfriend."
Paynternoddedwithoutspeech,acceptingthefinalidentification.Thelastdoubt,orhope,haddeparted,andheturnedtothedragging
apparatus,anddidnotspeaktillhehadmadehislastfind.
Thesingingofthebirdsseemedtogrowlouderaboutthem,andthedanceofthegreensummerleaveswasrepeatedbeyondinthedanceofthegreensummersea.Onlythegreatrootsofthemysterioustreescouldbeseen,therestbeingfaraloft,andallrounditwasawoodoflittle,livelyandhappythings.Theymighthavebeentwoinnocentnaturalists,oreventwochildrenfishingforeelsortittlebatsonthatsummerholidaywhenPaynterpulledupsomethingthatweighedinthenetmoreheavilythananybone.itnearlybrokethemeshes,andfellagainstamossystonewithaclang.
"Truthliesatthebottomofawell,"criedtheAmerican,withliftinhisvoice."Thewoodman'sax."
Itlay,indeed,flatandgleaminginthegrassesbythewellinthewood,justasithadlaininthethicketwherethewoodmanthrewitinthebeginningofallthesethings.Butononecornerofthebrightbladewasadullbrownstain.
"Isee,"saidAshe,"thewoodman'sax,andthereforetheWoodman.Yourdeductionsarerapid."
"Mydeductionsarereasonable,"saidPaynter,"Lookhere,Mr.Ashe;Iknowwhatyou'rethinking.IknowyoudistrustTreherne;butI'msureyouwillbejustforallthat.Tobeginwith,surelythefirstassumptionisthatthewoodman'saxisusedbytheWoodman.Whathaveyoutosaytoit?"
"Isay'No'toit,"repliedthelawyer."Thelastweaponawoodmanwouldusewouldbeawoodman'sax;thatisifheisasaneman."
"Heisn't,"saidPaynterquietly;"yousaidyouwantedthedoctor'sopinionjustnow.Thedoctor'sopiniononthispointisthesameasmyown.Webothfoundhimmeanderingaboutoutsidethere;it'sobviousthisbusinesshasgonetohishead,atanyrate.Ifthemurdererwereamanofbusinesslikeyourself,
whatyousaymightbesound.Butthismurdererisamystic.Hewasdrivenbysomefanaticalfadaboutthetrees.It'squitelikelyhethoughttherewassomethingsolemn
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andsacrificialabouttheax,andwouldhavelikedtocutoffVane'sheadbeforeacrowd,likeCharlesI's.He'slookingfortheaxstill,andprobablythinksitaholyrelic."
"Forwhichreason,"saidAshe,smiling,"heinstantlychuckeditdownawell."
Paynterlaughed.
"Youhavemetherecertainly,"hesaid."ButIthinkyouhavesomethingelseinyourmind.You'llsay,Isuppose,thatwewereallwatchingthewood;butwerewe?Frankly,Icouldalmostfancythepeacocktreesdidstrikemewithasortofsickness--asleepingsickness."
"Well,"admittedAshe,"youhavemetheretoo.I'mafraidIcouldn'tswearIwasawakeallthetime;butIdon'tputitdowntomagictrees--onlytoaprivatehobbyofgoingtobedatnight.Butlookhere,Mr.Paynter;there'sanotherandbetterargument
againstanyoutsiderfromthevillageorcountrysidehavingcommittedthecrime.Grantedhemighthaveslippedpastussomehow,andgonefortheSquire.Butwhyshouldhegoforhiminthewood?Howdidheknowhewasinthewood?Yourememberhowsuddenlythepooroldboyboltedintoit,onwhatamomentaryimpulse.'It'sthelastplacewhereonewouldnormallylookforsuchaman,inthemiddleofthenight.No,it'sanuglythingtosay,butwe,thegrouproundthatgardentable,weretheonlypeoplewhoknew.WhichbringsmebacktotheonepointinyourremarkswhichIhappentothinkperfectlytrue."
"Whatwasthat?"inquiredtheother.
"Thatthemurdererwasamystic,"saidAshe."ButacleverermysticthanpooroldMartin."
Payntermadeamurmurofprotest,andthenfellsilent.
"Letustalkplainly,"resumedthelawyer."Trehernehadallthosemadmotivesyouyourselfadmitagainstthewoodcutter.HehadtheknowledgeofVane'swhereabouts,whichnobodycanpossiblyattributetothewoodcutter.Buthehadmuchmore.WhotauntedandgoadedtheSquiretogointothewoodatall?Treherne.Whopracticallyprophesied,likeaninfernalquackastrologer,thatsomethingwouldhappentohimifhedidgointothewood?Treherne.Whowas,forsomereason,nomatterwhat,obviouslyburningwithrageandrestlessnessallthatnight,kickinghislegsimpatientlytoandfroonthecliff,andbreakingoutwithwildwordsaboutitbeingalloversoon?Treherne.Andontopofallthis,whenIwalkedclosertothewood,whomdidIseeslipoutofitswiftlyandsilentlylikeashadow,butturninghisfaceoncetothemoon?Onmyoathandonmyhonor--Treherne."
"Itisawful,"saidPaynter,likeamanstunned."Whatyousayissimplyawful."
"Yes,"saidAsheseriously,"veryawful,butverysimple.
Treherneknewwheretheaxwasoriginallythrown.Isawhim,onthatdayhelunchedherefirst,watchingitlikeawolf,whileMissVanewastalkingtohim.Onthatdreadfulnight
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hecouldeasilyhavepickeditupashewentintothewood.Heknewaboutthewell,nodoubt;whowassolikelytoknowanyoldtraditionsaboutthepeacocktrees?Hehidthehatinthetrees,whereperhapshehoped(thoughthepointisunimportant)thatnobodywoulddaretolook.Anyhow,hehidit,simplybecauseitwastheonethingthatwouldnotsinkinthewell.Mr.Paynter,doyouthinkIwouldsaythisofanymaninmeremeandislike?
Couldanyman.sayitofanymanunlessthecasewascomplete,asthisiscomplete?"
"Itiscomplete,"saidPaynter,verypale."Ihavenothingleftagainstitbutafaint,irrationalfeeling;afeelingthat,somehoworother,ifpoorVanecouldstandalivebeforeusatthismomenthemighttellsomeotherandevenmoreincredibletale."
Ashemadeamournfulgesture.
"Canthesedryboneslive?"hesaid.
"LordThouknowest,"answeredtheothermechanically."Eventhesedrybones--"
Andhestoppedsuddenlywithhismouthopen,ablindinglightofwonderinhispaleeyes.
"Seehere,"hesaidhoarselyandhastily."Youhavesaidtheword.Whatdoesitmean?Whatcanitmean?Dry?Whyarethesebonesdry?"
Thelawyerstartedandstareddownattheheap.
"Yourcasecomplete!"criedPaynter,inmountingexcitement."Whereisthewaterinthewell?ThewaterIsawleaplikeaflame?
Whydiditleap?Whereisitgoneto?Complete!Weareburiedunderriddles."
Ashestooped,pickedupaboneandlookedatit.
"Youareright,"hesaid,inalowandshakenvoice:"thisboneisasdry--asabone."
"Yes,Iamright,"repliedCyprian."Andyourmysticisstillasmysteriousasamystic."
Therewasalongsilence.Ashelaiddownthebone,pickeduptheaxandstudieditmoreclosely.Beyondthedullstainatthecornerofthesteeltherewasnothingunusualaboutitsaveabroadwhiteragwrappedroundthehandle,perhapstogiveabettergrip.Thelawyerthoughtitworth,noting,however,thattheragwascertainlynewerandcleanerthanthechopper.Butbothwerequitedry.
