CQ 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 WNrVEUSfTT Of 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
LJCJ 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/farewellnikolaOObootrich 
 
" He swept his fingers over the strings . 
 to sing." (Page 140 
 ** Farewell, Nikola."] 
 
 . and commenced 
 
 [Frontispiece 
 
Tarewell^ Nikola' 
 
 BY 
 
 GUY BOOTHBY 
 
 AUTHOR OF 'dr. NIKOLA,' 'THE BFAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL,* 
 * PHAROS, THE EGYPTIAN,' ETC. 
 
 Illustrated by Harold Piffard 
 
 LONDON 
 
 WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED 
 
 NEW YORK AND MELBOURNE 
 I901 
 

 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAQtf 
 
 HE B;VEPT his FINGKIIS OVER THE STRINGS . . . AND 
 
 COMMENCED TO SING .... Frontispiece 
 
 HE PRESSED A SPRING IN THE WALL 46 
 
 PRESENTLY A PICTURE SHAPED ITSELF IN THE CLOUD . 100 
 THROWING OPEN THE SECRET DOOR ... HE CONFRONTED 
 
 THEM ) .... 177 
 
 HE LAID HIS HAND UPON HER FOREHEAD . . 208 
 
 "PUT DOWN YOUR PISTOLS," SAID NIKOLA . . . 249 
 
 HE CRAWLED UPON THE FLOOR LIKE A DOG . . . 273 
 
 SHE KNELP, WITH ARMS OUTSTRETCHED, IN SUPPLICATION 306 
 
 472 
 
^FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 We were in Venice; Venice the silent and 
 mysterious ; the one European city of which I 
 never tire. My wife had not enjoyed good 
 health for some months past, and for this reason 
 we had been winteriog in Southern Italy. After 
 that we had come slowly north, spending a 
 month in Florence, and a fortnight in Eome 
 en route, until we found ourselves in Venice, 
 occupying a suite of apartments at Galaghetti's 
 fjimous hotel overlooking the Grand Canal. 
 Our party was a small one ; it consisted of my 
 wife, her friend, Gertrude Trevor, and myself, 
 Richard Hatteras, once of the South Sea Islands, 
 but now of the New Forest, Hampshire, England. 
 It may account for our fondness of Venice when 
 I say that four years previous we had spent the 
 greater part of our honeymoon there. Whatever 
 
8 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA 
 
 the cause may have been, however, there could be 
 no sort of doubt that the grand old city, with 
 its palaces and churches, its associations stretch- 
 ing back to long-forgotten centuries, and its silent 
 waterways, possessed a great fascination for us. 
 We were never tired of exploring it, finding 
 something to interest us in even the most out-of- 
 the-way corners. In Miss Trevor we possessed 
 a charming companion, a vital necessity, as you 
 will admit, when people travel together. She 
 was an uncommon girl in more ways than one ; 
 a girl, so it seems to me, England alone is able to 
 produce. She could not be described as a pretty 
 girl, but then the word " pretty " is one that some- 
 times comes perilously near carrying contempt 
 with it ; one does not speak of Venus de Medici 
 as pretty, nor would one describe the Apollo 
 Belvedere as very nice-looking. That Miss Trevor 
 was exceedingly handsome would, I fancy, be 
 generally admitted. At any rate she would 
 command attention wherever she might go, and 
 that is an advantage which few of us possess. 
 Should a more detailed description of her be 
 necessary, I might add that she was tall and 
 dark, with black hair and large luminous eyes 
 that haunted one, and were suggestive of a 
 southern ancestor. She was the daughter, and 
 indeed the only child, of the well-known Dean of 
 Uedminster, and this was the first time she had 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 9 
 
 visited Italy, or that ste had been abroad. The 
 wonders of the Art Country were all new to her, 
 and in consequence our wanderings were one 
 long succession of delight. Every day added 
 some new pleasure to her experiences, while each 
 night saw a life desire gratified. 
 
 In my humble opinion, to understand Italy 
 properly one should not presume to visit her until 
 after the first blush of youth has departed, and 
 then only when one has prepared oneself to pro- 
 perly appreciate her many beauties. Venice, 
 above all others, is a city that must be taken 
 seriously. To come at a proper spirit of the place 
 one must be in a reverent mood. Cheap jokes and 
 Cockney laughter are as unsuited to the place, 
 where Falieri yielded his life, as a downcast face 
 would be in Nice at carnival time. On the after- 
 noon of the particular day from which I date my 
 story, we had been to the island of Murano to pay 
 a visit to the famous glass factories of which it is 
 the home. By the time we reached Venice once 
 more it was nearly sunset. Having something 
 like an hour to spare we made our way, at my 
 wife's suggestion, to the Florian cafe on the 
 piazza of Saint Mark in order to watch the 
 people. As usual the place was crowded, and 
 at first glance it looked as if we should be unable 
 to find sufficient vacant chairs. Fortune favoured 
 us, however, and when we had seated ourselves 
 
10 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 and I had ordered coffee, we gave ourselves 
 up to the enjoyment of what is perhaps one of 
 the most amusing scenes in Venice. To a thought- 
 ful mind the Great Square must at all times be 
 an object of absorbing interest. I have seen it at 
 every hour, and under almost every aspect : at 
 break of day, when one has it to oneself and is 
 able to enjoy its beauty undisturbed ; at midday, 
 when the importunate shop-keepers endeavour to 
 seduce one into entering their doors (by tales of the 
 marvels therein) ; at sunset, when the cafes are 
 crowded, the band plays, and all is merriment; 
 and last, but not least, at midnight, when the 
 moon is sailing above Saint Mark's, the square 
 is full of strange shadows, and the only sound to 
 be heard is the cry of a gull on the lagoon, or 
 the " Sa Premi " of some belated gondolier. 
 
 " This is the moment to which I have looked 
 forward all my life," said Miss Trevor, as she sat 
 back in her chair and watched the animated crowd 
 before her. '' Look at that pretty little boy with 
 the pigeons flocking round him. What a picture 
 he would make if one only had a camera." 
 
 *' If you care to have a photo of him one can 
 easily be obtained," I remarked. " Any one of 
 these enterprising photographers would be only 
 too pleased to take one for you for a few ceutissimi. 
 I regret to say that many of our countrymen 
 have a weakness for being taken in that way." 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 11 
 
 " Fancy Septimus Brown, of Tooting," my wife 
 remarked, " a typical English paterfamilias, with a 
 green veil, blue spectacles, and white umbrella, 
 daring to ask the sun to record his image with the 
 pigeons of St. Mark's clustering about his vener- 
 able head. Can't you picture the pride of that 
 worthy gentleman's family when they produce 
 the album on Sunday afternoons and show it to 
 their friends ? * This is pa,' the eldest girl will 
 probably remark, * when he was travelling in 
 Venice ' (as if Venice were a country in which one 
 must be perpetually moving on), * and that's how 
 the pigeons came down to him to be fed. Isn't 
 it splendid of him ? ' Papa, who has never 
 ventured beyond Brighton beach before, will be 
 a person of importance from that moment." 
 
 ** You forget one circumstance, however," Miss 
 Trevor replied, who enjoyed an argument, and 
 for this reason contradicted my wife on principle, 
 '*that in allowing himself to be taken at all. 
 Brown of Tooting has advanced a step. For the 
 moment he dared to throw off his insularity, as 
 the picture at which you are laughing is indisput- 
 able testimony. Do you think he would dare to 
 be photographed in a similar fashion in his own 
 market-place, standing outside his shop-door with 
 his assistants watching him from behind the 
 counter ? I am quite sure he would not I " 
 
 " A very excellent argument," I answered. 
 
12 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " Unfortunately, however, it carries with it its 
 own refutation. The mere fact that Brown takes 
 the photograph home to show to his friends goes a 
 long way towards proving that he is still as insular 
 as when he set out. If he did not consider himself 
 of sufficient importance to shut out a portion of 
 Saint Mark's with his voluminous personality, he 
 would not have employed the photographer at 
 all, in which case we are no further advanced 
 than before." 
 
 These little sparring-matches were a source of 
 great amusement to us. The Cockney tourist 
 was Miss Trevor's hete noir. And upon this 
 failing my wife and I loved to twit her. On 
 the whole I rather fancy she liked being teased 
 by us. 
 
 We had finished our coffee and were still idly 
 watching the people about us when I noticed 
 that my wife had turned a little pale. I was 
 about to remark upon it, when she uttered an 
 exclamation as if something had startled her. 
 
 " Good gracious ! Dick," she cried, " surely it is 
 not possible. It must be a mistake." 
 
 " What is it cannot be possible ? " I in- 
 quired. " What do you think you see ? " 
 
 I glanced in the direction she indicated, but 
 could recognize no one with whom I was ac- 
 quainted. An English clergyman and his daughter 
 were sitting near the entrance to the cafe, and 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA 13 
 
 some oJBBcers in uniform' were on the other side of 
 them again, but still my wife was looking in the 
 same direction and with an equally startled face. 
 I placed my hand upon her arm. It was a long 
 time since I had seen her so agitated. 
 
 " Come, darling," I said, " tell me what it is 
 that troubles you." 
 
 " Look," she answered, " can you see the table 
 a little to the right of that at which those ofl&cers 
 are seated ? " 
 
 I was about to reply in the affirmative, but the 
 shock I received deprived me of speech. The 
 person to whom my wife referred had risen from 
 his chair, and was in the act of walking towards 
 us. I looked at him, looked away, and then 
 looked again. No I there was no room for doubt ; 
 the likeness was unmistakable. I should have 
 known him anywhere. He was Doctor Nikola ; 
 the man who had played such an important part 
 in our life's drama. Five years had elapsed since 
 I had last seen him, but in that time he was 
 scarcely changed at all. It was the same tall, 
 thin figure ; the same sallow, clean-shaven face ; 
 the same piercing black eyes. As he drew nearer 
 I noticed that his hair was a little more grey, 
 that he looked slightly older ; otherwise he was 
 unchanged. But why was he coming to us ? 
 Surely he did not mean to speak to us ? After 
 the manner in which he had treated us in by-gone 
 
14 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 days I scarcely knew liow to receive him. He 
 on Ms side, however, was quite self-possessed. 
 Raising his hat with that easy grace that always 
 distinguished him, he advanced and held out his 
 hand to mj wife. 
 
 " My dear Lady Hatteras," he began in his 
 most conciliatory tone, " I felt sure you would 
 recognize me. Observing that you had not for- 
 gotten me, I took the liberty of coming to pay 
 my respects to you." 
 
 Then before my wife could reply he had turned 
 to me and was holding out his hand. For a 
 moment I had half determined not to take it, 
 but when his glittering eyes looked into mine I 
 changed my mind and shook hands with him 
 more cordially than I should ever have thought 
 it possible for me to do. Having thus broken the 
 ice, and as we had to all intents and purposes 
 permitted him to derive the impression that we 
 were prepared to forgive the Past, nothing re- 
 mained for us but to introduce him to Miss Trevor. 
 From the moment that he had approached us 
 she had been watching him covertly, and that 
 he had produced a decided impression upon her 
 was easily seen. For the first time since we had 
 known her she, usually so staid and unimpres- 
 sionable, was nervous and ill at ease. The 
 introduction effected she drew back a little, and 
 pretended to be absorbed in watchiug a party of 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 15 
 
 our fellow-countrymen who had taken their places 
 at a table a short distance from us. For my 
 part I do not mind confessing that I was by no 
 means comfortable. I remembered my bitter 
 hatred of Nikola in days gone by. I recalled that 
 terrible house in Port Said, and thought of the 
 night on the island when I had rescued my wife 
 from his clutches. In my estimation then he had 
 been a villain of the deepest dye, and yet here he 
 was sitting beside me as calm and collected, and 
 apparently as interested in the resume of our 
 travels in Italy that my wife was giving him, as 
 if we had been bosom friends throughout our lives. 
 In any one else it would have been a piece of 
 marvellous effrontery ; in Nikola's case, however, 
 it did not strike one in the same light. As I 
 have so often remarked, he seemed incapable 
 of acting like any other human being. His 
 extraordinary personality lent a glamour to his 
 simplest actions, and demanded for them an 
 attention they would scarcely have received 
 had he been less endowed. 
 
 " Have you been long in Venice ? " my wife 
 inquired when she had completed the record of 
 our doings, feeling that she must say something. 
 
 " I seldom remain anywhere for very long," he 
 answered, with one of his curious smiles. "I 
 come and go like a Will-o'-the-wisp ; I am here 
 to-day and gone to-morrow. '* 
 
16 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 It may have been an unfortunate remark, but 
 I could not help uttering it. 
 
 " For instance, you are in London to-day," I 
 said, " in Port Said next week, and in the South 
 Sea Islands a couple of months later." 
 
 He was not in the least disconcerted. 
 
 '* Ah ! I see you have not forgotten our South 
 Sea adventure," he replied cheerfully. " How long 
 ago it seems, does it not ? To me it is like a 
 chapter out of another life." Then, turning to 
 Miss Trevor, who of course had heard the story 
 of our dealings with him sufficiently often to be 
 weary of it, he added, " I hope you are not alto- 
 gether disposed to think ill of me. Perhaps some 
 day you will be able to persuade Lady Hatteras to 
 forgive me, that is to say if she has not already 
 done so. Yet I do not know why I should plead 
 for pardon, seeing that I am far from being in a 
 repentant mood. As a matter of fact I am very 
 much afraid that, should the necessity arise, I 
 should be compelled to act as I did then." 
 
 "Then let us pray most fervently that the 
 necessity may never arise," I answered. " 1 for 
 one do not entertain a very pleasant recollection 
 of that time." 
 
 I spoke so seriously that my wife looked sharply 
 up at me. Fearing, I suppose, that I might 
 commit myself, she added quickly — 
 
 " I trust it may not. For I can assure you, 
 
'FAEEWELL, NIKOLA' 17 
 
 Doctor Nikola, that my inclinations lie much 
 nearer Bond Street than the South Sea Islands." 
 
 All this time Miss Trevor said nothing, but I 
 could tell from the expression upon her face that 
 Nikola interested her more than she would have 
 been willing to admit. 
 Q ** Is it permissible to ask where you are stay- 
 ' ing ? " he inquired, breaking the silence and 
 speaking as if it were a point upon which he was 
 most anxious to be assured. 
 
 "At Galaghetti's," I answered. "While in 
 Venice we always make it our home." 
 
 " Ah ! the good Galaghetti," said Nikola softly. 
 " It is a long time since I last had the pleasure of 
 seeing him. I fancy, however, he would remember 
 me. I was able to do him a slighfc service some 
 time ago, and I have always understood that he 
 possesses a retentive memory." 
 
 Then, doubtless feeling that he had stayed 
 long enough, he rose and prepared to take leave 
 of us. 
 
 " Perhaps, Lady Hatteras, you will permit me 
 to do myself the honour of calling upon you ? " 
 he said. 
 
 "We shall be very pleased to see you," my 
 wife replied, though with no real cordiality. 
 
 He then bowed to Miss Trevor, and shook 
 hands with myself. 
 
 " Good-bye, Hatteras," he continued. '* I shall 
 
18 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 hope soon to see you again. I expect we have 
 lots of news for each other, and doubtless you will 
 be interested to learn the history and subsequent 
 adventures of that peculiar little stick which 
 caused you so much anxiety, and myself so much 
 trouble, five years ago. My address is the 
 Palace Eevecce, in the Eio del Consiglio, where, 
 needless to say, I shall be delighted to see you 
 if you care to pay me a visit." 
 
 I thanked him for his invitation, and promised 
 that I would call upon him. 
 
 Then with a bow he took his departure, 
 leaving behind him a sensation of something 
 missing, something that could not be replaced. 
 To sit down and continue the conversation 
 where he had broken into it was out of the 
 question. We accordingly rose, and after I had 
 discharged the bill, strolled across the piazza 
 towards the lagoon. Observing that Miss Trevor 
 was still very silent, I inquired the cause. 
 
 " If you really want me to tell you, I can 
 only account for it by saying that your friend, 
 Doctor Nikola, has occasioned it," she an- 
 swered. " I don't know why it should be so, but 
 that man has made a curious impression upon 
 me." 
 
 " He seems to affect every one in a different 
 manner," I said, and for some reason made no 
 further comment upon her speech. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 19 
 
 When we had called a gondola, and were on 
 our way back to our hotel, she referred to the 
 subject again. 
 
 " I think I ought to tell you that it is not the 
 first time I have seen Doctor Nikola,'* she said. 
 " You may remember that yesterday, while Phyllis 
 was lying down, I went out to do some shopping. 
 I cannot describe exactly which direction I took, 
 save that I went towards the Eialto. It is 
 sufficient that in the end I reached a chemist's 
 shop. It was only a small place, and very 
 dark, so dark indeed that I did not see that it 
 contained another customer until I was really 
 inside. Then I noticed a tall man busily engaged 
 in conversation with the shopman. He was 
 declaiming against spme drugs he had purchased 
 there on the previous day, and demanding that 
 for the future they should be of better quality, 
 otherwise he would be compelled to take his 
 patronage elsewhere. In the middle of this 
 harangue he turned round, and I was permitted 
 an opportunity of seeing his face. He was none 
 other than your friend. Doctor Nikola." 
 
 " But, my dear Gertrude," said Phyllis, " with 
 all due respect to your narrative, I do not see 
 that the mere fact of your having met Doctor 
 Nikola in a chemist's shop yesterday, and your 
 having been introduced to him to-day, should 
 have caused you so much concern." 
 
20 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 ** I do not know why it should," she answered, 
 "but it is a fact, nevertheless. Ever since I 
 saw him yesterday, his face, with its terrible 
 eyes, has haunted me. I dreamt of it last night. 
 All day long I have had it before me, and 
 now, as if to add to the strangeness of 
 the coincidence, he proves to be the man of 
 whom you have so often told me — ^your de- 
 moniacal, fascinating Nikola. You must admit 
 that it is very strange." 
 
 " A coincidence, a mere coincidence, that is 
 all," I replied. "Nikola possesses an extraor- 
 dinary face, and it must have impressed itself more 
 deeply upon you than the average countenance 
 is happy enough to do." 
 
 Whether my explanation satisfied her or not, 
 she said no more upon the subject. But that 
 our strange meeting with Nikola had had an 
 extraordinary effect upon her was plainly ob- 
 servable. As a rule she was as bright and merry 
 a companion as one could wish to have ; on this 
 particular evening, however, she was not herself 
 at all. It was the more annoying for the reason 
 that I was anxious that she should shine on 
 this occasion, as I was expecting an old friend, 
 who was going to spend a few days with us 
 in Venice. That friend was none other than 
 the Duke of Glenbarth, who previous to his 
 succession to the Dukedom had been known 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 21 
 
 as the Marquis of Beckenham, and who, as the 
 readers of the history of my adventures with 
 Doctor Nikola may remember, figured as a very 
 important factor in that strange afi'air. Ever 
 since the day when I had the good fortune to 
 render him a signal service in the bay of a certain 
 south-coast watering-place, and from the time 
 that he had accepted my invitation to join us in 
 Venice, I had looked forward to his coming with 
 the greatest possible eagerness. As it happened 
 it was well-nigh seven o'clock by the time we 
 reached our hotel. Without pausing in the hall 
 further than to examine the letter-rack, we 
 ascended to our rooms on the floor above. 
 My wife and Miss Trevor had gone to their 
 apartments, and I was about to follow their 
 example as soon as I had obtained something 
 from the sitting-room. 
 
 " A nice sort of host, a very nice host," said 
 a laughing voice as I entered. " He invites me 
 to stay with him, and is not at home to bid me 
 welcome. My dear old Dick, how are you ? " 
 
 " My dear fellow," I cried, hastening forward 
 to greet him, " I must beg your pardon ten 
 thousand times. I had not the least idea that 
 you would be here so early. We have been 
 sitting on the piazza, and did not hurry home." 
 
 " You needn't apologize," he answered. " For 
 once an Italian train was before its time. And 
 
22 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 now tell me about yourself. How is your wife, 
 liow are you, and what sort of holiday are you 
 having ? " 
 
 I answered his questions to the best of my 
 ability, keeping back my most important item 
 as a surprise for him. 
 
 "And now,'' I said, **it is time to dress for 
 dinner. But before you do so, I have some 
 important news for you. Who do you think 
 is in Venice ? " 
 
 Needless to say he mentioned every one but 
 the right persoD. 
 
 "You had better give it up, you will never 
 guess," I said. " Who is the most unlikely 
 person you would expect to see in Venice at 
 the present moment ? " 
 
 "Old Macpherson, my solicitor," he replied 
 promptly. " The rascal would no more think of 
 crossing the Channel than he would contemplate 
 standing on his head in the middle of the Strand. 
 It must be Macpherson." 
 
 "Nonsense," I cried. "I don't know Mac- 
 pherson in the first place, and I doubt if he 
 would interest me in the second. No ! no ! this 
 man is neither a Scotchman nor a lawyer. He 
 is an individual bearing the name of Nikola." 
 
 I had quite expected to surprise him, but I 
 scarcely looked for such an outbreak of as- 
 tonishment. 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 23 
 
 " What ? " lie cried, in amazement. " You 
 must be joking. You don't mean to say that 
 you have seen Nikola again ? " 
 
 " I not only mean that I have seen him/' I 
 replied, "but I will go further than that, and 
 say that he was sitting on the piazza with us 
 not more than half-an-hour ago. What do you 
 think his appearance in Venice means ? " 
 
 "I don't know what to think," he replied, 
 with an expression of almost comic bewilderment 
 upon his face. "It seems impossible, and yet 
 you don't look as if you were joking." 
 
 " I tell you the news in all sober earnestness," 
 I answered, dropping my bantering tone. "It 
 is a fact that Nikola is in Venice, and, what is 
 more, that he has given me his address. He 
 has invited me to call upon him, and if you like 
 we will go together. What do you say ? " 
 
 " I shall have to take time to think about it," 
 Glenbarth replied seriously. "I don't suppose 
 for a moment he has any intention of abducting 
 me again ; nevertheless, I am not going to give 
 him the opportunity. By Jove, how that fellow's 
 face comes back to me. It haunts me ! " 
 
 "Miss Trevor has been complaining of the 
 same thing," I said. 
 
 "Miss Trevor?" the Duke repeated. "And 
 pray who may Miss Trevor be 1 " 
 
 " A friend of my wife's," I answered. " She 
 
24 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 has been travelling with ns for the last few 
 months. I think you will like her. And now 
 come along with me and I'll show you your 
 room. I suppose your man has discovered it by 
 this time ? " 
 
 " Stevens would find it if this hotel were con- 
 structed on the same principle as the maze at 
 Hampton Court," he answered. " He has the 
 virtue of persistence, and when he wants to find 
 a thing he secures the person who would be the 
 most likely to tell him, and sticks to him until 
 his desire has been gratified." 
 
 It turned out as he had predicted, and three- 
 quarters of an hour later our quartet sat down 
 to dinner. My wife and Glenbarth, by virtue of 
 an old friendship, agreed remarkably well, while 
 Miss Trevor, now somewhat recovered from her 
 Nikola indisposition, was more like her old self. 
 It was a beautiful night, and after dinner it was 
 proposed, seconded, and carried unanimously, 
 that we should charter a gondola and go for a 
 row upon the canal. On our homeward voyage 
 the gondolier, by some strange chance, turned 
 into the Eio del Consigilio. 
 
 ** Perhaps you can tell me which is the Palace 
 Eevecce VI said to the man. 
 
 He pointed to a building we were in the act 
 of approaching. 
 
 *' There it is, signor," he said. ** At one time 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 25 
 
 it was a very great palace but now — '* here he 
 shrugged his shoulders to enable us to under- 
 stand that its glory had departed from it. Not 
 another word was said upon the subject, but I 
 noticed that all our faces turned in the direction 
 of the building. With the exception of one 
 solitary window it was in total darkness. As 
 I looked at the latter I wondered whether 
 Nikola were in the room, and if so, what he was 
 doing ? Was he poring over some of his curious 
 books, trying some new experiment in chemistry, 
 or putting to the test some theory such as 1 had 
 found him at work upon in that curious house in 
 Port Said ? A few minutes later we had left the 
 Rio del Consiglio behind us, had turned to the 
 right, and were making our way back by another 
 watery thoroughfare towards the Grand Canal. 
 
 " Thanks to your proposition we have had a 
 delightful evening," Miss Trevor said, as we 
 paused to say good-night at the foot of the stair- 
 case a quarter of an hour or so later. ** I have 
 enjoyed myself immensely." 
 
 " You should not tell him that, dear," said my 
 wife. " You know how conceited he is already. 
 He will take all the credit, and be unbearable for 
 days afterwards." Then turning to me, she 
 added, ** You are going to smoke, I suppose ? " 
 
 " I had thought of doing so," I replied ; and 
 then added with mock humility, " If you do 
 
26 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 not wish ifc of course I will not do so. I was 
 only going to keep Glenbarth company." 
 
 They laughed and bade us good-night, and 
 when we had seen them depart in the direction 
 of their rooms we lit our cigars and passed 
 into the balcony outside. 
 
 At this hour of the night the Grand Canal 
 looked very still and beautiful, and we both felt 
 in the humour for confidences. 
 
 " Do you know, Hatteras," said Glenbarth, 
 after the few moments^ pause that followed our 
 arrival in the open air, " that Nikola's turning up 
 in Venice at this particular juncture savours to me 
 a little of the uncanny. What his mission may 
 be, of course I cannot tell, but that it is some 
 diabolical thing or another I haven't a doubt." 
 
 " One thing is quite certain," 1 answered, " he 
 would hardly be here without an object, and, 
 after our dealings with him in the past, I am 
 prepared to admit that I don't trust him any 
 more than you do." 
 
 *' And now that he has asked you to call upon 
 him what are you going to do ? " 
 
 I paused before I replied. The question 
 involved greater responsibilities than were at 
 first glance apparent. Knowing Nikola so well, 
 I had not the least desire or intention to be 
 drawn into any of the plots or machinations 
 he was so fond of working against other people. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 27 
 
 I must confess, nevertheless, that I could not 
 help feeling a large amount of curiosity as to 
 the subsequent history of that little stick, to 
 obtain which he had spent so much money, and 
 had risked so many lives. 
 
 " Yes, I think I shall call upon him," I said 
 reflectively, as if I had not quite made up my 
 mind. " Surely to see him once more could do 
 no harm ? Good heavens ! what an extraordinary 
 fellow he is ! Fancy you or I being afraid of 
 any other man as we are afraid of him, for 
 mind you, I know that you stand quite as much 
 in awe of him as I do. Why, do you know 
 when my eyes fell upon him this afternoon I 
 felt a return of the old dread his presence used 
 to cause in me five years ago ! The effect he 
 had upon Miss Trevor was also very singular, 
 when you come to think of it." 
 
 *' By the way, Hatteras, talking of Miss Trevor, 
 what an awfully nice girl she is. 1 don't know 
 when I have ever met a nicer. Who is she ? " 
 
 " She is the daughter of the Dean of Bed- 
 minster," I answered ; " a splendid old fellow." 
 
 '* I like his daughter," the Duke remarked. 
 " Yes, I must say that I like her very much." 
 
 I was glad to hear this, for I had my own 
 little dreams, and my wife, who, by the way, is a 
 born matchmaker, had long ago come to a similar 
 conclusion. 
 
28 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 *' She is a very nice girl," I replied, " and 
 "what is more, she is as good as she is nice." 
 Then I continued, " He will be indeed a lucky 
 man who wins Gertrude Trevor for his wife. 
 And now, since our cigars are finished, what do 
 you say to bed ? It is growing late, and I 
 expect you are tired after your journey." 
 
 " I am quite ready," he answered. " I shall 
 sleep like a top. I only hope and pray that I 
 shall not dream of Nikola." 
 
CHAPTER II 
 
 Whether it was our excursion upon tbe canal 
 that was responsible for it I cannot say ; the fact, 
 however, remains, that next morning every 
 member of our party was late for breakfast. My 
 wife and I were the first to put in an appearance, 
 Glenbarth followed shortly after, and Miss Trevor 
 was last of all. It struck me that the girl 
 looked a little pale as she approached the window 
 to bid me good-morning, and as she prided 
 herself upon her punctuality, I jestingly reproved 
 her for her late rising. 
 
 " I am afraid your gondola excursion proved 
 too much for you," I said, in a bantering tone, 
 " or perhaps you dreamt of Doctor Nikola." 
 
 I expected her to declare in her usual vehement 
 fashion that she would not waste her time 
 dreaming of any man, but to my combined 
 astonishment and horror her eyes fiUed with 
 tears, until she was compelled to turn her head 
 away in order to hide them from me. It was 
 all so unexpected that I did not know what to 
 
 29 
 
30 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 think. As may be supposed, I had not the 
 slightest intention of giving her pain, nor could 
 I quite see how I managed to do so. It was 
 plain, however, that my thoughtless speech had 
 been the means of upsetting her, and I was 
 heartily sorry for my indiscretion. Fortunately 
 my wife had not overheard what had passed 
 between us. 
 
 " Is he teasing you again, Gertrude ? " she 
 said, as she slipped her arm through her friend's. 
 " Take my advice and have nothing to do with 
 him. Treat him with contempt. Besides, the 
 coffee is getting cold, and that is a very much more 
 important matter. Let us sit down to breakfast." 
 
 Nothing could have been more opportune. 
 We took our places at the table, and by the time 
 the servant had handed the first dishes Miss 
 Trevor had recovered herself sufficiently to be 
 able to look me in the face, and to join in the 
 conversation without the likelihood of a catas- 
 trophe. Still there could be no doubt that she 
 was far from being in a happy frame of mind. 
 I said as much to my wife afterwards, when we 
 were alone together. 
 
 ** She told me she had had a very bad night," 
 the little woman replied. *' Our meeting with 
 Doctor Nikola yesterday on the piazza upset 
 her for some reason or another. She said 
 that she had dreamt of nothing else. As you 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 31 
 
 know she is very highly strung, and when 
 you think of the descriptions we have given 
 her of him, it is scarcely to be wondered 
 at that she should attach an exaggerated 
 importance to our unexpected meeting with 
 him. That is the real explanation of the mystery. 
 One thing, however, is quite certain ; in her 
 present state of mind she musfc see no more of 
 him than can be helped. It might upset her 
 altogether. Oh, why did he come here to spoil 
 our holiday ? '' 
 
 " I cannot see that he has spoilt it, my dear," 
 I returned, putting my arm round her waist 
 and leading her to the window. **The girl 
 will very soon recover from her fit of depression, 
 and afterwards will be as merry as a marriage- 
 bell. By the way, I don't know why I should 
 think of it just now, but talking of marriage- 
 bells reminds me that Glenbarth told me last 
 night that he thought Gertrude one of the 
 nicest girls he had ever met.'^ 
 
 ** I am delighted to hear it," my wife answered. 
 "And still more delighted to think that he has 
 such good sense. Do you know, I have set my 
 heart upon that coming to something. No ! you 
 needn't shake your head. For very many 
 reasons it would be a most desirable match." 
 
 ''For my own part I believe it was for 
 no other reason that you bothered me into 
 
82 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 inviting him to join our party here. You are a 
 matchmaker. I challenge you to refute the 
 accusation." 
 
 " I shall not attempt to do so," she retorted 
 with considerable hauteur. *' It is always a 
 waste of time to argue with you. At any rate 
 you must agree with me that Gertrude would 
 make an ideal duchess." 
 
 " So you have travelled as far as that, have 
 you ? " I inquired. " I must say that you jump 
 to conclusions very quickly. Because Glenbarth 
 happens to have said in confidence to me (a 
 confidence I am willing to admit I have shame- 
 fully abused) that he considers Gertrude Trevor a 
 very charming girl, it does not follow that he 
 has the very slightest intention of asking her to 
 be his wife. Why should he ? " 
 
 " If he doesn't he is not fit to sit in the House 
 of Lords," she answered, as if that ought to clinch 
 the argument. *^ Fancy a man posing as one of 
 our hereditary legislators who doesn't know how 
 to seize such a golden opportunity. As a good 
 churchwoman I pray for the nobility every Sun- 
 day morning ; and if not knowing where to look 
 for the best wife in the world may be taken as 
 a weakness, and it undoubtedly is, then all I can 
 say is, that they require aU the praying for they 
 can get ! " 
 
 *' But I should like to know, how is he 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 33 
 
 going to marry the best wife in the world ? " I 
 asked. 
 
 " By asking her," she retorted. ** He doesn't 
 surely suppose she is going to ask him ? " 
 
 "If he values his life he'd better not do that I" 
 I said savagely. " He will have to answer for it 
 to me if he does I " 
 
 " Ah," she answered, her lips curling, " I 
 thought as much. You are jealous of him. You 
 don't want him to ask her because you fancy 
 that if he does your reign will be over. A nice 
 admission for a married man, I must say ! " 
 
 "I presume you mean because I refuse to 
 allow him to flirt with my wife ? " 
 
 " I mean nothing of the kind, and you know 
 it. How dare you say, Dick, that I flirt with the 
 Duke ? " 
 
 " Because you have confessed it," I answered 
 with a grin of triumph, for I had got her 
 cornered at last. ** Did you not say, only a 
 moment ago, that if he did not know where to 
 find the best wife in the world he was unfit to 
 sit in the House of Lords ? Did you not say that 
 he ought to be ashamed of himself if he did 
 not ask her to be his wife ? Answer that, my 
 lady." 
 
 ** I admit that I did say it ; but you know very 
 well that I referred to Gertrude Trevor 1 " 
 
 " Gertrude Trevor is not yet a wife. The best 
 
a4 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA ' 
 
 wife in the world is beside me now ; and since 
 you are already proved to be in the wrong you 
 must perforce pay the penalty.* 
 
 She was in the act of doing so when Gertrude 
 entered the room. 
 
 " Oh, dear," she began, hesitating in pretended 
 consternation, "is there never to be an end 
 of it?" 
 
 " An end of what ? " demanded my wife with 
 some little asperity, for she does not like her 
 little endearments to be witnessed by other 
 people. 
 
 " Of this billing and cooing," the other replied. 
 "You two insane creatures have been married 
 more than four years, and yet a third person can 
 never enter the room without finding you love- 
 making. I declare it upsets all one's theories of 
 marriage. One of my movst cherished ideas was 
 that this sort of thing ceased with the honey- 
 moon, and that the couple invariably lead a 
 cat-and-dog life for the remainder of their 
 existence." 
 
 *' So they do," my wife answered unblushingly. 
 "And what can you expect when one is a 
 great silly creature who will not learn to jump 
 away and be looking innocently out of the 
 window when he hears the handle turned ? 
 Never marry, Gertrude. Mark my words : you 
 will repent it if you do I " 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 85 
 
 "Well, for ingratitude and cool impudence, 
 that surpasses everything I " I said in astonish- 
 ment. " Why, you audacious creature, not more 
 than five minutes ago you were inviting me to 
 co-operate in the noble task of finding a husband 
 for Miss Trevor ! " 
 
 "Richard, how can you stand there and say 
 such things ? " she ejaculated. " Gertrude, my 
 dear, I insist that you come away at once. I 
 don't know what he will say next." 
 
 Miss Trevor laughed. 
 
 " I like to hear you two squabbling," she said, 
 ** Please go on, it amuses me ! " 
 
 "Yes, I will certainly go on," I returned. 
 "Perhaps you heard her declare that she feara 
 what I may say next. Of course she does. Allow 
 me to tell you, Lady Hatteras, that you are 
 a coward. If the truth were known, it would 
 be found that you are trembling in your shoes 
 at this moment. For two centimes, paid down, 
 I would turn Queen's evidence, and reveal the 
 whole plot." 
 
 " You had better not, sir," she replied, sha,king 
 a warning finger at me. " In that case the 
 letters from home shall be withheld from you, and 
 you will not know how your son and heir is 
 progressing." 
 
 " I capitulate," I answered. " Threatened by 
 such awful punishment I dare say no more. 
 
86 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Miss Gertrude, will you not intercede for 
 me?" 
 
 " I think that you scarcely deserve it," she 
 retorted. "Even now you are keeping something 
 back from me." 
 
 " Never mind, my dear, we'll let him off this 
 time with a caution," said my wife, " provided 
 he promises not to offend again. And now let 
 us settle what we are going to do to-day." 
 
 When this important matter had been arranged, 
 it was reported to us that the ladies were to spend 
 the morning shopping, leaving the Duke and my- 
 self free to follow our own inclinations. Accord- 
 ingly, when we had seen them safely on their way 
 to the Merceria, we held a smoking council to 
 arrange how we should pass the hours until lunch- 
 time. As we discovered afterwards, we both had 
 a certain thought in our minds, which for some 
 reason we scarcely liked to broach to each other. 
 It was settled, however, just as we desired, but 
 in a fashion we least expected. 
 
 We were seated in the balcony outside our 
 room, watching the animated traffic on the Grand 
 Canal below, when a servant came in search of 
 us and handed me a note. One glance at the 
 characteristic writing was sufficient to show me 
 that it was from Doctor Nikola. I opened it 
 with an eagerness that I did not attempt to 
 conceal, and read as follows — 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 87 
 
 " Dear Hatteras, 
 
 " If you have nothing more important 
 on hand this morning, can you spare the time to 
 come and see me? As I understand the Duke 
 of Glenbarth is with you, will you not bring him 
 also ? It will be very pleasant to have a chat 
 upon by-gone days, and, what is more, I fancy 
 this old house will interest you. 
 
