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He smiled grimly； but no longer with heaviness。 In this he
instantly recognized the handiwork of Dare； who； having at
last broken down the barrier which De Stancy had erected round
his heart for so many years； acted like a skilled strategist；
and took swift measures to follow up the advantage so tardily
gained。
Captain De Stancy knew himself conquered： he knew he should
yield to Paulahad indeed yielded； but there was now； in his
solitude； an hour or two of reaction。 He did not drink from
the bottles sent。 He went early to bed； and lay tossing
thereon till far into the night； thinking over the collapse。
His teetotalism had； with the lapse of years； unconsciously
become the outward and visible sign to himself of his secret
vows； and a return to its opposite； however mildly done；
signified with ceremonious distinctness the formal acceptance
of delectations long forsworn。
But the exceeding freshness of his feeling for Paula； which by
reason of its long arrest was that of a man far under thirty；
and was a wonder to himself every instant； would not long
brook weighing in balances。 He wished suddenly to commit
himself； to remove the question of retreat out of the region
of debate。 The clock struck two： and the wish became
determination。 He arose； and wrapping himself in his
dressing…gown went to the next room； where he took from a
shelf in the pantry several large bottles； which he carried to
the window； till they stood on the sill a goodly row。 There
had been sufficient light in the room for him to do this
without a candle。 Now he softly opened the sash； and the
radiance of a gibbous moon riding in the opposite sky flooded
the apartment。 It fell on the labels of the captain's
bottles； revealing their contents to be simple aerated waters
for drinking。
De Stancy looked out and listened。 The guns that stood drawn
up within the yard glistened in the moonlight reaching them
from over the barrack…wall： there was an occasional stamp of
horses in the stables； also a measured tread of sentinelsone
or more at the gates； one at the hospital； one between the
wings； two at the magazine； and others further off。 Recurring
to his intention he drew the corks of the mineral waters； and
inverting each bottle one by one over the window…sill； heard
its contents dribble in a small stream on to the gravel below。
He then opened the hamper which Dare had sent。 Uncorking one
of the bottles he murmured； 'To Paula！' and drank a glass of
the ruby liquor。
'A man again after eighteen years；' he said； shutting the sash
and returning to his bedroom。
The first overt result of his kindled interest in Miss Power
was his saying to his sister the day after the surreptitious
sight of Paula： 'I am sorry； Charlotte； for a word or two I
said the other day。'
'Well？'
'I was rather disrespectful to your friend Miss Power。'
'I don't think sowere you？'
'Yes。 When we were walking in the wood； I made a stupid joke
about her。 。 。 。 What does she know about medo you ever
speak of me to her？'
'Only in general terms。'
'What general terms？'
'You know well enough； William； of your idiosyncrasies and so
onthat you are a bit of a woman…hater； or at least a
confirmed bachelor； and have but little respect for your own
family。'
'I wish you had not told her that；' said De Stancy with
dissatisfaction。
'But I thought you always liked women to know your
principles！' said Charlotte； in injured tones； 'and would
particularly like her to know them； living so near。'
'Yes； yes；' replied her brother hastily。 'Well； I ought to
see her； just to show her that I am not quite a brute。'
'That would be very nice！' she answered； putting her hands
together in agreeable astonishment。 'It is just what I have
wished； though I did not dream of suggesting it after what I
have heard you say。 I am going to stay with her again to…
morrow； and I will let her know about this。'
'Don't tell her anything plainly； for heaven's sake。 I really
want to see the interior of the castle； I have never entered
its walls since my babyhood。' He raised his eyes as he spoke
to where the walls in question showed their ashlar faces over
the trees。
'You might have gone over it at any time。'
'O yes。 It is only recently that I have thought much of the
place： I feel now that I should like to examine the old
building thoroughly； since it was for so many generations
associated with our fortunes； especially as most of the old
furniture is still there。 My sedulous avoidance hitherto of
all relating to our family vicissitudes has been； I own；
stupid conduct for an intelligent being； but impossible grapes
are always sour； and I have unconsciously adopted Radical
notions to obliterate disappointed hereditary instincts。 But
these have a trick of re…establishing themselves as one gets
older； and the castle and what it contains have a keen
interest for me now。'
'It contains Paula。'
De Stancy's pulse； which had been beating languidly for many
years； beat double at the sound of that name。
'I meant furniture and pictures for the moment；' he said； 'but
I don't mind extending the meaning to her； if you wish it。'
'She is the rarest thing there。'
'So you have said before。'
'The castle and our family history have as much romantic
interest for her as they have for you；' Charlotte went on。
'She delights in visiting our tombs and effigies and ponders
over them for hours。'
'Indeed！' said De Stancy； allowing his surprise to hide the
satisfaction which accompanied it。 'That should make us
friendly。 。 。 。 Does she see many people？'
'Not many as yet。 And she cannot have many staying there
during the alterations。'
'Ah！ yesthe alterations。 Didn't you say that she has had a
London architect stopping there on that account？ What was he…
…old or young？'
'He is a young man： he has been to our house。 Don't you
remember you met him there？'
'What was his name？'
'Mr。 Somerset。'
'O； that man！ Yes； yes； I remember。 。 。 。 Hullo； Lottie！'
'What？'
'Your face is as red as a peony。 Now I know a secret！'
Charlotte vainly endeavoured to hide her confusion。 'Very
wellnot a word！ I won't say more；' continued De Stancy
good…humouredly； 'except that he seems to be a very nice
fellow。'
De Stancy had turned the dialogue on to this little well…
preserved secret of his sister's with sufficient outward
lightness； but it had been done in instinctive concealment of
the disquieting start with which he had recognized that
Somerset； Dare's enemy； whom he had intercepted in placing
Dare's portrait into the hands of the chief constable； was a
man beloved by his sister Charlotte。 This novel circumstance
might lead to a curious complication。 But he was to hear
more。
'He may be very nice；' replied Charlotte； with an effort；
after this silence。 'But he is nothing to me； more than a
very good friend。'
'There's no engagement； or thought of one between you？'
'Certainly there's not！' said Charlotte； with brave emphasis。
'It is more likely to be between Paula and him than me and
him。'
De Stancy's bare military ears and closely cropped poll
flushed hot。 'Miss