"Mr.Paynter,"hesaidatlast,"Iadmityouhavescored,inthespiritifnotintheletter.Instrictlogic,thisgreaterpuzzleisnotareplytomycase.Ifthisaxhasnotbeendippedinwater,ithasbeendippedinblood;andthewaterjumpingoutofthewellisnotanexplanationofthepoetjumpingoutofthewood.ButIadmitthat
morallyandpracticallyitdoesmakeavitaldifference.Wearenotfacedwithacolossalcontradiction,andwedon'tknowhowfaritextends.Thebodymighthavebeenbroken
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uporboileddowntoitsbonesbythemurderer,thoughitmaybehardtoconnectitwiththeconditionsofthemurder.Itmightconceivablyhavebeensoreducedbysomepropertyinthewaterandsoil,fordecompositionvariesvastlywiththesethings.Ishouldnotdismissmystrongprimafaciecaseagainstthelikelypersonbecauseofthesedifficulties.Butherewehavesomethingentirelydifferent.Thatthebones
themselvesshouldremaindryinawellfullofwater,orawellthatyesterdaywasfullofwater--thatbringsustotheedgeofsomethingbeyondwhichwecanmakenoguess.Thereisanewfactor,enormousandquiteunknown.Whilewecan'tfittogethersuchprodigiousfacts,wecan'tfittogetheracaseagainstTreherneoragainstanybody.No;thereisonlyonethingtobedonenow.Sincewecan'taccuseTreherne,wemustappealtohim.Wemustputthecaseagainsthimfranklybeforehim,andtrusthehasanexplanation--andwillgiveit.Isuggestwegobackanddoitnow."
Paynter,beginningtofollow,hesitatedamoment,andthensaid:
"Forgivemeforakindofliberty;asyousay,youareanolderfriendofthefamily.Ientirelyagreewithyoursuggestion,butbeforeyouactonyourpresentsuspicions,doyouknow,IthinkMissVaneoughttobewarnedalittle?Iratherfearallthiswillbeanewshocktoher."
"Verywell,"saidAshe,afterlookingathimsteadilyforaninstant."Letusgoacrosstoherfirst."
FromtheopeningofthewoodtheycouldseeBarbaraVanewritingatthegardentable,whichwaslitteredwithcorrespondence,andthebutlerwithhisyellowfacewaitingbehindherchair.Asthelengthsofgrasslessenedbetweenthem,andthelittle
groupatthetablegrewlargerandclearerinthesunlight,Paynterhadapainfulsenseofbeingpartofanembassyofdoom.Itsharpenedwhenthegirllookedupfromthetableandsmiledonseeingthem.
"IshouldliketospeaktoyouratherparticularlyifImay,"saidthelawyer,withatouchofauthorityinhisrespect;andwhenthebutlerwasdismissedhelaidopenthewholematterbeforeher,speakingsympathetically,butleavingoutnothing,fromthestrangeescapeofthepoetfromthewoodtothelastdetailofthedrybonesoutofthewell.Nofaultcouldbefoundwithanyoneofhistonesorphrases,andyetCyprian,tinglingineverynervewiththefinedelicacyofhisnationabouttheothersex,feltasifshewerefacedwithaninquisitor.Hestoodaboutuneasily,watchedthefewcoloredcloudsintheclearskyandthebrightbirdsdartingaboutthewood,andheheartilywishedhimselfupthetreeagain.
Soon,however,thewaythegirltookitbegantomovehimtoperplexityratherthanpity.Itwaslikenothinghehadexpected,andyethecouldnotnametheshadeofdifference.Thefinalidentificationofherfather'sskull,bytheholeinthehat,turnedheralittlepale,butlefthercomposed;thiswas,perhaps,explicable,sinceshehadfromthefirsttakenthepessimisticview.Butduringtherestofthetale
thererestedonherbroadbrowsunderhercoppercoilsofhair,abroodingspiritthatwasitselfamystery.Hecouldonlytellhimselfthatshewaslessmerelyreceptive,
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eitherfirmlyorweakly,thanhewouldhaveexpected.Itwasasifsherevolved,nottheirproblem,butherown.Shewassilentalongtime,andsaidatlast:
"Thankyou,Mr.Ashe,Iamreallyverygratefulforthis.Afterall,itbringsthingstothepointwheretheymusthavecomesoonerorlater."Shelookeddreamilyatthewoodandsea,andwenton:"I'venotonly
hadmyselftoconsider,yousee;butifyou'rereallythinkingTHAT,it'stimeIspokeout,withoutaskinganybody.Yousay,asifitweresomethingverydreadful,'Mr.Trehernewasinthewoodthatnight.'Well,it'snotquitesodreadfultome,yousee,becauseIknowhewas.Infact,weweretheretogether."
"Together!"repeatedthelawyer.
"Weweretogether,"shesaidquietly,"becausewehadarighttobetogether."
"Doyoumean,"stammeredAshe,surprisedoutofhimself,
"thatyouwereengaged?"
"No,no,"shesaid."Weweremarried."
Then,amidastartledsilence,sheadded,asakindofafterthought:
"Infact,wearestill."
Strongaswashiscomposure,thelawyersatbackinhischairwithasortofsolidstupefactionatwhichPayntercouldnothelpsmiling.
"Youwillaskme,ofcourse,"wentonBarbarainthesamemeasuredmanner,"whyweshouldbemarriedsecretly,
sothatevenmypoorfatherdidnotknow.Well,Iansweryouquitefranklytobeginwith;because,ifhehadknown,hewouldcertainlyhavecutmeoffwithashilling.Hedidnotlikemyhusband,andIratherfancyyoudonotlikehimeither.AndwhenItellyouthis,Iknowperfectlywellwhatyouwillsay--theusualadventurergettingholdoftheusualheiress.Itisquitereasonable,and,asithappens,itisquitewrong.IfIhaddeceivedmyfatherforthesakeofthemoney,orevenforthesakeofaman,Ishouldbealittleashamedtotalktoyouaboutit.AndIthinkyoucanseethatIamnotashamed."
"Yes,"saidtheAmerican,withagraveinclination,"yes,Icanseethat."
Shelookedathimthoughtfullyforamoment,asifseekingwordsforanobscurematter,andthensaid:
"Doyouremember,Mr.Paynter,thatdayyoufirstlunchedhereandtoldusabouttheAfricantrees?Well,itwasmybirthday;Imeanmyfirstbirthday.Iwasbornthen,orwokeuporsomething.Ihadwalkedinthisgardenlikeasomnambulistinthesun.Ithinktherearemanysuchsomnambulistsinoursetandoursociety;stunnedwithhealth,druggedwithgoodmanners,fittingtheirsurroundingstoowelltobealive.Well,Icamealivesomehow;
andyouknowhowdeepinusarethethingswefirstrealizewhenwewerebabiesandbegantotakenotice.Ibegantotakenotice.OneofthefirstthingsInoticedwasyourownstory,Mr.Paynter.Ifeel
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asifIheardofSt.SecurisaschildrenhearofSantaClaus,andasifthatbigtreewereabogeyIstillbelievedin.ForIdostillbelieveinsuchthings,orratherIbelieveinthemmoreandmore;Ifeelcertainmypoorfatherdroveontherocksbydisbelieving,andyouareallracingtoruinafterhim.ThatiswhyIdohonestlywanttheestate,andthatiswhyIamnotashamedofwantingit.Iamperfectlycertain,Mr.Paynter,thatnobodycansavethis
perishinglandandthisperishingpeoplebutthosewhounderstand.Imeanwhounderstandathousandlittlesignsandguidesintheverysoilandlieoftheland,andtracesthatarealmosttrampledout.Myhusbandunderstands,andIhavebeguntounderstand;myfatherwouldneverhaveunderstood.Therearepowers,thereisthespiritofaplace,therearepresencesthatarenottobeputby.Oh,don'tfancyIamsentimentalandhankerafterthegoodolddays.Theolddayswerenotallgood;thatisjustthepoint,andwemustunderstandenoughtoknowthegoodfromtheevil.Wemustunderstandenoughtosavethetracesofasaintorasacredtradition,or,whereawickedgodhasbeenworshiped,todestroyhisaltarandtocutdownhisgrove."
"Hisgrove,"saidPaynterautomatically,andlookedtowardthelittlewood,wherethesunbrightbirdswereflying.
"Mrs.Treherne,"saidAshe,withaformidablequietness,"Iamnotsounsympatheticwithallthisasyoumayperhapssuppose.Iwillnotevensayitisallmoonshine,foritissomethingbetter.Itis,ifImaysayso,honeymoonshine.Iwillneverdenythesayingthatitmakestheworldgoround,ifitmakespeople'sheadsgoroundtoo.Butthereareothersentiments,madam,andotherduties.Ineednottellyouyourfatherwasagoodman,andthatwhathasbefallenhimwouldbepitiable,evenasthefateofthewicked.Thisisahorriblething,anditischieflyamonghorrorsthatwe
mustkeepourcommonsense.Therearereasonsforeverything,andwhenmyoldfriendliesbutchereddonotcometomewitheventhemostbeautifulfairytalesaboutasaintandhisenchantedgrove."