 " Yours very truly, 
 
 " Nikola." 
 
 " What do you say ? " I inquired, when I had 
 finished reading, " shall we go 1 " 
 
 ** Let us do so by all means," the Duke replied. 
 " It will be very interesting to meet Nikola once 
 more. There is one thing, however, that 
 puzzles me ; how did he become aware of my 
 arrival in Venice ? You say he was with you on 
 the piazza last night, so that he could not have 
 been at the railway station, and as I haven't been 
 outside since I came, except for the row after 
 dinner, I confess it puzzles me." 
 
 "You should know by this time that it is 
 useless to wonder how Nikola acquires his know- 
 ledge," I replied. "For my own part I should 
 like to discover his reason for being in Venice. 
 I am very curious on that point." 
 
 Glenbarth shook his head solemnly. 
 
 " If Nikola does not want us to know," he 
 
88 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 argued, " we shall leave his house a3 wise as we 
 entered it. If he does let us know, I shall begin 
 to grow suspicious, for in that case it is a 
 thousand pounds to this half-smoked cigar that 
 we shall be called lipon to render him assistance. 
 However, if you are prepared to run the risk I 
 will do so also." 
 
 " In that case," I said, rising from my chair 
 and tossing what remained of my cigar into the 
 water below, " let us get ready and be off. We 
 may change our minds." 
 
 Ten minutes later we had chartered a gondola 
 and were on our way to the Palace Eevecce. 
 
 As a general rule when one sets out to pay a 
 morning call one is not the victim of any 
 particular nervousness ; on this occasion however 
 both Glenbaith and I, as we confessed to each 
 other afterwards, were distinctly conscious of 
 being in a condition which would be described 
 by persons of mature years as an unpleasant 
 state of expectancy, but which by school-boys 
 is denominated ** funk." The Duke, I noticed, 
 fidgeted with his cigar, allowed it to go out, and 
 then sat with it in his mouth unlighted. There 
 was a far-away look on his handsome face that 
 told me that he was recalling some of the events 
 connected with the time when he had been in 
 Nikola's company. This proved to be the case, 
 for as we turned from the Grand Canal into 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 39 
 
 the street in which the palace is situated, he 
 said — 
 
 " By the way, Hatteras, I wonder what became 
 of Baxter, Prendergrast, and those other fellows ? " 
 
 "Nikola may be able to tell us," I answered. 
 Then I added after a short pause, "By Jove, 
 what strange times those were." 
 
 ** Not half so strange to my thinking as our 
 finding Nikola in Venice," Glenbarth replied. 
 " That is the coincidence that astonishes me. 
 But see, here we are." 
 
 As he spoke the gondola drew up at the steps 
 of the Palace Kevecce, and we prepared to step 
 ashore. As we did so I noticed that the armorial 
 bearings of the family still decorated the posts on 
 either side of the door, but by the light of day 
 the palace did not look nearly so imposing as 
 it had done by moonlight the night before. 
 One thing about it was certainly peculiar. 
 When we ordered the gondolier to wait for 
 us he shook his head. Not for anything would 
 he remain there longer than was necessary to set 
 us down. I accordingly paid him off, and 
 when we had ascended the steps we entered 
 the building. On pushing open the door we 
 found ourselves standing in a handsome court- 
 yard, in the centre of which was a well, its 
 coping elegantly carved with a design of fruit and 
 flowers. A broad stone staircase at the further 
 
40 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA 
 
 end led up to tlie floor above, but this, as was 
 the case with everything else, showed unmis- 
 takable signs of having been allowed to fall to 
 decay. As no concierge was to be seen, and 
 there was no one in sight of whom we might 
 make inquiries, we scarcely knew how to proceed. 
 Indeed, we were just wondering whether we 
 should take our chance and explore the lower 
 regions in search of Nikola, when he appeared 
 at the head of the staircase and greeted us. 
 
 " Good-morning," he said, " pray come up. I 
 must apologize for not having been down-stairs 
 to receive you." 
 
 By the time he had finished speaking he had 
 reached us, and was shaking hands with Grlenbarth 
 with the heartiness of an old friend. 
 
 "Let me offer you a hearty welcome to 
 Venice," he said to Glenbarth after he had 
 shaken hands with myself. Then looking at him 
 once more, he added, " If you will permit me 
 to say so, you have changed a great deal since 
 we last saw each other." 
 
 " And you, scarcely at all," Glenbarth replied. 
 
 " It is strange that I should not have done so," 
 Nikola answered, I thought a little sadly, " for I 
 think I may say without any fear of boasting 
 that, since we parted at Pipa Lannu, I have 
 passed through sufficient to change a dozen men. 
 But we will not talk of that here. Let us come 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 41 
 
 up to my room, which is the only place in 
 this great house that is in the least degree 
 comfortable." 
 
 So saying he led the way up the stairs, and 
 then along a corridor, which had once been 
 beautifully frescoed, but which was now sadly 
 given over to damp and decay. At last, 
 reaching a room in the front of the building, 
 he threw open the door and invited us to 
 enter. And here I might digress for a moment 
 to remark, that of all the men I have ever 
 met, Nikola possessed the faculty of being 
 able to make himself comfortable wherever he 
 might be, in the greatest degree. He would 
 have been at home anywhere. As a matter of 
 fact this particular apartment was furnished in 
 a style that caused me considerable surprise. 
 The room itself was large and lofty, while the 
 walls were beautifully frescoed, the work of one 
 Andrea Bunopelli, of whom I shall have more 
 to ^say anon. The furniture was simple, but 
 extremely good ; a massive oak writing-table 
 stood beside one wall, another covered with 
 books and papers was opposite it, several easy- 
 chairs were placed here and there, another 
 table in the centre of the room supported 
 various chemical paraphernalia, while books of 
 all sorts and descriptions, in all languages and 
 bindings, were to be discovered in every direction. 
 
42 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 '* After wliat you liave seen of the rest of the 
 house, this strikes you as being more homelike, 
 does it not ? " Nikola inquired, as he noticed the 
 look of astonishment upon our faces. ** It is a 
 queer old place, and the more I see of it the 
 stranger it becomes. Some time ago, and quite 
 by chance, I became acquainted with its history ; 
 I do not mean the political history of the respect- 
 ive families that have occupied it ; you can find 
 that in any guide-book. I mean the real, inner 
 history of the house itself, embracing not a few 
 of the deeds which have taken place inside its 
 walls. I wonder if you would be interested if I 
 were to tell you that in this very room, in the 
 year fifteen hundred and eleven, one of the 
 most repellent and cold-blooded murders of the 
 Middle Ages took place. Perhaps now that you 
 have the scene before you you would like to hear 
 the story. You would? In that case pray sit 
 down. Let me offer you this chair, Duke," he 
 continued, and as he spoke he wheeled forward a 
 handsomely carved chair from beside his writing- 
 table. " Here, Hatteras, is one for you. I my- 
 self wiU take up my position here, so that I may 
 be better able to retain your attention for my 
 narrative." 
 
 So saying he stood between us on the strip 
 of polished floor which showed between two 
 heavy oriental rugs. 
 
'FAKE WELL, NIKOLA' 43 
 
 " For some reasons," he began, " I regret that 
 the story I have to tell should run upon such 
 familiar lines. I fancy, however, that the de- 
 nouement will prove sufficiently original to merit 
 your attention. The year fifteen hundred and 
 nine, the same which found the French victorious 
 at Agnadello, and the Venetian Kepublic at 
 the commencement of that decline from which 
 it has never recovered, saw this house in its 
 glory. The owner, the illustrious Francesco 
 del Kevecce, was a sailor, and had the honour 
 of commanding one of the many fleets of the 
 Eepublic. He was an ambitious man, a good 
 fighter, and as such twice defeated the fleet of 
 the League of Camberi. It was after the last 
 of these victories that he married the beautiful 
 daughter of the Duke of Levano, one of the most 
 bitter enemies of the Council of Ten. The 
 husband being rich, famous, and still young 
 enough to be admired for his personal attractions ; 
 the bride one of the wealthiest, as well as one of 
 the most beautiful women in the Kepublic, it 
 appeared as if all must be well with them for the 
 remainder of their lives. A series of dazzling 
 fUeSy to which all the noblest and most dis- 
 tinguished of the city were invited, celebrated 
 their nuptials and their possession of this house. 
 Yet with it all the woman was perhaps the most 
 unhappy individual in the universe. Unknown to 
 
U 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA 
 
 her husband and her father she had long since 
 given her love elsewhere ; she was passionately 
 attached to young Andrea Bunopelli, the man 
 by whom the frescoes of this room were painted. 
 Finding that Fate demanded her renunciation of 
 Bunopelli, and her marriage to Revecce, she 
 resolved to see no more of the man to whom she 
 had given her heart. Love, however, proved 
 stronger than her sense of duty, and while her 
 husband, by order of the Senate, had put 
 to sea once more in order to drive back the 
 French, who were threatening the Adriatic, 
 Bunopelli put into operation the scheme that 
 was ultimately to prove their mutual undoing. 
 Unfortunately for Revecce he was not successful 
 in his venture, and by and by news reached 
 Venice that his fleet had been destroyed, and 
 that he himself had been taken prisoner. 
 * Now,' said the astute Bunopelli, * is the time to 
 act.' He accordingly took pens, paper, and his 
 ink-horn, and in this very room concocted a 
 letter which purported to bear the signature of 
 the commander of the French forces, into whose 
 hands the Venetian admiral had fallen and then 
 was. Its meaning was plain enough. It proved 
 that for a large sum of money Revecce had 
 agreed to surrender the Venetian fleet, and, in 
 order to secure his own safety, in case the 
 Republic should lay hands on him afterwards, 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 46 
 
 it was to be supposed that he himself had only 
 been taken prisoner after a desperate resistance, 
 as had really been the case. The letter was 
 written, and that night the painter himself 
 dropped it into the lion's mouth. Eevecce 
 might return now as soon as he pleased. His 
 fate was prepared for him. Meanwhile the 
 guilty pair spent the time as happily as was 
 possible under the circumstances, knowing full 
 well that should the man against whom they 
 had plotted return to Venice, it would only be 
 to find himself arrested, and with the certainty, 
 on the evidence of the incriminating letter, of 
 being immediately condemned to death. Weeks 
 and months went by. At last Eevecce, 
 worn almost to a skeleton by reason of his long 
 imprisonment, did manage to escape. In the 
 guise of a common fisherman he returned to 
 Venice ; reached his own house, where a faithful 
 servant recognized him and admitted him to the 
 palace. From the latter's lips he learnt all that 
 had transpired during his absence, and was in- 
 formed of the villainous plot that had been 
 prepared against him. His wrath knew no 
 bounds ; but with it aU he was prudent. He 
 was aware that if his presence in the city were 
 discovered, nothing could save him from arrest. 
 He accordingly hid himself in his own house and 
 watched the course of events. What he saw 
 
46 'FAHEWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 was sufficient to confirm his worst snspicion. 
 His wife was unfaithful to him, and her paramour 
 was the man to whom he had been so kind a 
 friend, and so generous a benefactor. Then 
 when the time was ripe, assisted only by his 
 servant, the same who had admitted him to his 
 house, he descended upon the unhappy couple. 
 Under threats of instant death he extorted from 
 them a written confession of their treachery. 
 After having made them secure, he departed for 
 the council-chamber and demanded to be heard. 
 He was the victim of a conspiracy, he declared, 
 and to prove that what he said was true he 
 produced the confession he had that day 
 obtained. He had many powerful friends, and 
 by their influence an immediate pardon was 
 granted him, while permission was also given 
 him to deal with his enemies as he might 
 consider most desirable. He accordingly re- 
 turned to this house with a scheme he was 
 prepared to put into instant execution. It is 
 not a pretty story, but it certainly lends an 
 interest to this room. The painter he imprisoned 
 here." 
 
 So saying Nikola stooped and drew back one of 
 the rugs to which I have already referred. The 
 square outline of a trap-door showed itself in the 
 floor. He pressed a spring in the wall behind 
 him, and the Hd shot back, swung round, and 
 
lie pressed a spring in the wall.' 
 
 '* Farewell, NikoLi."] 
 
 [Page 46 
 
'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 47 
 
 disappeared, showing tlie black abyss below. A 
 smell of damp vaults came up to us. Then, when 
 he had closed the trap-door again, Nikola drew 
 the carpet back to its old position. 
 
 " The wretched man died slowly of starvation 
 in that hole, and the woman, living in this room 
 above, was compelled to listen to his agony with- 
 out being permitted the means of saving him. 
 Can you imagine the scene ? The dying wretch 
 below, doing his best to die like a man in order 
 not to distress the woman be loved, and the 
 outraged husband calmly pursuing his studies, 
 regardless of both." 
 
 He looked from one to the other of us and his 
 eyes burnt like living coals. 
 
 ** It was brutish, it was hellish," cried Glen- 
 barth, upon whom either the story, or Nikola's 
 manner of narrating it, had produced an extra- 
 ordinary effect. " Why did the woman allow it 
 to continue ? Was she mad that she did not 
 summon assistance? Surely the Authorities of 
 a State which prided itself upon its enlighten- 
 ment, even in those dark ages, would not have 
 tolerated such a thing ? " 
 
 " You must bear in mind the fact that the 
 Republic had given the husband permission to 
 avenge his wrongs," said Nikola very quietly. 
 " Besides, the woman could not cry out for the 
 reason that her tongue had been torn out at the 
 
48 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 roots. When both were dead their bodies were 
 tied together and thrown into the canal, and 
 the same day Revecce set sail again, to ultimately 
 perish in a storm off the coast of Sicily. Now 
 you know one of the many stories connected with 
 this old room. There are others in which that 
 trap-door has played an equally important part. 
 I fear, however, none of them can boast so 
 dramatic a setting as that I have just narrated 
 to you." 
 
 " How, knowing all this, you can live in the 
 house passes my comprehension," gasped Glen- 
 barth. " I don't think I am a coward, but I tell 
 you candidly that.1 would not spend a night here, 
 after what you have told me, for anything the 
 world could give me." 
 
 "But surely you don't suppose that what 
 happened in this room upwards of three hundred 
 years ago could have any effect upon a living 
 being to-day ? " said Nikola, with what I could 
 not help thinking was a double meaning. ** Let 
 me tell you, that far from being unpleasant it 
 has decided advantages. As a matter of fact it 
 gives me the opportunity of being free to do what 
 I like. That is my greatest safeguard. I can go 
 away for five years, if I please, and leave the 
 most valuable of my things lying about, and 
 come back to the discovery that nothing is 
 missing. I am not pestered by tourists who ask 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 49 
 
 to see the frescoes, for the simple reason that 
 the guides take very good care not to tell 
 them the legend of the house, lest they may 
 be called upon to take them over it. Many 
 of the gondoliers will not stop here after nightfall, 
 and the few who are brave enough to do so, 
 invariably cross themselves before reaching, and 
 after leaving it." 
 
 "I do not wonder at it," I said. ** Taken 
 altogether it is the most dismal dwelling I have 
 ever set foot in. Do you mean to tell me that 
 you live alone in it ? " 
 
 " Not entirely," he replied. *' I have com- 
 panions : an old man who comes in once a day to 
 attend to my simple wants, and my ever-faithful 
 friend " 
 
 " ApoUyon," I cried, forestalling what he was 
 about to say. 
 
 " Exactly, ApoUyon. I am glad to see that 
 you remember him." 
 
 He uttered a low whistle, and a moment later 
 the great beast that I remembered so well stalked 
 solemnly into the room, and began to rub himself 
 against the leg of his master s chair. 
 
 ** Poor old fellow,'' continued Nikola, picking 
 him up and gently stroking him, "he is growing 
 very feeble. Perhaps it is not to be wondered 
 at, for he is already far past the average age of 
 the feline race. He has been in many strange 
 
60 « FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 places, and lias seen many queer things since last 
 we met, but never anything much stranger than 
 he has witnessed in this room." 
 
 " What do you mean 1" I inquired. " What 
 has the cat seen in this room that is so 
 strange ? " 
 
 "Objects that we are not yet permitted to see," 
 Nikola answered gravely. "When all is quiet 
 at night, and I am working at that table, he lies 
 curled up in yonder chair. For a time he will 
 sleep contentedly, then I see him lift his head 
 and watch something, or somebody, I cannot say 
 which, moving about in the room. At first I 
 came to the conclusion that it must be a bat, 
 or some night bird, but that theory exploded. 
 Bats do not remain at the same exact distance 
 from the floor, nor do they stand stationary 
 behind a man's chair for any length of time. 
 The hour will come, however, when it will be 
 possible for us to see these things ; I am on the 
 track even now." 
 
 Had I not known Nikola, and if I had not 
 remembered some very curious experiments he 
 had performed for my special benefit two years 
 before, I should have inclined to the belief that 
 he was boasting. I knew him too well, however, 
 to deem it possible that he would waste his time 
 in such an idle fashion. 
 
 " Do you mean to say," I asked, " that you 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 61 
 
 really think that in time it will be possible for us 
 to see things which at present we have no notion 
 of? That we shall be able to look into the 
 world we have always been taught to consider 
 Unknowable ? " 
 
 *'I do mean it," he replied. " And though you 
 may scarcely believe it, it was for the sake of the 
 information necessary to that end that I pestered 
 Mr. Wetherall in Sydney, imprisoned you in Port 
 Said, and carried the lady, who is now your wife, 
 away to the island in the South Seas." 
 
 ** This is most interesting," I said, while Glen- 
 barth drew his chair a little closer. 
 
 "Pray tell us some of your adventures since 
 we last saw you," he put in. "You may imagine 
 how eager we are to hear." 
 
 Thereupon Nikola furnished us with a detailed 
 description of all that he had been through since 
 that momentous day when he had obtained 
 possession of the stick that had been bequeathed 
 to Mr. Wetherall by China Pete. He told us 
 how, armed with this talisman, he had set out 
 for China, where he engaged a man named Bruce, 
 who must have been as plucky as Nikola himself, 
 and together they started off in search of an almost 
 unknown monastery in Thibet. He described 
 with a wealth of exciting detail the perilous 
 adventures they had passed through, and how near 
 they had been to losing their lives in attempting 
 
52 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 to obtain possession of a certain curious book in 
 which were set forth the most wonderful secrets 
 relating to the laws of Life and Death. He told 
 us of their hair-breadth escapes on the journey- 
 back to civilization, and showed how they were 
 followed to England by a mysterious Chinaman, 
 whose undoubted mission' was to avenge the 
 robbery, and to obtain possession of the book. 
 At this moment he paused, and I found an 
 opportunity of asking him whether he had the 
 book in his possession now. 
 
 " Would you care to see it ? " he inquired. " If 
 so, I will show it to you.'* 
 
 On our answering in the affirmative he crossed 
 to his writing-table, unlocked a drawer, and 
 took from it a small curiously bound book, the 
 pages of which were yellow with age, and the 
 writing so faded that it was almost impossible 
 to decipher it. 
 
 "And now that you have plotted and planned, 
 and sujQfered so much to obtain possession of this 
 book, what use has it been to you ? " I inquired, 
 with almost a feeling of awe, for it seemed im- 
 possible that a man could have endured so much 
 for so trifling a return. 
 
 **In dabbling with such matters," Nikola re- 
 turned, " one of the first lessons one learns is not to 
 expect immediate results. There is the collected 
 wisdom of untold ages in that little volume, and 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 53 
 
 wlien I have mastered the secret it contains, I 
 shall, like the eaters of the forbidden fruit, 
 possess a knowledge of all things, Good and Evil" 
 
 Keplacing the book in the drawer he con- 
 tinued his narrative, told us of his great attempt 
 to probe the secret of Existence, and explained 
 to us his endeavour to put new life into a body 
 already worn out by age. 
 
 " I was unsuccessful in what I set out to ac- 
 complish," he said, " but I advanced so far that I 
 was able to restore the man his youth again. 
 What I failed to do was to give him the power 
 of thought or will. It was the brain that was 
 too much for me, that vital part of man without 
 which he is nothing. When I have mastered 
 that secret I shall try again, and then, perhaps, 
 I shall succeed. But there is much to be accom- 
 plished first. Only I know how much ! " 
 
 I looked at him in amazement. Was he jest- 
 ing, or did he really suppose that it was possible 
 for him, or any other son of man, to restore 
 youth, and by so doing to prolong life per- 
 petually ? Yet he spoke with all his usual ear- 
 nestness, and seemed as convinced of the truth of 
 what he said as if he were narrating some well- 
 known fact. I did not know what to think. 
 
 At last, seeing the bewilderment on our faces, 
 I suppose, he smiled, and rising from his chair 
 reminded us that if we had been bored we had 
 
54 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 only ourselves to thank for it. He accordingly 
 changed the conversation by inquiring whether 
 we had made any arrangements for that evening, 
 I replied that so far as I knew we had not, 
 whereupon he came forward with a proposition. 
 
 " In that case," said he, " if you will allow me 
 to act as your guide to Venice, I think I could 
 show you a side of the city you have never seen 
 before. I know her as thoroughly as any man 
 living, and I think I may safely promise that 
 your party will spend an interesting couple of 
 hours. What have you to say to my proposal ? " 
 
 " I am quite sure we shall be delighted," I 
 replied, though not without certain misgivings. 
 ** But I think I had better not decide until I have 
 seen my wife. K she has made no other arrange- 
 ments, at what hour shall we start ? " 
 
 ** At what time do you dine ? " he inquired. 
 
 " At seven o'clock," I replied. " Perhaps we 
 might be able to persuade you to give us the 
 pleasure of your company ? " 
 
 " I thank you," he answered. ** I fear I must 
 decline, however. I am hermit-like in my habits 
 so far as meals are concerned. If you will allow 
 me I will call for you, shall we say at half -past 
 eight ? The moon will have risen by that time, 
 and we should spend a most enjoyable evening." 
 
 " At half-past eight," I said, ** unless you hear 
 to the contrary," and then rose from my chair. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 55 
 
 Glenbarth followed my example, and we accord- 
 ingly bade Nikola good-bye. Despite our pro- 
 test, lie insisted on accompanying us down the 
 great staircase to tbe courtyard below, his terrible 
 cat following close upon his heels. Hailing 
 a gondola, we bade the man take us back to our 
 hotel For some minutes after we had said 
 good-bye to Nikola we sat in silence as the boat 
 skimmed over the placid water. 
 
 " Well, what is your opinion of Nikola now ? " 
 I said, as we turned from the Rio del Consiglio 
 into the Grand Canal once more. " Has he grown 
 any more commonplace, think you, since you last 
 saw him ? " 
 
 " On the contrary, he is stranger than ever," 
 Glenbarth replied. " I have never met any other 
 man who resembled him in the slightest degree. 
 What a ghastly story that was ! His dramatic 
 telling of it made it appear so real that towards 
 the end of it I was almost convinced that I 
 could hear the groans of the poor wretch in the 
 pit below, and seethe woman wringing her hands 
 and moaning in the room in which we were 
 sitting. Why he should have told it to us is 
 what I cannot understand, neither can I make 
 out what his reasons can be for living in that 
 house.'' 
 
 " Nikola's actions are like himself, entirely 
 inexplicable," he answered. "But that he has 
 
56 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 some motive beyond the desire he expressed for 
 peace and quiet, I have not the shadow of a 
 doubt." 
 
 " And now with regard to to-night," said the 
 Duke, I am afraid a little pettishly. " I was sur- 
 prised when you accepted his offer. Do you 
 think Lady Hatteras and Miss Trevor will care 
 about such an excursion ? " 
 
 " That is a question I cannot answer at present," 
 I replied. *' We must leave it to them to decide. 
 For my own part, I can scarcely imagine any- 
 thing more interesting." 
 
 When we reached Galaghetti's I informed my 
 wife and Miss Trevor of Nikola's offer, half ex- 
 pecting that the latter, from the manner in which 
 she had behaved at the mere mention of his name 
 that morning, would decline to accompany us, and, 
 therefore, that the excursion would fall through. 
 To m*y surprise, however, she did nothing of 
 the kind. She fell in with the idea at once, and, 
 so far as we could see, without reluctance of any 
 kind. 
 
 There was nothing for it, therefore, under these 
 circumstances, but for me to fall back upon the 
 old commonplace, and declare that women are 
 difficult creatures to understand. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 In the previous chapter I recorded the sur- 
 prise I felt at Miss Trevor's acceptance of Doctor 
 Nikola's invitation to a gondola excursion. 
 Almost as suddenly as she had shown her fear of 
 him, she had recovered her tranquillity, and the 
 result, as I have stated, was complete perplexity 
 on my part. With a united desire to reserve 
 our energies for the evening, we did not arrange 
 a long excursion for that afternoon, but contented 
 ourselves with a visit to the church of SS. 
 Giovanni e Paolo. Miss Trevor was quite re- 
 covered by this time, and in very good spirits. 
 She and Glenbarth were on the most friendly 
 terms, consequently my wife was a most happy 
 woman. 
 
 " Isn't it nice to see them together ? " she whis- 
 pered, as we crossed the hall and went down the 
 steps to our gondola. *' They are suited to each 
 other almost as — well, if I really wanted to pay 
 you a compliment, which you don't deserve, I 
 should say as we are. Do you notice how prettily 
 
 67 
 
68 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 she gives him her hand so that he may help her 
 into the boat ? " 
 
 " I do," I answered grimly. ** And it only shows 
 the wickedness of the girl. She is as capable of 
 getting into the boat without assistance as he is." 
 
 ''And yet you help her yourself every time 
 you get the chance," my wife retorted. " I have 
 observed you take the greatest care that she 
 should not fall, even when the step has been one 
 of only a few inches, and I have been left to 
 get down by myself. Perhaps you cannot 
 recall that day at Capri ? " 
 
 " I have the happiest recollections of it," I 
 replied. " I helped her quite half-a-dozen times." 
 
 " And yet you grudge that poor boy the 
 opportunities that you yourself were once so 
 eager to enjoy. You cannot deny it." 
 
 " I am not going to attempt to deny it," I 
 returned. **l do grudge him his chances. And 
 why shouldn't I ? Has she not the second 
 prettiest hands, and the second neatest ankle, 
 in all Europe ? " 
 
 My wife looked up at me with a suspicion of 
 a smile hovering round her mouth. When she 
 does that her dimples are charming. 
 
 " And the neatest ? " she inquired, as if she 
 had not guessed. Women can do that sort of 
 thing with excellent effect. 
 
 **Lady Hatteras, may I help you into the 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 59 
 
 gondola?" I said politely, and for some reason, 
 best known to herself, the reply appeared to 
 satisfy her. 
 
 Of one thing there could be no sort of doubt. 
 Miss Trevor had taken a decided liking to Glen- 
 barth, and the young fellow's delight in her com- 
 pany was more than equal to it. By my wife's 
 orders I left them together as much as possible 
 during the afternoon, that is to say as far as 
 was consistent with the duties of an observant 
 chaperon. For instance, while we were in the 
 right aisle of the church, examining the mauso- 
 leum of the Doge, Pietro Mocenningo, and the 
 statues of Lombardi, they were in the choir 
 proper, before the famous tomb of Andrea Ven- 
 dramin, considered by .many to be the finest of 
 its kind in Venice. As we entered the choir, 
 they departed into the left transept. I fancy, 
 however, Glenbarth must have been a little 
 chagrined when she, playing her hand according 
 to the recognized rules, suggested that they 
 should turn back in search of us. Back they 
 came accordingly, to be received by my wife with 
 a speech that still further revealed to me the 
 duplicity of women. 
 
 "You are two naughty children," she said, 
 with fairly simulated wrath. " Where on earth 
 have you been ? We have been looking for you 
 everywhere ! " 
 
60 'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 
 
 " You are so slow," put in Miss Trevor, and 
 then she added, without a quaver in her voice or 
 blush upon her cheek, "We dawdled about in 
 order to let you catch us up." 
 
 I thought it was time for me to interfere. 
 
 " Perhaps I should remind you young people 
 that at the present moment you are in a 
 church," I said. " Would it not be as well, do 
 you think, for you to preserve those pretty little 
 prevarications until you are in the gondola ? You 
 will be able to quarrel in greater comfort there. 
 It will also give Phyllis time to collect her 
 thoughts, and to prepare a new indictment." 
 
 My wife treated me to a look that would have 
 annihilated another man. After that I washed 
 my hands of them and turned to the copy of 
 Titian's Martyrdom of Saint Peters which 
 Victor Emmanuel had presented to the church in 
 place of the original, which had been destroyed. 
 Later on we made our way, by a long series 
 of tortuous thoroughfares, to the piazza of Saint 
 Mark, where we intended to sit in front of 
 Florian's cafe and watch the people until it was 
 time for us to return and dress for dinner. 
 
 As I have already said. Miss Trevor had all 
 the afternoon been in the best of spirits. 
 Nothing could have been happier than her 
 demeanour when we left the church, yet when 
 we reached the piazza everything was changed. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 61 
 
 Apparently she was not really unhappy, nor did 
 she look about her in the frightened way that 
 had struck me so unpleasantly on the previous 
 evening. It was only her manner that was 
 strange. At first she was silent, then, as if she 
 were afraid we might notice it, she set herself 
 to talk as if she were so doing for mere talking's 
 sake. Then, without any apparent reason, 
 she became as silent as a mouse once more. 
 Remembering what had happened that morning 
 before breakfast, I did not question her, nor 
 did I attempt to rally her upon the subject. 
 To have done either would have been to have 
 risked a recurrence of the catastrophe we had 
 BO narrowly escaped earlier in the day. I 
 accordingly left her alone, and my wife, in the 
 hope of distracting her attention, entered upon 
 an amusing argument with Glenbarth upon the 
 evils attendant upon excessive smoking, which 
 was the young man's one, and, so far as I knew, 
 only failing. Unable to combat her assertions 
 he appealed to me for protection. 
 
 "Take my part, there's a good fellow," he 
 said pathetically. " I am not strong enough to 
 stand against Lady Hatteras alone." 
 
 " No," I returned ; ** you must fight your 
 own battles. When I see a chance of having 
 a little peace I like to grasp it. I am going to 
 take Miss Trevor to Maya's shop on the other 
 
62 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 side of the piazza, in search of new photographs. 
 We will leave you to quarrel in comfort here." 
 
 So saying Miss Trevor and I left them and 
 made our way to the famous shop, where I 
 purchased for her a number of photographs, of 
 which she had expressed her admiration a few 
 days before. After that we rejoined my wife 
 and Glenbarth and returned to our hotel for 
 dinner* 
 
 Nikola, as you may remember, had arranged 
 to call for us with his gondola at half-past eight, 
 and ten minutes before that time I suggested 
 that the ladies should prepare themselves for the 
 excursion. I bade them wrap up well, for I 
 knew by experience that it is seldom warm upon 
 the water at night. When they had left us the 
 Duke and I strolled into the balcony. 
 
 " I hope to goodness Nikola won't frighten 
 Miss Trevor this evening," said my companion, 
 after we had been there a few moments. (I 
 noticed that he spoke with an anxiety that was 
 by no means usual with him.) " She is awfully 
 sensitive, you know, and when he likes he can 
 curdle the very marrow in your bones. I shouldn't 
 have liked her to have heard that story he told 
 us this morning. I suppose there is no fear of 
 his repeating it to-night 1 " 
 
 " I should not think so," I returned. 
 " Nikola has more tact in his little finger than 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 63 
 
 you and I have in our whole bodies. He would 
 be scarcely likely to make such a mistake. No, 
 I rather fancy that to-night we shall see a new 
 side of his character. For my own part I am 
 prepared to confess that I am looking forward to 
 the excursion with a good deal of pleasure." 
 
 " I am glad to hear it/' Glenbarth replied, as I 
 thought with a savour of sarcasm in his voice. 
 ** I only hope you won't have reason to regret it." 
 
 This little speech set me thinking. Was it 
 possible that Glenbarth was jealous of Nikola ? 
 Surely he could not be foolish enough for that. 
 That Miss Trevor had made an impression upon 
 him was apparent, but it was full early for him 
 to grow jealous, and particularly of such a man. 
 
 While I was thinking of this the ladies entered 
 the room, and at the same moment we heard 
 Nikola's gondola draw up at the steps. I thought 
 Miss Trevor looked a little pale, but though still 
 very quiet she was more cheerful than she had 
 been before dinner. 
 
 "Our guide has arrived," I remarked, as I 
 closed the windows behind us. " We had better 
 go down to the hall. Miss Trevor, if you will 
 accompany me, the Duke will bring Phyllis. 
 We must not keep Nikola waiting." 
 
 We accordingly left ouj apartments and pro- 
 ceeded down-stairs. 
 
 ** I trust you are looking forward to your 
 
64 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 excursion, Miss Trevor ? " I said as we descended 
 the stairs. " If I am not mistaken you will see 
 Venice to-night under circumstances such as you 
 could never have dreamed of before." 
 
 "I do not doubt it," she answered simply. 
 "It will be a night to remember." 
 
 Little did she guess how true her prophecy was 
 destined to be. It was indeed a night that every 
 member of the party would remember all his, or 
 her, life long. When we had reached the haU, 
 Nikola had jusfc entered it, and was in the act of 
 sending up a servant to announce his arrival. 
 He shook hands with my wife, then with Miss 
 Trevor, afterwards with Glenbarth and myself. 
 His hand was, as usual, as cold as ice and 
 his face was deathly pale. His tall, lithe 
 figure was concealed by his voluminous coat, but 
 what was lost in one direction was compensated 
 for by the mystery that it imparted to his 
 personality. For some reason I thought of 
 Mephistopheles as I looked at him, and in many 
 ways the illustration does not seem an altogether 
 inapt one. 
 
 " Permit me to express the gratification I feel 
 that you have consented to allow me to be your 
 guide this evening, Lady Hatteras," he said as 
 he conducted my wife towards the boat. " While 
 it is an impertinence on my part to imagine that 
 I can add to your enjoyment of Venice, I fancy 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 65 
 
 it is, nevertheless, in my power to show you a 
 side of the city with which you are not as yet 
 acquainted. The night being so beautiful, and 
 believing that you would wish to see all you can, 
 I have brought a gondola without a cabin. I 
 trust I did not do wrong." 
 
 " I am sure it will be delightful," my wife 
 answered. '* It w^ould have been unendurable on 
 such a beautiful evening to be cooped up in a close 
 cabin. Besides, we should have seen nothing." 
 
 By this time we were on the steps, at the foot 
 of which the gondola in. question, a large one of 
 its class, was lying. As soon as we had boarded 
 her the gondolier bent to his oar, the boat shot 
 out into the stream, and the excursion, which, 
 as I have said, we were each of us to remember 
 all our lives, had commenced. If I shut my eyes 
 now I can recall the whole scene : the still moonlit 
 waters of the canal, the houses on one side of 
 which were brilliantly illuminated by the moon, 
 the other being entirely in the shadow. When 
 we were in mid-stream a boat decorated with 
 lanterns passed us. It contained a merry party, 
 whose progress was enlivened by the strains of 
 the invariable Finiculi Finicula. The words 
 and the tune ring in my memory even now. 
 Years before we had grown heartily sick of the 
 song, now however it possessed a charm that 
 was quite its own. 
 
66 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " How pretty it is," remarked my wife and 
 Miss Trevor almost simultaneously. And the 
 former added, " I could never have believed that 
 it possessed such a wealth of tenderness." 
 
 " Might it not be the association that is 
 responsible ? " put in Nikola gravely. " You 
 have probably heard that song at some time 
 when you have been so happy that all the world 
 has seemed the same. Hearing it to-night has 
 unconsciously recalled that association, and 
 FinicUli Finicula, once so despised, imme- 
 diately becomes a melody that touches your 
 heart-strings, and so wins for itself a place in 
 your regard that it can never altogether lose." 
 
 We had crossed the canal by this time ; the 
 gondola with the singers proceeding towards the 
 Rialto bridge. The echo of the music still 
 lingered in our ears, and seemed the sweeter by 
 the reason of the distance that separated us from 
 it. Turning to the gondolier, who in the moon- 
 light presented a picturesque figure in the stern 
 of the boat, Nikola said something in Italian. 
 The boat's head was immediately turned in the 
 direction of a side-street, and a moment later we 
 entered it. It is not my intention, nor would it 
 be possible for me, to attempt to furnish you 
 with a definite description of the route we 
 followed. In the daytime I flatter myself that 
 I have a knowledge of the Venice of the 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 67 
 
 tourist ; if you were to give me a pencil and 
 paper I believe I should be able to draw a rough 
 outline of the city, and to place St. Mark's 
 Cathedral, Galaghetti's Hotel, the Kialto bridge, 
 the Arsenal, and certainly the railway station, in 
 something like their proper positions. But at 
 night, when I have left the Grand Canal, the 
 city becomes a sealed book to me. On this 
 particular evening every street, when ouce we 
 had left the fashionable quarter behind us, 
 seemed alike. There was the same darkness, the 
 same silence, and the same reflection of the lights 
 in the water. Occasionally we happened upon 
 places where business was still being transacted, 
 and where the noise of voices smote the air with 
 a vehemence that was like sacrilege. A few 
 moments would then elapse, and then we were 
 plunged into a silence that was almost unearthly. 
 All this time Nikola kept us continually interested. 
 Here was a house with a history as old as Venice 
 itself ; there the home of a famous painter ; yonder 
 the birthplace of a poet or a soldier, who 
 had fought his way to fame by pen or by 
 sword. On one side of the street was the first 
 dwelling of one who had been a plebeian and 
 had died a Doge ; while on the other side was 
 that of a man who had given his life to save his 
 friend. Nor were Nikola's illustrations confined 
 to the past alone. Men whose names Were house- 
 
68 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 hold words to us had preceded us, and had 
 seen Venice as we were seeing it now. Of each 
 he could tell us something we had never heard 
 before. It was the perfect mastery of his subject, 
 like that of a man who plays upon an instrument 
 of which he has made a lifelong study, that 
 astonished us. He could rouse in our hearts 
 such emotions as he pleased ; could induce us to 
 pity at one moment, and to loathing at the next ; 
 could make us see the city with his eyes, and in 
 a measure to love it with his own love. That 
 Nikola did entertain a deep affection for it was as 
 certain as his knowledge of its history. 
 
