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just walked。 He was really a great critic； he had a genius for admiration； and his admiration varied fittingly with everything he admired。
〃A splendid girl and a splendid story；〃 he cried。 〃I feel as if I were in love again myself； not so much with her as with Eve or Helen of Troy； or some such tower of beauty in the morning of the world。 Don't you love all heroic things； that gravity and great candor； and the way she took one step from a sort of throne to stand in a wilderness with a vagabond？ Oh； believe me； it is she who is the poet； she has the higher reason； and honor and valor are at rest in her soul。〃
〃In short； she is uncommonly pretty；〃 replied Ashe； with some cynicism。 〃I knew a murderess rather well who was very much like her； and had just that colored hair。〃
〃You talk as if a murderer could be caught red…haired instead of red…handed；〃 retorted Paynter。 〃Why； at this very minute； you could be caught red…haired yourself。 Are you a murderer； by any chance？〃
Ashe looked up quickly； and then smiled。
〃I'm afraid I'm a connoisseur in murderers； as you are in poets；〃 he answered； 〃and I assure you they are of all colors in hair as well as temperament。 I suppose it's inhumane； but mine is a monstrously interesting trade； even in a little place like this。 As for that girl； of course I've known her all her life； andBut but that is just the question。 Have I known her all her life？ Have I known her at all？ Was she even there to be known？ You admire her for telling the truth； and so she did； by God； when she said that some people wake up late； who have never lived before。 Do we know what they might dowe； who have only seen them asleep？〃
〃Great heavens！〃 cried Paynter。 〃You don't dare suggest that she〃
〃No； I don't；〃 said the lawyer； with composure； 〃but there are other reasons。 。 。 。 I don't suggest anything fully； till we've had our interview with this poet of yours。 I think I know where to find him。〃
They found him； in fact； before they expected him； sitting on the bench outside the Vane Arms； drinking a mug of cider and waiting for the return of his American friend； so it was not difficult to open conversation with him。 Nor did he in any way avoid the subject of the tragedy； and the lawyer； seating himself also on the long bench that fronted the little market place； was soon putting the last developments as lucidly as he had put them to Barbara。
〃Well；〃 said Treherne at last； leaning back and frowning at the signboard； with the colored birds and dolphins； just about his head； 〃suppose somebody did kill the Squire。 He'd killed a good many people with his hygiene and his enlightened landlordism。〃
Paynter was considerably uneasy at this alarming opening； but the poet went on quite coolly； with his hands in his pockets and his feet thrust out into the street。
〃When a man has the power of a Sultan in Turkey； and uses it with the ideas of a spinster in Tooting； I often wonder that nobody puts a knife in him。 I wish there were more sympathy for murderers； somehow。 I'm very sorry the poor old fellow's gone myself； but you gentlemen always seem to forget there are any other people in the world。 He's all right； he was a good fellow； and his soul； I fancy； has gone to the happiest paradise of all。〃
The anxious American could read nothing of the effect of this in the dark Napoleonic face of the lawyer； who merely said： 〃What do you mean？〃
〃The fool's paradise；〃 said Treherne； and drained his pot of cider。
The lawyer rose。 He did not look at Treherne； or speak to him； but looked and spoke straight across him to the American； who found the utterance not a little unexpected。
〃Mr。 Paynter；〃 said Ashe； 〃you thought it rather morbid of me to collect murderers； but it's fortunate for your own view of the case that I do。 It may surprise you to know that Mr。 Treherne has now； in my eyes； entirely cleared himself of suspicion。 I have been intimate with several assassins； as I remarked； but there's one thing none of them ever did。 I never knew a murderer to talk about the murder； and then at once deny it and defend it。 No； if a man is concealing his crime； why should he go out of his way to apologize for it？〃
〃Well；〃 said Paynter； with his ready appreciation； 〃I always said you were a remarkable man； and that's certainly a remarkable idea。〃
〃Do I understand；〃 asked the poet； kicking his heels on the cobbles； 〃that both you gentlemen have been kindly directing me toward the gallows？〃
〃No；〃 said Paynter thoughtfully。 〃I never thought you guilty； and even supposing I had； if you understand me； I should never have thought it quite so guilty to be guilty。 It would not have been for money or any mean thing； but for something a little wilder and worthier of a man of genius。 After all； I suppose； the poet has passions like great unearthly appetites； and the world has always judged more gently of his sins。 But now that Mr。 Ashe admits your innocence； I can honestly say I have always affirmed it。〃
The poet rose also。 〃Well； I am innocent； oddly enough；〃 he said。 〃I think I can make a guess about your vanishing well； but of the death and dry bones I know no more than the deadif so much。 And； by the way； my dear Paynter〃and he turned two bright eyes on the art critic〃I will excuse you from excusing me for all the things I haven't done； and you； I hope； will excuse me if I differ from you altogether about the morality of poets。 As you suggest； it is a fashionable view； but I think it is a fallacy。 No man has less right to be lawless than a man of imagination。 For he has spiritual adventures； and can take his holidays when he likes。 I could picture the poor Squire carried off to elfland whenever I wanted him carried off； and that wood needed no crime to make it wicked for me。 That red sunset the other night was all that a murder would have been to many men。 No； Mr。 Ashe； show； when next you sit in judgment； a little mercy to some wretched man who drinks and robs because he must drink beer to taste it； and take it to drink it。 Have compassion on the next batch of poor thieves； who have to hold things in order to have them。 But if ever you find ME stealing one small farthing； when I can shut my eyes and see the city of El Dorado； then〃and he lifted his head like a falcon〃show me no mercy； for I shall deserve none。〃
〃Well；〃 remarked Ashe； after a pause； 〃I must go and fix things up for the inquest。 Mr。 Treherne； your attitude is singularly interesting； I really almost wish I could add you to my collection of murderers。 They are a varied and extraordinary set。〃
〃Has it ever occurred to you；〃 asked Paynter； 〃that perhaps the men who have never comitted murder are a varied and very extraordinary set？ Perhaps every plain man's life holds the real mystery； the secret of sins avoided。〃
〃Possibly；〃 replied Ashe。 〃It would be a long business to stop the next man in the street and ask him what crimes he never committed and why not。 And I happen to be busy； so you'll excuse me。〃
〃What；〃 asked the American； when he and the poet were alone； 〃is this guess of yours about the vanishing water？〃
〃Well； I'm not sure I'll tell you yet；〃 answered Treherne； something of the old mischief coming bac