"Well,andyou!"shecried,androseradiantlyandswiftly."Withwhatkindoffairytalesdoyoucometome?InwhatenchantedgrovesareYOUwalking?YoucomeandtellmethatMr.Paynterfoundawellwherethewaterdancedandthendisappeared;butofcoursemiraclesareallmoonshine!Youtellmeyouyourselffishedbonesfromunderthesamewater,andeverybonewasasdryasabiscuit;butforHeaven'ssakeletussaynothingthatmakesanybody'sheadgoround!Really,Mr.Ashe,youmusttrytopreserveyourcommonsense!"
Shewassmiling,butwithblazingeyes;andAshegottohisfeetwithaninvoluntarylaughofsurrender.
"Well,wemust-begoing,"hesaid."MayIsaythatatributeisreallyduetoyournewtranscendentaltraining?IfImaysayso,Ialwaysknewyouhadbrains;andyou'vebeenlearningtousethem."
Thetwoamateurdetectiveswentbacktothewoodforthemoment,thatAshemightconsidertheremovaloftheunhappySquire'sremains.Ashepointedout,itwasnowlegallypossibletohaveaninquest,
and,evenatthatearlystageofinvestigations,hewasinfavorofhavingitatonce.
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"Ishallbethecoroner,"hesaid,"andIthinkitwillbeacaseof'somepersonorpersonsunknown.'Don'tbesurprised;itisoftendonetogivetheguiltyafalsesecurity.Thisisnotthefirsttimethepolicehavefounditconvenienttohavetheinquestfirstandtheinquiryafterward."
ButPaynterhadpaidlittleattentiontothepoint;forhisgreatgift
ofenthusiasm,longwastedonartsandaffectations,wasliftedtoinspirationbytheromanceofreallifeintowhichhehadjustwalked.Hewasreallyagreatcritic;hehadageniusforadmiration,andhisadmirationvariedfittinglywitheverythingheadmired.
"Asplendidgirlandasplendidstory,"hecried."IfeelasifIwereinloveagainmyself,notsomuchwithheraswithEveorHelenofTroy,orsomesuchtowerofbeautyinthemorningoftheworld.Don'tyouloveallheroicthings,thatgravityandgreatcandor,andthewayshetookonestepfromasortofthronetostandinawildernesswithavagabond?Oh,believeme,itisshewhoisthepoet;shehasthehigherreason,andhonorandvalorareatrestinhersoul."
"Inshort,sheisuncommonlypretty,"repliedAshe,withsomecynicism."Iknewamurderessratherwellwhowasverymuchlikeher,andhadjustthatcoloredhair."
"Youtalkasifamurderercouldbecaughtred-hairedinsteadofred-handed,"retortedPaynter."Why,atthisveryminute,youcouldbecaughtred-hairedyourself.Areyouamurderer,byanychance?"
Ashelookedupquickly,andthensmiled.
"I'mafraidI'maconnoisseurinmurderers,asyouareinpoets,"
heanswered,"andIassureyoutheyareofallcolorsinhairaswellastemperament.Isupposeit'sinhumane,butmineisamonstrouslyinterestingtrade,eveninalittleplacelikethis.Asforthatgirl,ofcourseI'veknownherallherlife,and--But--butthatisjustthequestion.HaveIknownherallherlife?HaveIknownheratall?Wassheeventheretobeknown?Youadmireherfortellingthetruth;andsoshedid,byGod,whenshesaidthatsomepeoplewakeuplate,whohaveneverlivedbefore.Doweknowwhattheymightdo--we,whohaveonlyseenthemasleep?"
"Greatheavens!"criedPaynter."Youdon'tdaresuggestthatshe--"
"No,Idon't,"saidthelawyer,withcomposure,"butthereareotherreasons....Idon'tsuggestanythingfully,tillwe'vehadourinterviewwiththispoetofyours.IthinkIknowwheretofindhim."
Theyfoundhim,infact,beforetheyexpectedhim,sittingonthebenchoutsidetheVaneArms,drinkingamugofciderandwaitingforthereturnofhisAmericanfriend;soitwasnotdifficulttoopenconversationwithhim.Nordidheinanywayavoidthesubjectofthetragedy;andthelawyer,seatinghimselfalsoonthelongbenchthatfrontedthelittlemarketplace,wassoonputtingthelastdevelopmentsaslucidlyashehadputthemtoBarbara.
"Well,"saidTreherneatlast,leaningbackandfrowningatthesignboard,withthecoloredbirdsanddolphins,justabouthishead;
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"supposesomebodydidkilltheSquire.He'dkilledagoodmanypeoplewithhishygieneandhisenlightenedlandlordism."
Paynterwasconsiderablyuneasyatthisalarmingopening;butthepoetwentonquitecoolly,withhishandsinhispocketsandhisfeetthrustoutintothestreet.
"WhenamanhasthepowerofaSultaninTurkey,andusesitwiththeideasofaspinsterinTooting,Ioftenwonderthatnobodyputsaknifeinhim.Iwishthereweremoresympathyformurderers,somehow.I'mverysorrythepooroldfellow'sgonemyself;butyougentlemenalwaysseemtoforgetthereareanyotherpeopleintheworld.He'sallright;hewasagoodfellow,andhissoul,Ifancy,hasgonetothehappiestparadiseofall."
TheanxiousAmericancouldreadnothingoftheeffectofthisinthedarkNapoleonicfaceofthelawyer,whomerelysaid:"Whatdoyoumean?"
"Thefool'sparadise,"saidTreherne,anddrainedhispotofcider.
Thelawyerrose.HedidnotlookatTreherne,orspeaktohim;butlookedandspokestraightacrosshimtotheAmerican,whofoundtheutterancenotalittleunexpected.
"Mr.Paynter,"saidAshe,"youthoughtitrathermorbidofmetocollectmurderers;butit'sfortunateforyourownviewofthecasethatIdo.ItmaysurpriseyoutoknowthatMr.Trehernehasnow,inmyeyes,entirelyclearedhimselfofsuspicion.Ihavebeenintimatewithseveralassassins,asIremarked;butthere'sonethingnoneofthemeverdid.Ineverknewamurderertotalkaboutthemurder,andthenatoncedeny
itanddefendit.No,ifamanisconcealinghiscrime,whyshouldhegooutofhiswaytoapologizeforit?"
"Well,"saidPaynter,withhisreadyappreciation,"Ialwayssaidyouwerearemarkableman;andthat'scertainlyaremarkableidea."
"DoIunderstand,"askedthepoet,kickinghisheelsonthecobbles,"thatbothyougentlemenhavebeenkindlydirectingmetowardthegallows?"
"No,"saidPaynterthoughtfully."Ineverthoughtyouguilty;andevensupposingIhad,ifyouunderstandme,Ishouldneverhavethoughtitquitesoguiltytobeguilty.Itwouldnothavebeenformoneyoranymeanthing,butforsomethingalittlewilderandworthierofamanofgenius.Afterall,Isuppose,thepoethaspassionslikegreatunearthlyappetites;andtheworldhasalwaysjudgedmoregentlyofhissins.ButnowthatMr.Asheadmitsyourinnocence,IcanhonestlysayIhavealwaysaffirmedit."
Thepoetrosealso."Well,Iaminnocent,oddlyenough,"hesaid."IthinkIcanmakeaguessaboutyourvanishingwell,butofthedeathanddrybonesIknownomorethanthedeadifsomuch.And,bytheway,mydearPaynter"--andheturnedtwobrighteyesontheartcritic--"Iwillexcuseyoufromexcusingme
forallthethingsIhaven'tdone;andyou,Ihope,willexcusemeifIdifferfromyoualtogetheraboutthemoralityofpoets.Asyousuggest,itisafashionableview,butIthinkitisafallacy.