 " I think I may say now," he said, when we had 
 been absent from the hotel for upwards of an 
 hour, " that I have furnished you with a 
 superficial idea of the city. Let me attempt 
 after this to show you something of its inner 
 life. That it will repay you I think you will 
 admit when you have seen it." 
 
 Once more he gave the gondolier an order. 
 Without a word the man entered a narrow street 
 on the right, then turned to the left, after 
 which to the right again. What were we 
 going to see next ? That it would be some- 
 thing interesting I had not the least doubt. 
 Presently the gondolier made an indescribable 
 movement with his oar, the first signal that he 
 was about to stop. With two strokes he brought 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 69 
 
 the boat alongside the steps, and Nikola, who 
 was the first to spring out, assisted the ladies to 
 alight. We were now in a portion of Venice 
 with which I was entirely unacquainted. The 
 houses were old and lofty, though sadly fallen to 
 decay. Where shops existed business was still being 
 carried on, but the majority of the owners of 
 the houses in the neighbourhood appeared to be 
 early birds, for no lights were visible in their 
 dwellings. Once or twice men approached us 
 and stared insolently at the ladies of our party. 
 One of these, more impertinent than his com- 
 panions, placed his hand upon Miss Trevor's 
 arm. In a second, without any apparent effort, 
 Nikola had laid him upon his back. 
 
 **Do not be afraid. Miss Trevor," he said; 
 "the fellow has only forgotten himself for a 
 moment." 
 
 So saying he approached the man, who 
 scrambled to his feet, and addressed him in a 
 low voice. 
 
 " No, no, your excellency/* the rascal whined; 
 "for the pity of the blessed saints. Had I 
 known it was you I would not have dared." 
 
 Nikola said something in a whisper to him ; 
 what it was I have not the least idea, but its 
 effect was certainly excellent, for the man slunk 
 away without another word. 
 
 After this little incident we continued our 
 
70 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 walk without further opposition, took several 
 turnings, and at last found ourselves standing 
 before a low doorway. That it was closely 
 barred on the inside was evident from the sounds 
 that followed when, in response to Nikola's 
 knocks, some one commenced to open it. Pre- 
 sently an old man looked out. At first he 
 seemed surprised to see us, but when his eyes 
 fell upon Nikola all was changed. With a low 
 bow he invited him, in Russian, to enter. 
 
 Crossing the threshold we found ourselves 
 in a church of the smallest possible descrip- 
 tion. By the dim light a priest could be 
 seen officiating at the high altar, and there 
 were possibly a dozen worshippers present. 
 Thei'e was an air of secrecy about it all, the 
 light, the voices, and the precautions taken to 
 prevent a stranger entering, that appealed to my 
 curiosity. As we turned to leave the building the 
 little man who had admitted us crept up to 
 Nikola's side aud said something in a low voice 
 to him. Nikola replied, and at the same time 
 patted the man affectionately upon the shoulder. 
 Then with the same obsequious respect the 
 latter opened the door once more, and permitted 
 us to pass out, quickly barring it behind us 
 afterwards however. 
 
 " You have seen many churches during your 
 stay in Venice, Lady Hatteras," Nikola remarked, 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 7X 
 
 as we made our way back towards the gondola, 
 " I doubt very much, however, whether you 
 have ever entered a stranger place of worship 
 than that." 
 
 " I know that I have not/' my wife replied. 
 ** Pray who were the people we saw there ? And 
 why was so much secrecy observed ? '* 
 
 " Because nearly all the poor souls you saw there 
 are either suspected or wanted by the Russian 
 Government. They are fugitives from injustice, 
 if I may so express it, and it is for that reason 
 that they are compelled to worship, as well as 
 live, in hiding." 
 
 '' But who are they ? " 
 
 ** Nihilists," Nikola answered. " A poor, hot- 
 headed lot of people, who, seeing their country 
 drifting in a wrong direction, have taken it into 
 their heads to try and remedy matters by drastic 
 measures. Finding their efforts hopeless, their 
 properties confiscated, and they themselves in 
 danger of death, or exile, which is worse, they 
 have fled from Eussia. Some of them, the 
 richest, manage to get to England, some come to 
 Venice, but knowing that the Italian police will 
 turn them out sans ceremonie if they discover 
 them, they are compelled to remain in hidii^g 
 until they are in a position to proceed else- 
 where." 
 
 ** And you help them ? " asked Miss Treyor 
 
72 « FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 in a strange voice, as if his answer were a 
 foregone conclusion. 
 
 "What makes you think that?" Nikola 
 inquired. 
 
 " Because the doorkeeper knew you, and you 
 spoke so kindly to him." 
 
 '* The poor fellow has a son," Nikola replied ; 
 "a hot-headed young rascal who has got into 
 trouble in Moscow. If he is caught he will 
 without doubt go to Siberia for the rest of his 
 life. But he will not be caught." 
 
 Once more Miss Trevor spoke as if with 
 authority, and in the same hushed voice. 
 
 *' You have saved him ? " 
 
 ** He has been saved," Nikola replied. " He 
 left for America this morning. The old fellow 
 was merely expressing to me the gratification he 
 felt at having got him out of such a difficulty. 
 Now, here is our gondola. Let us get into it. 
 "We still have much to see, and time is not 
 standing still with us." 
 
 Once more we took our places, and once more 
 the gondola proceeded on its way. To furnish 
 you with a complete resume of all we saw would 
 take too long, and would occupy too great a 
 space. Let it suffice that we visited places, the 
 mere existence of which I had never heard of 
 before. 
 
 One thing impressed me throughout. Wher- 
 
^FAEEWELL, NIKOLA' 73 
 
 ever we went Nikola was known, and not only- 
 known, but feared and respected. His face was 
 a key that opened every lock, and in his company 
 the ladies were as safe, in the roughest parts of 
 Venice, as if they had been surrounded by a 
 troop of soldiery. When we had seen all that he 
 was able to show us it was nearly midnight, and 
 time for us to be getting back to our hotel. 
 
 " I trust I have not tired you ? " he said, as the 
 ladies took their places in the gondola for the 
 last time. 
 
 " Not in the least," both answered at once, and 
 I fancy my wife spoke not only for herself but 
 also for Miss Trevor when she continued, " we 
 have spent a most delightful evening." 
 
 " You must not praise the performance until 
 the epilogue is spoken," . Nikola answered. "I 
 have still one more item on my programme." 
 
 As he said this the gondola drew up at some 
 steps, where a solitary figure was standing, 
 apparently waiting for us. He wore a cloak 
 and carried a somewhat bulky object in his 
 hand. As soon as the boat came alongside 
 Nikola sprang out and approached him. To our 
 surprise he helped him into the gondola and 
 placed him in the stern. 
 
 "To-night, Luigi,'* he said, "you must sing 
 your best for the honour of the city.*' 
 
 The young man replied in an undertone, and 
 
74 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 then the gondola passed down a by-street and a 
 moment later we were back in the Grand CanaL 
 There was not a breath of air, and the moon 
 shone full and clear upon the placid water. 
 Never had Venice appeared more beautiful. 
 Away to the right was the piazza, with the 
 Cathedral of Saint Mark ; on our left were the 
 shadows of the islands. The silence of Venice, 
 and there is no silence in the world like it, 
 lay upon everything. The only sound to be 
 heard was the dripping of the water from the 
 gondolier's oar as it rose and fell in rhythmic 
 motion. Then the musician drew his fingers 
 across the strings of his guitar, and after a little 
 prelude commenced to sing. The song he had 
 chosen was the Salve d'amora from Faust, 
 surely one of the most delightful melodies that 
 has ever occurred to the brain of a musician. 
 Before he had sung a dozen bars we were 
 entranced. Though not a strong tenor his voice 
 was one of the most perfect I have ever heard. 
 It was of the purest quality, so rich and sweet 
 that the greatest connoisseur could not tire of it. 
 The beauty of the evening, the silence of the 
 lagoon, and the perfectness of the surroundings, 
 helped it to appeal to us as no music had ever 
 done before. It was a significant proof of the 
 effect produced upon us, that when he ceased 
 not one of us spoke for some moments. Our 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 75 
 
 hearts were too full for words. By the time 
 we had recovered ourselves the gondola had 
 drawn up at the steps of the hotel, and we had 
 disembarked. The Duke and I desired to reward 
 the musician ; Nikola however begged us to do 
 nothing of the kind. 
 
 "He sings to-night to please me," he said. 
 ** It would hurt him beyond words were you to 
 offer him any other reward." 
 
 After that there was nothing more to be said, 
 except to thank him in the best Italian we could 
 muster for the treat he had given us. 
 
 "Why on earth does he not try his fortune 
 upon the stage ? " asked my wife, when we had 
 disembarked from the gondola and had assembled 
 on the steps. " With such a voice he might 
 achieve a European reputation." 
 
 " Alas," answered Nikola, " he will never do 
 that. Did you notice his infirmity ? " 
 
 Phyllis replied that she had not observed any- 
 thing extraordinary about him. 
 
 "The poor fellow is blind," Nikola answered 
 very quietly. "He is a singing-bird shut up 
 always in the dark. And now, good-night. 
 I have trespassed too long upon your time 
 already." 
 
 He bowed low to the ladies, shook hands with 
 the Duke and myself, and then, before we had 
 time to thank him for the delightful evening he 
 
76 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 had given us, was in his gondola once more and 
 out in mid-stream. We watched him until he 
 had disappeared in the direction of the Eio del 
 Consiglio, after we entered the hotel and made 
 our way to our own sitting-room. 
 
 " I cannot say when I have enjoyed myself so 
 much,'* said my wife, as we stood talking together 
 before bidding each other good-night. 
 
 " It has been delightful,'' said Glenbarth, 
 whose little attack of jealousy seemed to have 
 quite left him. " Have you enjoyed it, Hatteras ? " 
 
 I said something in reply, I cannot remember 
 what, but I recollect that, as I did so, I glanced 
 at Miss Trevor's face. It was still very pale, but 
 her eyes shone with extraordinary brilliance. 
 
 " I hope you have had a pleasant evening," I 
 said to her a few moments later, when we were 
 alone together. 
 
 " Yes, I think I can say that I have," she 
 answered, with a far-away look upon her face. 
 ** The music was exquisite. The thought of it 
 haunts me still." 
 
 Then, having bade me good-night, she went 
 off with my wife, leaving me to attempt to 
 understand why she had replied as she had 
 done. 
 
 ** And what do you think of it, my friend ? " 
 I inquired of Glenbarth, when we had taken our 
 cigars out into the balcony. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 7t 
 
 " I am extremely glad we went," he returned 
 quickly. " There can be no doubt that you were 
 right when you said that it would show us 
 Nikola's character in a new light. Did you 
 notice with what respect he was treated by 
 everybody we met, and how anxious they were 
 not to run the risk of offending him ? " 
 
 " Of course I noticed it, and you may be sure 
 I drew my own conclusions from it," I replied. 
 
 " And those conclusions were ? " 
 
 "That Nikola's character is even more inex- 
 plicable than before." 
 
 After that we sm(?ked in silence for some time. 
 At last I rose and tossed what remained of my 
 cigar over the rails into the dark waters below. 
 
 " It is getting late/' I said. *' Don't you 
 think we had better bid each other good-night ? " 
 
 " Perhaps we had, and yet I don't feel a bit 
 tired." 
 
 "Are you quite sure that you have had a 
 pleasant day ? " 
 
 " Quite sure," he said, with a laugh. " The 
 only thing I regret is having heard that wretched 
 story this morning. Do you recall the gusto 
 with which Nikola related it ? " 
 
 I replied in the affirmative, and asked him his 
 reason for referring to it now. 
 
 " Because I could not help thinking of it 
 this evening, when his voice was so pleasant and 
 
78 'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 
 
 his manner so kind. "When I picture him going 
 back to that house to-night, to that dreadful 
 room, to sleep alone in that great building, it 
 fairly makes me shudder. Good-night, old 
 fellow. You have treated me royally to-day ; 
 I could scarcely have had more sensations com- 
 pressed into my waking hours if I'd been a 
 king." 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 After our excursion through Venice with 
 Nikola by night, an interval of a week elapsed 
 before we saw anything of him. During that 
 time matters, so far as our party was concerned, 
 progressed with the smoothness of a well-regulated 
 clock. In my own mind I had not the shadow 
 of a doubt that Glenbarth was head over ears in 
 love with Gertrude Trevor. He followed her 
 about wherever she went ; seemed never to tire 
 of paying her attention, and whenever we were 
 alone together, endeavoured to inveigle me into 
 a discussion of her merits. That she had faults 
 nothing would convince him. 
 
 Whether she reciprocated his good-feeling 
 
 was a matter which, to my mind, there existed 
 
 a considerable amount of doubt. Women are 
 
 proverbially more secretive in these affairs than 
 
 men, and if Miss Trevor entertained a warmer 
 
 feeling than friendship for the young Duke, she 
 
 certainly managed to conceal it admirably. More 
 
 than once, I believe, my wife endeavoured to 
 
 78 
 
80 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 sound her upon the subject. She had to confess 
 herself beaten, however. Miss Trevor liked the 
 Duke of Glenbarth very much ; she was quite 
 agreed that he had not an atom of conceit in his 
 constitution ; he gave himself no airs ; moreover, 
 she was prepared to meet my wife half-way, and 
 to say that she thought it a pity he did not 
 marry. No, she had never heard that there was 
 an American millionaire girl, extremely beautiful, 
 and accomplished beyond the average, who was 
 pining to throw her millions and herself at his 
 feet ! " And then," added my wife, in a tone 
 that seemed to suggest that she considered it my 
 fault that the matter had not been brought to 
 a successful conclusion long since, " what do you 
 think she said ? * Why on earth doesn't he marry 
 this American ? So many men of title do now-a- 
 days.' What do you think of that ? I can tell 
 you, Dick, I could have shaken her ! " 
 
 "My dear little woman," I said in reply, 
 *' will nothing convince you that you are playing 
 with fire ? If you are not very careful you will 
 burn your fingers. Gertrude is almost as clever 
 as you are. She sees that you are trying to 
 pump her, and very naturally declines to be 
 pumped. You would feel as she does were you 
 in her position." 
 
 "I do not know why you should say J am 
 trying to pump her," she answered with consider- 
 
'FAKEWELL, NIKOLA* 81 
 
 able dignity. " I consider it a very uncalled-for 
 expression." 
 
 " Well, my dear," I answered, " if you are 
 going to attempt to improve your position by 
 splitting straws, then I must stop." 
 
 The episode I have just described had taken 
 place after we had retired for the night, and at a 
 time when I am far from being at my best. My 
 wife, on the other hand, as I have repeatedly 
 noticed, is invariably wide-awake at that hour. 
 Moreover she has an established belief that it 
 would be an impossibility for her to obtain any 
 rest until she has cleared up all matters of 
 mystery that may have attracted her atten- 
 tion during the day. I generally fall asleep 
 before she is half-way through, and for this 
 reason I am told that I lack interest in what 
 most nearly concerns our welfare. 
 
 " One would at least imagine that you could 
 remain awake to discuss events of so much 
 importance to us and to those about us," I have 
 known her say. " I have observed that you can 
 talk about horses, hunting, and shooting, with 
 your bachelor friends until two or three o'clock 
 in the morning without falling asleep, but when 
 your wife is anxious to ask your opinion about 
 something that does not concern your amuse- 
 ments, then you must needs go to sleep." 
 
 " My dear," I replied, " when all is said and 
 
82 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 done we are but human. You know as well as 
 I do, that if a man were to come to me when 
 I had settled down for the night, and were 
 to tell me that he knew where to lay his hand 
 upon the finest horse in England, and where he 
 could put me on to ten coveys of partridges within 
 a couple of hundred yards of my own front door, 
 that he could even tell me the winner of the 
 Derby, I should answer him as I am now 
 answering you." 
 
 " And your reply would be ? " 
 
 I am afraid the pains I had been at to illus- 
 trate my own argument must have proved too 
 much for me, for I was informed in the morning 
 that I had talked a vast amount of nonsense 
 about seeing Nikola concerning a new pigeon- 
 trap, and had then resigned myself to the arms 
 of Morpheus. If there should be any husbands 
 whose experience have run on similar lines, I 
 should be glad to hear from them. But to 
 return to my story. 
 
 One evening, exactly a week after Glenbarth's 
 arrival in Venice, I was dressing for dinner 
 when a letter was brought to me. Much to my 
 surprise I found it was from Nikola, and in it he 
 inquired whether it would be possible for me to 
 spare the time to come and see him that evening. 
 It appeared that he was anxious to discuss a 
 certain important matter with me. I noticed, 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 83 
 
 however, that he did not mention what that 
 matter was. In a postscript he asked me, as a 
 favour to himself, to come alone. 
 
 Having read the letter I stood for a few 
 moments with it in my hand, wondering what I 
 should do. I was not altogether anxious to go 
 out that evening ; on the other hand I had a 
 strange craving to see Nikola once more. The 
 suggestion that he desired to consult me upon a 
 matter of importance flattered my vanity, par- 
 ticularly as it was of such a nature that he did not 
 desire the presence of a third person. " Yes," I 
 thought, "after all I will go." Accordingly I 
 wrote a note to him saying that, if the hour 
 would suit him, I hoped to be with him at half- 
 past nine o'clock. Then I continued my dressing 
 and presently went down to dinner. 
 
 During the progress of the meal I mentioned 
 the fact that I had received the letter in question, 
 and asked my friends if they would excuse me 
 if I went round in the course of the evening to 
 find out what it was that Nikola had to say to 
 me. Perhaps by virtue of my early training, 
 perhaps by natural instinct, I am a keen observer 
 of trifles. On this occasion I noticed that from 
 the moment I mentioned the fact of my having 
 received a letter from Nikola, Miss Trevor ate 
 scarcely any more dinner. Upon my mentioning 
 his name she had looked at me with a startled 
 
84 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 expression upon her face. She said nothing, 
 however, but I observed that her left hand, which 
 she had a trick of keeping below the table as 
 much as possible, was for some moments busily 
 engaged in picking pieces from the roll beside 
 her plate. For some reason she had suddenly- 
 grown nervous again, but why she should have 
 done so passes my comprehension. When the 
 ladies had retired, and we were sitting together 
 over our wine, Glenbarth returned to the subject 
 of my visit that evening. 
 
 " By Jove, my dear fellow," he said, " I don't 
 envy you your excursion to that house. Don't 
 you feel a bit nervous about it yourself ? " 
 
 I shook my head. 
 
 " Why should I ? " I asked. ** If the truth 
 must be told I am a good deal more afraid of 
 Nikola than I am of his house. I don't fancy 
 on the present occasion, however, I have any 
 reason to dread either." 
 
 " Well," said the Duke with a laugh, " if you 
 are not home by breakfast-time to-morrow 
 morning I shall bring the police round, and look 
 down that trap- door. You'll take a revolver 
 with you of course ? " 
 
 " I shall do nothing of the kind," I replied. 
 " I am quite able to take care of myself without 
 having recourse to fire-arms." 
 
 Nevertheless, when I went up to my room to 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 85 
 
 change my coat, prior to leaving the house, I 
 took a small revolver from my dressing-case and 
 weighed it in my hand. "Shall I take it or 
 shall I not ? " was the question I asked myself. 
 Eventually I shook my head and replaced it in 
 its hiding-place. Then, switching off the electric 
 light, I made for the door, only to return, re-open 
 the dressing-case, and take out the revolver. 
 Without further argument I slipped it into the 
 pocket of my coat and then left the room. 
 
 A quarter of an hour later my gondolier had 
 turned into the Rio del Consigilio, and was ap- 
 proaching the Palace Eevecce. The house was in 
 deep shadow, and looked very dark and lonesome. 
 The gondolier seemed to be of the same opinion, 
 for he was anxious to set me down, to collect his 
 fare, and to get away again as soon as possible. 
 Standing in the porch I rang the great bell which 
 Nikola had pointed out to me, and which we had 
 not observed on the morning of our first visit. 
 It clanged and echoed somewhere in the rearmost 
 portion of the house, intensifying the loneliness 
 of the situation and adding a new element of 
 mystery to that abominable dwelling. In spite 
 of my boast to Glenbarth I was not altogether 
 at my ease. It was one thing to pretend that I 
 had no objection to the place when I was seated 
 in a well-lighted room, with a glass of port at 
 my hand, and a stalwart friend opposite ; it was 
 
86 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 quite another, however, to be standing in the 
 dark at that ancient portal, with the black water 
 of the canal at my feet and the anticipation of 
 that sombre room ahead. Then I heard the 
 sound of footsteps crossing the courtyard, and a 
 moment later Nikola himself stood before me and 
 invited me to enter. A solitary lamp had been 
 placed upon the coping of the wall, and its fitful 
 light illuminated the courtyard, throwing long 
 shadows across the pavement and making it look 
 even drearier and more unwholesome than when 
 I had last seen it. After we had shaken hands 
 we made our way in silence up the great staircase, 
 our steps echoing along the stone corridors with 
 startling reverberations. How thankful I was 
 at last to reach the warm, well-lit room, despite 
 the story Nikola had told us about it, I must 
 leave you to imagine. 
 
 "Please sit down," said Nikola, pushing a 
 chair forward for my occupation. '* It is exceed- 
 ingly kind of you to have complied with my 
 request. I trust Lady Hatteras and Miss Trevor 
 are well ? " 
 
 "Thank you, they are both well," I replied. 
 " They both begged to be remembered to you." 
 
 Nikola bowed his thanks, and then, when he 
 had placed a box of excellent cigars at my elbow, 
 prepared and lighted a cigarette for himself. 
 All this time I was occupying myself wondering 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 87 
 
 why lie had asked me to come to him that 
 evening, and what the upshot of the interview 
 was to be. Knowing him as I did, I was aware 
 that his actions were never motiveless. Every- 
 thing he did was to be accounted for by some 
 very good reason. After he had tendered his 
 thanks to me for coming to see him, he was 
 silent for some minutes, for so long indeed that 
 I began to wonder whether he had forgotten my 
 presence. In order to attract his attention I 
 commented upon the fact that we had not seen 
 him for more than a week. 
 
 " I have been away," he answered, with what 
 was plainly an attempt to pull himself together. 
 ** Business of a most important nature called me 
 to the south of Italy, to Naples in fact, and I 
 only returned this morning." 
 
 Once more he was silent. Then leaning 
 towards me and speaking with even greater 
 impressiveness than he had yet done, he con- 
 tinued — 
 
 ** Hatteras, I am going to ask you a question, 
 and then, with your permission, I should like to 
 tell you a story." 
 
 Not knowing what else to do I simply bowed. 
 I was more than ever convinced that Nikola was 
 going to make use of me. 
 
 "Have you ever wondered," he began, still 
 looking me straight in the face, and speaking 
 
88 'FAREWELL NIKOLA' 
 
 with great earnestness, *^ what it was first made 
 me the man I am ? " 
 
 I replied to the effect that I had often 
 wondered, but naturally had never been able to 
 come to a satisfactory conclusion. 
 
 " Some day you shall know the history of my 
 life," he answered. " But not just yet. There 
 is much to be done before then. And now I am 
 going to give you the story I promised you. 
 You will see why I have told it to you when I 
 have finished." 
 
 He rose from his chair and began to pace the 
 room. I had never seen Nikola so agitated 
 before. When he turned and faced me again 
 his eyes shone like diamonds, while his body 
 quivered with suppressed excitement. 
 
 '* Hattejas," he went on, when he had some- 
 what mastered his emotion, " I doubt very much 
 if ever in this world's history there has been a 
 man who has suffered more than I have done. 
 As I said just now, the whole story I cannot tell 
 you at present. Some day it will come in its 
 proper place and you will know everything. In 
 the meantime " 
 
 He paused for a few moments and then 
 continued abruptly — 
 
 " The story concerns a woman, a native of 
 this city ; the last of an impoverished, but 
 ancient family. She married a man many years 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 89 
 
 her senior, whom she did not love. When they 
 had been married just over four years her 
 husband died, leaving her with one child to 
 fight the battles of the world alone. The 
 boy was nearly three years old, a sturdy, clever 
 little urchin, who, up to that time, had never 
 known the meaning of the word trouble. Then 
 there came to Venice a man, a Spaniard, as 
 handsome as a serpent, and as cruel. After a 
 while he made the woman believe that he loved 
 her. She returned his affection, and in due time 
 they were married. A month later he was 
 appointed Governor of one of the Spanish 
 islands off the American coast — a post he had 
 long been eager to obtain. When he departed 
 to take up his position it was arranged that, 
 as soon as all was prepared, the woman and 
 her child should follow him. They did so, 
 and at length reached the island and took up 
 their abode, not at the palace, as the woman 
 had expected, but in the native city. For the 
 Governor feared, or pretended to fear, that, as 
 his marriage had not been made public at first, 
 it might compromise his position. The woman, 
 however, who loved him, was content, for her 
 one thought was to promote his happiness. At 
 first the man made believe to be overjoyed at 
 having her with him once again, then, little by 
 little, he showed that he was tired of her. 
 
90 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Another woman had attracted his fancy, and he 
 had transferred his affections to her. The other 
 heard of it. Her southern blood was roused, for 
 though she had been poor, she was, as I have 
 said, the descendant of one of the oldest Venetian 
 families. As his wife she endeavoured to defend 
 herself, then came the crushing blow, delivered 
 with all the brutality of a savage nature. 
 
 " * You are not my wife,' he said. ' I had 
 already a wife living when I married you.' 
 
 ** She left him without another word and went 
 away to hide her shame. Six months later the 
 fever took her and she died. Thus the boy was 
 left, at five years old, without a friend or 
 protector in the world. Happily, however, a 
 humble couple took compassion on him, and, 
 after a time, determined to bring him up as their 
 own. The old man was a great scholar, and had 
 devoted all his life to the exhaustive study of 
 the occult sciences. To educate the boy, when 
 he grew old enough to understand, was his one 
 delight. He was never weary of teaching him, 
 nor did the boy ever tire of learning. It was a 
 mutual labour of love. Seven years later saw 
 both the lad's benefactors at rest in the little 
 churchyard beneath the palms, and the boy 
 himself homeless once more. But he was not 
 destined to remain, so for very long ; the priest, 
 who had buried his adopted parents, spoke to the 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 91 
 
 Governor, little dreaming what he was doing, 
 of the boy's pitiable condition. It was as if the 
 devil had prompted him, for the Spaniard was 
 anxious to find a playfellow for his son, a lad 
 two years the other's junior. It struck him that 
 the waif would fill the position admirably. He 
 was accordingly deported to the palace to enter 
 upon the most miserable period of his life. His 
 likeness to his mother was unmistakable, and 
 when he noticed it, the Governor, who had learned 
 the secret, hated him for it, as only those hate 
 who are conscious of their wrong-doing. From 
 that moment his cruelty knew no bounds. The 
 boy was powerless to defend himself. All 
 that he could do was to loathe his oppressor 
 with all the intensity of his fiery nature, and to 
 pray that the day might come when he sliould 
 be able to repay. To his own son the Governor 
 was passionately attached. In his eyes the latter 
 could do no wrong. For any of his misdeeds it 
 was the stranger who bore the punishment. On 
 the least excuse he was stripped and beaten like a 
 slave. The Governors son, knowing his power, 
 and the other's inordinate sensitiveness, derived 
 his chief pleasure in inventing new cruelties for 
 him. To describe all that followed would be 
 impossible. When nothing else would rouse him, 
 it was easy to bring him to an ungovernable 
 pitch of fury by insulting his mother's name, with 
 
92 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 whose history the servants had, by this time, made 
 their master's son acquainted. Once, driven into 
 a paroxysm of fury by the other's insults, the 
 lad picked up a knife and rushed at his tormentor 
 with the intention of stabbing him. His attempt, 
 however, failed, and the boy, foaming at the 
 mouth, was carried before the Governor. I will 
 spare you a description of the punishment that 
 was meted out for his offence. Let it suffice that 
 there are times even now, when the mere thought 
 of it is sufficient to bring — but there — why should 
 I continue in this strain ? All that I am telling 
 you happened many years ago, but the memory 
 remains clear and distinct, while the desire for 
 vengeance is as keen as if it had happened but 
 yesterday. What is more, the end is coming, 
 as surely as the lad once hoped and prophesied 
 it would/' 
 
 Nikola paused for a moment and sank into his 
 chair. I had never seen him so affected. His 
 face was deathly pale, while his eyes blazed like 
 living coals. 
 
 ** What became of the boy at last ? " I inquired, 
 knowing all the while that he had been speaking 
 of himself. 
 
 " He escaped from the island, and went out 
 into the world. The Governor is dead; he 
 has gone to meet the woman, or women, he has 
 so cruelly wronged. His son has climbed the 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 93 
 
 ladder of Fame, but he has never lost, as his 
 record shows, the cruel heart he possessed as a 
 boy. Do you remember the story of the Kevolu- 
 tion in the Eepublic of Equinata ? " 
 
 I shook my head. 
 
 "The Eepublics of South America indulge 
 so constantly in their little amusements that it 
 is difficult for an outsider to remember every 
 particular one," I answered. 
 
 " Well, let me tell you about it. When the 
 Republic of Equinata suffered from its first 
 Revolution, this man was its President. But for 
 his tyranny and injustice it would not have taken 
 place. He it was who, finding that the Ke- 
 bellion was spreading, captured a certain town, 
 and bade the eldest son of each of the iufluential 
 families wait upon him at his headquarters on 
 the morning following its capitulation. His 
 excuse was that he desired them as hostages for 
 their parents' good behaviour. As it was, how- 
 ever, to wreak his vengeance on the city, which 
 had opposed him, instead of siding with him, 
 he placed them against a wall and shot them 
 down by the half-dozen. But he was not 
 destined to succeed. Gradually he was driven 
 back upon his Capital, his troops deserting day 
 by day. Then, one night he boarded a ship 
 that was waiting for him in the harbour, and 
 from that moment Equinata saw him no more. 
 
94 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 It was not until some days afterwards that it 
 was discovered that he had despatched vast 
 sums of money, which he had misappropriated, 
 out of the country, ahead of him. Where he is 
 now hiding I am the only man who knows. I 
 have tracked him to his lair, and I am waiting 
 — waiting — waiting — for the moment to arrive 
 when the innocent blood that has so long cried 
 to Heaven will be avenged. Let him look to 
 himself when that day arrives. For as there is 
 a God above us, he will be punished as man was 
 never punished before." 
 
 The expression upon his face as he said this was 
 little short of devilish ; the ghastly pallor of his 
 skin, the dark, glittering eyes, and his jet-black 
 hair made up a picture that will never fade from 
 my memory. 
 
 " God help his enemy if they should meet," 
 I said to myself. Then his mood suddenly 
 changed, and he was once more the quiet, suave 
 Nikola to whom I had become accustomed. 
 Every sign of passion had vanished from his 
 face. A transformation more complete could 
 scarcely have been imagined. 
 
 " My dear fellow," he said, without a trace of 
 emotion in his voice, " you must really forgive me 
 for having bored you with my long story. I 
 cannot think what made me do so, unless it is 
 that I have been brooding over it all day, and 
 
♦FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 95 
 
 felt the need of a confidant. You will make an 
 allowance for me, will you not ? " 
 
 " Most willingly," I answered. " If the story 
 you have told me concerns yourself, you have 
 my most heartfelt S5rmpathy. You have suffered 
 indeed." 
 
 He stopped for a moment in his restless walk 
 up and down the room, and eyed me carefully 
 as if he were trying to read my thoughts. 
 
 " Suffered ? " he said at last, and then paused. 
 " Yes, I have suffered — but others have suffered 
 more. But do not let us talk of it. I was 
 foolish to have touched upon it, for I know by 
 experience the effect it produces upon me." 
 
 As he spoke he crossed to the window, which 
 he threw open. It was a glorious night, and 
 the sound of women's voices singing reached 
 us from the Grand Canal. On the other 
 side of the watery highway the houses looked 
 strangely mysterious in the weird light. At that 
 moment I felt more drawn towards Nikola than 
 I had ever done before. The man's loneliness, 
 his sufferings, had a note of singular pathos for 
 me. I forgot the injuries he had done me, and 
 before I knew what I was doing, I had placed 
 my hand upon his shoulder. 
 
 " Nikola," I said, " if I were to try I could not 
 make you understand how truly sorry I am for 
 you. The life you lead is so unlike that of any 
 
96 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 other man. You see only the worst side of 
 Human Nature. Why not leave this terrible 
 gloom ? Give up these experiments upon which 
 you are always engaged, and live only in 
 the pure air of the commonplace every-day 
 world. Your very surroundings — this house, for 
 instance — are not like those of other men. Be- 
 lieve me, there are other things worth living for 
 besides the Science which binds you in its chains. 
 If you could learn to love a good woman " 
 
 " My dear Hatteras," he put in, more softly 
 than I had ever heard him speak, " woman's love 
 is not for me. As you say, I am lonely in the 
 world, God knows how lonely, yet lonely I must 
 be content to remain." Then leaning his hands 
 upon the window-sill, he looked out upon the 
 silent night, and I heard him mutter to 
 himself, " Yes, lonely to the End." After that 
 he closed the window abruptly, and turning to 
 me, asked how long we contemplated remaining 
 in Venice. 
 
 " I cannot say yet," I answered, " the change 
 is doing my wife so much good that I am 
 anxious to prolong our stay. At first we thought 
 of going to the South of France, but that idea 
 has been abandoned, and we may be here another 
 month." 
 
 " A month," he said to himself, as if he were 
 reflecting upon something ; then he added some- 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 97 
 
 what inconsequently, " You should be able to see 
 a great deal of Venice in a month." 
 
 " And how long will you be here ? " I asked. 
 
 He shook his head. 
 
 "It is impossible to say," he answered. " I 
 never know my own mind for two days together. 
 I may be here another week, or I may be here 
 a year. Somehow, I have a conviction, I cannot 
 say why, that this will prove to be my last visit 
 to Venice. I should be sorry never to see it 
 again, yet what must be, must. Destiny will 
 have its way, whatever we may say or do to the 
 contrary." 
 
 At that moment there was the sound of a 
 bell clanging in the courtyard below. At such 
 an hour it had an awe-inspiring sound, and I 
 know that I shuddered as I heard it. 
 
 **Who can it be? " said Nikola, turning towards 
 the door. *' This is somewhat late for calling 
 hours. Will you excuse me if I go down and 
 find out the meaning of it ? " 
 
 ** Do so, by all means," I answered. " I think 
 I must be going also. It is getting late." 
 
 " No, no," he said, " stay a little longer. If 
 it is as I suspect, I fancy I shall be able to show 
 you something that may interest you. Endeavour 
 to make yourself comfortable until I return. I 
 shaU not be away many minutes." 
 
