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me to be an obstacle。 Here is a nice thing for a lady now；〃 he went on；
〃this hand…glassfifteenth century； warranted； comes from a good
collection； too； but I reserve the name； in the interests of my customer；
who was just like yourself； my dear sir； the nephew and sole heir of a
remarkable collector。〃
The dealer； while he thus ran on in his dry and biting voice； had
stooped to take the object from its place； and； as he had done so； a shock
had passed through Markheim； a start both of hand and foot； a sudden leap
of many tumultuous passions to the face。 It passed as swiftly as it came；
and left no trace beyond a certain trembling of the hand that now received
the glass。
〃A glass；〃 he said hoarsely； and then paused； and repeated it more
clearly。 〃A glass？ For Christmas？ Surely not？〃
〃And why not？〃 cried the dealer。 〃Why not a glass？〃
Markheim was looking upon him with an indefinable expression。 〃You
ask me why not？〃 he said。 〃Why； look herelook in itlook at yourself！
Do you like to see it？ No！ nor Inor any man。〃
The little man had jumped back when Markheim had so suddenly
confronted him with the mirror； but now； perceiving there was nothing
worse on hand； he chuckled。 〃Your future lady； sir； must be pretty hard
favoured；〃 said he。
〃I ask you；〃 said Markheim； 〃for a Christmas present； and you give me
thisthis damned reminder of years； and sins and folliesthis hand…
conscience！ Did you mean it？ Had you a thought in your mind？ Tell me。 It
will be better for you if you do。 Come； tell me about yourself。 I hazard a
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guess now； that you are in secret a very charitable man。〃
The dealer looked closely at his companion。 It was very odd；
Markheim did not appear to be laughing； there was something in his face
like an eager sparkle of hope； but nothing of mirth。
〃What are you driving at？〃 the dealer asked。
〃Not charitable？〃 returned the other； gloomily。 〃Not charitable； not
pious； not scrupulous； unloving； unbeloved； a hand to get money； a safe to
keep it。 Is that all？ Dear God； man； is that all？〃
〃I will tell you what it is；〃 began the dealer； with some sharpness； and
then broke off again into a chuckle。 〃But I see this is a love match of yours；
and you have been drinking the lady's health。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Markheim； with a strange curiosity。 〃Ah； have you been in
love？ Tell me about that。〃
〃I；〃 cried the dealer。 〃I in love！ I never had the time； nor have I the
time to…day for all this nonsense。 Will you take the glass？〃
〃Where is the hurry？〃 returned Markheim。 〃It is very pleasant to stand
here talking； and life is so short and insecure that I would not hurry away
from any pleasureno； not even from so mild a one as this。 We should
rather cling； cling to what little we can get； like a man at a cliff's edge。
Every second is a cliff； if you think upon ita cliff a mile highhigh
enough； if we fall； to dash us out of every feature of humanity。 Hence it is
best to talk pleasantly。 Let us talk of each other； why should we wear this
mask？ Let us be confidential。 Who knows？ we might become friends。〃
〃I have just one word to say to you；〃 said the dealer。 〃Either make your
purchase； or walk out of my shop。〃
〃True； true；〃 said Markheim。 〃Enough fooling。 To business。 Show me
something else。〃
The dealer stooped once more； this time to replace the glass upon the
shelf； his thin blond hair falling over his eyes as he did so。 Markheim
moved a little nearer； with one hand in the pocket of his greatcoat； he drew
himself up and filled his lungs； at the same time many different emotions
were depicted together on his faceterror； horror； and resolve； fascination
and a physical repulsion； and through a haggard lift of his upper lip； his
teeth looked out。
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〃This； perhaps； may suit；〃 observed the dealer。 And then； as he began
to rearise； Markheim bounded from behind upon his victim。 The long；
skewer…like dagger flashed and fell。 The dealer struggled like a hen；
striking his temple on the shelf； and then tumbled on the floor in a heap。
Time had some score of small voices in that shopsome stately and
slow as was becoming to their great age； others garrulous and hurried。 All
these told out the seconds in an intricate chorus of tickings。 Then the
passage of a lad's feet； heavily running on the pavement； broke in upon
these smaller voices and startled Markheim into the consciousness of his
surroundings。 He looked about him awfully。 The candle stood on the
counter； its flame solemnly wagging in a draught； and by that
inconsiderable movement the whole room was filled with noiseless bustle
and kept heaving like a sea： the tall shadows nodding； the gross blots of
darkness swelling and dwindling as with respiration； the faces of the
portraits and the china gods changing and wavering like images in water。
The inner door stood ajar； and peered into that leaguer of shadows with a
long slit of daylight like a pointing finger。
From these fear…stricken rovings； Markheim's eyes returned to the
body of his victim； where it lay； both humped and sprawling； incredibly
small and strangely meaner than in life。 In these poor； miserly clothes； in
that ungainly attitude； the dealer lay like so much sawdust。 Markheim had
feared to see it； and； lo！ it was nothing。 And yet； as he gazed； this bundle
of old clothes and pool of blood began to find eloquent voices。 There it
must lie； there was none to work the cunning hinges or direct the miracle
of locomotion； there it must lie till it was found。 Found！ ay； and then？
Then would this dead flesh lift up a cry that would ring over England； and
fill the world with the echoes of pursuit。 Ay； dead or not； this was still the
enemy。 〃Time was that when the brains were out；〃 he thought； and the first
word struck into his mind。 Time； now that the deed was accomplished
time； which had closed for the victim； had become instant and momentous
for the slayer。
The thought was yet in his mind； when； first one and then anoth