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Nomanhaslessrighttobelawlessthanamanofimagination.Forhehasspiritualadventures,andcantakehisholidayswhenhelikes.IcouldpicturethepoorSquirecarriedofftoelflandwheneverIwantedhimcarriedoff,andthatwoodneedednocrimetomakeitwickedforme.Thatredsunsettheothernightwasallthatamurderwouldhavebeentomanymen.No,Mr.Ashe;show,whennextyousitinjudgment,alittlemercytosomewretchedmanwhodrinksandrobs
becausehemustdrinkbeertotasteit,andtakeittodrinkit.Havecompassiononthenextbatchofpoorthieves,whohavetoholdthingsinordertohavethem.ButifeveryoufindMEstealingonesmallfarthing,whenIcanshutmyeyesandseethecityofElDorado,then"--andheliftedhisheadlikeafalcon--"showmenomercy,forIshalldeservenone."
"Well,"remarkedAshe,afterapause,"Imustgoandfixthingsupfortheinquest.Mr.Treherne,yourattitudeissingularlyinteresting;IreallyalmostwishIcouldaddyoutomycollectionofmurderers.Theyareavariedandextraordinaryset."
"Hasiteveroccurredtoyou,"askedPaynter,"thatperhapsthemenwhohavenevercomittedmurderareavariedandveryextraordinaryset?Perhapseveryplainman'slifeholdstherealmystery,thesecretofsinsavoided."
"Possibly,"repliedAshe."Itwouldbealongbusinesstostopthenextmaninthestreetandaskhimwhatcrimeshenevercommittedandwhynot.AndIhappentobebusy,soyou'llexcuseme."
"What,"askedtheAmerican,whenheandthepoetwerealone,"isthisguessofyoursaboutthevanishingwater?"
"Well,I'mnotsureI'lltellyouyet,"answeredTreherne,
somethingoftheoldmischiefcomingbackintohisdarkeyes."ButI'lltellyousomethingelse,whichmaybeconnectedwithit;somethingIcouldn'ttelluntilmywifehadtoldyouaboutourmeetinginthewood."Hisfacehadgrowngraveagain,andheresumedafterapause:
"WhenmywifestartedtofollowherfatherIadvisedhertogobackfirsttothehouse,toleaveitbyanotherdoorandtomeetmeinthewoodinhalfanhour.Weoftenmadetheseassignations,ofcourse,andgenerallythoughtthemgreatfun,butthistimethequestionwasserious,andIdidn'twantthewrongthingdoneinahurry.Itwasaquestionwhetheranythingcouldbedonetoundoanexperimentwebothvaguelyfelttobedangerous,andsheespeciallythought,afterreflection,thatinterferencewouldmakethingsworse.Shethoughttheoldsportsman,havingbeendaredtodosomething,wouldcertainlynotbedissuadedbytheverymanwhohaddaredhimorbyawomanwhomheregardedasachild.Sheleftmeatlastinasortofdespair,butIlingeredwithalasthopeofdoingsomething,anddrewdoubtfullyneartotheheartofthewood;andthere,insteadofthesilenceIexpected,Iheardavoice.ItseemedasiftheSquiremustbetalkingtohimself,andIhadtheunpleasantfancythathehadalreadylosthisreasoninthatwoodofwitchcraft.ButIsoonfoundthatifhewastalkinghewastalkingwithtwovoices.Otherfanciesattackedme,asthattheotherwasthevoiceofthetreeorthevoicesofthethreetreestalkingtogether,andwithnomannear.
Butitwasnotthevoiceofthetree.ThenextmomentIknewthevoice,forIhadheardittwentytimesacrossthetable.Itwasthevoiceofthatdoctorofyours;Ihearditascertainly
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asyouhearmyvoicenow."
Afteramoment'ssilence,heresumed:"Ileftthewood,Ihardlyknewwhy,andwithwildandbewilderedfeelings;andasIcameoutintothefaintmoonshineIsawthatoldlawyerstandingquietly,butstaringatmelikeanowl.Atleast,thelighttouchedhisredhairwithfire,buthissquare
oldfacewasinshadow.ButIknew,ifIcouldhavereadit,thatitwasthefaceofahangingjudge."
Hethrewhimselfonthebenchagain,smiledalittle,andadded:"Only,likeagoodmanyhangingjudges,Ifancy,hewaswaitingpatientlytohangthewrongman."
"Andtherightman--"saidPayntermechanically.Treherneshruggedhisshoulders,sprawlingonthealebench,andplayedwithhisemptypot.
IV.THECHASEAFTERTHETRUTH
Sometimeaftertheinquest,whichhadendedintheinconclusiveverdictwhichMr.AndrewAshehadhimselfpredictedandachieved,Paynterwasagainsittingonthebenchoutsidethevillageinn,havingonthelittletableinfrontofitatallglassoflightale,whichheenjoyedmuchmoreaslocalcolorthanasliquor.Hehadbutonecompaniononthebench,andthatanewone,forthelittlemarketplacewasemptyatthathour,andhehadlately,fortherest,beenmuchalone.Hewasnotunhappy,forheresembledhisgreatcountryman,WaltWhitman,incarryingakindofuniversewithhimlikeanopenumbrella;buthewasnotonlyalone,butlonely.
ForAshehadgoneabruptlyuptoLondon,andsincehisreturnhadbeenoccupiedobscurelywithlegalmatters,doubtlessbearingonthemurder.AndTrehernehadlongsincetakenuphispositionopenly,atthegreathouse,asthehusbandofthegreatlady,andheandshewereoccupiedwithsweepingreformsontheestate.Theladyespecially,beingofthesortwhoseverydreams"driveatpractice,"waslandscapegardeningaswiththegesturesofagiantess.Itwasnatural,therefore,thatsosociableaspiritasPayntershouldfallintospeechwiththeoneotherstrangerwhohappenedtobestayingattheinn,evidentlyabirdofpassagelikehimself.Thisman,whowassmokingapipeonthebenchbesidehim,withhisknapsackbeforehimonthetable,wasanartistcometosketchonthatromanticcoast;atallmaninavelvetjacket,withashockoftow-coloredhair,alongfairbeard,buteyesofdarkbrown,theeffectofwhichcontrastremindedPayntervaguely,hehardlyknewwhy,ofaRussian.Thestrangercarriedhisknapsackintomanypicturesquecorners;heobtainedpermissiontosetuphiseaselinthathighgardenwherethelateSquirehadheldhisalfrescobanquets.ButPaynterhadneverhadanopportunityofjudgingoftheartist'swork,nordidhefinditeasytogettheartisteventotalkofhisart.Cyprianhimselfwasalwaysreadytotalkofanyart,andhetalkedofitexcellently,butwithlittleresponse.HegavehisownreasonsforpreferringtheCubiststothecultofPicasso,buthisnewfriendseemedtohavebutafaintinterestineither.HeinsinuatedthatperhapstheNeo-Primitiveswereafterallonly
thinningtheirline,whilethetruePrimitiveswererathertighteningit;butthestrangerseemedtoreceivetheinsinuationwithoutanymarkedreactionoffeeling.WhenPaynterhadevengonebackasfar
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intothepastaAthePost-Impressioniststofindacommonground,andnotfoundit,othermemoriesbegantocreepbackintohismind.Hewasjustreflecting,ratherdarkly,thatafterallthetaleofthepeacocktreesneededamysteriousstrangertorounditoff,andthismanhadmuchtheairofbeingone,whenthemysteriousstrangerhimselfsaidsuddenly:
"Well,IthinkI'dbettershowyoutheworkI'mdoingdownhere."
Hehadhisknapsackbeforehimonthetable,andhesmiledrathergrimlyashebegantounstrapit.Paynterlookedonwithpoliteexpressionsofinterest,butwasconsiderablysurprisedwhentheartistunpackedandplacedonthetable,notanyrecognizableworksofart,evenofthemostCubistdescription,but(first)aquireoffoolscapcloselywrittenwithnotesinblackandredink,and(second),totheAmerican'sextremeamazement,theoldwoodman'saxwiththelinenwrapper,whichhehadhimselffoundinthewelllongago.
"Sorrytogiveyouastart,sir,"saidtheRussianartist,
withamarkedLondonaccent."ButI'dbetterexplainstraightoffthatI'mapoliceman."
"Youdon'tlookit,"saidPaynter.