 So saying, he left me, closing the door behind 
 
98 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 him. When I was alone, I lit a cigar and 
 strolled to the window, which I opened. My 
 worst enemy could not call me a coward, but I 
 must confess that I derived no pleasure from 
 being in that room alone. The memory of what 
 lay under that oriental rug was vividly impressed 
 upon my memory. In my mind I could smell 
 the vaults below, and it would have required 
 only a very small stretch of the imagination to 
 have fancied I could hear the groans of the 
 dying man proceeding from it. Then a feeling 
 of curiosity came over me to see who Nikola's 
 visitor was. By leaning well out of the window, 
 I could look down on the great door below. 
 At the foot of the steps a gondola was drawn 
 up, but I was unable to see whether there 
 was any one in it or not. Who was Nikola's 
 mysterious caller, and what made him come 
 at such an hour? Knowing the superstitious 
 horror in which the house was held by the popu- 
 lace of Venice, I felt that whoever he was, he 
 must have had an imperative reason for his visit. 
 I was still turning the subject over in my mind, 
 when the door opened and Nikola entered, 
 followed by two men. One was tall and swarthy, 
 wore a short black beard, and had a crafty 
 expression upon his face. The other was about 
 middle height, very broad, and was the possessor 
 of a bullet-head covered with close-cropped hair. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 99 
 
 Both were of the lower class, and their nationality 
 w^as unmistakable. Turning to me, Nikola said 
 in English — 
 
 " It is as I expected. Now, if you care to 
 study character, here is your opportunity. The 
 taller man is a Police Agent, the other the chief 
 of a notorious Secret Society. I should first 
 explain that within the last two or three days 
 I have been helping a young Itahan of rather 
 advanced views, not to put too fine a point upon 
 it, to leave the country for America. This 
 dog has dared to try to upset my plans. 
 Immediately I heard of it I sent word to him, 
 by means of our friend here, that he was to 
 present himself here before twelve o'clock to-night 
 without fail. From his action it would appear 
 that he is more frightened of me than he is of the 
 Secret Society. That is as it should be ; for I 
 intend to teach him a little lesson which will pre- 
 vent him from interfering with my plans in the 
 future. You were talking of my science just 
 now, and advising me to abandon it. Could the 
 life you offer me give me the power I possess 
 now 1 Could the respectability of Clapham 
 recompense me for the knowledge with which 
 the East can furnish me ? " 
 
 Then turning to the Police Agent he addressed 
 him in Italian, speaking so fast that it was 
 impossible for me to follow him. From what 
 
 I 
 
100 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 little I could make out, however, I gathered 
 that he was rating him for daring to interfere 
 with his concerns. When, at the end of three 
 or four minutes, he paused and spoke more 
 slowly, this was the gist of his speech — 
 
 " You know me and the power I control. 
 You are aware that those who thwart me, or 
 w^ho interfere with me and my concerns, do so 
 at their own risk. Since no harm has come of 
 it, thanks to certain good friends, I will forgive 
 on this occasion, but let it happen again and 
 this is what your end will be." 
 
 As he spoke he took from his pocket a small 
 glass bottle with a gold top, not unlike a 
 vinaigrette, and emptied some of the white 
 powder it contained into the palm of his hand. 
 Turning down the lamp he dropped this into 
 the chimney. A green flame shot up for a 
 moment, which was succeeded by a cloud of 
 perfumed smoke that filled the room so com- 
 pletely that for a moment it was impossible for 
 us to see each other. Presently a picture shaped 
 itself in the cloud and held my attention spell- 
 bound. Little by little it developed until I was 
 able to make out a room, or rather I should say 
 a vault, in which upwards of a dozen men were 
 seated at a long table. They were all masked, 
 and without exception were clad in long monkish 
 robes with cowls of black cloth. Presently a 
 
"Presently a picture shaped itself in the cloud." 
 ^'Farewell, Nikola."} irage 100 
 
V 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 101 
 
 sign was made by the man at the head of the 
 table, an individual with a venerable grey beard, 
 and two more black i&gures entered, who led a 
 man between them. Their prisoner was none other 
 than the Police Agent whom Nikola had warned. 
 He looked thinner, however, and was evidently 
 much frightened by his position. Once more 
 the man at the head of the table raised his hand, 
 and there entered at the other side an old man, 
 with white hair and a long beard of the same 
 colour. Unlike the others he wore no cowl, 
 nor was he masked. From his gestures I could 
 see that he was addressing those seated at 
 the table, and, as he pointed to the prisoner, 
 a look of undying hatred spread over his face. 
 Then the man at the head of the table rose, 
 and though I could hear nothing of what he 
 said, I gathered that he was addressing his 
 brethren concerning the case. When he had 
 finished, and each of the assembly had voted by 
 holding up his hand, he turned to the prisoner. 
 As he did so the scene vanished instantly and 
 another took its place. 
 
 It was a small room that I looked upon now, 
 furnished only with a bed, a table, and a chair. 
 At the door was a man who had figured as a 
 prisoner in the previous picture, but now sadly 
 changed. He seemed to have shrunk to half his 
 former size, his face was pinched by starvation, 
 
102 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 his eyes were sunken, but there was an even 
 greater look of terror in them than had been 
 there before. Opening the door of the room 
 he listened, and then shut and locked it again. 
 It was as if he were afraid to go out, and yet 
 knew that if he remained where he was, he must 
 perish of starvation. Gradually the room began 
 to grow dark, and the terrified wretch paced 
 restlessly up and down, listening at the door 
 every now and then. Once more the picture 
 vanished as its companion had done, and a third 
 took its place. This proved to be a narrow 
 street-scene by moonlight. On either side the 
 houses towered up towards the sky, and since 
 there was no one about, it was plain that the 
 night was far advanced. Presently, creeping 
 along in the shadow, on the left-hand side, 
 searching among the refuse and garbage of the 
 street for food, came the man I had seen afraid 
 to leave his attic. Times out of number 
 he looked swiftly behind him, as if he thought 
 it possible that he might be followed. He was 
 but little more than half-way up the street, and 
 was stooping to pick up something, when two 
 dark figures emerged from a passage on the left, 
 and swiftly approached him. Before he had 
 time to defend himself, they were upon him, 
 and a moment later he was lying stretched out 
 upon his back in the middle of the street, a dead 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA 103 
 
 man. The moon shone down full and clear 
 upoa his face, the memory of which makes me 
 shudder even now. Then the picture faded away 
 and the room was light once more. Instinctively 
 I looked at the Police Agent. His usually 
 swarthy face was deathly pale, and from the 
 great beads of perspiration that stood upon his 
 forehead, I gathered that he had seen the 
 picture too. 
 
 "Now," said Nikola, addressing him, "you 
 have seen what is in store for you if you persist 
 in pitting yourself against me. You recognized 
 that grey-haired man, who had appealed to the 
 Council against you. Then, rest assured of 
 this I So surely as you continue your present 
 conduct, so surely will the doom I have just 
 revealed to you overtake you. Now go, and 
 remember what I have said." 
 
 Turning to the smaller man, Nikola placed his 
 hand in a kindly fashion upon his shoulder. 
 
 " You have done well, Tomasso," he said, " and 
 I am pleased with you. Drop our friend here 
 at the usual place, and see that some one keeps 
 an eye on him. I don't think, however, he will 
 dare to offend again." 
 
 On hearing this, the two men left the room and 
 descended to the courtyard together, and I could 
 easily imagine with what delight one of them 
 would leave the house. When they had gone, 
 
104 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Nikola, who was standing at the window, turned 
 to me, saying — 
 
 " What do you think of my conjuring ? " 
 
 I knew not what answer to make that would 
 satisfy him. The whole thing seemed so impos- 
 sible that, had it not been for the pungent odour 
 that still lingered in the room, I could have 
 believed I had fallen asleep and dreamed it 
 aU. 
 
 " You can give me no explanation, then ? " 
 said Nikola, with one ,of his inscrutable smiles. 
 " And yet, having accumulated this power, this 
 knowledge, call it what you will, you would still 
 bid me give up Science. Come, my friend, you 
 have seen something of what I can do ; would 
 you be brave enough to try, with my help, to 
 look into what is called The Great Unknown, 
 and see what the Future has in store for you ? 
 I fancy it could be done. Are you to be 
 tempted to see your own end ? " 
 
 ** No, no," I cried, " I will have nothing to do 
 with such an unholy thing. Good heavens, man I 
 from that moment life would be unendurable ! " 
 
 " You think so, do you ? " he said slowly, still 
 keeping his eyes fixed on me. ** And yet I have 
 tried it myself." 
 
 ** My God, Nikola 1 " I answered in amaze- 
 ment, for I knew him well enough to feel sure 
 that he was not talking idly, '* you don't mean 
 
'FAUEWELL, NIKOLA' 105 
 
 to tell me that you know what your own end is 
 going to be ? " 
 
 *' Exactly," lie answered. " I have seen it all. 
 It is not pleasant ; but I think I may say with- 
 out vanity that it will be an end worthy of 
 myself." 
 
 **But now that you know it, can you not 
 avert it?" 
 
 " Nothing can be averted," he answered 
 solemnly. "As I said before these men entered, 
 what must be, must.. What does Schiller 
 say? * Noch niemand entfloh dem verhangten 
 Geschich.' " 
 
 ** And you were brave enough to look ? " 
 
 **Does it require so much bravery, do you 
 think? Believe me, there are things which 
 require more." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " 
 
 ** Ah ! I cannot tell you now," he answered, 
 shaking his head. " Some day you will know." 
 
 Then there was a silence for a few seconds, 
 during which we both stood looking down at the 
 moonlit water below. At last, having consulted 
 my watch and seeing how late it was, I told him 
 that it was time for me to bid him good-night. 
 
 "I am very grateful to you for coming, Hatteras," 
 he said. " It has cheered me up. It does me good 
 to see you. Through you I get a whiff of that 
 other life of which you spoke a while back, I 
 
106 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 want to make yoa like me, and I fancy I am 
 succeeding." 
 
 Then we left the room together, and went 
 down the stairs to the courtyard below. Side 
 by side we stood upon the steps waiting for a 
 gondola to put in an appearance. It was some 
 time before one came in sight, but when it did 
 so I hailed it, and then shook Nikola by the 
 hand and bade him good-night. 
 
 " Good-night," he answered. ** Pray remember 
 me kindly to Lady Hatteras and to — Miss 
 Trevor." 
 
 The little pause before Miss Trevor's name 
 caused me to look at him in some surprise. He 
 noticed it and spoke at once. 
 
 " You may think it strange of me to say so," 
 he said, " but I cannot help feeling interested in 
 that young lady. Impossible though it may 
 seem, I have a well-founded conviction that in 
 some way her star is destined to cross mine, and 
 before very long. I have only seen her twice in 
 my life in the flesh ; but many years ago her 
 presence on the earth was revealed to me, and 
 I was warned that some day we should meet. 
 What that meeting will mean to me it is impos- 
 sible to say, but in its own good time Fate will 
 doubtless tell me. And now, once more, good- 
 night." 
 
 " Good-night," I answered mechanically, for I 
 
« FAREWELL, NIKOLA 107 
 
 was too much surprised by his words to think 
 what I was saying. Then I entered the gon- 
 dola and bade the man take me back to my 
 hoteh 
 
 " Surely Nikola has taken leave of his senses," 
 I said to myself as I was rowed along. "Gertrude 
 Trevor was the very last person in the world 
 that I should have expected Nikola to make such 
 a statement about." 
 
 At this point, however, I remembered how 
 curiously she had been affected by their first 
 meeting, and my mind began to be troubled 
 concerning her. 
 
 " Let us hope and pray that Nikola doesn't 
 take it into his head to imagine himself in love 
 with her," I continued to myself. " If he were 
 to do so I scarcely know what the consequences 
 would be." 
 
 Then, with a touch of the absurd, I wondered 
 what her father, the eminently respected dean, 
 would say to having Nikola for a son-in-law. 
 By the time I had reached this point in my 
 reverie the gondola had drawn up at the steps 
 of the hotel. 
 
 My wife and Miss Trevor had gone to bed, but 
 Glenbarth was sitting up for me. 
 
 ** Well, you have paid him a long visit, in all 
 conscience," he said a little reproachfully. Then 
 he added, with what was intended to be a touch 
 
108 . 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA 
 
 of sarcasm, " I hope you have spent a pleasant 
 
 evening ? " 
 
 " I am not quite so certain about that," 1 
 
 replied. 
 
 " Indeed. Then what have you discovered ? " 
 " One thing of importance/' I answered ; 
 
 " that Nikola grows more and more inscrutable 
 
 every day." 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 The more I thought upon my strange visit to 
 the Palace Revecce that evening, the more puzzled 
 I was by it. It had so many sides, and each so 
 complex, that I scarcely knew which presented the 
 most curious feature. What Nikola's real reason 
 had been for inviting me to call upon him, and why 
 he should have told me the story, which I felt 
 quite certain was that of his own life, was more 
 than I could understand. Moreover, why, having 
 told it me, he should have so suddenly requested 
 me to think no more about it, only added to my 
 bewilderment. The incident of the two men, 
 and the extraordinary conjuring trick, for con- 
 juring trick it certainly was in the real meaning 
 of the word, he had shown us, did not help to 
 elucidate matters. If the truth must be told 
 it rather added to the mystery than detracted 
 from it. To sum it all up, I found, when I 
 endeavoured to fit the pieces of the puzzle 
 together, remembering also his strange remark 
 concerning Miss Trevor, that I was as far from 
 
 109 
 
no 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 coming to any conclusion as I had been at the 
 beginning. 
 
 "You can have no idea how nervous I have 
 been on your account to-night," said my wife, 
 when I reached her room. " After dinner 
 the Duke gave us a description of Doctor Nikola* s 
 room, and told us its history. When I thought 
 of your being there alone with him, I must 
 confess I felt almost inclined to send a message 
 to you imploring you to come home." 
 
 "That would have been a great mistake, my 
 dear," I answered. " You would have offended 
 Nikola, and we don't want to do that. I am 
 sorry the Duke told you that terrible story. He 
 should not have frightened you with it. What 
 did Gertrude Trevor think of it ? " 
 
 "She did not say anything about it," my 
 wife replied. *'But I could see that she was as 
 frightened as I was. I am quite sure you would 
 not get either of us to go there, however pressing 
 Doctor Nikola's invitation might be. Now tell 
 me what he wanted to see you about." 
 
 "He felt lonely and wanted some society," 
 I answered, having resolved that on no account 
 would I tell her all the truth concerning my 
 visit to the Palace Kevecce. " He also wanted 
 me to witness something connected with a 
 scheme he has originated for enabling people 
 to get out of the country unobserved by the 
 
«FARl5WELL, NIKOLA' 111 
 
 police. Before I left he gave me a good example 
 of the power he possessed." 
 
 I then described to her the arrival of the two 
 men and the lesson Nikola had read to the Police 
 Agent. The portion dealing with the conjuring 
 trick I omitted. No good could have accrued 
 from frightening her, and I knew that the sort 
 of description I should be able to give of it 
 would not be sufficiently impressive to enable 
 her to see it in the light I desired. In 
 any other way it would have struck her as 
 ridiculous. 
 
 " The man grows more and more extraordinary 
 every day," she said. " And not the least extra- 
 ordinary thing about him is the way he affects 
 other people. For my own part I must confess 
 that, while I fear him, I like him ; the Duke is 
 frankly afraid of him ; you are interested and 
 repelled in turn ; while Gertrude, I fancy, regards 
 him as a sort of supernatural being, who may 
 turn one into a horse or a dog at a moment's 
 notice, while Senor Galaghetti, with whom I had 
 a short conversation to-day concerning him, 
 was so enthusiastic in his praises that for once 
 words failed him. He had never met any one so 
 wonderful, he declared. He would lay down his 
 life for him. It would appear that, on one 
 occasion, when Nikola was staying at the hotel, 
 he cured Galaghetti's eldest child of diphtheria. 
 
112 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 The child was at the last gasp and the doctors 
 had given her up, when Nikola made his appear- 
 ance upon the scene. What he did, or how he 
 did it, Galaghetti did not tell me, but it must 
 have been something decidedly irregular, for 
 the other doctors were aghast and left the house 
 in a body. The child, however, rallied from 
 that moment, and, as<jralaghetti proudly informed 
 me, *is now de artiste of great repute upon de 
 pianoforte in Paris.' I have never heard of her, 
 but it would appear that Galaghetti not only 
 attributes her life, but also her musical success, 
 to the fact that Nikola was staying in the hotel 
 at the time when the child was taken ill The 
 Duke was with me when Galaghetti told me this, 
 and, when he heard it, he turned away with an 
 exclamation that sounded very like * humbug ! ' 
 I do hope that Doctor Nikola and the Duke 
 won't quarrel 1 " 
 
 As she put this in the form of a question, I 
 felt inclined to reply with the expression the 
 Duke had used. I did not do so, however, but 
 contented myself with assuring her that she 
 need have no fears upon that score. A surprise, 
 however, was in store for me. 
 
 " What have they to quarrel about ? " I asked. 
 ** They have nothing in common." 
 
 " That only proves how blind you are to what 
 goes on around you," my wife replied. *'Have 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 113 
 
 you not noticed that they "^oth admire Gertrude 
 Trevor f' 
 
 Falling so pat upon my own thoughts, this 
 gave me food for serious reflection. 
 
 " How do you know that Nikola admires her ? " 
 I asked, a little sharply, I fear, for when one 
 has uncomfortable suspicions one is not always 
 best pleased to find that another shares them. 
 A double suspicion might be described as almost 
 amounting to a certainty. 
 
 " I am confident of it," she replied. ** Did 
 you not notice his manner towards her on the 
 night of our excursion ? It was most marked." 
 
 " My dear girl," I said irritably, " if you are 
 going to begin this sort of thing, you don't 
 know where you will find yourself in the 
 end. Nikola has been a wanderer all his 
 life. He has met people of every nationality, 
 of every rank pnd description. It is scarcely 
 probable, charming though I am prepared to 
 admit she is, that he would be attracted by our 
 friend. Besides, I had it from his own lips this 
 morning that he will never marry." 
 
 " You may be just as certain as you please," 
 she answered. "Nevertheless, I adhere to my 
 opinion." 
 
 Knowing what was in my own mind, and 
 feeling that if the argument continued I might 
 let something slip that I should regret, I with- 
 
114 'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 
 
 drew from the field, and, having questioned her 
 concerning certain news she had received from 
 England that day, bade her good-night. 
 
 Next morning we paid a visit to the Palace 
 of the Doges, and spent a pleasant and instruct- 
 ive couple of hours in the various rooms. 
 Whatever Nikola's feelings may have been, 
 there was by this time not the least doubt 
 that the Duke admired Miss Trevor. Though 
 the lad had known her for so short a time he 
 was already head over ears in love. I think 
 Gertrude was aware of the fact, and I feel 
 sure that she liked him, but whether the time 
 was not yet ripe, or her feminine instinct 
 warned her to play her fish for a while before 
 attempting to land him, I cannot say ; at any 
 rate she more than once availed herself of an 
 opportunity and moved away from him to take 
 her place at my side. As you may suppose, 
 Glenbarth was not rendered any the happier 
 by these manoeuvres ; indeed, by the time we 
 left the Palace, he was as miserable a human 
 being as could have been found in all Venice. 
 Before lunch, however, she relented a little 
 towards him, and when we sat down to the 
 meal in question our friend had in some measure 
 recovered his former spirits. Not so my wife, 
 however; though I did not guess it, I was in 
 for a wigging. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 115 
 
 "How could you treat the poor fellow so 
 badly ? " she said indignantly, when we were 
 alone together afterwards. " If you are not 
 very careful you'll spoil everything." 
 
 " Spoil what ? " I inquired, as if I did not 
 understand to what she alluded. " You have 
 lately developed a habit of speaking in riddles.'* 
 
 ** Fiddle-de-dee I " she answered scornfully, 
 "you know very well to what I allude. I 
 think your conduct at the Palace this morning 
 was disgraceful. You, a married man and a father, 
 to try and spoil the pleasure of that poor young 
 man." 
 
 ** But she began it," I answered in self- 
 defence. ** Did you not see that slie preferred 
 my company to his ? " 
 
 " Of course that was only make-believe," my 
 wife replied. "You are as well aware of that 
 as I am." 
 
 " I know nothing of the kind/' I returned. 
 " If the girl does not know her own mind, then 
 it is safer that she should pretend, as she did 
 to-day." 
 
 " She was not pretending. You know that 
 Gertrude Trevor is as honest as the day." 
 
 '* Then you admit that she was only playing 
 her fish ? " I said. 
 
 " If you are going to be vulgar I shall leave 
 you," she retorted; "I don't know what you 
 
116 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 mean by * playing her fish/ Gertrude only 
 came to you because she did not want to allow 
 her liking for the Duke to appear too con- 
 spicuous." 
 
 " It's the same thing in the end," I 
 answered. ** Believe me it is ! You describe 
 it as not making her conduct appear too con- 
 spicuous, while I call it * playing her fish/ I 
 have the best possible recollection of a young 
 lady who used to play quoits with me on the 
 deck of the Orotava a good many years ago. 
 One day — we were approaching Naples at the 
 time — she played game after game with the 
 doctor, and snubbed me unmercifully." 
 
 " You know very well that I didn't mean it," 
 she answered, with a stamp of her foot. ** You 
 know I had to act as I did." 
 
 ** I don't mind admitting that," I replied. 
 "Nevertheless, you were playing your fish. 
 That night after dinner you forgave me and " 
 
 She slipped her arm through mine and gave it 
 a hug. I could afford to be generous. 
 
 ** Those were dear old days, were they not? 
 I, for one, am not going to quarrel about them. 
 Now let us go and find the others." 
 
 We discovered them in the balcony, listening 
 to some musicians in a gondola below. Miss 
 Trevor plainly hailed our coming with delight ; 
 the Duke, however, was by no means so well 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 117 
 
 pleased. He did his best, however, to conceal 
 his chagrin. Going to the edge of the balcony 
 I looked down at the boat. The musicians were 
 four in number, two men and two girls, and, at 
 the moment of our putting in an appearance, one 
 of them was singing the " Ave Maria " from the 
 Cavalleria Rusticana, in a manner that 1 had 
 seldom heard it sung before. She was a hand- 
 some girl, and knew the value of her good looks. 
 Beside her stood a man with a guitar, and I gave 
 a start as I looked at him. Did my eyes deceive 
 me, or was this the man who had accompanied 
 the Police Agent to Nikola's residence on the 
 previous evening ? I looked again and felt sure 
 that I could not be mistaken. He possessed the 
 same bullet-head with the close-cropped hair, 
 the same clean-shaven face, and the same 
 peculiarly square shoulders. No ! I felt sure 
 that he was the man. But if yso, what was 
 he doing here under our windows ? One thing 
 was quite apparent ; if he recognized me, he 
 did not give me evidence of the fact. He 
 played and looked up at us without the slightest 
 sign of recognition. To all intents and purposes 
 he was the picture of indifference. While they 
 were performing I recalled the scene of the 
 previous night, and wondered what had become 
 of the police officer, and what the man below me 
 had thought of the curious trick Nikola had 
 
118 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 performed 1 It was only when they had finished 
 their entertainment and, having received our 
 reward, were about to move away that I received 
 any information to the effect that the man had 
 recognized me. 
 
 "Illustrious Senora, Senorita, and Senors, I 
 thank you/* he said, politely lifting his hat as 
 he spoke. " Our performance has been success- 
 ful, and the obstacle which threatened it at one 
 time has been removed." 
 
 The gondola then passed on, and I turned to 
 the Duke as if for an explanation. 
 
 " At first the hall-porter was not inclined to 
 let them sing here," the Duke remarked, " but 
 Miss Trevor wanted to hear them, so I sent word 
 down that I wished them to remain." 
 
 In spite of the explanation I understood to 
 what the man had referred, but for the life of 
 me I could not arrive at his reason for visiting 
 our hotel that day. I argued that it might have 
 been all a matter of chance, but I soon put that 
 idea aside as absurd. The coincidence was too 
 remarkable. 
 
 At lunch my wife announced that she had 
 heard that morning that Lady Beltringham, the 
 wife of our neighbour in the Forest, was in 
 Venice, and staying at a certain hotel further 
 along the Grand Canal. 
 
 *' Gertrude and 1 are going to call upon her 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA 119 
 
 this afternoon," she said, " so that you two 
 gentlemen must amuse yourselves as best you 
 can without us." 
 
 ** That is very easily done,"- 1 answered ; " the 
 Duke is going to have his hair cut, and I am 
 going to witness the atrocity. You may expect 
 to see him return not unlike that man with the 
 guitar in the boat this morning." 
 
 " By the way," said Glenbarth, " that reminds 
 me that I was going to point out a curious 
 thing to you concerning that man. Did you 
 notice. Miss Trevor,, that when we were alone 
 together in the balcony he did not once touch 
 his instrument, but directly Hatteras and Lady 
 Hatteras arrived, he jumped up and began to 
 play?" 
 
 This confirmed my suspicions. I had quite 
 come to the conclusion by this time that the 
 man had only made his appearance before the 
 hotel in order to be certain of my address. Yet, 
 I had to ask myself, if he were in Nikola's 
 employ, why should he have been anxious to 
 do sol 
 
 An hour later the ladies departed on their 
 polite errand, and the Duke and I were left 
 together. He was not what I should call a good 
 companion. He was in an irritable mood, and 
 nothing I could do or say seemed to comfort 
 him. I knew very well what was the jnatter, 
 
120 'FAKEWELL, NIKOLA 
 
 and when we liad exhausted English politics, 
 the rise and fall of Venice, Euskin, and the 
 advantages of foreign travel, I mentioned in- 
 cidentally the name of Miss Trevor. The frown 
 vanished from his face, and he answered like a 
 coherent mortal. 
 
 " Look here, Hatteras," he said, with a fine 
 burst of confidence, ''you and I have been 
 friends for a good many years, and I think we 
 know each other about as well as two men can 
 do." 
 
 " That is so," I answered, wondering what he 
 was driving at; "we have been through some 
 strange adventures together, and should certainly 
 know each other. I hope that you are not 
 going to propose that we should depart on some 
 harum-scarum expedition like that you wanted 
 me to join you in last year, to the Pamirs, was it 
 not? If so, I can tell you once and for all that 
 my lady won't hear of it." 
 
 " Confound the Pamirs I " he replied angrily. 
 " Is it likely that I should think of going there 
 just now? You misunderstand my meaning 
 entirely. What I want is a sympathetic friend, 
 who can enter into my troubles, and if possible 
 help me out of them." 
 
 For the life of me I could not forbear from 
 teasing him for a little longer. 
 
 " My dear old fellow," I said, " you know that 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 121 
 
 I will do anything I possibly can to help you. 
 Take my advice and get rid of the man at once. 
 As I told you in my letter to you before you 
 left England, it is only misplaced kindness to 
 keep him on. You know very well that he has 
 been unfaithful to you for some years past. 
 Then why allow him to continue in his wrong- 
 doing ? The smash will come sooner or later." 
 
 " What do you mean ? " he asked. 
 
 "Well, I suppose your trouble is connected 
 with the agent you were telling me of yesterday. 
 The man who, it was discovered, had been 
 cooking the accounts, selling your game, pocket- 
 ing the proceeds, and generally feathering his 
 own nest at your expense/' 
 
 An ominous frown gathered upon my friend's 
 forehead. 
 
 " Upon my word," he said, " I really believe 
 you are taking leave of your senses. Do you 
 think I am bothering myself at such a time about 
 that wretched Mitchell ? Let him sell every 
 beast upon the farms, every head of game, and, 
 in point of fact, let him swindle me as he likes, 
 and 1 wouldn't give a second thought to him." 
 
 "I am very sorry," I answered penitently, 
 rolling the leaf of my cigar. " Then it was the 
 yacht you were thinking about ? You have had 
 what I consider a very good offer for her. Let 
 her go 1 You are rich enough to be able to build 
 
122 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 another, and the work will amuse you. You 
 want employment of some sort." 
 
 " I am not thinking of the yacht either," he 
 growled. " You know that as well as I do." 
 
 " How should I know it ?" I answered. " I am 
 not able to tell what is in your mind. I do not 
 happen to be like Nikola.*' 
 
 " You are singularly obtuse to-day," he asserted, 
 throwing what remained of his cigar into the 
 Canal and taking another from his case. 
 
 " Look here," I said, "you're pitching into me 
 because I can't appreciate your position. Now 
 how am I likely to be able to do so, con- 
 sidering that you've told me nothing about it ? 
 Before we left London you informed me that 
 the place you had purchased in Warwickshire 
 was going to prove your chief worry in life. I 
 said, * sell it again.' Then you found that your 
 agent in Yorkshire w^as not what he might be. 
 I advised you to get rid of him. You would not 
 do so because of his family. Then you confessed 
 in a most lugubrious fashion that your yacht was 
 practically becoming unseaworthy by reason of 
 her age. I suggested that you should sell her 
 to Deeside, who likes her, or part with her 
 for a junk. You vowed you would not do so 
 because she was a favourite. Now you are un- 
 happy, and I naturally suppose that it must be 
 one of those things which is causing you uneasi- 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 123 
 
 ness. You scout tlie idea. What, therefore, am 
 I to believe ? Upon my word, my friend, if I 
 did not remember that you have always declared 
 your abhorrence of the Sex, I should begin to 
 think you must be in love." 
 
 He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. 
 I pretended not to notice it, however, and still 
 rolled the leaf of my cigar. 
 
 *• Would it be such a very mad thing if I did 
 fall in love ? " he asked at last. " My father did so 
 before me, and I believe my grandfather did also. 
 You, yourself, committed the same indiscretion." 
 " And you have seen the miserable result ? " 
 " I have observed one of the happiest couples 
 in the world," he replied. *' But, joking apart, 
 Hatteras, I want to talk the matter over with 
 you seriously. I don't mind telling you at once, 
 as between friend and friend, that I want to 
 marry Miss Trevor." 
 
 I endeavoured to look surprised, but I fear the 
 attempt was a failure. 
 
 " May I remind you," I said, " that you have 
 known her barely a week ? I don't want to 
 discourage you, but is not your affection of rather 
 quick growth ? " 
 
 " It is, but it does not mean that I am 
 any the less sincere. I tell you candidly, Dick, 
 I have never seen such a girl in my life. She 
 would make any man happy." 
 
124 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " Very likely, but would any man make her 
 happy ? 
 
 His face fell, and he shifted uneasily in his 
 chair. 
 
 " Confound you," he said, " you put every- 
 thing in a new light. Why should I not be able 
 to make her happy ? There are lots of women 
 who would give their lives to be a Duchess ! " 
 
 " I admit that," I answered. ** I don't fancy, 
 however, your rank will make much differ- 
 ence with Miss Trevor. When a woman is a 
 lady, and in love, she doesn't mind very much 
 whether the object of her affections is a Duke or 
 a chimney-sweep. Don't make the mistake of 
 believing that a Dukedom counts for everything 
 where the heart is concerned. We outsiders 
 should have no chance at all if that were the 
 case.'* 
 
 " But, Hatteras," he said, " I didn't mean that. 
 I'm not such a cad as to imagine that Miss 
 Trevor would marry me simply because I happen 
 to have a handle to my name. I want to put 
 the matter plainly before you. I have told you 
 that I love her, do you think there is any chance 
 of her taking a liking to me ? " 
 
 " Now that you have told me what is in your 
 mind," I answered, "I can safely state my 
 opinion. Mind you, I know nothing about the 
 young lady's ideas, but if I were a young 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 125 
 
 woman, and an exceedingly presentable young 
 man — you may thank me for the compliment 
 afterwards — were to lay his heart at my feet, 
 especially when that heart is served up on 
 strawberry leaves and five-pound notes, I fancy 
 I should be inclined to think twice before I 
 discouraged his advances. Whether Miss Trevor 
 will do so, however, is quite another matter." 
 
 " Then you are not able to give me any en- 
 couragement ? " 
 
 " I will wish you God-speed upon your enter- 
 prise," I said, " if that is any satisfaction to you. 
 I cannot do more." 
 
 As I said it I held out my hand, which he took 
 and shook. 
 
 " God bless you, old man," he said, " you 
 don't know what all this means to me. Fve 
 suffered agonies these last two days. I believe 
 I should go mad if it continued. Yesterday she 
 was kindness itself. To-day she will scarcely 
 speak to me. I believe Lady Hatteras takes my 
 side?" 
 
 I was not to be caught napping. 
 
 " You must remember that Lady Hatteras 
 herself is an impressionable young woman," I 
 answered. " She likes you and believes in you, 
 and because she does she thinks her friend 
 ought to do so also. Now look here, your 
 Grace " 
 
126 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 "You needn't put on any side of that kind," 
 he answered reproachfully. 
 
 ** I believe I am talking to the Duke of 
 Glenbarth," I returned. 
 
 " You are talking to your old friend, the man 
 who went round the world with you. if that's 
 what you mean," he answered. " What is it you 
 have to say ? " 
 
 " I want you to plainly understand that Miss 
 Trevor is my guest. I want you also to try 
 to realize, however difficult it may be, that 
 you have only known her a very short time. 
 She is a particularly nice girl, as you yourself 
 have admitted. It would be scarcely fair, there- 
 fore, if I were to permit you to give her the 
 impression that you were in love with her until 
 you have really made up your mind. Think it 
 well over. Take another week, or shall we say 
 a fortnight ? A month would be better still." 
 
 He groaned in despair. 
 
 " You might as well say a year while you are 
 about it. What is the use of my waiting even a 
 week when I know my own mind already ?" 
 
 " Because you must give your aflfection time 
 to set. Take a week. If at the end of that 
 time you are still as much in earnest as you are 
 now, well, the matter will be worth thinking 
 about. You can then speak to the young lady 
 or not, as you please. On the other hand, should 
 
* FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 127 
 
 your opinion have changed, then I have been your 
 only confidant, and no hai*ni has been done. If 
 she accepts you, I can honestly say that no one 
 will be more delighted than myself. If not, you 
 must look elsewhere, and then she must marry 
 the man she likes better. Do you agree ? " 
 
 " As I can't help myself I suppose I must," he 
 answered. " But my position during the next 
 week is not likely to be a very cheerful one.'* 
 
 " I don't at all see why," I replied. " Lots of 
 others have been compelled to do their courting 
 under harder auspices. Myself for instance. 
 Here you are staying in the same house as the 
 object of your afiections. You meet her almost 
 every hour of the day ; you have innumerable 
 opportunities of paying your court to her, and 
 yet with all these advantages you abuse your 
 lot." 
 
 ** I know I am an ungrateful beast," he said. 
 "But, by Jove, Dick, when one is as much in 
 love as I am, and with the most adorable woman 
 in the world, and matters don't seem to go 
 right, one ought to be excused if one feels 
 inclined to quarrel with somebody." 
 
 ''^ Quarrel away with all your heart," I 
 answered. " And now I am going down with 
 you to the hairdresser. After that we'll go to 
 the piazza." 
 
 " I suppose I must," he said, rising from his 
 
128 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 chair with a fine air of resignation. " Though 
 what fun you can discover in that crowd I 
 cannot for the life of me imao^ine." 
 
 I did not remind him that on the previous 
 afternoon he had declared it to be the most 
 amusing sight in Europe. That would have been 
 an unfair advantage to have taken, particularly 
 as I had punished him enough already. We 
 accordingly procured our hats and sticks, and 
 having secured a gondola, set off. It was a 
 lovely afternoon, and the Grand Canal was 
 crowded. As we passed the entrance to the Kio 
 del Consiglio, I stole a glance at the Palace 
 Revecce. No gondola was at the door, so 
 whether Nikola was at home or abroad I could 
 not say. When Glenbarth had been operated 
 upon we proceeded to the piazza of Saint Mark, 
 which we reached somewhat before the usual 
 afternoon promenade. The band had not com- 
 menced to play, and the idlers were few 
 in number. Having engaged two chairs at one 
 of the tables we sat down and ordered coffee. 
 The duke was plainly ill at ease. He fretted 
 and fidgeted continually. His eyes scarcely 
 wandered from the steps of the lagoon, and 
 every gondola that drew up received his scru- 
 tinizing attention. When at last two ladies 
 disembarked and made their way across the 
 stones towards Florian's ca/2, where we were 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 129 
 
 seated, I thought he would have made an exhibi- 
 tion of himself. 
 
 Lady Beltringham, it would appear, had 
 arrived, but was so fatigued by her long journey 
 that she was unable to receive visitors. 
 
 " We returned almost immediately to the 
 hotel," said my wife reproachfully. "We 
 thought you would have waited for us there." 
 
 Glenbarth looked at me as if nothino: I could 
 ever do would make up for the enormity of my 
 offence. He then described to Miss Trevor some 
 wonderful photographs he had discovered that 
 morning in a certain shop on the other side of 
 the piazza. She questioned him concerning 
 them, and I suggested that they should go off and 
 overhaul them. This they did, and when they 
 had departed my wife produced some letters for 
 me she had taken from the rack at the hotel. 
 I looked at the writing upon the envelope of 
 the first, but for a moment could not recall where 
 or when I had seen it before. Then I opened it 
 and withdrew the contents. 
 
 "Why, it's from George Anstruther," I ex- 
 claimed when I had examined the signature. 
 "He is in Algiers." 
 
 " But what is the Ltter about ? " my wife 
 inquired. " You have not heard from him for so 
 long.'' 
 
 " 111 read it," I said, and began as follows — 
 
 I 
 
130 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 "My dear Hatteras, 
 
 " Here I am in the most charming place 
 on the whole Mediterranean, and I ought to 
 know, for I've seen and loathed all the others. 
 My villa overlooks the sea, and my yacht rides 
 at anchor in the bay. There are many nice 
 people here, and not the least pleasant is my 
 very good friend, Don Jos^ de Martinos, who is 
 leaving to-day for his first visit to Venice, vid Nice, 
 and I understand from him that he is to stay at 
 your hotel. He is a delightful creature ; has seen 
 much of the world, and if you will admit him to 
 the circle of your acquaintance, I don t think 
 you will regret it. I need not bore either myself 
 or you by repeating the hackneyed phrase to the 
 efi'ect that any civility you show him will be con- 
 sidered a kindness to myself, etc., etc. Eemember 
 me most kindly to Lady Hatteras, and 
 " Believe me to be, 
 
 " Ever sincerely yours, 
 
 "George Anstruther." 
 
 My wife uttered a little cry of vexation. 
 
