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knack of twisting them round his finger as he pleased。 He varied
his way artfully with different men； but there were three
standing opinions of his which he made a point of expressing in
all varieties of company while we were in Scotland。 In the first
place； he thought the view of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat the
finest in the world。 In the second place； he considered whisky to
be the most wholesome spirit in the world。 In the third place； he
believed his late beloved mother to be the best woman in the
world。 It may be worthy of note that； whenever he expressed this
last opinion in Scotland； he invariably added that her maiden
name was Macleod。
Well； we put up at a modest little inn near the harbor。 I was
dead tired with the journey； and lay down on my bed to get some
rest。 Mr。 Dark； whom nothing ever fatigued； left me to take his
toddy and pipe among the company in the taproom。
I don't know how long I had been asleep when I was roused by a
shake on my shoulder。 The room was pitch dark； and I felt a hand
suddenly clapped over my mouth。 Then a strong smell of whisky and
tobacco saluted my nostrils； and a whisper stole into my ear
〃William； we have got to the end of our journey。〃
〃Mr。 Dark；〃 I stammered out； 〃is that you？ What； in Heaven's
name； do you mean？〃
〃The yacht put in here；〃 was the answer； still in a whisper； 〃and
your blackguard of a master came ashore〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Dark；〃 I broke in； 〃don't tell me that the letter is
true！〃
〃Every word of it；〃 says he。 〃He was married here； and was off
again to the Mediterranean with Number Two a good three weeks
before we left your mistress's house。 Hush！ don't say a word； Go
to sleep again； or strike a light； if you like it better。 Do
anything but come downstairs with me。 I'm going to find out all
the particulars without seeming to want to know one of them。
Yours is a very good…looking face； William； but it's so
infernally honest that I can't trust it in the tap…room。 I'm
making friends with the Scotchmen already。 They know my opinion
of Arthur's Seat； they _see_ what I think of whisky； and I rather
think it won't be long before they hear that my mother's maiden
name was Macleod。〃
With those words he slipped out of the room； and left me； as he
had found me； in the dark。
I was far too much agitated by what I had heard to think of going
to sleep again； so I struck a light； and tried to amuse myself as
well as I could with an old newspaper that had been stuffed into
my carpet bag。 It was then nearly ten o'clock。 Two hours later；
when the house shut up； Mr。 Dark came back to me again in high
spirits。
〃I have got the whole case here；〃 says he； tapping his
forehead〃the whole case； as neat and clean as if it was drawn
in a brief。 That master of yours doesn't stick at a trifle；
William。 It's my opinion that your mistress and you have not seen
the last of him yet。〃
We were sleeping that night in a double…bedded room。 As soon as
Mr。 Dark had secured the door and disposed himself comfortably in
his bed； he entered on a detailed narrative of the particulars
communicated to him in the tap…room。 The substance of what he
told me may be related as follows：
The yacht had had a wonderful run all the way to Cape Wrath。 On
rounding that headland she had met the wind nearly dead against
her； and had beaten every inch of the way to the sea…port town；
where she had put in to get a supply of provisions； and to wait
for a change in the wind。
Mr。 James Smith had gone ashore to look about him； and to see
whether the principal hotel was the sort of house at which he
would like to stop for a few days。 In the course of his wandering
about the town； his attention had been attracted to a decent
house； where lodgings were to be let； by the sight of a very
pretty girl sitting at work at the parlor window。 He was so
struck by her face that he came back twice to look at it；
determining； the second time； to try if he could not make
acquaintance with her by asking to see the lodgings。 He was shown
the rooms by the girl's mother； a very respectable woman； whom he
discovered to be the wife of the master and part owner of a small
coasting ves sel； then away at sea。 With a little maneuvering he
managed to get into the parlor where the daughter was at work；
and to exchange a few words with her。 Her voice and manner
completed the attraction of her face。 Mr。 James Smith decided； in
his headlong way； that he was violently in love with her； and；
without hesitating another instant； he took the lodgings on the
spot for a month certain。
It is unnecessary to say that his designs on the girl were of the
most disgraceful kind； and that he represented himself to the
mother and daughter as a single man。 Helped by his advantages of
money； position； and personal appearance； he had made sure that
the ruin of the girl might be effected with very little
difficulty； but he soon found that he had undertaken no easy
conquest。
The mother's watchfulness never slept； and the daughter's
presence of mind never failed her。 She admired Mr。 James Smith's
tall figure and splendid whiskers； she showed the most
encouraging partiality for his society； she smiled at his
compliments； and blushed whenever he looked at her； but； whether
it was cunning or whether it was innocence； she seemed incapable
of understanding that his advances toward her were of any other
than an honorable kind。 At the slightest approach to undue
familiarity； she drew back with a kind of contemptuous surprise
in her face； which utterly perplexed Mr。 James Smith。 He had not
calculated on that sort of resistance； and he could not see his
way to overcoming it。 The weeks passed； the month for which he
had taken the lodgings expired。 Time had strengthened the girl's
hold on him till his admiration for her amounted to downright
infatuation； and he had not advanced one step yet toward the
fulfillment of the vicious purpose with which he had entered the
house。
At this time he must have made some fresh attempt on the girl's
virtue； which produced： a coolness between them； for； instead of
taking the lodgings for another term； he removed to his yacht； in
the harbor； and slept on board for two nights。
The wind was now fair； and the stores were on board； but he gave
no orders to the sailing…master to weigh anchor。 On the third
day； the cause of the coolness； whatever it was； appears to have
been removed； and he returned to his lodgings on shore。 Some of
the more inquisitive among the townspeople observed soon
afterward； when they met him in the street； that he looked rather
anxious and uneasy。 The conclusion had probably forced itself
upon his mind； by this time； that he must decide on pursuing one
of two courses： either he must resolve to make the sacrifice of
leaving the girl altogether； or he must commit the villainy of
marrying her。
Scoundrel as he was； he hesitated at encountering the
riskperhaps； also； at being guilty of the crimeinvolved in
this last alternative。 While he was still in doubt； the father's
coasting vessel sailed into the harbor； and the father's presence
on the scene decided him at last。 How this new influence acted it
was impo