"I'mnotsupposedto,"repliedtheother."Mr.AshebroughtmedownherefromtheYardtoinvestigate;buthetoldmetoreporttoyouwhenI'dgotanythingtogoon.Wouldyouliketogointothematternow?
"WhenItookthismatterup,"explainedthedetective,"IdiditatMr.Ashe'srequest,andlargely,ofcourse,onMr.Ashe'slines.Mr.Asheisagreatcriminallawyer;withabeautifulbrain,sir,
asfullastheNewgateCalendar.Itook,asaworkingnotion,hisviewthatonlyyoufivegentlemenroundthetableintheSquire'sgardenwereacquaintedwiththeSquire'smovements.Butyougentlemen,ifImaysayso,haveawayofforgettingcertainotherthingsandotherpeoplewhichwearerathertaughttolookforfirst.AndasIfollowedMr.Ashe'sinquiriesthroughthestagesyouknowalready,throughcertainsuspicionsIneedn'tdiscussbecausethey'vebeendropped,Ifoundthethingshapingafteralltowardsomething,intheend,whichIthinkweshouldhaveconsideredatthebeginning.Now,tobeginwith,itisnottruethattherewerefivemenroundthetable.Thereweresix."
ThecreepyconditionsofthatgardenvigilvaguelyreturneduponPaynter;andhethoughtofaghost,orsomethingmorenamelessthanaghost.Butthedeliberatespeechofthedetectivesoonenlightenedhim.
"Thereweresixmenandfivegentlemen,ifyouliketoputitso,"heproceeded."ThatmanMiles,thebutler,sawtheSquirevanishasplainlyasyoudid;andIsoonfoundthatMileswasamanworthyofagooddealofattention."
AlightofunderstandingdawnedonPaynter'sface."Sothatwasit,wasit!"hemuttered.
"Doesallourmythologicalmysteryendwithapolicemancollaringabutler?Well,Iagreewithyouheisfarfromanordinarybutler,eventolookat;andthefaultinimaginationismine.
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Likemanyfaultsinimagination,itwassimplysnobbishness."
"Wedon'tgoquitesofastasthat,"observedtheofficer,inanimpassivemanner."IonlysaidIfoundtheinquirypointingtoMiles;andthathewaswellworthyofattention.HewasmuchmoreintheoldSquire'sconfidencethanmanypeoplesupposed;andwhenIcross-examinedhimhetoldmeagooddeal
thatwasworthknowing.I'vegotitalldowninthesenoteshere;butatthemomentI'llonlytroubleyouwithonedetailofit.OnenightthisbutlerwasjustoutsidetheSquire'sdining-roomdoor,whenheheardthenoiseofaviolentquarrel.TheSquirewasaviolentgentleman,fromtimetotime;butthecuriousthingaboutthisscenewasthattheothergentlemanwasthemoreviolentofthetwo.MilesheardhimsayrepeatedlythattheSquirewasapublicnuisance,andthathisdeathwouldbeagoodriddanceforeverybody.IonlystopnowtotellyouthattheothergentlemanwasDr.BurtonBrown,themedicalmanofthisvillage.
"ThenextexaminationImadewasthatofMartin,thewoodcutter.
Upononepointatleasthisevidenceisquiteclear,andis,asyouwillsee,largelyconfirmedbyotherwitnesses.Hesaysfirstthatthedoctorpreventedhimfromrecoveringhisax,andthisiscorroboratedbyMr.andMrs.Treherne.Buthesaysfurtherthatthedoctoradmittedhavingthethinghimself;andthisagainfindssupportinotherevidencebythegardener,whosawthedoctor,sometimeafterward,comebyhimselfandpickupthechopper.MartinsaysthatDoctorBrownrepeatedlyrefusedtogiveitup,allegingsomefancifulexcuseeverytime.And,finally,Mr.Paynter,wewillheartheevidenceoftheaxitself."
Helaidthewoodman'stoolonthetableinfrontofhim,andbegantoripupandunwrapthecuriouslinencovering
roundthehandle.
"Youwilladmitthisisanoddbandage,"hesaid."Andthat'sjusttheoddthingaboutit,thatitreallyisabandage.Thiswhitestuffisthesortoflinttheyuseinhospitals,cutintostripslikethis.Butmostdoctorskeepsome;andIhavetheevidenceofJakethefisherman,withwhomDoctorBrownlivedforsometime,thatthedoctorhadthisusefulhabit.And,last,"headded,flatteningoutacorneroftheragonthetable,"isn'titoddthatitshouldbemarkedT.B.B.?"
TheAmericangazedattherudelyinkedinitials,buthardlysawthem.Whathesaw,asinamirrorinhisdarkenedmemory,wastheblackfigurewiththeblackglovesagainsttheblood-redsunset,ashehadseenitwhenhecameoutofthewood,andwhichhadalwayshauntedhim,heknewnotwhy.
"Ofcourse,Iseewhatyoumean,"hesaid,"andit'sverypainfulforme,forIknewandrespectedtheman.Butsurely,also,it'sveryfarfromexplainingeverything.Ifheisamurderer,isheamagician?Whydidthewellwaterallevaporateinanight,andleavethedeadman'sbonesdryasdust?That'snotacommonoperationinthehospitals,isit?"
"Astothewater,wedoknowtheexplanation,"saidthedetective.
"Ididn'ttumbletoitatfirstmyself,beingaCockney;butalittletalkwithJakeandtheotherfishermanabouttheoldsmugglingdaysputmestraightaboutthat.ButIadmitthedriedremainsstillstumpusall.
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Allthesame--"
Ashadowfellacrossthetable,andhistalkwassharplycutshort.Ashewasstandingunderthepaintedsign,buttonedupgrimlyinblack,andwiththefaceofthehangingjudge,ofwhichthepoethadspoken,plainthistimeinthebroadsunlight.Behindhimstoodtwobigmeninplainclothes,verystill;
butPaynterknewinstantlywhotheywere.
"Wemustmoveatonce,"saidIthelawyer."Dr.BurtonBrownisleavingthevillage."
Thetalldetectivesprangtohisfeet,andPaynterinstinctivelyimitatedhim.
"HehasgoneuptotheTrehernespossiblytosaygood-by,"wentonAsherapidly."I'Msorry,butwemustarresthiminthegardenthere,ifnecessary.I'vekepttheladyoutoftheway,Ithink.Butyou"--addressingthefactitiouslandscapepainter--"mustgoup
atonceandrigupthateaselofyoursnearthetableandbeready.Wewillfollowquietly,andcomeupbehindthetree.Wemustbecareful,forit'sclearhe'sgotwindofus,orhewouldn'tbedoingabolt."
"Idon'tlikethisjob,"remarkedPaynter,astheymountedtowardtheparkandgarden,thedetectivedartingonahead.
"DoyousupposeIdo?"askedAshe;and,indeed,hisstrong,heavyfacelookedsolinedandoldthattheredhairseemedunnatural,likearedwig."I'veknownhimlongerthanyou,thoughperhapsI'vesuspectedhimlongeraswell."
Whentheytoppedtheslopeofthegardenthedetectivehad
alreadyerectedhiseasel,thoughastrongbreezeblowingtowardthesearattledandflappedhisapparatusandblewabouthisfair(andfalse)beardinthewind.Littlecloudscurledlikefeathers,werescuddingseawardacrossthemany-coloredlandscape,whichtheAmericanartcritichadoncesurveyedonahappiermorning;butitisdoubtfulifthelandscapepainterpaidmuchattentiontoit.Trehernewasdimlydiscernibleinthedoorwayofwhatwasnowhishouse;hewouldcomenonearer,forhehatedsuchapublicdutymorebitterlythantherest.Theotherspostedthemselvesalittlewaybehindthetree.Betweenthelinesofthesemaskedbatteriestheblackfigureofthedoctorcouldbeseencomingacrossthegreenlawn,travelingstraight,asabullet,ashehaddonewhenhebroughtthebadnewstothewoodcutter.To-dayhewassmiling,underthedarkmustachethatwascutshortoftheupperlip,thoughtheyfanciedhimalittlepale,andheseemedtopauseamomentandpeerthroughhisspectaclesattheartist.