 " Pleasant though he may prove, I cannot help 
 saying that I am sorry Don Jos^ Martinos is 
 coming," she said. " Our little party of four 
 was so happily arranged, and who knows but 
 that a fifth may upset its peace altogether ? " 
 
 "But he is Anstruther's friend," I said in 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 131 
 
 expostulation. ** One must be civil to one s 
 friends' friends." 
 
 "I do not at all see why," she answered. 
 " Because we like Mr. Anstruther it does not 
 follow that we shall like his friend." 
 
 At that moment the young couple were to be 
 observed crossing the piazza in our direction. 
 Glenbarth carried a parcel under his arm. 
 
 " I don't think there is much doubt about that 
 affair," said my wife, as she regarded them 
 approvingly. 
 
 *' Don't be too sure," I answered. " There is 
 many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, and there 
 is another old saying to the effect that those who 
 live longest see most." 
 
 One is sometimes oracular even in jest. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 On the following day, having sent my servant 
 to inquire, I was informed that the Don Jos^ 
 de Martinos had arrived at the hotel, and had 
 engaged rooms on the floor above our own. 
 Accordingly, after luncheon I ascended to the 
 rooms in question, and asked whether he would 
 receive me. I had scarcely waited more than a 
 minute before he made his appearance. He 
 paused on the threshold to give an order to his 
 man, and while he did so, I was permitted an 
 opportunity of taking stock of him. He was a 
 tall, muscular man of between thirty-five and 
 forty years of age. His appearance did not 
 betray so much of his Spanish origin as I had 
 expected. Indeed, it would have been difficult 
 to have given him a nationality. I noticed that 
 his beard, which he wore closely clipped, was 
 not innocent of the touch of Time. His face was 
 a powerful one, but at first glance I was not 
 altogether prepossessed in its favour. His hands 
 and feet were small, the former particularly so 
 
 132 
 
•FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 133 
 
 for a man of his size and build. Moreover, he 
 was faultlessly dressed, and carried himself with 
 the air of a man of the world and of good 
 breeding. 
 
 " Sir Richard Hatteras," he said, as he crossed 
 the room to greet me, " this is kind of you 
 indeed. My friend, Anstruther, informed me 
 that you were in Venice, and was good enough 
 to take upon himself the responsibility of 
 introducing me to you." 
 
 His voice was strong and musical, and he 
 pronounced every word (he spoke excellej;it 
 English) as if it had a value of its own. I 
 inquired after Anstruther's health, which for 
 some time past had been precarious, and it was 
 with satisfaction that I learnt of the improve- 
 ment that had taken place in it. 
 
 "You would scarcely know him now," said 
 Martinos. " He looks quite strong again. But 
 permit me to offer you a cigar. We Spaniards 
 say that we cannot talk unless we smoke ; you 
 English that you cannot smoke if you talk." 
 
 As he said this he handed me a box of cigars. 
 
 " I fancy you will like them," he said. " The 
 tobacco was grown upon my own estate in Cuba ; 
 for that reason I can guarantee their purity." 
 
 The weed I selected was excellent, in fact 
 one of the best cigars I had ever smoked. While 
 he was lighting his I stole another glance at him. 
 
134 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Decidedly lie was a handsome man, but — here 
 was the stumbling-block — there was something, 
 I cannot say what, about him that I did not 
 altogether like. It was not a crafty face, far 
 from it. .The eyes were well placed ; the mouth 
 from what one could see of it under his black 
 moustache was well moulded, with white, even 
 teeth ; the nose was slightly aquiline ; and the 
 chin large, firm, and square. Nevertheless, there 
 was something about it that did not suit my 
 fancy. Once I told myself it was a cruel face, 
 yet the singularly winning smile that followed 
 a remark of mine a moment later went some 
 way towards disabusing n^y mind upon that 
 point. 
 
 "Lady Hatteras, I understood from Senor 
 Anstruther, is with you," he said, after we had 
 talked of other things. 
 
 " She is down-stairs at this moment," I 
 answered. "We are a party of four — Miss 
 Trevor (the daughter of the Dean of Bedminster), 
 the Duke of Glenbarth, my wife, and myself. 
 I hope you will permit me the pleasure of intro- 
 ducing you to them at an early date." 
 
 " I shall be most happy," he replied. " I am 
 particularly fond of Venice, but, when all is said 
 and done, one must have companions to enjoy it 
 thoroughly." 
 
 I had been given to understand that this was 
 
« FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 135 
 
 his first visit to the Queen of the Adriatic, but I 
 did not comment upon the fact. 
 
 " One is inclined to believe that Adam would 
 have enjoyed the Garden of Eden if it had not 
 been for Eve," I remarked, with a smile. 
 
 " Poor Adam," he answered, '* I have always 
 thought him a much-abused man. Unlike our- 
 selves, he was without experience ; he had a com- 
 panion forced upon him who worked his ruin, 
 and his loss on the transaction was not only 
 physical but financial." 
 
 " How long do you contemplate remaining in 
 Venice ? " I asked, after the little pause that 
 followed his last speech. 
 
 ** I scarcely know," he answered. " My move- 
 ments are most erratic. I am that most unfortun- 
 ate of God's creatures, a wanderer on the face 
 of the earth. I have no relations and few 
 friends. I roam about as the fancy takes me, 
 remain in a place as long as it pleases me, and 
 then, like the Arab in the poem, silently take up 
 my tent and move on • as soon as the city I 
 happen to be in at the time has lost its charm. 
 I possess a pied-d-terre of four rooms in Cairo, 
 I have lived amongst the Khabyles in the desert, 
 and with the Armenians in the mountains. To 
 sum it up, I have the instincts of the Wandering 
 Jew, and fortunately the means of gratifying 
 them." 
 
136 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 "What it was I cannot say, but there was 
 something in his speech that grated upon my 
 feelings. Whether what he had said were true 
 or not, I am not in a position to affirm, but the 
 impression I received was that he was talking 
 for eflfect, and every one will know what that 
 means. 
 
 "As you are such a globe-trotter," I said, 
 " I suppose there is scarcely a portion of the 
 world that you have not visited ? " 
 
 " I have perhaps had more than my share of 
 travelling," he answered. '* 1 think I can safely 
 say that, with the exception of South America, 
 I have visited every portion of the known 
 globe." 
 
 " You have never been in South America 
 then ? " I asked in some surprise. 
 
 " Never," he replied, and immediately changed 
 the conversation by inquiring whether I had met 
 certain of Anstruther's friends who were supposed 
 to be on their way to Venice. A few minutes 
 later, after having given him an invitation to 
 dinner on the next evening, I bade him good- 
 bye and left him. On my return my wife was 
 eager to question me concerning him, but as 
 things stood I did not feel capable of giving her 
 a detailed reply. There are some acquaintances 
 who, one feels, will prove friends from the outset ; 
 there are others who fill one from the first with 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 137 
 
 a vague distrust. Not that I altogether distrusted 
 Martin OS, I had not seen enough of him to do 
 that ; at the same time, however, I could not 
 conscientiously say, as I have already observed, 
 that I was altogether prepossessed in his favour. 
 
 The following morning he accepted my invita- 
 tion for that evening, and punctually at half-past 
 seven he made his appearance in the drawing- 
 room. I introduced him to my wife, and also to 
 Miss Trevor when she joined us. 
 
 " My husband tells me that you are a great 
 traveller," said Phyllis, after they had seated 
 themselves. " He says you know the world as 
 we know London." 
 
 " Your husband does me too much honour," he 
 answered modestly. ^' From what I have heard 
 of you, you must know the world almost as well 
 as I do. My friend, Anstruther, has told me a 
 romantic story about you. Something con- 
 nected with a South Sea island, and a mysterious 
 personage named " 
 
 He paused for a moment as if to remember 
 the name. 
 
 " Nikola," I said ; " you do not happen to have 
 met him, I suppose ? " 
 
 " To my knowledge, never," he answered. " It 
 is a strange surname." 
 
 At that moment Glenbarth entered the room, 
 and I introduced the two men to each other. 
 
138 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 For some reason of my own I was quite prepared 
 to find that the Duke would not take a fancy to 
 our new acquaintance, nor was I destined to be 
 disappointed. Before dinner was half over I 
 could see that he had a great difficulty in being 
 civil to the stranger. Had Martinos not been our 
 guest, I doubt very much whether he would have 
 been able to control himself And yet the 
 Spaniard laid himself out in every way to please. 
 His attentions were paid chiefly to my wife, I 
 do not believe that he addressed Miss Trevor 
 more than a dozen times throughout the meal. 
 Notwithstanding this fact, Glenbarth regarded 
 him with evident animositv, insomuch that Miss 
 Trevor more than once looked at him with an 
 expression of positive alarm upon her face. She 
 had not seen him in this humour before, and 
 though she may have had her suspicions as to 
 the reason of it, it was plain that she was far 
 from approving of his line of action. When the 
 ladies withdrew, and the wine was being circu- 
 lated, I endeavoured to draw the two men into 
 greater harmony with each other. The attempt, 
 however, was unsuccessful. More than once 
 Glenbarth said things which bordered on rude- 
 ness, until I began to feel angry with him. On 
 one occasion, happening to look up suddenly 
 from the cigar which I was cutting, I detected 
 a look upon the Spaniard's face that startled 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 139 
 
 me. It however showed me one thing, and 
 that was the fact that despite his genial be- 
 haviour, Martinos had not been hlind to the 
 young man's treatment of himself, and also that, 
 should a time ever arrive when he would have 
 a chance of doing Glenbarth a mischief, he 
 w^ould not be forgetful of the debt he owed him. 
 Matters were not much better when we adjourned 
 to the drawing-room. Glenbarth, according to 
 custom, seated himself beside Miss Trevor, and 
 studiously ignored the Spaniard. I was more 
 sorry for this than I could say. It was the be- 
 haviour of a school-boy, not that of a man of the 
 world ; and the worst part of it was, that it was 
 doing Glenbarth no sort of good in the eyes of 
 the person with whom he wished to stand best. 
 The truth was the poor lad was far from being 
 himself. He was suffering from an acute attack 
 of a disease which has not yet received the 
 proper attention of Science — the disease of first 
 love. So overwhelmed was he by his passion, 
 that he could not bear any stranger even to look 
 upon the object of his adoration. Later in the 
 evening matters reached their climax, when my 
 wife asked the Don to sing. 
 
 " I feel sure that you do sing," she said in 
 that artless way which women often affect. 
 
 " I try sometimes to amuse my friends," 
 said he, and begging us to excuse him he 
 
140 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 retired to his own rooms, to presently return 
 with a large Spanish guitar. Having taken 
 a seat near the window, and when he had 
 swept his fingers over the strings in a few 
 preliminary chords, he commenced to sing. He 
 was the possessor of a rich baritone, which 
 he used with excellent effect. My wife was 
 delighted, and asked him to sing again. Miss 
 Trevor also expressed her delight, and seconded 
 my wife's proposal. This was altogether too 
 much for Glenbarth. Muttering something about 
 a severe headache he hurriedly left the room. My 
 wife and I exchanged glances, but Martinos and 
 Miss Trevor did not appear to notice his absence. 
 This time he sang a Spanish fishing-song, but I 
 did not pay much attention to it. A little later 
 the Don, having thanked us for our hospitality, 
 took his departure, and when Miss Trevor had 
 said good-night to us, and had retired to her 
 own room, my wife and I were left alone 
 together. 
 
 *' What could have made the Duke behave liko 
 that ? " she said. 
 
 ** He is madly in love, my dear, and also 
 madly jealous," I answered. " I hope and trust, 
 however, that he is not going to repeat this 
 performance." 
 
 " If he does he will imperil any chance he has 
 of winning Gertrude's love," she replied. " He 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 141 
 
 will also place us in a decidedly awkward 
 position." 
 
 " Let tHs be a lesson to you, my dear, never 
 to play witli fire again,'' I replied. " You bring 
 two inflammable people together, and wonder 
 that there should be an explosion." 
 
 ** Well, I'm really very angry with him. I 
 don't know what the Don Jos^ must have 
 thought." 
 
 " Probably he thought nothing about it," I 
 replied. ** You mustn't be too angry with Glen- 
 barth, however. Leave him to me, and I'll talk to 
 him. To-morrow, I promise you, he'll be sorry 
 for himself. If I know anything of women, 
 Gertrude will make him wish he had acted 
 differently." 
 
 *'I don't think she will bother about the 
 matter. She has too much sense." 
 
 " Very well ; we shall see." 
 
 I then bade her go to bed, promising myself to 
 sit up for Glenbarth, who, I discovered, had gone 
 out. It was nearly midnight when he returned. 
 I noticed that every trace of ill-humour had 
 vanished from his face, and that he was quite 
 himself once more. 
 
 " My dear Dick," he said, " I don't know how 
 to apologize for my ridiculous and rude behaviour 
 of to-night. I am more ashamed of myself than 
 I can say. I behaved like a child." 
 
142 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Because he happened to be in a repentant 
 mood I was not going to let him off the chas- 
 tising I felt that I ought to give him. 
 
 " A nice sort of young fellow you are, upon my 
 word," I said, putting down the paper I had been 
 reading as I spoke. " I've a very good mind to 
 tell you exactly what I think of you." 
 
 "It would be only wasting your time," he 
 returned. " For you can't think half as badly of 
 me as I do of myself. I can't imagine what 
 made me do it." 
 
 "Can't you?" I said. "Well, I can, and 
 as you are pretty certain to catch it in one 
 particular quarter to-morrow, I fancy, on mature 
 reflection, that I can afford to forgive you. The 
 man had done you no harm ; he not only did not 
 interfere with you, hut he was not trespassing 
 upon your " 
 
 " Don't speak of him," said the young fellow, 
 flaring up at once. " If I think of him I shall 
 get angry again. I can't bear the look of the 
 beggar." 
 
 " Steady, my young friend, steady," I returned. 
 " You mustn't call other people's friends by that 
 name." 
 
 "He is not your friend," said Glenbarth ex- 
 citedly. " You've never seen him until to-night, 
 and you've known me ever since I was about so 
 high." 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 143 
 
 " I began to imagine you only * so liigh ' this 
 evening," I said. *' It's a good thing for you that 
 the wife has gone to bed, or I fancy you would 
 have heard something that would have made your 
 ears tingle. After the foolish manner of women, 
 she has come to the conclusion that she would 
 like you to marry Miss Trevor." 
 
 " God bless her ! " he said fervently. " I knew 
 that she was my friend." 
 
 " In that case you would probably have enjoyed 
 a friend's privilege, had you been here to-night 
 before she retired, and have received a dressing- 
 down that is usually reserved for her husband. 
 I live in hopes that you may get it to-morrow." 
 
 **Bosh!"he answered. ** And now, if you 
 have forgiven me, I think I will go to bed. 
 I've had enough of myself for one day." 
 
 With that we shook hands, and bade each 
 other good- night. At his bedroom door he 
 stopped me. 
 
 " Do you think she wiU forgive me ? " he 
 asked, as humbly as would a boy who had been 
 caught stealing sugar-plums. 
 
 *' My wife," I answered. " Yes, I think it is 
 very probable that she will." 
 
 ** No, no ; how dense you are ; I mean " 
 
 Here he nodded his head in the direction of the 
 room occupied by Miss Trevor. 
 
 " You'll have to find out that for yourself," I 
 
lU « FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 replied, and then went on to my dressing- 
 room. 
 
 *' That will give your Grace something to think 
 about all night," I said, as I took ojBf my coat. 
 
 As it turned out, I was destined to be fairly 
 accurate in the prophecy I had made concerning 
 Miss Trevor's treatment of Glenbarth on the 
 morrow. At breakfast she did not altogether 
 ignore him, but when I say that she devoted the 
 larger share of her attention to myself, those of 
 my readers who are married, and have probably 
 had the same experience, will understand. My 
 wife, on the other hand, was affability itself, 
 and from her behaviour toward him appeared to 
 be quite willing to forgive and forget the un- 
 fortunate episode of the previous evening. I 
 chuckled to myself, but said nothing. He was 
 not at the end of his punishment yet. 
 
 All that day we saw nothing of Martinos. 
 Whether he remained at home or went abroad 
 we could not say. On returning to the hotel to 
 lunch, however, we discovered a basket of roses 
 in the drawing-room, with the Don's card tied to 
 the handle. 
 
 " Oh, what lovely flowers ! " cried my wife 
 in an ecstasy. " Look, Gertrude, are they not 
 beautiful?" 
 
 Miss Trevor cordially admired them ; and in 
 order, I suppose, that Glenbarth's punishment 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 145 
 
 might be the more complete, begged for a bud to 
 wear herself. One was given her, while I watched 
 Glenbarth's face over the top of the letter I was 
 reading at the moment. My heart was touched 
 by his miserable face, and when he and my wife 
 had left the room to prepare for lunch, I 
 determined to put in a good word for him. 
 
 *' Miss Gertrude," I said, " as an old friend 
 I have a favour to ask of you. Do you think 
 you can grant it ? " 
 
 " You must first tell me what it is," she said, 
 with a smile upon her face. ''I know from 
 experience that you are not to be trusted." 
 
 " A nice sort of character for a family man," 
 I protested. ''Lady Hatteras has been telling 
 tales, I can see." 
 
 *'Your wife would never tell a tale of any 
 one, particularly of you," she asserted. " But 
 what would you ask of me ? " 
 
 " Only a plea for human happiness," I said 
 with mock gravity. ''I have seen absolute 
 despair written indelibly on a certain human 
 countenance to-day, and the sight has troubled 
 me ever since. Are you aware that there is 
 a poor young man in this hotel, whose face 
 opens like a daisy to the sun when you smile 
 upon him, and closes in the darkness of your 
 neglect ? " 
 
 " How absurd you are I " 
 
 K 
 
146 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " Why am I absurd ? " 
 
 ''Because you talk in this fashion." 
 
 "Will you smile upon him again? He has 
 suffered a great deal these last two days." 
 
 " Really you are too ridiculous. I don't 
 know what you mean." 
 
 " That is not the truth, Miss Trevor, and you 
 know it." 
 
 " But what have I done wrong ? " 
 
 " That business with the rose just now, for 
 instance, was cruel, to say the least of it." 
 
 " Really, Sir Richard, you do say such foolish 
 things. If I want a rose to wear surely I may 
 have one. But I must not stay talking to you, 
 it's five-and-twenty minutes past one. I must 
 go and get ready for lunch." 
 
 I held open the door for her, and as she passed 
 I said — 
 
 " You will do what I ask ? Just to please 
 me?" 
 
 " I don't know what you mean, but I will 
 think it over," she replied, and then departed 
 to her room. 
 
 She must have done as she promised, for 
 the rose was absent from her dress when she sat 
 down to lunch. Glenbarth noticed it, and from 
 that moment his drooping spirits revived. 
 
 That afternoon my wife and I went down to meet 
 the P. and 0. mail-boat, in order to discover some 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 147 
 
 friends who were on their way to Egypt. As 
 neither the Duke of Glenbarth nor Miss Trevor 
 were acquainted with them they were excused 
 from attendance. When we joined them it 
 was plain that all traces of trouble had been 
 removed, and in consequence the Duke was 
 basking in the seventh heaven of happiness. 
 Had I asked the young man at that moment 
 for half his estates I believe he would 
 willingly have given them to me. He would 
 have done so even more willingly had he 
 known that it was to my agency that he owed 
 the wondrous change in his affairs. For some 
 reason of her own Miss Trevor was also in the 
 best of spirits. My wife was happy because her 
 turtle-doves were happy, and I beamed upon 
 them all with the complacency of the God out 
 of the machine. 
 
 All this time I had been wondering as to the 
 reason why we had not heard or seen anything 
 of Nikola. Why I should have expected to do 
 so I cannot say, but after the events of three 
 evenings ago, I had entertained a vague hope that 
 I should have seen him, or that he would have 
 communicated with me in some form or another. 
 We were to see him, however, before very long. 
 
 We had arranged to visit the Academy on 
 our return from the mail-boat, where my 
 wife was anxious to renew her acquaintance 
 
148 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 with the Titans. For my own part I am pre- 
 pared to admit that my knowledge of the 
 pictures is not sufficiently cultivated to enable 
 me to derive any pleasure from the constant 
 perusal of these Masters. Phyllis and Miss 
 Trevor, however, managed to discover a source 
 of considerable satisfaction in them. "When we 
 left the gallery, we made our way, according to 
 custom, in the direction of the piazza of Saint 
 Mark. We had not advanced very far upon our 
 walk, however, before I chanced to turn round, to 
 discover, striding after us, no less a person than 
 our new acquaintance, Don Jos^ Martinos. He 
 bowed to the ladies, shook hands with myself, 
 and nodded to the Duke. 
 
 " If you are proceeding in the direction of 
 the piazza, will you permit me to accompany 
 you ? " he asked, and that permission having 
 been given by my wife, we continued our 
 walk. What Glenbarth thought of it I do not 
 know, but as he had Miss Trevor to himself, I 
 do not see that he had anything to complain of. 
 On reaching Florian's cafe, we took our custom- 
 ary seats, the Don placing himself next to my 
 wife, and laying himself out to be agreeable. 
 Once he addressed Glenbarth, and I was aston- 
 ished to see the conciliatory manner that the 
 other adopted towards him. 
 
 '*Now that he sees that he has nothing to 
 
^FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 149 
 
 fear, perhaps he will not be so jealous," I said 
 to myself, and indeed it appeared as if this 
 were likely to be the case. I was more relieved 
 by this discovery than I could say. As we should 
 probably be some time in Venice, and the Don 
 had arrived with the same intention, and we 
 were to be located in the same hotel, it was of 
 the utmost importance to our mutual comforts 
 that there should be no friction between the 
 two men. But enough of this subject for the 
 present. There are other matters to be con- 
 sidered. In the first place I must put on record 
 a curious circumstance. In the light of after 
 events it bears a strange significance, and he 
 would be a courageous man who would dare to 
 say that he could explain it. 
 
 It must be borne in mind, in order that the 
 importance of what I am now about to describe 
 may be plainly understood, that Miss Trevor 
 was seated facing me, that is to say, with her 
 back towards the Cathedral of St. Mark. She 
 was in the best of spirits, and at the moment 
 was engaged in an animated discussion with 
 my wife on the effect of Ancient Art upon her 
 hete noir, the Cockney tourist. Suddenly, 
 without any apparent reason, her face grew 
 deathly pale, and she came to a sudden stop 
 in the middle of a sentence. Fortunately no 
 one noticed it but my wife and myself, and as 
 
150 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 slie was herself again in a moment, we neither 
 of lis called attention to it. A moment later 
 I glanced across the square, and to my amaze- 
 ment saw no less a person than Doctor Nikola 
 approaching us. Was it possible that Miss 
 Trevor, in some extraordinary manner, had 
 become aware of his proximity to her, or was 
 it only one of those strange coincidences that 
 are so difficult to explain away? I did not 
 know what to think then, nor, as a matter of 
 fact, do I now. 
 
 Eeaching our party, Nikola raised his hat to 
 the ladies. 
 
 "I fear, Lady Hatteras," he said, "that I 
 must have incurred your displeasure for keeping 
 your husband so long away from you the other 
 night. If so, I hope you will forgive me." 
 
 " I will endeavour to do so," said my wife 
 with a smile, "but you must be very careful 
 how you offend again." 
 
 Then turning to Miss Trevor, he said, " I hope 
 you will grant me your gracious intercession, 
 Miss Trevor?" 
 
 " I will do my best for you," she answered, 
 with a seriousness that made my wife and I look 
 at her. 
 
 Then Nikola shook hands with Glenbarth, and 
 glanced at the Don. 
 
 " Permit me to introduce you to Don Jos^ de 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 151 
 
 Martinos, Doctor Nikola," I said; ''he has 
 lately arrived from Algiers." 
 
 The two men bowed gravely to each other. 
 
 ** You are fond of travelling, I presume, 
 Senor," said Nikola, fixing his eyes upon the Don. 
 
 "I have seen a considerable portion of the 
 world," the other answered. " I have seen the 
 Midnight Sun at Cape North and the drift ice 
 off the Horn." 
 
 " And have not found it all barren," Nikola 
 remarked gravely. 
 
 From that moment the conversation flowed 
 smoothly. Miss Trevor had quite recovered 
 herself, and I could see that the Don was 
 intensely interested in Nikola. And indeed on 
 this particular occasion the latter exerted him- 
 self to the utmost to please. I will admit, 
 however, that something not unlike a shudder 
 passed over me as I contrasted his present 
 affability with his manner when he had 
 threatened the unfortunate Police Agent a few 
 nights before. Now he was a suave, pleasant- 
 mannered man of the world, then he figured 
 almost as an avenging angel ; now he discussed 
 modern literature, then I had heard him threaten 
 a human being with the direst penalties that it 
 was possible for man to inflict. When it was 
 time for us to return to our hotel, Nikola rose 
 and bade us good-bye. 
 
152 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 ** I hope you will permit me the pleasure of 
 seeing more of you while you are in Venice," 
 said Nikola, addressing the Don. ** If you are 
 an admirer of the old palaces of this wonderful 
 city, and our friends will accompany you, I shall 
 be delighted to show you my own poor abode. 
 It possesses points of interest that many of the 
 other palaces lack, and, though it has fallen 
 somewhat to decay, I fancy you will admit that 
 the fact does not altogether detract from its 
 interest." 
 
 " I shall hasten to avail myself of the oppor- 
 tunity you are kind enough to offer me," the 
 other replied, after which they bowed ceremoni- 
 ously to each other and parted. 
 
 " Your friend is an extraordinary man," said 
 the Don as we walked towards the steps. '* I 
 have never met a more interesting person. Does 
 he altogether reside in Venice ? " 
 
 " Oh dear, no," I replied. " If one were 
 asked to say where Nikola had his abode it 
 would be almost necessary to say ' in the world.' 
 I myself met him first in London, afterwards in 
 Egypt, then in Australia, and later on in the 
 South Sea Islands. Now we are together again 
 in Venice. I have good reason for knowing 
 that he is also familiar with China and Thibet. 
 He himself confesses to a knowledge of Africa 
 and Central America." 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 153 
 
 " To Central America ? " said the Don quickly. 
 " Pray what part of Central America does he 
 know ? " 
 
 " That I am unable to say," I replied. " I have 
 never questioned him upon the subject.*' 
 
 From that moment the Don almost exclusively 
 addressed himself to my wife, and did not refer 
 to Nikola again. We parted in the hall of the 
 hotel. Next morning we saw him for a few 
 moments at the post-office, but at no other time 
 during the day. On the following day he 
 accompanied us on an excursion to Chioggia, 
 and dined with us afterwards. Though I knew 
 that Glenbarth still disliked him, his hostility 
 was so veiled as to be scarcely noticeable. To- 
 wards the end of the evening a note was brought 
 to me. One glance at the handwriting upon 
 the envelope was sufficient to show me that it 
 was from Nikola. It ran as follows — 
 
 "My dear Hatteras, 
 
 " Remembering your friend Don Mar- 
 tinos' desire to see my poor palace, I have 
 written to ask him if he will dine with me to- 
 morrow evening at eight o'clock. If I can 
 persuade you and the Duke of Glenbarth to give 
 me the pleasure of your society, I need scarcely 
 say that you will be adding to my delight. 
 
 " Sincerely yours, 
 
 "Nikola." 
 
164 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 *' You have not of course received your letter 
 yet/' I said, addressing the Don. "What do 
 you say to the invitation ? " 
 
 "I shall accept it only too willingly," he 
 answered without delay. " Provided, of course, 
 you will go too." 
 
 " Have you any objection to raise, Duke ? " 
 I asked, addressing Glenbarth. 
 
 I could see that he was not very anxious to 
 go, but under the circumstances he could not 
 very well refuse. 
 
 " I shall be very happy," he answered. 
 
 And for once in his life he deliberately said 
 what he knew to be untrue. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 
 "You surely are not going to dine with 
 Doctor Nikola in tliat strange house?" said 
 my wife, when we were alone together that 
 night. "After what the Duke has told us, 
 I wonder that you can be so foolish." 
 
 "My dear girl," I answered, "I don't see 
 the force of your argument. I shan't be the 
 first who has eaten a meal in the house in 
 question, and I don't suppose I shall be the last. 
 What do you think will happen to me? Do 
 you think that we have returned to the times 
 of the Borgias, and that Nikola will poison us ? 
 No, I am looking forward to a very enjoyable 
 and instructive evening." 
 
 "While v/e are sitting at home, wondering 
 if the table is disappearing bodily into the 
 vaults and taking you with it, or whether 
 Nikola is charging the side-dishes with some of 
 his abominable chemistry, by which you will 
 be put to sleep for three months, or otherwise 
 experimenting upon you in the interests of what 
 
 155 
 
156 FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 he calls Science. I don't think it is at all kind 
 of you to go." 
 
 " Dear girl," I answered, " are you not a little 
 unreasonable ? Knowing that de Martinos has 
 but lately arrived in Venice, also that he is a 
 friend of ours — for did he not meet him when in 
 our company ? — it is only natural that Nikola 
 should desire to show him some courtesy. In 
 spite of its decay, the Palace Revecce is an 
 exceedingly beautiful building, and when he 
 heard that Martinos would like to visit it, he 
 invited him to dinner. What could be more 
 natural ? This is the nineteenth century ! " 
 
 " I am sure I don't mind what century it is," 
 she replied. " Still I adhere to what I said just 
 now. I am sorry you are going." 
 
 " In that case I am sorry also," I answered, 
 " but as the matter stands I fail to see how I can 
 get out of it. I could not let the Duke and 
 Martinos go alone, so what can I do?" 
 
 " I suppose you will have to go," she replied 
 ruefully. " I have a presentiment, however, 
 that trouble will result from it." 
 
 With that the subject was dropped, and it 
 was not until the following morning, when I 
 was smoking with Glenbarth after breakfast, 
 that it cropped up again. 
 
 *' Look here, Dick," said my companion then. 
 " What about this dinner at Nikola's house to- 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 167 
 
 night ? You seemed to be very keen on going last 
 night ; are you of the same mind this morning ? " 
 
 *' Why not ? " I answered. " My wife does 
 not like the notion, but I am looking forward to 
 seeing Nikola play the host. The last time I 
 dined with him, you must remember, was in 
 Port Said, and then the banquet could scarcely 
 be described as a pleasant one. What is more, 
 I am anxious to see what effect Nikola and his 
 house will produce upon our friend the Don." 
 
 " I wish he'd get rid of him altogether," my 
 companion replied. " I dislike the fellow more 
 and more every time I see him." 
 
 " Why should you ? He does you no harm ! " 
 
 " It's not that," said Glenbarth. " My dislike 
 to him is instinctive ; just as one shudders 
 when one looks into the face of a snake, or as 
 one is repelled by a toad or a rat. In spite of 
 his present apparent respectability, I should 
 not be at all surprised to hear that at some 
 period of his career he had committed murders 
 innumerable." 
 
 *' Nonsense, nonsense," I replied, "you must 
 not imagine such things as that. You were 
 jealous when you first saw him, because you 
 thought he was going to come between you and 
 Miss Trevor. You have never been able to 
 overcome the feeling, and this continued dislike 
 is the result. You must fight against it. Doubt- 
 
158 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 less, when you have seen more of him, you will 
 like him better." 
 
 " I shall never like him better than I do now," 
 he answered, with conviction. " As they say in 
 the plays, * my gorge rises at him ! ' If you saw 
 him in the light I do, you would not let Lady 
 Hatteras " 
 
 "My dear fellow," I began, rising from my 
 chair and interrupting him, "this is theatrical 
 and very ridiculous, and I assume the right of 
 an old friend to tell you so. If you prefer not 
 to go to-night, I'll make some excuse fqj you, 
 but don't, for goodness' sake, go and make things 
 unpleasant for us all w^hile you're there." 
 
 " I have no desire to do so," he replied stiffly. 
 " What is more, I am not going to let you go 
 alone. Write your letter and accept for us 
 both. Bother Nikola and Martinos as weU, 
 I wish they were both on the other side of the 
 world." 
 
 I thereupon wrote a note to Nikola accepting, 
 on Glenbarth's behalf and my own, his invitation 
 to dinner for that evening. Then I dismissed 
 the matter from my mind for the time being. 
 An hour or so later my wife came to me with a 
 serious face. 
 
 " I am afraid, Dick, that there is something 
 the matter with Gertrude," she said. " She has 
 gone to her room to lie down, complaining of a 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 159 
 
 very bad headache and a numbness in all her 
 limbs. I have done what I can for her, but if 
 she does not get better by lunch-time, I think I 
 shall send for a doctor." 
 
 As, by lunch-time, she was no better, the 
 services of an English doctor were called in. 
 His report to my wife was certainly a puzzling 
 one. He declared he could discover nothing the 
 matter with the girl, nor anything to account 
 for the mysterious symptoms. 
 
 " Is she usually of an excitable disposition ? " 
 he inquired, when we discussed the matter 
 together in the drawing-room. 
 
 " Not in the least," I replied. ** I should say 
 she is what might be called a very evenly- 
 dispositioned woman." 
 
 He asked one or two other questions and then 
 took leave of us, promising to call again next 
 day. 
 
 " I cannot understand it at all,'^ said my wife 
 when he had gone ; " Gertrude seemed so well 
 last night. Now she lies upon her bed and 
 complains of this continued pain in her head 
 and the numbness in all her limbs. Her hands 
 and feet are as cold as ice, and her face is as 
 white as a sheet of note-paper." 
 
 During the afternoon Miss Trevor determined 
 to get up, only to be compelled to return to 
 bed again. Her headache had left her, but the 
 
160 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 strange numbness still remained. She seemed 
 incapable, so my wife informed me, of using her 
 limbs. The effect upon the Duke may be better 
 imagined than described. His face was the 
 picture of desolation, and his anxiety was all 
 the greater inasmuch as he was precluded from 
 giving vent to it in speech. I am afraid that, 
 at this period of his life, the young gentleman's 
 temper was by no means as placid as we were 
 accustomed to consider it. He was given to 
 flaring up without the slightest warning, and 
 to looking upon himself and his own little world 
 in a light that was very far removed from 
 cheerful. Realizing that we could do no good 
 at home, I took him out in the afternoon, and 
 was given to understand that I was quite with- 
 out heart, because, when we had been an hour 
 abroad, I refused to return to the hotel. 
 
 "I wonder if there is anything that Miss 
 Trevor would like," he said, as we crossed the 
 piazza of Saint Mark. " It could be sent up to 
 her, you know, in your name." 
 
 " You might send her some flowers," I 
 answered. "You could then send them from 
 yourself." 
 
 "By Jove, that's the very thing. You do 
 have some good ideas sometimes." 
 
 "Thank you," I said quietly. "Approbation 
 from Sir Hubert Stanley is praise indeed," 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 161 
 
 " Bother your silly quotations I " he retorted. 
 " Let's get back to that flower-shop." 
 
 We did so, and thereupon that reckless youth 
 spent upon flowers what would have kept me 
 in cigars for a month. Having paid for them 
 and given orders that they should be sent to 
 the Hotel Galaghetti at once, we left the shop. 
 When we stood outside, I had to answer all 
 sorts of questions as to whether I thought she 
 would like them, whether it would not have 
 been better to have chosen more of one sort 
 than another, and whether the scent would not 
 be too strong for a sick-room. After that he 
 felt doubtful whether the shopkeeper would send 
 them in time, and felt half inclined to return 
 in order to impress this fact upon the man. Let 
 it be counted to me for righteousness that I 
 bore with him patiently, remembering my own 
 feeling at a similar stage in my career. When 
 we reached the hotel on our return, we dis- 
 covered that the patient was somewhat better. 
 She had had a short sleep, and it had refreshed 
 her. My wife was going to sit with her during 
 the evening, and knowing this, I felt that we 
 might go out with clear consciences. 
 
 At a quarter to seven we retired to our rooms 
 to dress, and at a quarter past the hour were 
 ready to start. When we reached the hall, we 
 found the Don awaiting us there. He was 
 
162 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 dressed with the greatest care, and presented a 
 not unhandsome figure. He shook hands cordi- 
 ally with me and bowed to Glenbarth, who had 
 made no sign of ofi'ering him his hand. Previous 
 to setting out, I had extorted from that young 
 man his promise that he would behave with 
 courtesy towards the other during the evening. 
 
 " You can't expect me to treat the fellow as a 
 friend," he had said in reply, " but I will give 
 you my word that I'll be civil to him — if that's 
 what you want." 
 
 And with this assurance I was perforce com- 
 pelled to be content. 
 
 Having taken our places in the gondola which 
 was waiting for us, we set off. 
 
 "I had the pleasure of seeing Doctor Nikola 
 this morning," said Martin os, as we turned into 
 the Rio del Consiglio. " He did me the honour 
 of calling upon me." 
 
 I gave a start of surprise on hearing this. 
 
 " Indeed," I replied. ** And at what hour was 
 that?" 
 
 " Exactly at eleven o'clock," the Don answered. 
 " I remember the time because I was in the act 
 of going out, and we encountered each other in 
 the hall." 
 
 Now it is a singular thing, a coincidence if you 
 like, but it was almost on the stroke of eleven 
 that Miss Trevor had been seized with her 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 163 
 
 mysterious illness. At a quarter past the hour 
 she felt so poorly as to be compelled to retire to 
 her room. Of course there could be no connection 
 between the two aifairs, but it was certainly a 
 coincidence of a nature calculated to afford me 
 ample food for reflection. A few moments later 
 the gondola drew up at the steps of the Palace 
 Kevecce. Almost at the same instant the door 
 opened and we entered the house. The court- 
 yard had been lighted in preparation for our 
 coming, and, following the man who had ad- 
 mitted us, we ascended the stone staircase to the 
 corridor above. Though not so dismal as when 
 I had last seen it, lighted only by Nikola's 
 lantern, it was still sufficiently awesome to create 
 a decided impression upon the Don. 
 
 "You were certainly not wrong when you 
 described it as a lonely building,'' he said, as we 
 passed along the corridor to Nikola's room. 
 
 As he said this the door opened, and Nikola 
 stood before us. He shook hands with the Duke 
 first, afterwards with the Don, and then with 
 myself. 
 
 "Let me offer you a hearty welcome," he 
 began. ** Pray enter." 
 
 We followed him into the room I have already 
 described, and the door was closed behind us. 
 It was in this apartment that I had expected we 
 should dine, but I discovered that this was not 
 
164 'FAEEWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 to be the case. The tables were still littered with 
 papers, books, and scientific apparatus, just as 
 when I had last seen it. Glenbarth seated him- 
 self in a chair by the window, but I noticed that 
 his eyes wandered continually to the oriental 
 rug upon the floor by the fireplace. He was 
 doubtless thinking of the vaults below, and, as 
 I could easily imagine, wishing himself anywhere 
 else than where he was. The black cat, Ap oily on, 
 which was curled up in an arm-chair, regarded 
 us for a few seconds with attentive eyes, as 
 if to make sure of our identities, and then 
 returned to his slumbers. The windows were 
 open, I remember, and the moon was just 
 rising above the house-tops opposite. I had 
 just gone to the casement, and was looking 
 down upon the still waters below, when the 
 tapestry of the wall on the right hand was 
 drawn aside by the man who had admitted us to 
 the house, who informed Nikola in Italian that 
 dinner was upon the table. 
 
 " In that case let us go in to it," said our host. 
 " Perhaps your Grace wiU be kind enough to lead 
 the way." 
 
 Glenbarth did as he was requested, and we 
 followed him, to find ourselves in a large, hand- 
 some apartment, which had once been richly 
 frescoed, but was now, like the rest of the palace, 
 sadly fallen to decay. In the centre of the room 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 165 
 
 was a small oval table, well illuminated by a 
 silver lamp, which diffused a soft light upon the 
 board, the remainder of the room being in heavy- 
 shadow. The decorations, the napery, and the 
 glass and silver, were, as I could see at one 
 glance, unique. Three men-servants awaited 
 our coming, though where they hailed from and 
 how Nikola had induced them to enter the 
 palace, I could not understand. Nikola, as our 
 host, occupied one end of the table ; Glenbarth, 
 being the principal guest of the evening, was given 
 the chair on his left ; the Don took that on the 
 right, while I faced him at the further end. 
 How, or by whom, the dinner was cooked was 
 another mystery. Nikola had told us on the 
 occasion of our first visit, that he possessed no 
 servants, and that such cooking as he required 
 was done for him by an old man who came in 
 once every day. Yet the dinner he gave us on 
 this particular occasion was worthy of the finest 
 chef in Europe. It was perfect in every par- 
 ticular. Though Nikola scarcely touched any- 
 thing, he did the honours of his table royally, 
 and with a grace that was quite in keeping with 
 the situation. Had my wife and Miss Trevor 
 been present, they might, for all the terrors they 
 had anticipated for us, very well have imagined 
 themselves in the dining-room of some old 
 English country mansion, waited upon by the 
 
166 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 family butler, and taken in to dinner by the 
 Bishop and Eural Dean. The Nikola I had seen 
 when I had last visited the house was as distant 
 from our present host as if he had never existed. 
 When I looked at him, I could scarcely believe 
 that he had ever been anything else but the 
 most delightful man of my acquaintance. 
 
 "As a great traveller, Don Jose," he said, 
 addressing the guest on his right hand, "you 
 have of course dined in a great number of 
 countries, and I expect under a variety of start- 
 ling circumstances. Now tell me, what is your 
 most pleasant recollection of a meal ? " 
 
 " That which I managed to obtain after the 
 fall of Valparaiso," said Martinos. " We had 
 been without food for two days, that is to say, 
 without a decent meal, when I chanced upon a 
 house where breakfast had been abandoned with- 
 out being touched. I can see it now. Ye gods ! 
 it was delightful. And not the less so because 
 the old rascal we were after had managed to 
 make his escape." 
 
 " You were in opposition to Balmaceda, then ? " 
 said Nikola quietly. 
 
 Martinos paused for a moment before he 
 answered. 
 
 " Yes, against Balmaceda," he replied. " I 
 wonder whether the old villain really died, and 
 if so what became of his money." 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 167 
 
 **That is a question one would like to have 
 settled concerning a good many people/' Glenbarth 
 put in. 
 
 " There was that man up in the Central States, 
 the Republic of — ah ! what was its name ? — 
 Equinata," said Nikola. " I don't know whether 
 you remember the story." 
 
 " Do you mean the fellow who shot those 
 unfortunate young men ? " I asked. *' The man 
 you were telling me of the other night." 
 
 *^The same," Nikola replied. "Well, he 
 managed to fly his country, taking with him 
 something like two million dollars. From that 
 moment he has never been heard of, and as a 
 matter of fact I do not suppose he ever will be. 
 After all, luck has a great deal to do with things 
 in this world." 
 
 " Permit me to pour out a libation to the God 
 of Chance," said Martinos. " He has served me 
 well." 
 
 "I think we can all subscribe to that," said 
 Nikola. " You, Sir Richard, would not be the 
 happy man you are had it not been for a stroke 
 of good fortune which shipwrecked you on one 
 island in the Pacific instead of another. You, 
 my dear Duke, would certainly have been 
 drowned in Bournemouth Bay had not our 
 friend Hatteras chanced to be an early riser, 
 and to have taken a certain cruise before break- 
 
1G8 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 fast ; while you, Don Martinos, would in all pro- 
 bability not be my guest to-night had not " 
 
 The Spaniard looked sharply at him as if he 
 feared what he was about to hear. 
 
 *' Had not what happened ? " he asked. 
 
 *'Had President Balmaceda won his day," 
 was the quiet reply. " He did not do so, how- 
 ever, and so we four sit here to-night. Certainly, 
 a libation to the God of Chance." 
 
 At last the dinner came to an end, and the 
 servants withdrew, having placed the wine upon 
 the table. The conversation drifted from one 
 subject to another until it reached the history of 
 the palace in which we were then the guests. 
 For the Spaniard's information Nikola related 
 it in detail. He did not lay any particular 
 emphasis upon it, however, as he had done upon 
 the story he had told the Duke and myself con- 
 cerning the room in which he had received 
 us. He merely narrated it in a matter-of-fact 
 way, as if it were one in which he was only 
 remotely interested. Yet I could not help think- 
 ing that he fixed his eyes more keenly than 
 usual on the Spaniard, who sat sipping his wine 
 and listening with an expression of polite atten- 
 tion upon his sallow face. When the wine had 
 been circulated for the last time, Nikola sug- 
 gested that we should leave the dining-room 
 and return to his own sitting-room. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 169 
 
 *' I do not feel at home in tins room/' he said 
 by way of explanation ; *^ for that reason I never 
 use it. I usually partake of such food as I need 
 in the next, and allow the rest of the house to 
 fall undisturbed into that decay which you see 
 about you." 
 
 With that we rose from the table and returned 
 to the room in which he had received us. A 
 box of cigars was produced and handed round ; 
 Nikola made coffee with his own hands at a 
 table in the corner, and then I awaited the fur- 
 ther developments that I knew would come. 
 Presently Nikola began to speak of the history 
 of Venice. As I had already had good reason to 
 know, he had made a perfect study of it, par- 
 ticularly of the part played in it by the Eevecce 
 family. He dealt with particular emphasis upon 
 the betrayal through the Lion's Mouth, and 
 then, with an apology to Glenbarth and myself 
 for boring us with it again, referred to the 
 tragedy of the vaults below the room in which 
 we were then seated. Once more he drew back 
 the carpet and the murderous trap-door opened. 
 A cold draught, suggestive of unspeakable horrors, 
 came up to us. 
 
 " And there the starving wretch died with the 
 moans of the woman he loved sounding in his 
 ears from the room above," said Nikola. " Does 
 it not seem that you can hear them now ? For 
 
170 'FAKE WELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 my part, I think they will echo through all 
 eternity." 
 
 If he had been an actor what a wonderful 
 tragedian he would have made ! As he stood 
 before us pointing down into the abyss he held 
 us spell-bound. As for Martinos, all the 
 accumulated superstition of the centuries 
 seemed to be concentrated in him, and he 
 watched Nikola's face as if he were fascinated 
 beyond the power of movement. 
 
 " Come/' Nikola began at last, closing the 
 trap-door and placing the rug upon it as he 
 spoke, ** you have heard the history of the 
 house. You shall now do more than that ! 
 You shall see it ! " 
 
 Fixing his eyes upon us he made two or three 
 passes in the air with his long white hands. 
 Meanwhile, it seemed to me as if he were looking 
 into my brain. I tried to avert my eyes, but 
 without success. They were chained to his 
 face, and I could not remove them. Then 
 an overwhelming feeling of drowsiness took pos- 
 session of me, and I must have lost conscious- 
 ness, for I have no recollection of anything 
 until I found myself in a place I thought for 
 a moment I had never seen before. And 
 yet after a time I recognized it. It was a 
 bright day in the early spring, the fresh breeze 
 coming over the islands from the open sea was 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 171 
 
 rippling the water of the lagoons. I looked at 
 my surroundings. I was in Venice, and yet it 
 was not the Venice with which I was familiar. 
 I was standing with Nikola upon the steps of 
 a house, the building of which was well- 
 nigh completed. It was a magnificent edi- 
 fice, and I could easily understand the pride of 
 the owner as he stood in his gondola and sur- 
 veyed it from the stretch of open water opposite. 
 He was a tall and handsome man, and wore a 
 doublet and hose, shoes with large bows, and a 
 cloak trimmed with fur. There was also a chain 
 of gold suspended round his neck. Beside him 
 was a man whom I rightly guessed to be the 
 architect, for presently the taller man placed his 
 hand upon his shoulder and praised him for the 
 work he had done, vowing that it was admirable. 
 Then, at a signal, the gondolier gave a stroke 
 of his oar and the little vessel shot across to the 
 steps, where they landed close to where I was 
 standing. I stepped back in order that they 
 might pass, but they took no sort of notice of 
 my presence. Passing on, they entered the 
 house. 
 
 '* They do not see us," said Nikola, who was 
 beside me. " Let us enter and hear what the 
 famous Admiral Francesco del Eevecce thinks of 
 his property." 
 
 We accordingly did so to find ourselves in a 
 
172 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 magnificent courtyard. In the centre of this 
 courtyard was a well, upon which a carver 
 in stone was putting the finishing touches to a 
 design of leaves and fruit. From here led a 
 staircase, and this we ascended. In the diiferent 
 rooms artists were to be observed at work upon 
 the walls, depicting sea-fights, episodes in the 
 history of the Kepublic, and of the famous master 
 of the house. Before each the owner paused, 
 bestowing approval, giving advice, or suggesting 
 such alteration or improvement as he considered 
 needful. In his company we visited the kitchens, 
 the pantler's offices, and penetrated even to the 
 dungeons below the water-level. Then we once 
 more ascended to the courtyard, and stood at the 
 great doors while the owner took his departure 
 in his barge, pleased beyond measure with his 
 new abode. Then the scene changed. 
 
 Once more I stood before the house with Nikola. 
 It was night, but it was not dark, for great 
 cressets fiared on either side of the door, and a 
 hundred torches helped to illuminate the scene. 
 All the Great World of Venice was making its 
 way to the Palace Revecce that night. The first 
 of the series of gorgeous fetes given to celebrate 
 the nuptials of Francesco del Revecce, the most 
 famous sailor of the Republic, who had twice 
 defeated the French fleet, and who had that 
 day married the daughter of the Duke of Levano, 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 173 
 
 was in progress. The bridegroom was still com- 
 paratively young, he was also rich and powerful ; 
 the bride was one of the greatest heiresses of 
 Venice, besides being one of its fairest daughters. 
 Their new home was as beautiful as money and 
 the taste of the period could make it. Small 
 wonder was it, therefore, that the world hastened 
 to pay court to them. 
 
 " Let us once more enter and look about us," 
 said Nikola. 
 
 " One moment," I answered, drawing him back 
 a step as he was in the act of coming into collision 
 with a beautiful girl who had just disembarked 
 from her gondola upon the arm of a grey-haired 
 man. 
 
 "You need have no fear," he replied. "You 
 forget that we are Spirits in a Spirit World, and 
 that they are not conscious of our presence.'* 
 
 And indeed this appeared to be the case, for 
 no one recognized us, and more than once I saw 
 people approach Nikola, and, scarcely believable 
 though it may seem, walk through him without 
 being the least aware of the fact. 
 
 On this occasion the great courtyard was 
 brilliantly illuminated. Scores of beautiful 
 figures were ascending the stairs continually, while 
 strains of music sounded from the rooms above. 
 
 " Let us ascend/' said Nikola, " and see the 
 pageant there." 
 
174 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 It was indeed a sumptuous entertainment, and 
 when we entered the great reception-rooms, 
 no fairer scene could have been witnessed in 
 Venice. I looked upon the bridegroom and 
 his bride, and recognized the former as being 
 the man I had seen praising the architect on 
 the skill he had displayed in the building of the 
 palace. He was more bravely attired now, how- 
 ever, than on that occasion, and did the honours 
 of his house with the ease and assurance of one 
 accustomed to uphold the dignity of his name and 
 position in the world. His bride was a beautiful 
 girl, with a pale, sweet face, and eyes that 
 haunted one long after they had looked at them. 
 She was doing her best to appear happy before 
 her guests, but in my own heart 1 knew that such 
 was not the case. Knowing what was before her, 
 I realized something of the misery that was 
 weighing so heavily upon her heart. Surrounding 
 her were the proudest citizens of the proudest 
 Kepublic of all time. There was not one who did 
 not do her honour, and among the women who 
 were her guests that night, how many were 
 there who envied her good fortune ? Then the 
 scene once more changed. 
 
 This time the room was that with which I was 
 best acquainted, the same in which Nikola had 
 taken up his abode. The frescoes upon the walls 
 and ceilings were barely dry, and Kevecce was 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 175 
 
 at sea again, opposing his old enemy the French, 
 who once more threatened an attack upon the 
 city. It was towards evening, and the red glow 
 of the sunset shone upon a woman's face, as 
 she stood beside the table at which a man was 
 writing. I at once recognized her as Eevecce's 
 bride. The man himself was young and hand- 
 some, and when he looked up at the woman 
 and smiled, the love-light shone in her eyes, 
 as it had not done when she had looked upon 
 Revecce. There was no need for Nikola to tell 
 me that he was Andrea Bunopelli, the artist to 
 whose skill the room owed its paintings. 
 
 " Art thou sure 'twill be safe, love ? " asked 
 the woman in a low voice, as she placed her hand 
 upon his shoulder. "Remember 'tis death to 
 bring a false accusation against a citizen of the 
 Republic, and 'twill be worse when 'tis against 
 the great Revecce." 
 
 " I have borne that in mind," the man answered. 
 ** But there is nought to fear, dear love. The 
 writing will not be suspected, and I will drop 
 it in the Lion's Mouth myself, — and then ? " 
 
 Her only answer was to bend over him and 
 kiss him. He scattered the sand upon the letter 
 he had written, and when it was dry, folded it up 
 and placed it in his bosom. Then he kissed the 
 woman once more and prepared to leave the room. 
 The whole scene was so real that I could have 
 
176 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 sworn that lie saw me as I stood watching 
 him. 
 
 "Do not linger," she said in farewell. "I 
 shall know no peace till you return." 
 
 Drawing aside the curtain he disappeared, and 
 then once more the scene changed. 
 
 A cold wind blew across the lagoon, and there 
 was a suspicion of coming thunder in the air. A 
 haggard, ragged tatterdemalion was standing on 
 the steps of a small door of the palace. Presently 
 it was opened to him by an ancient servant, who 
 asked his business, and would have driven him 
 away. When he had whispered something to 
 him, however, the other realized that it was 
 his master, whom he thought to be a prisoner 
 in the hands of the French. Then, amazed 
 beyond measure, the man admitted him. Having 
 before me the discovery he was about to make, 
 I looked at him with pity, and when he stumbled 
 and almost fell, I hastened forward to pick him 
 up, but only clasped air. At last, when his 
 servant had told him everything, he followed him 
 to a distant portion of the palace, where he was 
 destined to remain hidden for some days, taking 
 advantage of the many secret passages the palace 
 contained, and by so doing confirming his suspi- 
 cions. His wife was unfaithful to him, and the 
 man who had wrought his dishonour was the 
 man to whom he had been so kind and generous 
 
' ' Throwing open the secret door 
 Faiewell. Nikola."] 
 
 . . he confronted them." 
 
 [PaQt 177 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 177 
 
 a benefactor. I seemed to crouch by his side 
 time after time in the narrow passage behind the 
 arras, watching through a secret opening the 
 love-making going on within. 1 could see the 
 figure beside me quiver with rage and hate, 
 until I thought he would burst in upon them, 
 and then the old servant would lead him away, 
 his finger upon his lips. How many times 
 I stood with him there I cannot say, it is sujficient 
 that at last he could bear the pain no longer, 
 and, throwing open the secret door, entered the 
 room and confronted the man and woman. As I 
 write, I can recall the trembling figures of the 
 guilty pair, and the woman's shriek rings in my 
 ears even now. I can see Bunopelli rising from 
 the table, at which he had been seated, with the 
 death-look in his face. Within an hour the 
 confession of the crime they had perpetrated 
 against Revecce had been written and signed, and 
 they were separated and made secure until the 
 time for punishment should arrive. Then, for 
 the first time since he had arrived in Venice, he 
 ordered his barge and set off for the Council 
 Chamber to look his accusers in the face and to 
 demand the right to punish those who had 
 betrayed him. 
 
 When he returned his face was grim and set, 
 and there was a look in his eyes that had not 
 been there before. He ascended to the room in 
 
 M 
 
178 'FAKEWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 which there was the trap-door in the floor, and 
 presently the wretched couple were brought 
 before him. In vain Bunopelli pleaded for 
 mercy for the woman. There was no mercy to 
 be obtained there. I would have pleaded for 
 them too, but I was powerless to make myself 
 heard. I saw the great beads of perspiration 
 that stood upon the man's brow, the look of 
 agonizing entreaty in the woman's face, and the 
 relentless decision on her husband's countenance. 
 Nothing could save them now. The man was 
 torn, crying to the last for mercy for her, from 
 the woman's side, the trap-door gave a click, and 
 he disappeared. Then they laid hands upon the 
 woman, and I saw them force open her mouth — 
 but I cannot set down the rest. My tongue 
 clove to the roof of my mouth, and though I 
 rushed forward in the hope of preventing their 
 horrible task, my efforts were as useless as 
 before. Then, with the pitiless smile still upon 
 the husband's face, and the moans ascending 
 from the vault belo^\% and the woman with . . . 
 The scene changed. 
 
 When I saw it again a stream of bright sun- 
 shine was flooding the room. It was still the 
 same apartment, and yet in a sense not the same. 
 The frescoes were faded upon the walls, there was 
 a vast difference in the shape and make of the 
 furniture, and in certain other things, but it was 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 179 
 
 nevertheless the room in which Francesco del 
 Kevecce had taken his terrible revenge. A tall 
 and beautiful woman, some thirty years of age, 
 was standing beside the window holding a letter 
 in her hand. She had finished the perusal of it and 
 was lingering with it in her hand, looking lovingly 
 upon the signature. At last she raised it to her 
 lips and kissed it passionately. Then, crossing 
 to a cradle at the further end of the room, she 
 knelt beside it and looked down at the child it 
 contained. She had bent her head in prayer, 
 and was still praying, when with a start I awoke 
 to find myself sitting beside Glenbarth and the 
 Don in the room in which we had been smoking 
 after dinner. Nikola was standing before the 
 fireplace, and there was a look like that of death 
 upon his face. It was not until afterwards that 
 the Spaniard and Glenbarth informed me that 
 they had witnessed exactly what I had seen. Both, 
 however, were at a loss to understand the meaning 
 of the last picture, and, having my own thoughts 
 in my mind, I was not to be tempted into ex- 
 plaining it to them. That it was Nikola's own 
 mother, and that this house was her property, 
 and the same in which the infamous governor of 
 the Spanish Colony had made his love known to 
 her, I could now see. And if anything were 
 wanting to confirm my suspicions, Nikola's face, 
 
180 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 when my senses returned to me, was sufficient 
 to do so. 
 
 " Let me get out of this house," cried the Duke 
 thickly. " I cannot breathe while I am in it. 
 Take me away, Hatteras ; for God's sake take 
 me away ! " 
 
 I had already risen to my feet and had 
 hastened to his side. 
 
 " I think it would be better that we should 
 be going, Doctor Nikola," I said, turning to our 
 host. 
 
 The Spaniard, on his side, did not utter a word. 
 He was so dazed as to be beyond the power of 
 speech. But Nikola did not seem to comprehend 
 what I said. Never before had I seen such a 
 look upon his face. His complexion was always 
 white, now, however, it was scarcely human. 
 Tor my own part I knew what was passing in 
 his mind, but I could give no utterance to it. 
 
 "Come," I said to my companions, "let us 
 return to our hotel." 
 
 They rose and began to move mechanically 
 towards the door. The Duke had scarcely 
 reached it, however, before Nikola, with what 
 I could see was a violent effort, recovered his 
 self-possession. 
 
 " You must forgive me," he said in almost his 
 usual voice. " I had for the moment forgotten 
 
« FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 181 
 
 my duties as host. I fear you liave had but 
 a poor evening." 
 
 When we had donned our hats and cloaks, we 
 accompanied him down-stairs through the house, 
 which was now as silent as the grave, to the 
 great doors upon the steps. Having hailed a 
 gondola we entered it, after wishing Nikola "good- 
 night/' He shook hands with Glenbarth and 
 myself, but I noticed that he did not offer to do so 
 with the Don. Then we shot out into the middle 
 of the canal and had presently turned the corner 
 and were making our way towards our hotel. I 
 am perfectly certain that during the journey not 
 one of us spoke. The events of the evening had 
 proved too much for us, and conversation was 
 impossible. We bade Martinos " good-night " in 
 the hall, and then the Duke and I ascended to 
 our own apartments. Spirits had been placed 
 upon the table, and I noticed that the Duke 
 helped himself to almost twice his usual quantity. 
 He looked as if he needed it. 
 
 ** My God, Dick," he said, " did you see what 
 happened in that room ^ Did you see that 
 w^oman kneeling with the " 
 
 He put down his glass hurriedly and walked 
 to the window. I could sympathize with him, 
 for had I not seen the same thing myself ? 
 
 " It's certain, Dick," he said, when he returned 
 a few moments later, **that, were I to see much 
 
182 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 more of Nikola in tliat house, I should go mad. 
 But why did he let me see it ? Why ? Why 1 
 For Heaven's sake answer me." 
 
 How could I tell him the thought that was in 
 my own mind ? How could I reveal to him the 
 awful fear that was slowly but surely taking 
 possession of me ? Why had Nikola invited the 
 Don to his house ? Why had he shown him the 
 picture of that terrible crime ? Like Glenbarth 
 I could only ask the same question — Why ? 
 Why? Why? 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Befoke Glenbarth and I parted on the 
 terrible evening described in the previous 
 chapter, we had made a contract with each 
 other to say nothing about what we had seen 
 to the ladies. For this reason, when my wife 
 endeavoured to interrogate me concerning our 
 entertainment, I furnished her with an elaborate 
 description of the dinner itself; spoke of the 
 marvellous cooking, and I hope gave her a fairly 
 accurate account of the menu, or rather so much 
 of it as I could remember. 
 
 "I suppose I must confess to defeat then," 
 she said, when I had exhausted my powers of 
 narration. " I had a settled conviction that 
 something out of the common would have oc- 
 curred. You seem simply to have had a good 
 dinner, to have smoked some excellent cigars, 
 and the rest to have been bounded merely by 
 the commonplace. For once I fear Doctor Nikola 
 has not acted up to his reputation." 
 
 If she had known the truth, I wonder what 
 
 183 
 
184 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 she would have said ? Long after she had bade 
 me good-night I lay awake ruminating on the 
 different events of the evening. The memory 
 of what I had seen in that awful room was stiJl 
 as fresh with me as if I were still watching it. 
 And yet, I asked myself, why should I worry 
 so much about it ? Nikola had willed that his 
 audience should see certain things. AVe had 
 done so. It was no more concerned with the 
 supernatural than I was myself Any man who 
 had the power could have impressed us in the 
 same way. But though I told myself all this, 
 I must confess that I was by no means convinced. 
 I knew in my heart that the whole thing had 
 been too real to be merely a matter of make- 
 believe. No human brain could have invented 
 the ghastly horrors of that room in such complete 
 detail. Even to think of it now, is to bring the 
 scene almost too vividly before me ; and when I 
 lay awake at night I seem to hear the shrieks 
 of the wretched woman, and the moans of the 
 man perishing in the vaults below. 
 
 On my retiring to rest my wife had informed 
 me that she fancied Miss Trevor had been slightly 
 better that evening. She had slept peacefully 
 for upwards of an hour, and seemed much 
 refreshed by it. 
 
 " Her maid is going to spend the night in her 
 room," said Phyllis ; " I have told her that, if 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 185 
 
 she sees any change in Gertrude's condition, she 
 is to let me know at once. I do hope that she 
 may be herself again to-morrow." 
 
 This, however, was unhappily not destined to 
 be the case ; for a little before three o'olock, 
 there was a tapping upon our bedroom door. 
 Guessing who it would be, my wife went to it, 
 and, having opened it a little, was informed that 
 Miss Trevor was worse. 
 
 " I must go to her at once," said Phyllis, and, 
 having clothed herself warmly, for the night was 
 cold, she departed to our guest's room. 
 
 " I am really afraid that there is something 
 very serious the matter with her," she said, 
 when she returned after about a quarter of an 
 hour's absence. " She is in a high state of fever, 
 and is inclined to be delirious. Don't you 
 think we had better send for the doctor ? " 
 
 " I will have a messenger despatched to him 
 at once if you think it necessary," I returned. 
 " Poor girl, I wonder what on earth it can be ? " 
 
 " Perhaps the doctor will be able to tell us now," 
 said my wife. ** The symptoms are more fully 
 developed, and he should surely be able to make 
 his diagnosis. But I must not stay here talking. 
 I must go back to her." 
 
 When she had departed, I dressed myself and 
 went down to the hall in search of the night 
 watchman. He undertook to find a messenger 
 
186 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 to go and fetch the doctor, and, when I had 
 seen him despatched on his errand, I returned 
 to the drawing-room, switched on the electric 
 light, and tried to interest myself in a book 
 until the medico should arrive. I was not very- 
 successful, however, for interesting though I was 
 given to understand the book was, I found my 
 thoughts continually leaving it and returning 
 to the house in the Rio del Consiglio. I won- 
 dered what Nikola was doing at that moment, 
 and fancied I could picture him still at work, 
 late though the hour was. At last, tiring of the 
 book and w^anting something else to occupy my 
 thoughts, I went to the window and drew back 
 the shutters. It was a beautiful morning, and the 
 myriad stars overhead were reflected in the black 
 waters of the canal like the lamps of a large 
 town. Not a sound was to be heard ; it might 
 have been a City of the Dead, so still was it. 
 As I stood looking across the water, I thought 
 of the city's past history, of her ancient grandeur, 
 of her wondrous art, and of the great men who 
 had been her children. There was a tremendous 
 lesson to be learnt from her Fall if one could 
 only master it. I was interrupted in my reverie 
 by the entrance of the doctor, whom I had told 
 the night watchman to conduct to my presence 
 immediately upon his arrival. 
 
 *' I am sorry to bring you out at this time of 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 187 
 
 the night, doctor," I said ; ** but the fact is, Miss 
 Trevor is much worse. My wife spent the greater 
 part of the evening with her, and informed me 
 on my return from a dinner that she was 
 better. Three-quarters of an hour ago, however, 
 her maid, who had been sleeping in her room, came 
 to us with the news that a change for the worse 
 had set in. This being the case, I thought it 
 better to send for you at once." 
 
 *'You did quite right, my dear sir, quite 
 right," the medico replied. "There is nothing 
 like promptness in these matters. Perhaps I 
 had better see her without further delay." 
 
 With that I conducted him to the door of 
 Miss Trevor's room. He knocked upon it, was 
 admitted by my wife, and then disappeared from 
 my gaze. Something like half-an-hour elapsed 
 before he returned to me in the drawing-room. 
 When he did so his face looked grave and troubled. 
 
 "What do you think of her condition now, 
 doctor?" I asked. 
 
 " She is certainly in a state of high fever," he 
 answered. " Her pulse is very high, and she 
 is inclined to be delirious. At the same time 
 I am bound to confess to you that I am at a 
 loss to understand the reason of it. The case 
 puzzled me considerably yesterday, but I am 
 even more puzzled by it now. There are various 
 symptoms that I can neither account for nor 
 
188 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 explain. One thing, however, is quite certain — 
 the young lady must have a trained nurse, and, 
 with your permission, I will see that one comes 
 in after breakfast. Lady Hatteras is not strong 
 enough for the task." 
 
 " I am quite with you there," I answered. 
 "And I am vastly obliged to you for putting 
 your foot down. At the same time, will you 
 tell me whether you deem it necessary for me 
 to summon her father from England 1 " 
 
 " So far as I can see at present, I do not think 
 there is any immediate need," he replied. '* Should 
 I see any reason for so doing, I would at once 
 tell you. I have given a prescription to Lady 
 Hatteras, and furnished her with the name of 
 a reliable chemist. I shall return between nine 
 and ten o'clock, and shall hope to have better 
 news for you then." 
 
 " I sincerely trust you may," I said. " As 
 you may suppose, her illness has been a great 
 shock to us." 
 
 I then escorted him down-stairs and after- 
 wards returned to my bedroom. The news which 
 he had given me of Miss Trevor's condition was 
 most distressing, and made me feel more anxious 
 than I cared to admit. At seven o'clock I 
 saw my wife for a few minutes, but, as before, 
 she had no good news to give me. 
 
 " She is quite delirious now," she said, " and 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 189 
 
 talks continually of some great trouble which she 
 fears is going to befall her; implores me to 
 help her to escape from it, but will not say 
 definitely what it is. It goes to my heart to 
 hear her, and to know that I cannot comfort 
 her." 
 
 *' You must be careful what you are doing," I 
 replied. " The doctor has promised to bring a 
 trained nurse with him after breakfast, who will 
 relieve you of the responsibility. I inquired 
 whether he thought we had better send for her 
 father, and it is in a way encouraging to know 
 that, so far, he does not think there is any 
 necessity for such an extreme step. In the 
 meantime, however, I think I will write to the 
 Dean and tell him how matters stand. It will 
 prepare him, but I am afraid it will give the poor 
 old gentleman a sad fright." 
 
 " It could not give him a greater fright than 
 it has done us,'' said Phyllis. " I do not know 
 why I should do so, but I cannot help thinking 
 that I am to blame in some way." 
 
 " What nonsense, my dear girl," I replied. 
 " I am sure you have nothing whatsoever to 
 reproach yourself with. Far from it. You must 
 not worry yourself about it, or we shall be having 
 you upon our hands before long. You must 
 remember that you are yourself far from strong." 
 
 '* I am quite myself again now," she answered. 
 
190 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 ** It is only on account of your anxiety that I 
 treat myself as an invalid." Then she added, 
 *' I wonder what the Duke will say when he 
 hears the news ? " 
 
 " He was very nearly off his head yesterday," 
 I answered. " He will be neither to hold nor to 
 bind to-day." 
 
 She was silent for a few moments, then she 
 said thoughtfully — 
 
 " Do you know, Dick, it may seem strange to 
 you, but I do not mind saying that I attribute 
 all this trouble to Nikola." 
 
 " Good gracious," I cried, in well-simulated 
 amazement, ** why on earth to Nikola ? " 
 
 " Because, as was the case five years ago, it 
 has been all trouble since we met him. You 
 remember how he affected Gertrude at the outset. 
 She was far from being herself on the night of 
 our tour through the city, and now in her 
 delirium she talks continually of his dreadful 
 house, and from what she says, and the way she 
 behaves, I cannot help feeling inclined to believe 
 that she imagines herself to be seeing some of 
 the dreadful events which have occurred or are 
 occurring in it." 
 
 *' God help her," I said to myself. And then 
 I continued aloud to my wife, "Doubtless 
 Nikola s extraordinary personality has affected 
 her in some measure, as it does other people, but 
 
*FAEEWELL, NIKOLA' 191 
 
 you are surely not going to jump to the con- 
 clusion that because she has spoken to him he is 
 necessarily responsible for her illness ? That 
 would be the wildest flight of fancy." 
 
 **And yet, do you know/' she continued, "I 
 have made a curious discovery." 
 
 " What is that ? " I asked, not without some 
 asperity, for, having so much on my mind, I was 
 not in the humour for fresh discoveries. 
 
 She paused for a moment before she replied. 
 Doubtless she expected that I would receive it 
 with scepticism, if not with laughter; and 
 Phyllis, ever since I have known her, has a 
 distinct fear of ridicule. 
 
 " You may laugh at me if you please," she said, 
 " yet the coincidence is too extraordinary to be 
 left unnoticed. Do you happen to be aware, 
 Dick, that Doctor Nikola called at this hotel at 
 exactly eleven o'clock ? " 
 
 I almost betrayed myself in my surprise. 
 This was the last question I expected her to put 
 to me. 
 
 **Yes," I answered, with an endeavour to 
 appear calm, ** I do happen to be aware of that 
 fact. He merely paid a visit of courtesy to the 
 Don, prior to the other's accepting his hospitality. 
 I see nothing remarkable in that. I did the 
 same myself, if you remember." 
 
 " Of course I know that," she replied, *' but 
 
192 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 there is more to come. Are you also aware that 
 it was at the very moment of his arrival in the 
 house that Gertrude was taken ill? What do 
 you think of that 1 " 
 
 She put this question to me with an air of 
 triumph, as if it were one that no argument on 
 my part could refute. At any rate, I did not 
 attempt the task. 
 
 "I think nothing of it," I replied. **You 
 may remember that you once fell down in a dead 
 faint within a few minutes of the vicar's arrival 
 at our house at home. Would you therefore 
 have me suppose that it was on account of 
 his arrival that you were taken ill? Why 
 should you attribute Miss Trevors illness to 
 Nikola's courtesy to our friend the Don ? " 
 
 " I beg that you will not call him our friend," 
 said Phyllis with considerable dignity. " I do 
 not like the man." 
 
 I did not tell her that the Duke was equally 
 outspoken concerning our companion. I could 
 see that they would put their heads together, 
 and that trouble would be the inevitable result. 
 Like a wise husband I held my peace, knowing 
 that whatever I might say would not better 
 the situation. 
 
 Half-an-hour later it was my unhappy lot to 
 have to inform Glenbarth of Miss Trevor's 
 condition. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 193 
 
 " I told you yesterday that it was a matter not 
 to be trifled with," he said, as if I were personally 
 responsible for her grave condition. " The doctor 
 evidently doesn't understand the case, and what 
 you ought to do, if you have any regard for her 
 life, is to send a telegram at once to London, 
 ordering competent advice." 
 
 "The Dean of Bedminster has a salary of 
 eight hundred pounds per annum," I answered 
 quietly. " Such a man as you would want me 
 to send for would require a fee of some hundreds 
 of guineas to make such a journey." 
 
 " And you would allow her to die for the sake 
 of a few paltry pounds?" he cried. ''Good 
 heavens, Dick, I never thought you were a 
 money-grabber." 
 
 " I am glad you did not," I answered. " It 
 is of her father I am thinking. Besides, I do 
 not know that the doctor here is as ignorant as 
 you say. He has a most complicated and un- 
 usual case to deal with, and I honour him for 
 admitting the fact that he does not understand 
 it. Many men in his profession would have 
 thrown dust in our eyes, and have pretended to 
 a perfect knowledge of the case." 
 
 The young man did not see it in the same 
 light as I did, and was plainly of the opinion 
 that we were not doing what we might for the 
 woman he loved. My wife, however, took him 
 
 N 
 
194 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 in hand after breakfast, and talked quietly but 
 firmly to him. She succeeded where I had 
 failed, and when I returned from an excursion 
 to the chemist's, where I had the prescriptions 
 made up, I found him in a tolerably reasonable 
 frame of mind. 
 