Theartistturnedfromhiseaselwithanaturalmovement,andtheninaflashhadcapturedthedoctorbythecoatcollar.
"Iarrestyou--"hebegan;butDoctorBrownpluckedhimselffreewithstartlingpromptitude,tookaflyingleapattheother,toreoffhisshambeard,tossingitintotheairlikeoneofthewildwispsofthecloud;then,withonewildkick,senttheeasel
flyingtopsy-turvy,andfledlikeaharefortheshore.EvenatthatdazzlinginstantPaynterfeltthatthiswildreceptionwasanoveltyandalmostananticlimax;buthehad
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notimeforanalysiswhenheandthewholepackhadtofollowinthehunt;evenTrehernebringinguptherearwitharenewedcuriosityandenergy.
Thefugitivecollidedwithoneofthepolicemenwhorantoheadhimoff,sendinghimsprawlingdowntheslope;indeed,thefugitiveseemedinspiredwiththestrengthofawildape.Heclearedatabound
therampartofflowers,overwhichBarbarahadonceleanedtolookatherfuturelover,andtumbledwithblindingspeeddownthesteeppathupwhichthattroubadourhadclimbed.Racingwiththerushingwindtheyallstreamedacrossthegardenafterhim,downthepath,andfinallyontotheseashorebythefisher'scot,andthepiercedcragsandcavernstheAmericanhadadmiredwhenhefirstlanded.Therunawaydidnot,however,makeforthehousehehadlonginhabited,butratherforthepier,asifwithamindtoseizetheboatortoswim.Onlywhenhereachedtheotherendofthesmallstonejettydidheturn,andshowthemthepalefacewiththespectacles;andtheysawthatitwasstillsmiling.
"I'mrathergladofthis,"saidTreherne,withagreatsigh."Themanismad."
Nevertheless,thenaturalnessofthedoctor'svoice,whenhespoke,startledthemasmuchasashriek.
"Gentleman,"hesaid,"Iwon'tprotractyourpainfuldutiesbyaskingyouwhatyouwant;butIwillaskatonceforasmallfavor,whichwillnotprejudicethosedutiesinanyway.Icamedownhereratherinahurryperhaps;butthetruthisIthoughtIwaslateforanappointment."Helookeddispassionatelyathiswatch."Ifindthereisstillsomefifteenminutes.Willyouwaitwithmehereforthatshorttime;afterwhichI
amquiteatyourservice."
Therewasabewilderedsilence,andthenPayntersaid:"Formypart,Ifeelasifitwouldreallybebettertohumorhim."
"Ashe,"saidthedoctor,withanewnoteofseriousness,"foroldfriendship,grantmethislastlittleindulgence.Itwillmakenodifference;Ihavenoarmsormeansofescape;you.cansearchmeifyoulike.Iknowyouthinkyouaredoingright,andIalsoknowyouwilldoitasfairlyasyoucan.Well,afterall,yougetfriendstohelpyou;lookatourfriendwiththebeard,ortheremainsofthebeard.Whyshouldn'tIhaveafriendtohelpme?AmanwillbehereinafewminutesinwhomIputsomeconfidence;agreatauthorityonthesethings.Whynot,ifonlyoutofcuriosity,waitandhearhisviewofthecase?"
"Thisseemsallmoonshine,"saidAshe,"butonthechanceofanylightonthings--well,fromthemoon--Idon'tmindwaitingaquarterofanhour.Whoisthisfriend,Iwonder;someamateurdetective,Isuppose."
"Ithankyou,"saidthedoctor,withsomedignity."Ithinkyouwilltrusthimwhenyouhavetalkedtohimalittle.Andnow,"headdedwithanairofamiablyrelaxingintolightermatters,"letustalkaboutthemurder.
"Thiscase,"hesaidinadetachedmanner,"willbefound,Isuspect,toberatherunique.Thereisaveryclearandconclusivecombination
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ofevidenceagainstThomasBurtonBrown,otherwisemyself.Butthereisonepeculiarityaboutthatevidence,whichyoumayperhapshavenoticed.Itallcomesultimatelyfromonesource,andthataratherunusualone.Thus,thewoodcuttersaysIhadhisax,butwhatmakeshimthinkso?HesaysItoldhimIhadhisax;thatItoldhimsoagainandagain.Oncemore,Mr.Paynterherepulleduptheaxoutofthewell;buthow?IthinkMr.PaynterwilltestifythatIbroughthimthetackle
forfishingitup,tacklehemightneverhavegotinanyotherway.Curious,isitnot?Again,theaxisfoundtobewrappedinlintthatwasinmypossession,accordingtothefisherman.Butwhoshowedthelinttothefisherman?Idid.Whomarkeditwithlargelettersasmine?Idid.Whowrappeditroundthehandleatall?Idid.Ratherasingularthingtodo;hasanyoneeverexplainedit?"
Hiswords,whichhadbeenheardatfirstwithpainfulcoldnesswerebeginningtoholdmoreandmoreoftheirattention.
"Thenthereisthewellitself,"proceededthedoctor,withthesameairofinsanecalm."Isupposesome
ofyoubythistimeknowatleastthesecretofthat.Thesecretofthewellissimplythatitisnotawell.Itispurposelyshapedatthetopsoastolooklikeone,butitisreallyasortofchimneyopeningfromtheroofofoneofthosecavesoverthere;acavethatrunsinlandjustunderthewood,andindeedISconnectedbytunnelsandsecretpassageswithotheropeningsmilesandmilesaway.Itisasortoflabyrinthusedbysmugglersandsuchpeopleforagespast.Thisdoubtlessexplainsmanyofthosedisappearanceswehaveheardof.Buttoreturntothewellthatisnotawell,incasesomeofyoustilldon'tknowaboutit.Whenthesearisesveryhighatcertainseasonsitfillsthelowcave,andevenrisesalittlewayinthefunnelabove,makingitlookmorelikeawellthanever.
ThenoiseMr.Paynterheardwasthenaturaleddyofabreakerfromoutside,andthewholeexperiencedependedonsomethingsoelementaryasthetide."
TheAmericanwasstartledintoordinaryspeech.
"Thetide!"hesaid."AndInevereventhoughtofit!IguessthatcomesoflivingbytheMediterranean."
"Thenextstepwillbeobviousenough,"continuedthespeaker,"toalogicalmindlikethatofMr.Ashe,forinstance.Ifitbeaskedwhy,evenso,thetidedidnotwashawaytheSquire'sremainsthathadlaintheresincehisdisappearance,thereisonlyonepossibleanswer.TheremainshadNOTlaintheresincehisdisappearance.Theremainshadbeendeliberatelyputthereinthecavernunderthewood,andputthereAFTERMr.Paynterhadmadehisfirstinvestigation.Theywereputthere,inshort,aftertheseahadretreatedandthecavewasagaindry.Thatiswhytheyweredry;ofcourse,muchdrierthanthecave.Whoputthemthere,Iwonder?"
Hewasgazinggravelythroughhisspectaclesovertheirheadsintovacancy,andsuddenlyhesmiled.
"Ah,"hecried,jumpingupfrom.therockwithalacrity,"hereistheamateurdetectiveatlast!"
Asheturnedhisheadoverhisshoulder,andforafewsecondsdidnotmoveitagain,butstoodasifwithastiffneck.
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Inthecliffjustbehindhimwasoneofthecleftsorcracksintowhichitwaseverywherecloven.Advancingfromthisintothesunshine,asiffromanarrowdoor,wasSquireVane,withabroadsmileonhisface.
Thewindwastearingfromthetopofthehighcliffouttosea,passingovertheirheads,andtheyhadthesensationthat
everythingwaspassingovertheirheadsandoutoftheircontrol.Paynterfeltasifhisheadhadbeenblownofflikeahat.ButnoneofthisgaleofunreasonseemedtostirahaironthewhiteheadoftheSquire,whosebearing,thoughself-importantandborderingonaswagger,seemedifanythingmorecomfortablethanintheolddays.Hisredfacewas,however,burntlikeasailor's,andhislightclotheshadaforeignlook.