 At a quarter to ten the doctor put in an 
 appearance once more, and, after a careful in- 
 spection of his patient, informed me that it 
 was his opinion that a consultant should be 
 called in. This was done, and to our dismay 
 the result came no nearer elucidating the mystery 
 than before. The case was such a one as had 
 never entered into the experience of either man. 
 To all intents and purposes there was nothing 
 that would in any way account for the patient's 
 condition. The fever had left her, and she com- 
 plained of no pain, while her mind, save for 
 occasional relapses, was clear enough. They 
 were certain it was not a case of paralysis, yet 
 she was incapable of moving, or of doing 
 anything to help herself. The duration of her 
 illness was not sufficient to justify her extreme 
 weakness, nor to account for the presence of 
 certain other symptoms. There was nothing for 
 it, therefore, but for us to possess our souls in 
 patience and to wait the turn of events. When 
 the doctors had departed I went in search of 
 Glenbarth, and gave him their report. The poor 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 195 
 
 fellow was far from being consoled by it. 
 He had hoped to receive good news, and their 
 inability to give a satisfactory decision only 
 confirmed his belief in their incompetency. Had 
 I permitted him to do so, he would have tele- 
 graphed at once for the best medical advice in 
 Europe, and would have expended half his own 
 princely revenues in an attempt to make her 
 herself once more. Tt was difficult to convince 
 him that he had not the right to heap liabilities 
 on the old gentleman's shoulder, which, in honour 
 bound, he would feel he must repay. 
 
 I will not bore my readers with the abusive 
 arguments against society, and social etiquette, 
 with which he favoured me in reply to my 
 speech. The poor fellow was beside himself with 
 anxiety, and it was difficult to make him under- 
 stand that, because he had not placed a narrow 
 band of gold upon a certain pretty finger, he 
 was debarred from saving the life of the owner 
 of that self-same finger. Towards nightfall it 
 was certain that Miss Trevor's condition was 
 gradually going from bad to worse. With the 
 closing of the day the delirium had returned, 
 and the fever had also come with it. We spent a 
 wretchedly anxious night, and in the morning, 
 at the conclusion of his first visit, the doctor 
 informed me that, in his opinion, it would be 
 advisable that I should telegraph to the young 
 
196 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 lady's father. This was an extreme step, and, 
 needless to say, it caused me great alarm. It 
 was all so sudden that it was scarcely possible to 
 realize the extent of the calamity. Only two 
 days before Miss Trevor had been as well as 
 any of us, and certainly in stronger health than 
 my wife. Now she was lying, if not at death's 
 door, at least at no great distance from that 
 grim portal. Immediately this sad intelligence 
 was made known to me I hastened to the tele- 
 graph-office, and despatched a message to the 
 Dean, asking him to come to us with all possible 
 speed. Before luncheon I received a reply to 
 the effect that he had already started. Then 
 we sat ourselves down to wait and to watch, 
 hoping almost against hope that this beautiful, 
 happy young life might be spared to us. All 
 this time we had seen nothing of the Don or 
 of Nikola. The former, however, had heard of 
 Miss Trevor's illness, and sent polite messages 
 as to her condition. I did not tell Glenbarth 
 of this, for the young man had sufficient to 
 think of just then without my adding to his 
 worries. 
 
 I must pass on now to describe to you the 
 arrival of the Dean of Bedminster in Venice. 
 Feeling that he would be anxious to question me 
 concerniug his daughter's condition, I made a 
 point of going to meet him alone. Needless to 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 197 
 
 Bay he was much agitated on seeing me, and 
 implored me to give him the latest bulletin. 
 
 " God's will be done," he said quietly, when 
 he had heard all I had to tell him. " I did not 
 receive your letter," he remarked, as we made our 
 way from the station in the direction of Gala- 
 ghetti's hotel, " so that you will understand that 
 I know nothing of the nature of poor Gertrude's 
 illness. What does the doctor say is the matter 
 with her ? " 
 
 I then informed him how the case stood, and 
 of the uncertainty felt by the two members of 
 the medical profession I had called in. " Surely 
 that is very singular, is it not ? " he asked, when 
 I had finished. ** There are not many diseases 
 left that they are unable to diagnose." 
 
 " In this case, however, I fear they are at a 
 loss to assign a name to it," I said. " However, 
 you will be able very soon to see her for yourself, 
 and to draw your own conclusions." 
 
 The meeting between the worthy old gentleman 
 and his daughter was on his side afi'ecting in the 
 extreme. She did not recognize him, nor did 
 she know my wife. When he joined me in the 
 drawing-room a quarter of an hour or so later 
 his grief was pitiful to witness. While we 
 were talking Glenbarth entered, and I intro- 
 duced them to each other. The Dean knew 
 nothing of the latter's infatuation for his 
 
198 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 daughter, but I fancy, after a time, he must 
 have guessed that there was something in the 
 wind from the other's extraordinary sympathy 
 with him in his trial. As it happened the old 
 gentleman had not arrived any too soon. That 
 afternoon Miss Trevor was decidedly worse, and 
 the medical men expressed their gravest fears 
 for her safety. All that day and the next we 
 waited in suspense, but there was no material 
 change. Nature was fighting her battle stub- 
 bornly, inch by inch. The girl did not seem 
 any worse, nor was there any visible improve- 
 ment. On the doctor's advice a third physician 
 was called in, but with no greater success than 
 before. Then on one never-to-be-forgotten 
 afternoon the first doctor took me on one side 
 and informed me that in his opinion, and those 
 of his colleagues, it would not be wise to cherish 
 any further hopes. The patient was undeniably 
 weaker, and was growing more so every hour. 
 With a heart surcharged with sorrow I went to the 
 Dean's room and broke the news to him. The 
 poor old man heard me out in silence, and then 
 walked to the window and looked down upon the 
 Grand Canal. After a while he turned, and coming 
 back to me once more laid his hand upon my arm. 
 "If it is the Lord's will that I lose her, what 
 can I do but submit ? " he said. " When shall I 
 be allowed to see her ? " 
 
•FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 199 
 
 " I will make inquiries," I answered, and 
 hastened away in search of the doctor. As I 
 passed along the passage I met Galaghetti. The 
 little man had been deeply grieved to hear the 
 sad intelligence, and hastened in search of me at 
 once. 
 
 " Mlord,*' said he, for do what I would I could 
 never cure him of the habit, ** believe me it is 
 not so hopeless, though they say so, if you will 
 but listen to me. There is Doctor Nikola, your 
 friend ! He could cure her if you went to him. 
 Did he not cure my child ? " 
 
 I gave a start of surprise. I will confess that 
 the idea had occurred to me, but I had never 
 given the probability of putting it into execution 
 a thought. Why should it not be done ? Gala- 
 ghetti had reminded me how Nikola had cured 
 his child when she lay at the point of death, and 
 the other doctors of Venice had given her up. 
 He was so enthusiastic in his praises of the 
 doctor that I felt almost inclined to risk it. 
 When I reached the drawing-room Glenbarth 
 hastened towards me. 
 
 " What news ? " he inquired, his anxiety 
 showing itself plainly upon his face. 
 
 I shook my head. 
 
 "For God's sake don't trifle with me," he 
 cried. " You can have no idea what I am 
 suffering." 
 
200 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Feeling that it would be better if I told him 
 everything, I made a clean breast of it. He 
 beard me out before he spoke. 
 
 " She must not die," he said, with the fierceness 
 of despair. " If there is any power on earth 
 that can be invoked, it shall be brought to bear. 
 Can you not think of anything ? Try ! Eemember 
 that every second is of importance." 
 
 '* Would it be safe to try Nikola ? " I inquired, 
 looking him steadfastly in the face. " Galaghetti 
 is wild for me to do so." 
 
 In spite of his dislike to Nikola, Glenbarth 
 jumped at the suggestion as a drowning man 
 clutches at a straw. 
 
 " Let us find him at once," he cried, seizing me 
 by the arm. " If any one can save her he is the 
 man. Let us go to him without a moment's 
 delay." 
 
 " No, no," I answered, " that will never do. 
 Even in a case of such gravity the proprieties 
 must be observed. I must consult the doctors 
 before calling in another." 
 
 I regret very much to say that here the Duke 
 made use of some language that was neither 
 parliamentary nor courteous to those amiable 
 gentlemen. 
 
 I sought them out and placed the matter 
 before them. To the idea of calling in a fourth 
 consultant they had not the least objection, 
 
'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 201 
 
 though they were all of the opinion that it could 
 do no good. When, however, I mentioned the 
 fact that that consultant's name was Nikola, I 
 could plainly see that a storm was rising. 
 
 ** Gentlemen," I said, " you must forgive me 
 if I speak plainly and to the point. You have 
 given us to understand that your patient's case 
 is hopeless. Now I have had considerable ex- 
 perience of Doctor Nikola's skill, and I feel that 
 we should not be justified in withholding him 
 from our counsel, if he will consent to be called 
 in. I have no desire to act contrary to medical 
 etiquette, but we must remember that the 
 patient's life comes before aught else." 
 
 One doctor looked at the other, and all shook 
 their heads. 
 
 " I fear," said the tallest of them, who invari- 
 ably acted as spokesman, '' that if the services of 
 the gentleman in question are called in, it wi.ll 
 be necessary for my colleagues and myself to 
 abandon our interest in the case. I do not of 
 course know how far your knowledge extends, 
 but I hope you will allow me to say, sir, that 
 the most curious stories are circulated both as to 
 the behaviour and the attainments of this Doctor 
 Nikola." 
 
 Though I knew it to be true, his words nettled 
 me. And yet I had such a deeply-rooted belief 
 in Nikola that, although they were determined 
 
202 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA » 
 
 to give up the case, I felt we should still be 
 equally, if not more, powerful without them. 
 
 "I sincerely hope, gentlemen," I said, "that 
 you will not do as you propose. Nevertheless, I 
 feel that I should not be myself acting rightly if 
 I were to allow your professional prejudices to 
 stand in the way of my friend's recovery." 
 
 " In that case I fear there is nothing left to us 
 but to most reluctantly withdraw," said one of 
 the men. 
 
 " You are determined ? " 
 
 " Quite determined," they replied together. 
 Then the tallest added, " We much regret it, but 
 our decision is irrevocable." 
 
 Ten minutes later they had left the hotel in a 
 huff, and I found myself seated upon the horns 
 of a serious dilemma. What would my position 
 be if Nikola's presence should exercise a bad 
 effect upon the patient, or if he should decline 
 to render us assistance ? In that case I should 
 have offended the best doctors in Venice, and 
 should in all probability have killed her. It waa 
 a nice position to be placed in. One thing, 
 however, was as certain as anything could be, 
 and that was the fact that there was no time to 
 lose. My wife was seriously alarmed when I 
 informed her of my decision, but both G-lenbarth 
 and I felt that we were acting for the best, and 
 the Dean sided with us. 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 203 
 
 " Since you deem it necessary, go in search of 
 Doctor Nikola at once," said my wife, when the 
 latter had left us. *' Implore him to come 
 without delay ; in another hour it may be too 
 late." Then in a heart-broken whisper she 
 added, " She is growing weaker every moment. 
 Oh, Dick, Heaven grant that we are not acting 
 wrongly, and that he may be able to save her." 
 
 *' I feel convinced that we are doing right," I 
 answered. *' And now I will go in search of 
 Nikola, and if possible bring him back with me." 
 
 " God grant you may be successful in your 
 search," said Glenbarth, wringing my hand. ** If 
 Nikola saves her I will do anything he may ask, 
 and still be grateful to him all the days of my 
 life." 
 
 Then I set off upon my errand. 
 
CHAPTEK IX 
 
 With a heart as heavy as lead I made my 
 
 way down-stairs, and having chartered a gondola, 
 
 bade the man take me to the Palace Revecce with 
 
 all possible haste. Old Galaghetti, who stood 
 
 upon the steps, nodded vehement approval, and 
 
 rubbed his hands with delight as he thought 
 
 of the triumph his great doctor must inevitably 
 
 achieve. As I left the hotel I looked back at 
 
 it with a feeling of genuine sorrow. Only a 
 
 <^ew days before our party had all been so 
 
 happy together, and now one was stricken down 
 
 with a mysterious malady that, so far as I could 
 
 see, was likely to end in her death. Whether 
 
 the gondolier had been admonished by Galaghetti 
 
 to make haste, and was anxious to do so in 
 
 sympathy with my trouble, I cannot say; the 
 
 fact, however, remains that we accomplished the 
 
 distance that separated the hotel from the palace 
 
 in what could have been little more than half 
 
 the time usually taken. My star was still in the 
 
 ascendant when we reached the palace, for when 
 
 204 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 205 
 
 I had disembarked at the steps, the old man who 
 did menial service for Nikola, had just opened it 
 and looked out. I inquired whether his master 
 was at home, and, if so, whether I could see him ? 
 He evidently realized that my Italian was of the 
 most rudimentary description, for it was neces- 
 sary for me to repeat my question three or four 
 times before he could comprehend my meaning. 
 When at last he did so, he pointed up the stairs 
 to signify that Nikola was at home, and also 
 that, if I desired to see him, I had better go in 
 search of him. I immediately did so, and has- 
 tened up the stairs to the room I have already 
 described, and of which I entertained such ghastly 
 recollections. I knocked upon the door, and a 
 well-known voice bade me in English to *'come in." 
 I was in too great a haste to fulfil my mission to 
 observe at the time the significance these words 
 contained. It was not until afterwards that I 
 remembered the fact that, as we approached the 
 palace, I had looked up at Nikola's window and 
 had seen no sign of him there. As I had not 
 rung the bell, but had been admitted by the old 
 man-servant, how could he have become aware 
 of my presence ? But, as I say, I thought of 
 all that afterwards. For the moment the only 
 desire I had was to inform Nikola of my errand. 
 Upon my entering the room I found Nikola 
 standing before a table on which were glasses, 
 
206 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 test-tubes, and various cliemical paraphernalia. 
 He was engaged in pouring some dark- coloured 
 liquid into a graduating glass, and when he 
 spoke it was without looking round at me. 
 
 " I am very glad to see you, my dear Hatteras," 
 he said. "It is kind of you to take pity on my 
 loneliness. If you don't mind sitting down for 
 a few moments, and lighting a cigar — you'll find 
 the box on the table — I shall have finished this, 
 and then we can talk." 
 
 " But I am afraid I can^t wait," I answered. 
 " I have come on the most important business. 
 There is not a moment to lose." 
 
 " In that case I am to suppose that Miss 
 Trevor is worse," he said, putting down the 
 bottle from which he had been pouring, and 
 afterwards replacing the glass stopper with the 
 same hand. " 1 was afraid it might be so." 
 
 " How do you know that she is ill ? " I asked, 
 not a little surprised to hear that he was aware 
 of our trouble. 
 
 *' I manage to know a good many things," he 
 replied. ''I was aware that she was ill, and 
 have been wondering how long it would be before 
 I was called in. The other doctors don't like 
 my interference, I suppose ? " 
 
 " They certainly do not," I answered. " But 
 they have done no good for her." 
 
 "And you think I may be able to help you ? " 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 207 
 
 he inquired, looking at me over the graduating 
 glass with his strange, dark eyes. 
 
 " I certainly do," I replied. 
 
 " I am your debtor for the compliment." 
 
 " And you will come ? " 
 
 " You really wish it ? " 
 
 " I believe it is the only thing that will save 
 her life,*' I answered. " But you must come 
 quickly, or it will be too late. She was sinking 
 when I leffc the hotel." 
 
 With a hand that never shook he poured the 
 contents of the glass into a small phial, and then 
 placed the latter in his pocket. 
 
 *' I am at your disposal now," he answered. 
 '* We will set off as soon as you like. As you say, 
 we must lose no time." 
 
 '* But will it not be necessary for you to take 
 some drugs with you ? " I asked. 
 
 " I am taking this one," he replied, placing 
 his hat upon his head as he spoke. 
 
 I remembered that he had been making his 
 prescription up as I entered the room. Had he 
 then intended calling to see her, even supposing 
 I had not come to ask his assistance ? I had no 
 chance of putting the question to him, however. 
 
 " Have you a gondola below ? " he asked, as 
 we went down the stairs. 
 
 I replied in the aflSrmative ; and when we 
 gained the hall door we descended the steps and 
 
208 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 took our places in it. On reaching the hotel I 
 conducted him to the drawing-room, where we 
 found the Dean and Glenbarth eagerly awaiting 
 our coming. I presented the former to Nikola, 
 and then went oflf to inform my wife of his 
 arrival. She accompanied me back to the draw- 
 ing-room, and when she entered the room Nikola 
 crossed it to receive her. Though she looked at 
 him in a frightened way I thought his manner 
 soon put her at her ease. 
 
 " Perhaps you will be kind enough to take me 
 to my patient," he said, when they had greeted 
 each other. "As the case is so serious, I had 
 better lose no time in seeing her." 
 
 He followed my wife from the room, and then 
 we sat down to await his verdict, with what 
 anxiety you may imagine. 
 
 Of all that transpired during his stay with Miss 
 Trevor I can only speak from hearsay. My 
 wife, however, was unfortunately too agitated to 
 remember everything that occurred. She in- 
 formed me that on entering the room he advanced 
 very quietly towards the bed, and for a few 
 moments stood looking down at the frail burden 
 it supported. Then he felt her pulse, lifted the 
 lids of her eyes, and for a space during which a 
 man might have counted fifty slowly, laid his 
 hand upon her forehead. Then, turning to the 
 nurse, who had of course heard of the withdrawal 
 
' ' He laid his hand upon her forehead . 
 Farewell, Nikola."] 
 
 [Page 2CS 
 
«" 
 
•FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 209 
 
 of tlie other doctors, he bade her bring him a 
 wine-glass of iced water. She disappeared, and 
 while she was absent Nikola sat by the bed- 
 side holding the sick girl's hand, and never for a 
 moment taking his eyes from her face. Presently 
 the woman returned, bringing the water as 
 directed. He took it from her, and going to the 
 window poured from a phial, which he had taken 
 from his pocket, some twenty drops of the dark 
 liquid it contained. Then with a spoon he gave 
 her nearly half of the contents of the glass. 
 This done he once more seated himself beside the 
 bed, and waited patiently for the result. Several 
 times within the next half-hour he bent over the 
 recumbent figure, and was evidently surprised at 
 not seeing some change which he expected would 
 take place. At the end of that time he gave her 
 another spoonful of the liquid, and once more sat 
 down to watch. When an hour had passed he 
 permitted a sigh of satisfaction to escape him, 
 then, turning to my wife, whose anxiety was 
 plainly expressed upon her face, he said — 
 
 " I think. Lady Hatteras, that you may tell 
 them that she will not die. There is still much 
 to be done, but I pledge my word that she will 
 live." 
 
 The reaction was too much for my wife ; she 
 felt as if she were choking, then she turned 
 giddy, and at last was possessed with a frantic 
 
210 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 desire to cry. Softly leaving the room, she 
 came in search of us. The moment that she 
 opened the door of the drawing-room, and I 
 looked upon her face, I knew that there was good 
 news for us. 
 
 "What does he say about her?*' cried the 
 Duke, forgetting the Dean's presence, while the 
 latter rose and drew a step nearer, without 
 speaking a word. 
 
 " There is good news," she said, fumbling with 
 her handkerchief in a suspicious manner. 
 "Doctor Nikola says she will live." 
 
 " Thank God," we all said in one breath. And 
 Glenbarth murmured something more that I did 
 not catch. 
 
 So implicit was our belief in Nikola that, as 
 you have doubtless observed, we accepted his 
 verdict without a second thought. I kissed my 
 wife, and then shook hands solemnly with the 
 Dean. The Duke had meanwhile vanished, 
 presumably to his own apartment, where he 
 could meditate on certain matters undisturbed. 
 After that Phyllis left us and returned to the 
 sick-room, where she found Nikola still seated 
 beside the bed, just as she had left him. So far 
 as she could judge. Miss Trevor did not appear 
 to be any different, though perhaps she did not 
 breathe as heavily as she had hitherto done. 
 Nikola, however, appeared to be well satisfied. 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 211 
 
 He nodded approvingly to Phyllis as she entered, 
 and then returned to his contemplation of his 
 patient once more. In this fashion hour after hour 
 went by. Once during each my wife would come 
 to me with reassuring bulletins. " Miss Trevor 
 was, if anything, a little better, she did not seem 
 so restless as before." " The fever seemed to be 
 abating ; " and then, towards nine o'clock that 
 night, " at last Gertrude was sleeping peace- 
 fully." It was not, however, until nearly 
 midnight that Nikola himself made his appear- 
 ance. 
 
 ** The worst is over," he said, approaching the 
 Dean ; ** your daughter is now asleep, and will 
 only require watching for the next two hours. 
 At the end of that time I shall return, and shall 
 hope to find a decided improvement in her 
 condition." 
 
 ** I can never thank you enough, my dear sir," 
 said the worthy old clergyman, shaking the 
 other by the hand while the tears ran down his 
 wrinkled cheeks. " But for your wonderful 
 skill there can be no sort of doubt that she would 
 be lost to us now. She is my only child, my 
 ewe lamb, and may Heaven bless you for your 
 goodness to me." 
 
 I thought that Nikola looked at him rather 
 curiously as he said this. It was the first time I 
 had seen Nikola brought into the society of a 
 
212 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 dignitary of the English Church, and I was 
 anxious to see how the pair comported themselves 
 under the circumstances. A couple more dia- 
 metrically opposite could be scarcely imagined. 
 They were as oil and water, and could scarcely 
 be expected to assimilate. 
 
 " Sir, I should have been less than human if I 
 had not done everything possible to save that 
 beautiful young life," said Nikola, with what 
 was to me the suggestion of a double meaning in 
 his speech. ** And now you must permit me to 
 bid you good-bye for the present. In two hours 
 I shall return again." 
 
 Thinking he might prefer to remain near his 
 patient, I pressed him to stay at the hotel, 
 offering to do all that lay in my power to make 
 him comfortable. But he would not hear of such 
 a thing. 
 
 " As you should be aware by this time, I never 
 rest away from my own house," he answered, in 
 a tone that settled the matter once and for all. 
 ** If anything should occur in the meantime, send 
 for me and I will come at once. I do not 
 apprehend any change, however." 
 
 When he had gone I went in search of the 
 Duke and found him in his own room. 
 
 " Dick," he said, " look at me and tell me if 
 you can see any difference. I feel as though I 
 had passed through years of suffering. Another 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 213 
 
 week would have made an old man of me. How 
 is she now ? " 
 
 "Progressing famously," I answered. "You 
 need not look so sceptical, for this must surely 
 be the case, since Nikola has gone home to take 
 some rest and will not return for two hours." 
 
 He wrung my hand on hearing this. 
 
 " How little I dreamt," he said, " when we 
 were confined in that wretched room in Port 
 Said, and when he played that trick upon me 
 in Sydney, that some day he was destined to do 
 me the greatest service any man has ever done 
 me in my life. Didn't I tell you that those 
 other medicos did not know what they were 
 doing, and that Nikola is the greatest doctor in 
 the world ? " 
 
 I admitted that he had given me the first 
 assurance, but I was not quite so certain about 
 the latter. Then, realizing how he must be 
 feeling, I proposed that we should row down the 
 canal for a breath of fresh sea air. At first the 
 Duke was for refusing the invitation, eventually 
 however he assented, and when we had induced 
 the Dean to accompany us we set ofi'. When we 
 reached the hotel once more it was to discover 
 that Nikola had returned, and that he had again 
 taken up his watch in the sick-room. He 
 remained there all night, passing hour after hour 
 at the bedside, without, so my wife asserted, 
 
214 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 moving, save to give the medicine, and without 
 apparently feeling the least fatigue. 
 
 It was not until between seven and eight 
 o'clock next morning that I caught a glimpse 
 of him. He was in the dining-room then, 
 partaking of a small cup of black coffee, into 
 which he had poured some curious decoction of 
 his own. For my part I have never yet been 
 able to discover how Nikola managed to keep 
 body:and soul together on his frugal fare. 
 
 " How is the patient this morning ? '* I asked, 
 when we had greeted each other. 
 
 "Out of danger," he replied, slowly stirring 
 his coffee as he spoke. " She will continue to 
 progress now. I hope you are satisfied that I 
 have done all I can in her interests ? " 
 
 ** I am more than satisfied," I answered. " I 
 am deeply grateful. As her father said yester- 
 day, if it had not been for you, Nikola, she 
 must inevitably have succumbed. She will 
 have cause to bless your name for the remainder 
 of her existence." 
 
 He looked at me very curiously as I said 
 this. 
 
 "Do you think she will do that?" he 
 asked, with unusual emphasis. " Do you think 
 it will please her to remember that she owes her 
 life to me f " 
 
 " I am sure she will always be deeply grate- 
 
'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 215 
 
 ful," I replied, somewhat ambiguously. " I 
 fancy you know that yourself." 
 
 ** And your wife ? What does she say ? " 
 
 " She thinks you are certainly the greatest of 
 all doctors," I answered, with a laugh. " I feel 
 that I ought to be jealous, but strangely enough 
 Tm not." 
 
 '* And yet I have done nothing so very 
 wonderful," he continued, almost as if he 
 were talking to himself. " But that those other 
 blind worms are content to go on digging in 
 their mud, when they should be seeking the 
 light in another direction, they could do as 
 much as I have done. By the way, have you 
 seen our friend, Don Martinos, since you dined 
 together at my house ? " 
 
 I replied to the effect that I had not done so, 
 but reported that the Don had sent repeated 
 messages of sympathy to us during Miss Trevor s 
 illness. I then inquired whether Nikola had 
 seen him 1 
 
 " I saw him yesterday morning," he replied. 
 " We devoted upwards of four hours to exploring 
 the city together." 
 
 I could not help wondering how the Don had 
 enjoyed the excursion, but, needless to remark, 
 I did not say anything on this score to my 
 companion. 
 
 That night Nikola was again in attendance 
 
216 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 upon his patient. Next day she was decidedly 
 better ; she recognized her father and my wife, 
 and every hour was becoming more and more like 
 her former self. 
 
 *^ Was she surprised when she regained con- 
 sciousness to find Nikola at her bedside ? " I 
 inquired of Phyllis when the great news was 
 reported to me. 
 
 " Strangely enough she was not," Phyllis 
 replied. " I fully expected, remembering my 
 previous suspicions, that it would have a bad 
 effect upon her, but it did nothing of the kind. 
 It was just as if she had expected to find him 
 there." 
 
 " And what were his first words to her ? " 
 
 *' * I hope you are feeling better. Miss Trevor,' 
 he said, and she replied, 'Much better/ that 
 was all. It was as commonplace as could be." 
 
 Next day Nikola only looked in twice, the 
 day after once, and at the end of the week 
 informed me that she stood in no further need 
 of his attention. 
 
 " How shall we ever be able to reward you, 
 Nikola ? " I asked, for about the hundredth 
 time, as we stood together in the corridor out- 
 side the sick-room. 
 
 " I have no desire to be rewarded," he 
 answered. "It is enough for me to see Miss 
 Trevor restored to health. Endeavour, if you 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 217 
 
 can, to recall a certain conversation we had 
 together respecting the lady in question on the 
 evening that I narrated to you the story con- 
 cerning the boy, who was so badly treated 
 by the Spanish Governor. Did I not tell you 
 then that our Destinies were inextricably woven 
 together? I informed you that it had been 
 revealed to me many years ago that we should 
 meet ; should you feel surprised, therefore, if I 
 told you that I had also been warned of this 
 illness ? " 
 
 Once more I found myself staring at him in 
 amazement. 
 
 " You are surprised ? Believe me, however 
 astonishing it may seem, it is quite true. I 
 knew that Miss Trevor would come into my 
 life ; I knew also that it would be my lot to 
 save her from death. What is more, I know 
 that in the end the one thing, which has seemed 
 to me most desirable in life, will be taken from 
 me by her hands." 
 
 " I am afraid I cannot follow you," I said. 
 
 ** Perhaps not, but you will be able to some 
 day," he answered. " That moment has not yet 
 arrived. In the meantime watch and wait, for 
 before we know it it will be upon us." 
 
 Then, with a look that was destined to haunt 
 me for many a long day, he bade me farewell, 
 and left the hotel. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 To the joy of every one, by the Thursday 
 following Miss Trevor was sufficiently recovered 
 to be able to leave her room. It was a happy 
 day for every one concerned, particularly for the 
 Duke, who came nearer presenting the appearance 
 of an amiable lunatic on that occasion than I 
 had ever seen him before. Why my wife should 
 have encouraged him in his extravagance I can- 
 not say, but the fact remains that she allowed 
 him to go out with her that morning with the 
 professed idea of purchasing a few flowers to 
 decorate the drawing-room for the invalid's 
 reception. So great was their extravagance that 
 the room more resembled a hot-house, or a flower- 
 show, than a civilized apartment. I pointed this 
 out to my wife with a gentle remonstrance, and 
 was informed that, being a mere husband, I knew 
 nothing at all about the matter. I trust that I 
 preserved my balance and lived up to my repu- 
 tation for sanity in the midst of this general 
 excitement, though I am prepared to confess that 
 
 218 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 219 
 
 I was scarcely myself when the triumphal pro- 
 cession, consisting of my wife and the Dean, set 
 off to the invalid's apartment to escort her in. 
 When she appeared it was like a ghost of her 
 former self, and a poor wan ghost too. Her 
 father, of course, she had already seen, but 
 neither I nor Glenbarth had of course had the 
 honour of meeting her since she was taken ill. 
 She received him very graciously, and was kind 
 enough to thank me for the little I had done for 
 her. We seated her between us in a comfortable 
 chair, placed a footstool under her feet, and 
 then, in order that she should not have too 
 much excitement, and that she might rest 
 quietly, the Dean, the Duke, and myself were 
 Bent about our business for an hour. When 
 we returned, a basket of exquisite roses stood 
 on the table, and on examining it the card 
 of Don Jos^ de Martinos was found to be 
 attached to it. 
 
 It is some proof of the anxiety that Glenbarth 
 felt not to do anything that might worry her, 
 when I say that he read the card and noted the 
 giver without betraying the least trace of annoy- 
 ance. It is true that he afterwards furnished me 
 with his opinion of the giver for presuming to 
 send them, but the casual observer would have 
 declared, had he been present to observe the 
 manner in which he behaved when he had first 
 
220 «FAKEWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 seen the gift, that he had taken no interest in 
 the matter at all. 
 
 Next day Miss Trevor was permitted to get up 
 a little earlier, and on the day following a little 
 earlier still. In the meantime more flowers had 
 arrived from the Don, while he himself had twice 
 made personal inquiries as to the progress she 
 was making. It was not until the third day of 
 her convalescence that Nikola called to see his 
 patient. I was sitting alone with her at the 
 time, my wife and our other two guests having 
 gone shopping in the Merceria. I was idly 
 cutting a copy of a Tau'chnitz publication that 
 I had procured for her on the previous day. The 
 weather was steadily growing warmer, and, for 
 this reason, the windows were open and a flood 
 of brilliant sunshine was streaming into the 
 room. From the canal outside came the sounds 
 of rippling laughter, then an unmistakably 
 American voice called out, ** Say, girls, what do 
 you think of Venice now you're here ? " Then 
 another voice replied, " Plenty of water about, 
 but they don't seem to wash their buildings much." 
 Miss Trevor was about to speak, in fact she had 
 opened her lips to do so, when a strange expres- 
 sion appeared upon her face. She closed her 
 eyes for a moment, and I began to fear that she 
 was ill. When she opened them again I was 
 struck by a strange fact ; the eyes were certainly 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 221 
 
 there, but there was no sort of life in them. 
 They were like those of a sleep-walker who, while 
 his eyes are open, sees nothing of things about 
 him. A moment later there was a knock at the 
 door, and Doctor Nikola, escorted by a servant, 
 entered the room. Wishing us " good-morning," 
 he crossed the room and shook hands with Miss 
 Trevor, afterwards with myself. 
 
 **You are certainly looking better," he said, 
 addressing his patient, and placing his finger and 
 thumb upon her wrist as he spoke. 
 
 " I am much better," she answered, but for 
 some reason without her usual animation. 
 
 ** In that case I think this will be the last 
 visit I shall pay you in my professional capacity," 
 he said. " You have been an excellent patient, 
 and in the interests of what our friend Sir 
 Richard here calls Science, permit me to ofi'er 
 you my grateful thanks." 
 
 " It is I who should thank you," she answered, 
 as if she were repeating some lesson she had 
 learnt by heart. 
 
 " I trust then, on the principle that one seldom 
 or never acts as one should, that you will not do 
 it," he replied, with a smile. "I am amply 
 rewarded by observing that the flush of health is 
 returning to your cheeks." 
 
 He then inquired after my wife's health, bade 
 me be careful of her for the reason that, since 
 
222 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 I had behaved so outrageously towards them, no 
 other doctors in Venice would attend her, should 
 she be taken ill, and then rose to bid us adieu. 
 
 " This is a very short visit," I said. '* Cannot 
 we persuade you to give us a little more of your 
 society ? " 
 
 " I fear not," he answered. " I am developing 
 quite a practice in Venice, and my time is no 
 longer my own." 
 
 " You have other patients ? " I asked, in some 
 surprise, for I did not think he would condescend 
 to such a thing. 
 
 " I have your friend, Don Martinos, now upon 
 my hands," he said. " The good Galaghetti is 
 so abominably grateful for what I did for his 
 child, that he will insist on trying to draw me 
 into experimenting upon other people." 
 
 " Would it be indiscreet to ask what is the 
 matter with the Don ? " I said. " He does not 
 look like a man who would be likely to be an 
 invalid." 
 
 *' I do not think there is so very much wrong 
 with him," Nikola replied vaguely. **At any 
 rate it is not anything that cannot be very 
 easily put right." 
 
 When he left the room I accompanied him 
 down the corridor as far as the hall. 
 
 " The fact of the matter is," he began, when 
 we were alone together, " our friend the Don has 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 223 
 
 been running the machinery of life a little too 
 fast of late. I am told that he lost no less a 
 sum than fifty thousand pounds in English 
 money last week, and certainly his nerves are 
 not what they once were." 
 
 " He is a gambler, then ? " I said. 
 
 "An inveterate gambler, I should say," 
 Nikola answered. " And when a Spaniard takes 
 to that sort of amusement, he generally does 
 it most thoroughly." 
 
 Whatever the Don's illness may have been, 
 it certainly had made its mark upon his appear- 
 ance. I chanced to meet him that afternoon on 
 the Kialto bridge, and was thunderstruck at the 
 change. The man's face was white, and his eyes 
 had dark rings under them, that to my thinking 
 spoke for an enfeebled heart. When he stopped 
 to speak to me, I noticed that his hands trembled 
 as though he were afflicted with St. Yitus's 
 dance. 
 
 " I hope Miss Trevor is better," he said, after 
 I had commented upon the fact that I had not 
 seen him of late. 
 
 " Much better," I answered. " In fact, she 
 may now be said to be convalescent. I was 
 sorry to hear from Doctor Nikola, however, that 
 you yourself are not quite the thing." 
 
 ** Nerves, only nerves," he answered, with 
 what was almost a frightened look in his eyes. 
 
224 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 "Doctor Nikola will set me right in no time, 
 I am sure of that. I have had a run of beastly 
 luck lately, and it has upset me more than I 
 can say." 
 
 I knew to what he referred, but I did not 
 betray my knowledge. After that he bade me 
 farewell, and continued his walk. That evening 
 another exquisite basket of flowers arrived for 
 Miss Trevor. There was no card attached to 
 it, but as the Duke denied all knowledge of it, 
 I felt certain as to whence it came. On the 
 day following, for the first time since her illness, 
 Miss Trevor was able to leave the house and to 
 go for a short airing upon the canal. We were 
 rejoiced to take her, and made arrangements for 
 her comfort, but there was one young man who 
 was more attentive than all the rest of the party 
 put together. Would Miss Trevor like another 
 cushion 1 Was she quite sure that she was com- 
 fortable ? Would she have preferred a gondola 
 to a barca? I said nothing, but I wondered 
 what the Dean thought, for he is an observant 
 old gentleman. As for the young lady herself, 
 she accepted the other's attentions with the most 
 charming good-humour, and thus all went merry 
 as marriage-bells. On the day following she 
 went out again, and on the afternoon of the 
 next day felt so much stronger as to express a 
 desire to walk for a short time on the piazza of 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 225 
 
 St. Mark. We accordingly landed at the well- 
 known steps, and strolled slowly towards the 
 cathedral. It was a lovely afternoon, the air 
 being soft and warm, with a gentle breeze blow- 
 ing in from the sea. 
 