"Well,gentlemen,"hesaidgenially,"sothisistheendofthelegendofthepeacocktrees.Sorrytospoilthatdelightfultraveler'stale,Mr.Paynter,butthejokecouldn'tbekeptupforever.Sorrytoputastoptoyourbestpoem,Mr.Treherne,
butIthoughtallthispoetryhadbeengoingalittletoofar.SoDoctorBrownandIfixedupalittlesurpriseforyou.AndImustsay,withoutvanity,thatyoulookalittlesurprised."
"Whatonearth,"askedAsheatlast,"isthemeaningofallthis?"
TheSquirelaughedpleasantly,andevenalittleapologetically,
"I'mafraidI'mfondofpracticaljokes,"hesaid,"andthisIsupposeismylastgrandpracticaljoke.ButIwantyoutounderstandthatthejokeisreallypractical.Iflattermyselfitwillbeofverypracticalusetothecauseofprogressandcommonsense,andthekillingofsuchsuperstitionseverywhere.
Thebestpartofit,Iadmit,wasthedoctor'sideaandnotmine.AllImeanttodowastopassanightinthetrees,andthenturnupasfreshaspainttotellyouwhatfoolsyouwere.ButDoctorBrownherefollowedmeintothewood,andwehadalittletalkwhichratherchangedmyplans.Hetoldmethatadisappearanceforafewhourslikethatwouldneverknockthenonsenseonthehead;mostpeoplewouldneverevenhearofit,andthosewhodidwouldsaythatonenightprovednothing.Heshowedmeamuchbetterway,whichhadbeentriedinseveralcaseswherebogusmiracleshadbeenshownup.Thethingtodowastogetthethingreallybelievedeverywhereasamiracle,andthenshownupeverywhereasashammiracle.Ican'tputalltheargumentsaswellashedid,butthatwasthenotion,Ithink."
Thedoctornodded,gazingsilentlyatthesand;andtheSquireresumedwithundiminishedrelish.
"WeagreedthatIshoulddropthroughtheholeintothecave,andmakemywaythroughthetunnels,whereIoftenusedtoplayasaboy,totherailwaystationafewmilesfromhere,andtheretakeatrainforLondon.Itwasnecessaryforthejoke,ofcourse,thatIshoulddisappearwithoutbeingtraced;soImademywaytoaport,andputinaverypleasantmonthortworoundmyoldhauntsinCyprusandtheMediterranean.There'sno
moretosayofthatpartofthebusiness,exceptthatIarrangedtobebackbyaparticulartime;andhereIam.ButI'veheardenoughofwhat'sgoneonroundheretobesatisfied
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thatI'vedonethetrick.EverybodyinCornwallandmostpeopleinSouthEnglandhaveheardoftheVanishingSquire;andthousandsofnoodleshavebeennoddingtheirheadsovercrystalsandtarotcardsatthismarvelousproofofanunseenworld.IreckontheReappearingSquirewillscattertheircardsandsmashtheircrystals,sothatsuchrubbishwon'tappearagaininthetwentiethcentury.I'llmakethepeacocktrees
thelaughingstockofallEuropeandAmerica."
"Well,"saidthelawyer,whowasthefirsttorearrangehiswits,"I'msurewe'reallonlytoodelightedtoseeyouagain,Squire;andIquiteunderstandyourexplanationandyourownverynaturalmotivesinthematter.ButI'mafraidIhaven'tgotthehangofeverythingyet.Grantedthatyouwantedtovanish,wasitnecessarytoputbogusbonesinthecave,soasnearlytoputahalterroundtheneckofDoctorBrown?Andwhoputitthere?Thestatementwouldappearperfectlymaniacal;butsofarasIcanmakeheadortailoutofanything,DoctorBrownseemstohaveputittherehimself."
Thedoctorliftedhisheadforthefirsttime.
"Yes;Iputthebonesthere,"hesaid."IbelieveIamthefirstsonofAdamwhoevermanufacturedalltheevidenceofamurderchargeagainsthimself."
ItwastheSquire'sturntolookastonished.Theoldgentlemanlookedratherwildlyfromonetotheother.
"Bones!Murdercharge!"heejaculated."Whatthedevilisallthis?Whosebones?"
"Yourbones,inamannerofspeaking,"delicatelyconcededthedoctor."Ihadtomakesureyouhadreallydied,andnotdisappearedbymagic."
TheSquireinhisturnseemedmorehopelesslypuzzledthanthewholecrowdofhisfriendshadbeenoverhisownescapade."Whynot?"hedemanded."Ithoughtitwasthewholepointtomakeitlooklikemagic.Whydidyouwantmetodiesomuch?"
DoctorBrownhadliftedhishead;andhenowveryslowlyliftedhishand.Hepointedwithoutstretchedarmattheheadlandoverhangingtheforeshore,justabovetheentrancetothecave.ItwastheexactpartofthebeachwherePaynterhadfirstlanded,onthatspringmorningwhenhehadlookedupinhisfirstfreshwonderatthepeacocktrees.Butthetreesweregone.
Thefactitselfwasnosurprisetothem;theclearancehadnaturallybeenoneofthefirstofthesweepingchangesoftheTreherneregime.Butthoughtheyknewitwell,theyhadwhollyforgottenit;anditssignificancereturnedonthemsuddenlylikeasigninheaven.
"Thatisthereason,"saidthedoctor."Ihaveworkedforthatforfourteenyears."
Theynolongerlookedatthebarepromontoryonwhichthefeatherytreeshadoncebeensofamiliarasight;fortheyhadsomething
elsetolookat.AnyoneseeingtheSquirenowwouldhaveshiftedhisopinionaboutwheretofindthelunaticinthatcrowd.Itwasplaininaflashthatthechangehadfallenonhimlike
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athunderbolt;thathe,atleast,hadneverhadthewildestnotionthatthetaleoftheVanishingSquirehadbeenbutapreludetothatofthevanishingtrees.Thenexthalfhourwasfullofhisravingsandexpostulations,whichgraduallydiedawayintodemandsforexplanationandincoherentquestionsrepeatedagainandagain.Hehadpracticallytobeoverruledatlast,inspiteoftherespectinwhichhewasheld,beforeanythinglikeaspaceandsilence
weremadeinwhichthedoctorcouldtellhisownstory.Itwasperhapsasingularstory,ofwhichhealonehadeverhadtheknowledge;andthoughitsnarrationwasnotuninterrupted,itmaybesetforthconsecutivelyinhisownwords.
"First,IwishitclearlyunderstoodthatIbelieveinnothing.IdonotevengivethenothingIbelieveaname;orIshouldbeanatheist.Ihaveneverhadinsidemyheadsomuchasahintofheavenandhell.Ithinkitmostlikelywearewormsinthemud;butIhappentobesorryfortheotherwormsunderthewheel.AndIhappenmyselftobeasortofwormthatturnswhenhecan.IfIcarenothingforpiety,Icarelessforpoetry.I'mnotlike
Ashehere,whoiscrammedwithcriminology,buthasallsortsofothercultureaswell.Iknownothingaboutculture,exceptbacteriaculture.IsometimesfancyMr.AsheisasmuchanartcriticasMr.Paynter;onlyhelooksforhisheroes,orvillains,inreallife.ButIamaverypracticalman;andmysteppingstoneshavebeensimplyscientificfacts.InthisvillageIfoundafact--afever.Icouldnotclassifyit;itseemedpeculiartothiscornerofthecoast;ithadsingularreactionsofdeliriumandmentalbreakdown.IstudieditexactlyasIshouldaqueercaseinthehospital,andcorrespondedandcomparednoteswithothermenofscience.Butnobodyhadevenaworkinghypothesisaboutit,exceptofcoursetheignorantpeasantry,whosaidthepeacocktreeswereinsomewildwaypoisonous.
"Well,thepeacocktreeswerepoisonous.Thepeacocktreesdidproducethefever.Iverifiedthefactintheplainploddingwayrequired,comparingallthedegreesanddetailsofavastnumberofcases;andtherewereashockingnumbertocompare.AttheendofitIhaddiscoveredthethingasHarveydiscoveredthecirculationoftheblood.Everybodywastheworseforbeingnearthethings;thosewhocameoffbestwereexactlytheexceptionsthatprovedtherule,abnormallyhealthyandenergeticpeopleliketheSquireandhisdaughter.Inotherwords,thepeasantswereright.ButifIputitthatway,somebodywillcry:'Butdoyoubelieveitwassupernaturalthen?'Infact,that'swhatyou'llallsay;andthat'sexactlywhatIcomplainof.Ifancyhundredsofmenhavebeenleftdeadanddiseasesleftundiscovered,bythissuspicionofsuperstition,thisstupidfearoffear.Unlessyouseedaylightthroughtheforestoffactsfromthefirst,youwon'tventureintothewoodatall.Unlesswecanpromiseyoubeforehandthatthereshallbewhatyoucallanaturalexplanation,tosaveyourpreciousdignityfrommiracles,youwon'tevenhearthebeginningoftheplaintale.Supposethereisn'tanaturalexplanation!Supposethereis,andweneverfindit!SupposeIhaven'tanotionwhetherthereisornotIWhatthedevilhasthattodowithyou,orwithmeindealingwiththefactsIdoknow?Myowninstinctistothinkthereis;thatifmyresearchescouldbefollowedfarenoughitwouldbefoundthatsomehorribleparodyofhayfever,someeffectanalogoustothatofpollen,wouldexplain
allthefacts.Ihaveneverfoundtheexplanation.WhatIhavefoundarethefacts.Andthefactisthatthosetreesonthetoptheredealtdeathrightandleft,ascertainlyasiftheyhadbeengiants,
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standingonahillandknockingmendownincrowdswithaclub.ItwillbesaidthatnowIhadonlytoproducemyproofsandhavethenuisanceremoved.PerhapsImighthaveconvincedthescientificworldfinally,whenmoreandmoreprocessionsofdeadmenhadpassedthroughthevillagetothecemetery.ButIhadnotgottoconvincethescientificworld,buttheLordoftheManor.TheSquirewillpardonmysayingthatitwasaverydifferentthing.
Itrieditonce;Ilostmytemper,andsaidthingsIdonotdefend;andIlefttheSquire'sprejudicesrootedanew,likethetrees.Iwasconfrontedwithonecolossalcoincidencethatwasanobstacletoallmyaims.Onethingmadeallmysciencesoundlikenonsense.Itwasthepopularlegend.
"Squire,iftherewerealegendofhayfever,youwouldnotbelieveinhayfever.Iftherewereapopularstoryaboutpollen,youwouldsaythatpollenwasonlyapopularstory.Ihadsomethingagainstmeheavierandmorehopelessthanthehostilityofthelearned;Ihadthesupportoftheignorant.Mytruthwashopelesslytangledupwithatalethat
theeducatedwereresolvedtoregardasentirelyalie.Inevertriedtoexplainagain;onthecontrary,Iapologized,affectedaconversiontothecommon-senseview,andwatchedevents.Andallthetimethelinesofalarger,ifmorecrookedplan,begantogetclearerinmymind.IknewthatMissVane,whetherornosheweremarriedtoMr.Treherne,asIafterwardfoundshewas,wassomuchunderhisinfluencethatthefirstdayofherinheritancewouldbethelastdayofthepoisonoustrees.Butshecouldnotinherit,oreveninterfere,tilltheSquiredied.Itbecamesimplyself-evident,toarationalmind,thattheSquiremustdie.Butwishingtobehumaneaswellasrational,Idesiredhisdeathtobetemporary.
"Doubtlessmyschemewascompletedbyachapterofaccidents,butIwaswatchingforsuchaccidents.ThusIhadaforeshadowingofhowtheaxwouldfigureinthetalewhenitwasfirstflungatthetrees;itwouldhavesurprisedthewoodmantoknowhownearourmindswere,andhowIwasbutlayingamoreelaboratesiegetothetowersofpestilence.ButwhentheSquirespontaneouslyrushedonwhathalfthecountrysidewouldcallcertaindeath,Ijumpedatmychance.Ifollowedhim,andtoldhimallthathehastoldyou.Idon'tsupposehe'lleverforgivemenow,butthatshan'tpreventmesayingthatIadmirehimhugelyforbeingwhatpeoplewouldcallalunaticandwhatisreallyasportsman.Ittakesratheragrandoldmantomakeajokeinthegrandstyle.Hecamedownsoquickfromthetreehehadclimbedthathehadnotimetopullhishatofftheboughithadcaughtin.
"AtfirstIfoundIhadmadeamiscalculation.Ithoughthisdisappearancewouldbetakenashisdeath,atleastafteralittletime;butAshetoldmetherecouldbenoformalitieswithoutacorpse.IfearIwasalittleannoyed,butIsoonsetmyselftothedutyofmanufacturingacorpse.It'snothardforadoctortogetaskeleton;indeed,Ihadone,butMr.Paynter'senergywasadaytooearlyforme,andIonlygotthebonesintothewellwhenhehadalreadyfoundit.Hisstorygavemeanotherchance,however;Inotedwheretheholewasinthehat,andmadeapreciselycorrespondingholeintheskull.Thereasonforcreatingtheotherclewsmaynotbesoobvious.ItmaynotyetbealtogetherapparenttoyouthatIamnotafiendinhumanorm.
Icouldnotsubstantiateamurderwithoutatleastsuggestingamurderer,andIwasresolvedthatifthecrimehappenedtobetracedtoanybody,itshouldbetome.SoI'mnotsurprisedyouwerepuzzledabout
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thepurposeoftheragroundtheax,becauseithadnopurpose,excepttoincriminatethemanwhoputitthere.Thechasehadtoendwithme,andwhenitwasclosinginatlastthejokeofitwastoomuchforme,andIfearItooklibertieswiththegentleman'seaselandbeard.Iwastheonlypersonwhocouldriskit,beingtheonlypersonwhocouldatthelastmomentproducetheSquireandprovetherehadbeennocrimeatall.That,gentlemen,isthetruestoryofthepeacocktrees;
andthatbarecragupthere,wherethewindiswhistlingasitwouldoverawilderness,isawasteplaceIhavelaboredtomake,asmanymenhavelaboredtomakeacathedral.
"Idon'tthinkthereisanymoretosay,andyetsomethingmovesinmybloodandIwilltrytosayit.Couldyounothavetrustedalittlethesepeasantswhomyoualreadytrustsomuch?Thesemenaremen,andtheymeantsomething;eventheirfatherswerenotwhollyfools.Ifyourgardenertoldyouofthetreesyoucalledhimamadman,buthedidnotplanandplantyourgardenlikeamadman.Youwouldnottrustyourwoodmanaboutthesetrees,yetyoutrustedhimwithalltheothers.Haveyoueverthoughtwhatallthework
oftheworldwouldbelikeifthepoorweresosenselessasyouthinkthem?Butno,youstucktoyourrationalprinciple.Andyourrationalprinciplewasthatathingmustbefalsebecausethousandsofmenhadfoundittrue;thatBECAUSEmanyhumaneyeshadseensomethingitcouldnotbethere."
HelookedacrossatAshewithasortofchallenge,butthoughtheseawindruffledtheoldlawyer'sredmane,hisNapoleonicmaskwasunruffled;itevenhadasortofbeautyfromitsnewbenignity.
"IamtoohappyjustnowinthinkinghowwrongIhavebeen,"heanswered,"toquarrelwithyou,doctor,aboutourtheories.Andyet,injusticetotheSquireaswellasmyself,Ishoulddemur
toyoursweepinginference.Irespectthesepeasants,Irespectyourregardforthem;buttheirstoriesareadifferentmatter.IthinkIwoulddoanythingforthembutbelievethem.Truthandfancy,afterall,aremixedinthem,wheninthemoreinstructedtheyareseparate;andIdoubtifyouhaveconsideredwhatwouldbeinvolvedintakingtheirwordforanything.Halftheghostsofthosewhodiedoffevermaybewalkingbynow;andkindasthesepeopleare,Ibelievetheymightstillburnawitch.No,doctor,Iadmitthesepeoplehavebeenbadlyused,Iadmittheyareinmanywaysourbetters,butIstillcouldnotacceptanythingintheirevidence."
Thedoctorbowedgravelyandrespectfullyenough,andthen,forthelasttimethatday,theysawhisrathersinistersmile.
"Quiteso,"hesaid."Butyouwouldhavehangedmeontheirevidence."
And,turninghisbackonthem,asifautomatically,hesethisfacetowardthevillage,whereforsomanyyearshehadgonehisround.