 It is needless for me to say that Glenbarth 
 was in the Seventh Heaven of Delight, and was 
 already beginning to drop sundry little confidences 
 into my ear. Her illness had ruined the op- 
 portunity he had hoped to have had, but he 
 was going to make up for it now. Indeed it 
 looked very much as if she had at last made 
 up her mind concerning him, but, having 
 had one experience o± the sex, I was not 
 going to assure myself that all was satisfactory 
 until a definite announcement was made by 
 the lady herself. As it turned out it was just 
 as well that I did so, for that afternoon, not 
 altogether unexpectedly I must confess, was 
 destined to prove the truth of the old saying 
 that the course of true love never runs smooth. 
 Miss Trevor, with the Duke on one side and 
 my wife on the other, was slowly passing across 
 the great square, when a man suddenly appeared 
 before us from one of the shops on our right. 
 This individual was none other than the Don 
 Jos^ de Martinos, who raised his hat politely to 
 the ladies and expressed his delight at seeing 
 
 Miss Trevor abroad once more. As usual, he 
 
 p 
 
226 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 was faultlessly dressed, and on the whole looked 
 somewhat better in health than he had done 
 when I had last seen him. By some means, I 
 scarcely know how it was done, he managed to 
 slip in between my wife and Miss Trevor, 
 and in this order we made our way towards 
 our usual resting-place, Florian^s cafe. Never, 
 since we had known him, had the Don exerted 
 himself so much to please. The Duke, how- 
 ever, did not seem satisfied. His high spirits 
 had entirely left him, and, in consequence, 
 he was now as quiet as he had been talkative 
 before. It was plain to all of us that the Don 
 admired Miss Trevor, and that he wanted her 
 to become aware of the fact. Next morning 
 he made an excuse and joined our party again. 
 At this the Duke's anger knew no bounds. 
 Personally I must confess that I was sorry for 
 the young fellow. It was very hard upon him, 
 just as he was progressing so favourably, that 
 another should appear upon the scene and distract 
 the lady's attention. Yet there was only one 
 way of ending it, if only he could summon up 
 sufficient courage to do it. 1 fear, however, that 
 he was either too uncertain as to the result, or 
 that he dreaded his fate, should she consign him 
 to the Outer Darkness, too much to put it into 
 execution. For this reason he had to submit to 
 sharing her smiles with the Spaniard, which, if 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 227 
 
 only he could have understood it, was an excellent 
 thing for his patience, and a salutary trial for 
 his character. 
 
 Meanwhile my wife looked on in despair. 
 
 " I thought it was all settled," she said pathetic- 
 ally, on one occasion, " and now they are as far 
 off as ever. Why on earth does that troublesome 
 man come between them ? " 
 
 "Because he has quite as much right to be 
 there as the other," I answered. " If the Duke 
 wants her, let him ask her, but that's just what 
 he won't do. The whole matter should have 
 been settled by now." 
 
 '*It's all very well for you to say that," she 
 returned. '' The poor boy would have done it 
 before Gertrude was taken ill, but that you 
 opposed him." 
 
 "And a very proper proceeding too," I an- 
 swered. " Miss Trevor was under my charge, 
 and I was certainly not going to let any young 
 man, doubtless very desirable, but who had only 
 known her two days, propose to her, get sent 
 about his business, render it impossible for our 
 party to continue together, and by so doing take 
 all the pleasure out of our holiday." 
 
 "So it was only of yourself you were think- 
 ing ? " she returned, with that wonderful incon- 
 sistency that is such a marked trait in her char- 
 acter. " Why do you urge him now to do it ? " 
 
228 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 "Because Miss Gertrude is no longer under 
 my charge," I answered. "Her father is here, 
 and is able to look after her." Then an idea oc- 
 curred to me, and I acted upon it at once. 
 " When you come to think of it, my dear," I said, 
 as if I had been carefully considering the question, 
 " why should the Don not make Gertrude as good 
 a husband as Glenbarth ? He is rich, doubtless 
 comes of a very good family, and would certainly 
 make a very presentable figure in society." 
 
 She stared at me aghast. 
 
 "Well," she said in astonishment, "I must 
 say that I think you are a loyal friend. You 
 know that the Duke has set his heart on marry- 
 ing her, and yet you are championing the cause 
 of his rival. I should never have thought it of 
 you, Dick." 
 
 I hastened to assure her that I was not in 
 earnest, but for a moment I almost fancy she 
 thought I was. 
 
 '* If you are on the Duke's side I wonder that 
 you encourage Don Martinos to continue his 
 visits," she went on, after the other matter had 
 been satisfactorily settled. "I cannot tell you 
 how much I dislike him. I feel that I would 
 rather see Gertrude married to a crossing-sweeper 
 than to that man. How she can even tolerate 
 him, I do not know. I find it very difficult to 
 do so." 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 229 
 
 ** Poor Don," I said, '* lie does not appear to 
 liave made a very good impression. In common 
 justice I must admit that, so far as I am concerned, 
 lie has been invariably extremely civil." 
 
 " Because he wants your interest. You are 
 the head of the house." 
 
 " It is a pretty fiction — let it pass however." 
 
 She pretended not to notice my gibe. 
 
 "He is gambling away every halfpenny he 
 possesses." 
 
 I regarded her with unfeigned astonishment. 
 How could she have become aware of this fact ? 
 I put the question to her. 
 
 " Some one connected with the hotel told my 
 maid, Phillipa," she answered. "They say he 
 never returns to the hotel until between two 
 and three in the morning." 
 
 " He is not married," I retorted. 
 
 She vouchsafed no remark to this speech, 
 but, bidding me keep ray eyes open, and beware 
 lest there should be trouble between the two 
 men, left me to my own thoughts. 
 
 The warning she had given me was not 
 a futile one, for it needed only half an eye to 
 see that Glenbarth and Martinos were des- 
 perately jealous of one another. They eyed 
 each other when they met as if, at any moment, 
 they were prepared to fiy at each other's throats. 
 Once the Duke's behaviour was such as to 
 
230 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 warrant my speaking to him upon the subject 
 when we were alone together. 
 
 " My dear fellow," I said, " I must ask you to 
 keep yourself in hand. I don't like having to 
 talk to you, but I have to remember that there 
 are ladies in the case." 
 
 " Then why on earth doesn't Martinos 
 keep out of my way ? " he asked angrily. 
 **You pitch into me for getting riled, but you 
 don't see how villainously rude he is to me. 
 He contradicts me as often as he can, and, for 
 the rest of the time, treats me as if I were a 
 chnd." 
 
 " In return you treat him as if he were an 
 oatsider, and had no right to look at, much less 
 to speak to, Miss Trevor. Nevertheless he is 
 our friend — or if he is not our friend, he has at 
 least been introduced to us by a friend. Now 
 I have no desire that you should quarrel at all, 
 but if you must do so, let it be when you are 
 alone together, and also when you are out of 
 the hotel." 
 
 I had no idea how literally my words were 
 to be taken. 
 
 That night, according to a custom he had of 
 late adopted, Martinos put in an appearance after 
 dinner, and brought his guitar with him. As 
 he bade us "good-evening" I looked at the 
 Duke's face. It was pale and set as if he had at 
 
'FAKEWELL, NIKOLA' 231 
 
 last come to an understanding with himself. 
 Presently my wife and I sang a duet together, 
 in a fashion that pointed very plainly to the 
 fact that our thoughts were elsewhere. Miss 
 Trevor thanked us in a tone that showed me 
 that she also had given but small attention to 
 our performance. Then Gertrude sang a song 
 of Tosti's very prettily, and was rewarded 
 with enthusiastic applause. After this the Don 
 was called upon to perform. He took up his 
 guitar, and having tuned it, struck a few 
 chords and began to sing. Though I look 
 back upon that moment now with real pain, I 
 must confess that I do not think I had ever 
 heard him sing better; the merry laughter of 
 the song suited his voice to perfection. It was 
 plainly a comic ditty with some absurd imitations 
 of the farm-yard at the end of each verse. 
 When he had finished, my wife politely asked 
 him to give us a translation of the words. Fate 
 willed that she should ask, I suppose, and also 
 that he should answer it. 
 
 ** It is a story of a foolish young man who 
 loved a fair maid," he replied, speaking with the 
 utmost deliberation. " Unfortunately, however, 
 he was afraid to tell her of his love. He pined 
 to be with her, yet, whenever he was desirous 
 of declaring his passion, his courage failed him 
 at the last moment, and he was compelled to 
 
232 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 talk of the most commonplace things, such as 
 the animals upon his father s farm. At last she, 
 tiring of such -a laggard, sent him away in dis- 
 gust to learn how to \700. In the meantime she 
 married a man who was better acquainted with 
 his business." 
 
 Whether the song w^as exactly as he described 
 it, I am not in a position to say ; the fact, 
 however, remains that at least four of our party 
 saw the insinuation and bitterly resented it. I 
 saw the Duke's face flush and then go pale. 
 I thought for a moment that he was going 
 to say something, but he contented himself by 
 picking up a book from the table at his side, 
 and glancing carelessly at it. I could guess, by 
 the way his hands gripped it, something of the 
 storm that w^as raging in his breast. My wife, 
 meanwhile, had turned the conversation into 
 another channel by asking the Dean what he had 
 thought of a certain old church he had visited 
 that morning. This gave a little relief, but not 
 very much. Ten minutes later the Don rose 
 and bade us " good-night." With a sneer on 
 his face, he even extended his good w^ish to the 
 Duke, who bowed, but did not reply. When he 
 had gone, my wife gave the signal for a general 
 dispersal, and Glenbarth and I were presently 
 left in the drawing-room alone. I half expected 
 an immediate outburst, but to my surprise he 
 
» FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 233 
 
 said nothing on the subject. I had no intention 
 of referring to it unless he did, and so the matter 
 remained for the time in abeyance. After a 
 conversation on general topics, lasting perhaps 
 a quarter of an hour, we wished each other 
 ** good-night," and retired to our respective rooms. 
 When I entered my wife's room later, I was 
 prepared for the discussion which I knew was 
 inevitable. 
 
 " What do you think of your friend now ? " 
 she asked, with a touch of sarcasm thrown into 
 the word " friend." ** You of course heard how 
 he insulted the Duke ? " 
 
 " I noticed that he did a very foolish thing, 
 not only for his own interests with us, but also 
 for several other reasons. You may rely upon 
 it that if ever he had any chance with Ger- 
 trude " 
 
 *' He never had the remotest chance, I can 
 promise you that," my wife interrupted. 
 
 " I say if ever he had a chance with Gertrude, 
 he has lost it now. Surely that should satisfy 
 you." 
 
 "It does not satisfy me that he should be 
 rude to our guest at any time, but I am par- 
 ticularly averse to his insulting him in our 
 presence." 
 
 "You need not worry yourself," I said. "In 
 all probability you will see no more of him. I 
 
234 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 shall convey a hint to him upon the subject. 
 It will not be pleasant for Anstruther's sake." 
 
 " Mr. Anstruther should have known better 
 than to have sent him to us," she replied. 
 " There is one thing I am devoutly thankful for, 
 and that is that the Dake took it so beautifully. 
 He might have been angry, and have made a 
 scene. Indeed I should not have blamed him, 
 had he done so." 
 
 I did not ask her, for reasons of my own, 
 whether she was sure that his Grace of Glenbarth 
 was not angry. I must confess that I was 
 rendered more uneasy by the quiet way he had 
 taken it, than if he had burst into an explosion. 
 Concealed fires are invariably more dangerous 
 than open ones. 
 
 Next morning after breakfast, while we were 
 smoking together in the balcony, a note was 
 brought to Glenbarth. He took it, opened it, 
 and when he had read the contents, thrust it 
 hastily into his pocket. 
 
 " No answer," he said, as he lit a cigar, and 
 I thought his hand trembled a little as he put 
 the match to it. 
 
 His face was certainly paler than usual, and 
 there was a far-away look in his eyes that showed 
 me that it was not the canal or the houses 
 opposite that he was looking upon. 
 
 "There is something behind all this, and I 
 
'FAKEWELL, NIKOLA' 235 
 
 must find out what it is," I said to myself. 
 " Surely he can't be going to make a fool of 
 himself." 
 
 I knew, however, that my chance of getting 
 anything satisfactory out of him lay in saying 
 nothing about the matter just then. I must 
 play my game in another fashion. 
 
 *' What do you say if we run down to Rome 
 next week ? " I asked, after a little pause. " My 
 wife and Miss Trevor seem to think they would 
 enjoy it. There are lots of people we know 
 there just now." 
 
 " I shall be very pleased," he answered, but 
 with a visible eflfort. 
 
 At any other time he would have jumped 
 eagerly at the suggestion. Decidedly there was 
 something wrong ! At luncheon he was pre- 
 occupied, so much so that I could see Miss 
 Trevor wondered what was the matter. Had 
 she known the terrible suspicion that was grow- 
 ing in my own mind, I wonder what she would 
 have said, and also how she would have acted ? 
 
 That afternoon the ladies resolved to remain 
 at home, and the Dean decided to stay with 
 them. In consequence, the Duke and I went 
 out together. He was still as quiet as he had 
 been in the morning, but as yet I had not been 
 able to screw up my courage to such a pitch as 
 to be able to put the question to him. Once, 
 
236 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 however, I asked the reason for his quietness, 
 and received the evasive reply ** that he was not 
 feeling quite up to the mark that day." 
 
 This time I came a little nearer the point. 
 
 " You are not worrying about that wretched 
 fellow's rudeness, I hope ? " I said, looking him 
 fairly and squarely in the face. 
 
 "Not in the least," he answered. "Why 
 should I be?" 
 
 " Well, because I know you are hot-tempered,*' 
 I returned, rather puzzled to find an explanation 
 for him. 
 
 " Oh, m have it out with him at some time or 
 another, I have no doubt," he continued, and 
 then changed the subject by referring to some 
 letters he had had from home that day. 
 
 When later we returned to the hotel for 
 afternoon tea, we found the two ladies eagerly 
 awaiting our coming. From the moment that 
 he entered the room. Miss Trevor was gracious- 
 ness itself to the young man. She smiled upon 
 him, and encouraged him, until he scarcely 
 knew whether he was standing upon his head or 
 his heels. I fancy she was anxious to compensate 
 him for the Don's rudeness to him. 
 
 That evening we all complained of feeling 
 tired, and accordingly went to bed early. I 
 was the latest of the party, and my own man 
 had not left my dressing-room more than a 
 
^ 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 237 
 
 minute before he returned with the information 
 that the Duke's valet would be glad if he could 
 have a few words with me. 
 
 " Send him in," I said, and forthwith the man 
 made his appearance. 
 
 " What is it, Henry ? " I inquired. " Is your 
 master not well ? " 
 
 " I don't know what's wrong with his Grace, 
 sir," the man replied. '' I'm very much frightened 
 about him, and I thought I would come to you 
 at once." 
 
 " Why, what is the matter ? He seemed well 
 enough when I bade him good-night, half-an- 
 hour or so ago." 
 
 " It isn't that, sir. He's well enough in his 
 body," said the man. " There's something else 
 behind it all. I know, sir, you won't mind my 
 coming to you. I didn't know what else to do." 
 
 **You had better tell me everything, then I 
 shall know how to act. What do you think is 
 the reason of it ? " 
 
 " Well, sir, it's like this," Henry went on. 
 "His Grace has been very quiet all day. He 
 wrote a lot of letters this morning and put them 
 in his dispatch-box. 'I'll tell you what to do 
 with them later, Henry,' he said when he had 
 finished. Well, I didn't think very much of 
 that, but when to-night he asked me what I had 
 made up my mind to do with myself if ever I 
 
238 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 should leave his service, and told me that he had 
 put it down in his will that I was to have five 
 hundred pounds if he should die before I left him, 
 I began to think there was something the matter. 
 Well, sir, I took his things to-night, and was in 
 the act of leaving the room, when he called me 
 back. ' I'm going out early for a swim in the 
 sea to-morrow morning,' he said, * but I shan't 
 say anything to Sir Eichard Hatteras about it, 
 because I happen to know that he thinks the 
 currents about here are dangerous. Well, one 
 never knows what may turn up,' he goes on to 
 say, * and if, by any chance, Henry — though I 
 hope such a thing will not happen — I should be 
 caught, and should not return, I want you to 
 give this letter to Sir Richard. But remember 
 this, you are on no account to touch it until 
 mid-day. Do you understand ? ' I told him that 
 I did, but I was so frightened, sir, by what he 
 said, that I made up my mind to come and see 
 jon at once." 
 
 This was disturbing intelligence indeed. From 
 what he said there could be no doubt that the 
 Don and Glenbarth contemplated fighting a 
 duel. In that case what was to be done ? To 
 attempt to reason with the Dake in his present 
 humour would be absurd, besides his honour was 
 at stake, and, though I am totally against duels, 
 that counts for something. 
 
'FAEEWELL, NIKOLA* 239 
 
 " I am glad you told me this, Henry," I said, 
 ** for now I shall know how to act. Don't worry 
 about your master's safety. Leave him to me. 
 He is safe in my hands. He shall have his 
 swim to-morrow morning, but I shall take very 
 good care that he is watched. You may go to 
 bed with an easy heart, and don't think about 
 that letter. It will not be needed, for he will 
 come to no harm." 
 
 The man thanked me civilly and withdrew, 
 considerably relieved in his mind by his inter- 
 view with me. Then I sat myself down to think 
 the matter out. What was I to do ? Doubtless 
 the Don was an experienced duellist, while 
 Glenbarth, though a very fair shot with a rifle 
 or fowling-piece, would have no chance against 
 him with the pistol or the sword. It was by no 
 means an enviable position for a man to be placed 
 in, and I fully realized my responsibility in the 
 matter. I felt that I needed help, but to whom 
 should I apply for it ? The Dean would be worse 
 than useless ; while to go to the Don and to ask 
 him to sacrifice his honour to our friendship for 
 Glenbarth would be to run the risk of being 
 shown the door. Then I thought of Nikola, and 
 made up my mind to go to him at once. Since 
 the Duke had spoken of leaving the hotel early 
 in the morning, there could be no doubt as to 
 
240 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 the hour of the meeting. la that case there was 
 no time to be lost. I thereupon went to explain 
 matters to my wife. 
 
 " I had a suspicion that this would happen," 
 she said, when she had heard me out. " Oh, 
 Dick ! you must stop it without fail. I should 
 never forgive myself if anything were to happen 
 to him while he is our guest. Go to Doctor 
 Nikola at once and tell him everything, and 
 implore him to help us as he has helped us 
 before." 
 
 Thus encouraged, I left her, and went back to 
 my dressing-room to complete my attire. This 
 done I descended to the hall to endeavour to 
 obtain a gondola. Good fortune favoured me, 
 for the American party who had but lately 
 arrived at the hotel, had just returned from the 
 theatre. I engaged the man who had brought 
 them, and told him to take me to the Palace 
 Kevecce with all possible speed. 
 
 '* It's a late hour, Senor," he replied, " and Fd 
 rather go anywhere than to that house in the 
 Eio del Consiglio." 
 
 ''You will be well paid for your trouble and 
 also for your fear," I replied as I got into the boat. 
 
 Next moment we were on our way. A light 
 was burning in Nikola s room as we drew up at 
 the palace steps. I bade the gondolier wait for 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 241 
 
 me, and to ensure his doing so, refused to pay 
 him until my return. Then I rang the bell, and 
 was rewarded in a few minutes by hearing 
 Nikola's footsteps on the flag-stones of the court- 
 yard. When the door opened he was vastly 
 surprised at seeing me ; he soon recovered his 
 equilibrium, however. It took more than a small 
 surprise to upset Nikola. He invited me to enter. 
 
 " I hope there is nothing wrong," he said 
 politely. " Otherwise how am I to account for 
 this late call?" 
 
 " Something is very wrong indeed," I said. *' I 
 have come to consult you, and to ask for your 
 assistance." 
 
 By this time he had reached his own room — 
 that horrible room I remembered so well. 
 
 *'The fact of the matter is," I said, seating 
 myself in the chair he offered me as I spoke, 
 " the Duke of Glenbarth and Don de Martinos 
 have arranged to fight a duel soon after day- 
 break." 
 
 « To fight a duel ? " Nikola repeated. " So it 
 has come to this, has it? Well, what do you 
 want me to do ? " 
 
 " Surely it is needless for me to say," I 
 replied. "I want you to help me to stop it. 
 You like the Duke, I know. Surely you will 
 not allow that brave young life to be sacrificed 
 by that Spaniard ? " 
 
 Q 
 
242 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " From the way you speak it would appear 
 that you do not care for Martinos?'' Nikola 
 replied. 
 
 " I frankly confess that I do not," I replied. 
 " He was introduced to me by a personal friend, 
 but none of my party care very much for him. 
 And now this new affair only adds to our dislike. 
 He insulted the Duke most unwarraDtably in my 
 drawing-room last night, and this duel is the 
 result." 
 
 " Always the same, always the same," Nikola 
 muttered to himself. ** But the end is coming, 
 and his evil deeds will bear their own fruit." 
 Then turning to me, he said aloud — " Since 
 you wish it, I will help you. Don Jos^ is a 
 magnificent shot, and he would place a bullet in 
 the Duke's anatomy wherever he might choose 
 to receive it. The issue would never for one 
 moment be in doubt." 
 
 " But how do you know the Don is such a 
 good shot ?" I inquired with considerable surprise, 
 for until the moment that I had introduced 
 them to each other I had no idea that they had 
 ever met. 
 
 " I know more about him than you think," he 
 answered, fixing his glittering eyes upon me. 
 " But now to business. If they fight at day- 
 break there is not much time to be lost." 
 
 He went to his writing-table at the other side 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 243 
 
 of the room and wrote a few lines on a sheet of 
 note-paper. Placing it in an envelope he in- 
 quired whether I had told my gondolier to wait. 
 Upon my answering in the affirmative, he left 
 me and went down-stairs. 
 
 *' What have you done ? " I inquired when he 
 returned. 
 
 "I have sent word to an agent I sometimes 
 employ/' he said. " He will keep his eyes open. 
 Now you had better get back to your hotel and 
 to bed. Sleep secure on niy promise that the 
 two men shall not fight. When you are called, 
 take the gondola you will find awaiting you 
 outside the hotel, and I will meet you at a 
 certain place. Now let me wish you a good- 
 night." 
 
 He conducted me to the hall below and saw 
 me into the gondola. Then saying something to 
 the gondolier that I did not catch, he bade me 
 adieu, and I returned to the hotel. Punctually 
 at five o'clock I was awakened by a tapping at 
 my bedroom door. I dressed, donned a cloak, 
 for the morning was cold, and descended to 
 the hall. The night watchman informed me 
 that a gondola was awaiting me at the steps, 
 and conducted me to it. Without a word 
 I got in, and the little craft shot out into 
 the canal. We entered a narrow street on the 
 other side, took two or three turnings to right 
 
244 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 and left, and at last came to a standstill at some 
 steps that I had never noticed before. A tall 
 figure, wrapped in a black cloak, was awaiting us 
 there. It was Nikola ! Entering the gondola 
 he took his place at my side. Then once more 
 we set off. 
 
 At the same moment, so Nikola informed me, 
 Glenbarth was leaving the hoteL 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 When I had picked up Nikola we continued 
 our voyage. Dawn was just breaking, and 
 Venice appeared very strange and uncanny in 
 the weird morning light. A cold wind was 
 blowing in from the sea, and when I experienced 
 its sharpness, I could not help feeling thankful 
 that I had the foresight to bring my cloak. 
 
 '*How do you know where the meeting is to 
 take place ? " I asked, after we had been travel- 
 ling a few minutes. 
 
 " Because, when I am unable to find things 
 out for myself, I have agents who can do it for 
 me," he replied. " What would appear difficult, 
 in reality is very simple. To reach the place in 
 question it would be necessary for them to em- 
 ploy gondolas, aud for the reason that, as you 
 are aware, there are not many plying in the 
 streets of Venice at such an early hour, it would 
 be incumbent upon them to bespeak them before- 
 hand. A few inquiries among the gondoliers 
 
 245 
 
246 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 elicited tlie iiiformation I wanted. That point 
 satisfactorily settled, the rest was easy." 
 
 " And you think we shall be there in time to 
 prevent the meeting ? " I asked. 
 
 " We shall be at the rendezvous before they 
 are," he answered. ** And 1 have promised you 
 they shall not fight." 
 
 Comforted by this reassuring news, I settled 
 myself down to watch the tortuous thoroughfares 
 through which we were passing. Presently we 
 passed the church of St. Maria del Formosa, and 
 later the Ducal Palace, thence out into the com- 
 mencement of the Grand Canal itself. It was 
 then that Nikola urged the gondoliers, for we 
 had two, to greater speed. Under their powerful 
 strokes the light little craft sped over the smooth 
 bay, passed the island of St. Georgio Maggiore, 
 and then turned almost due south. Then 
 I thought of Glenbarth, and wondered what 
 his feelings were at that moment. At last I 
 began to have an inkling of our destination. 
 We were proceeding in the direction of the 
 Lido, and it was upon the sandy beach that 
 separates the lagoons and Venice from the 
 open sea that the duel was to be fought. 
 Presently we landed, and Nikola said something 
 to the gondoliers, who turned their craft and 
 moved slowly away. After walking along the 
 sands for some distance, we hid ourselves at a 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 247 
 
 place where it was possible to see the strip of 
 beach, while we ourselves remained hidden. 
 
 **Tliey will not be here before another ten 
 minutes," said Nikola, consulting his watch ; 
 "we had a good start of them." 
 
 Seating ourselves we awaited their arrival, 
 and while we did so, Nikola talked of the value 
 set upon human life by the inhabitants of 
 different countries. No one was more competent 
 to speak on such a subject than he, for he had 
 seen it in every clime and in every phase. He 
 spoke with a bitterness and a greater scorn for 
 the petty vanities and aims of men than I had 
 ever noticed in him before. Suddenly he 
 stopped, and looking towards the left said — 
 
 " If I am not mistaken, the Duke of Glenbarth 
 has arrived." 
 
 I looked in the direction indicated, and was 
 able to descry the tall figure of the Duke coming 
 along the sands. A little later two other persons 
 made their appearance and followed him. One 
 was undoubtedly the Don, but who was the 
 third ? As they drew closer, I discovered that 
 he was unknown to me ; not so to Nikola, 
 however. 
 
 "Burmaceda," he said to himself, and there 
 was an ugly sneer upon his face. 
 
 The Duke bowed ceremoniously to the two 
 men, and the stranger, having returned hia 
 
248 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 salute, knelt upon the sand, and proceeded to 
 open a box he had brought with him. From it 
 he produced a pair of pistols which he loaded 
 with ostentatious care. This work finished, he 
 took them by their barrels and gave Glenbarth 
 his choice. The Spaniard, I noticed, was dressed 
 entirely in black, not showing a particle of 
 white ; the Duke was attired very much as usual. 
 When each had taken a pistol, the stranger 
 measured the distance upon the sands and 
 allotted them their respective positions. By this 
 time I was in such a fever of excitement that 
 Nikola laid his hand upon my arm to restrain 
 me. 
 
 ** Wait," he whispered. " Have I not pledged 
 you my word that your friend shall not be hurt ? 
 Do not interrupt them yet. I have my suspicions, 
 and am anxious to confirm them." 
 
 I accordingly waited, but though it was only 
 for a few seconds it seemed to me an eternity. 
 The two men were in position, and the stranger, 
 I gathered, was giving them their final instruc- 
 tions. They were to stand with their faces 
 turned from each other, and at the word of 
 command were to wheel round and fire. In a 
 flash I saw what Nikola had in his mind. The 
 stranger was favouring the Don, for while Glen- 
 barth would have faithfully carried out his por- 
 tion of the contract, the Spaniard did not turn 
 
"'Put down your pistols,' said Nikola." 
 Farewell, Nikola."} [Page 240 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 249 
 
 at all, a fact which his opponent was scarcely 
 likely to become aware of, seeing that he would 
 in all probability have a bullet in his heart before 
 he would have had time to realize the trick that 
 had been played upon him. The stranger had 
 raised his hand above his head, and was about to 
 give the signal, when Nikola sprang from beside 
 me, and in a loud voice called to them to " stop." 
 I rose to my feet at the same instant, and 
 followed him across the sands to where the men 
 stood. 
 
 *' Put down your pistols, gentlemen," said 
 Nikola in a voice that rang like a trumpet-call. 
 " I forbid the duel. Your Grace, the challenge 
 comes from you, I beg that you will apologize to 
 Don Martinos for having sent it." 
 
 " I shall do nothing of the kind," the Duke 
 returned. 
 
 On learning this Nikola took him on one side 
 and talked earnestly with him for a few minutes. 
 Then, still with his hand upon the other's arm, 
 he led him back to where we were standing. 
 
 " I express my regret for having challenged 
 you," said Glenbarth, but with no good grace. 
 
 " I thank you, your Grace," said Nikola. 
 Then turning to the Don, he went on — "And 
 now, Don Martinos, I hope you will apologize 
 to the Duke for the insults that occasioned the 
 challenge." 
 
250 ' FAREWELL, NIKOLA ' 
 
 With an oath the Spaniard vowed that he was 
 the last man to do anything of the kind. He 
 had never apologized to any man in his life, and 
 he was not going to do so now, with more to the 
 same effect. Then Nikola fixed his glittering eyes 
 upon him. His voice, however, when he spoke 
 was as conciliatory as ever. 
 
 ** To oblige me you will do it," he said, and 
 then drawing a little closer to him he murmured 
 something that we could not hear. The effect 
 upon the Don was magical. His face turned a 
 leaden hue, and for a moment I thought he 
 would have fallen, but he recovered his self- 
 possession with an eflfort, and muttered the 
 apology Nikola had demanded of him. 
 
 " I thank you, gentlemen," said Nikola. " Now, 
 with your permission, we will return to the city.'' 
 Here he wheeled round upon the stranger, and 
 continued : — ** This is not the first of these little 
 affairs in which you have played a part. You 
 have been warned before, profit by it, for the 
 time may come when it will be too late. 
 Eemember Pietro Sallomi." 
 
 I do not know who Pietro Sallomi may have 
 been, but I know that the mere mention of his 
 name was sufficient to take all the swagger out 
 of the stranger. He fell to pieces like a house 
 of cards. 
 
 **Now, gentlemen, let us be moving," said 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 261 
 
 Nikola, and taking the Don with him he set off 
 quickly in the direction of the spot where we 
 had disembarked from the gondola. I followed 
 with the Duke. 
 
 " My dear boy," I said, as we walked along, 
 " why on earth did you do it ? Is your life of 
 so little value to yourself or to your friends, that 
 you try to throw it away in this reckless 
 fashion ? " 
 
 ** I am the most miserable brute on the face 
 of the earth," he replied. " I think it would 
 have been far better for me had I been shot 
 back there." 
 
 "Look here, Glenbarth," 1 caid with some 
 anger, " if you talk nonsense in this manner, I 
 shall begin to think that you are not accountable 
 for your actions. What on earth have you to 
 be so unhappy about ? " 
 
 " You know very well," he answered gloomily. 
 
 " You are making yourself miserable because 
 Miss Trevor will not marry you," I said. ** You 
 have not asked her, how therefore can you 
 tell?" 
 
 " But she seems to prefer Don Martinos," he 
 went on." 
 
 " Fiddlesticks ! " I answered. " Fm quite 
 certain she hasn t thought of him in that way. 
 Now, I am going to talk plainly to you. I have 
 made up my mind that we leave to-day for 
 
252 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Rome. We shall spend a fortnight there, and 
 you should have a fair opportunity of putting the 
 question to Miss Trevor. If you can't do it in 
 that time, well, all I can say is, that you are 
 not the man I took you for. You must remember 
 one thing, however : I'll have no more of this 
 nonsense. It's all very well for a Spanish brag- 
 gart to go swaggering about the world, endeavour- 
 ing to put bullets into inoffensive people, but 
 it's not the thing for an English gentleman." 
 
 ** I'm sorry, Dick. Try to forgive me. You 
 won't tell Lady Hatteras, will you ? " 
 
 " She knows it already," I answered. " I don't 
 fancy you would get much sympathy from her. 
 Try for a moment to picture what their feelings 
 would have been — mine may be left out of the 
 question — if you had been lying dead on the 
 beach yonder. Think of your relations at home. 
 What would they have said and thought ? And 
 for what ? " 
 
 " Because he insulted me," Glenbarth replied. 
 '* Was I to put up with that ? " 
 
 " You should have treated him with the con- 
 tempt he merited. But there, do not let us 
 discuss the matter any further. All's well that 
 ends well ; and I don't think we shall see much 
 more of the Don." 
 
 When we reached the gondolas Nikola took 
 me aside. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 253 
 
 **You had better return to the city with the 
 Duke in one," he said ; " I will take the Don 
 back in another." 
 
 " And what about the other fellow ? " I 
 inquired. 
 
 " Let him swim if he likes," said Nikola, with 
 a shrug of his shoulders. ' ' By the way, I sup- 
 pose you saw what took place back yonder ? " 
 
 I nodded. 
 
 " Then say nothing about it," he replied. 
 "Such matters are best kept to one's self." 
 
 It was a very sober-minded and reflective 
 young man that sat down to breakfast with us 
 that morning. My wife, seeing how matters 
 stood, laid herself out to be especially kind to 
 him. So aff'able indeed was she, that Miss 
 Trevor regarded her with considerable surprise. 
 During the meal the journey to Eome was 
 discussed, and it was decided that I should tele- 
 graph for our old rooms, and that we should leave 
 Venice at half-past two. This arrangement was 
 duly carried out, and nightfall saw us well advanced 
 on our journey to the capital. The journey is so 
 well known that I need not attempt to describe it 
 here. Only one incident struck me as remark- 
 able about it. No sooner had we crossed the 
 railway-bridge that unites Venice with the main- 
 land, than Miss Trevor's lethargy, if I may so 
 describe it, suddenly left her. She seemed to 
 
254 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 be her old self instantly. It was as though she 
 had at last thrown off the load under which 
 she had so long been staggering. She laughed 
 and joked with my wife, teased her father, and 
 was even inclined to be flippant with the head 
 of the family. After the events of the morning 
 the effect upon the Duke was just what was 
 wanted. 
 
 In due course we reached Rome, and installed 
 ourselves at our old quarters in the Piazza Bar- 
 berini. From that moment the time we had 
 allowed ourselves sped by on lightning wings. 
 We seemed scarcely to have got there before it 
 was time to go back to Venice. It was unfor- 
 tunately necessary for the Dean to return to 
 England, at the end of our stay in Rome, and 
 though it was considerably out of his way, he 
 proposed journeying thither by way of Venice. 
 The change had certainly done his daughter 
 good. She was quite her old self once more, 
 and the listless, preoccupied air that had taken 
 such a hold upon her in Venice had entirely 
 disappeared. 
 
 " Make the most of the Eternal City," my 
 wife announced at dinner on the eve of our 
 departure, *' for to-morrow morning you will 
 look your last upon it. The dragon who has us 
 in his power has issued his decree, and, like the 
 laws of the Medes and Persians, it changeth not." 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 265 
 
 " A dragon ? " I answered. " You should say 
 the family scapegoat I I protest to you, my 
 dear Dean, that it is most unfair. If it is some 
 disagreeable duty to be performed, then it is by 
 my order ; if it is something that will bestow 
 happiness upon another, then it is my lady that 
 gets the credit." 
 
 **A very proper arrangement," said my wife, 
 " as I am sure the Dean will agree with me." 
 
 " I agree with you in everything," replied the 
 polite old gentleman. ** Could I do otherwise ? " 
 
 "I appeal to the Duke, then. Is it your 
 Grace's opinion that a husband should of neces- 
 sity take upon himself the properties of a 
 dragon ? " 
 
 Even that wretched young man would not 
 stand by an old friend. 
 
 "I am not going to be drawn into an argu- 
 ment with you," he said. " If Lady Hatteras 
 calls you a dragon, then a dragon you must 
 remain until the end of the chapter, so far as 
 I am concerned." 
 
 " Phyllis is always right," answered Miss 
 Trevor unblushingly. 
 
 " I give in," I said in mock despair. ** If you 
 are all against me, I am undone." 
 
 It was a beautiful moonlight night when we 
 rose from dinner, and it was arranged that our 
 last evening in Rome should be spent in a visit 
 
256 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 to the Colosseum. A carriage. was immediately 
 ordered, and when the ladies had wrapped them- 
 selves up warmly we set ofif. To those unfor- 
 tunate individuals who have not had an oppor- 
 tunity of visiting that ancient structure, I can only 
 justify my incompetency by saying that it would 
 be well-nigh impossible to furnish a description 
 that would give them an adequate idea of the 
 feeling of awe it inspires in one. By moonlight 
 it presents a picture that for solemn grandeur 
 is, to my thinking, without its equal in the 
 world. Pompeii by moonlight suggests reflec- 
 tions. The great square of St. Mark's in Venice 
 seen by the same mellow light is a sight never to 
 be forgotten ; but in my humble opinion the 
 Colosseum eclipses them all. We entered it and 
 stood in the great ring looking up at the tiers 
 of seats, and recalling its Past The Dean was 
 profoundly impressed, and spoke of the men 
 who had given up their lives in martyrdom 
 within those great walls. 
 
 " How many of the crowd gathered here to 
 witness the agony of the tortured Christians/' 
 ^he said, "believed that the very religion which 
 they so heartily despised was destined to sway 
 the world, and to see the mighty Colosseum and 
 the mightier Power that built it, a ruin ? It is 
 a wonderful thought." 
 
 After the Dean's speech we crossed to a spot 
 
•FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 257 
 
 where a better view was obtainable. It was 
 only then that we discovered that the Duke and 
 Miss Trevor were not of our party. When, how- 
 ever, it was time to return they emerged from 
 the shadow and followed us out. Both were 
 unusually silent, and my wife, putting two and 
 two together in her own fashion, came to the 
 conclusion that they had quarrelled. When, 
 later on, the Duke and I were alone together, 
 and the ladies and the Dean had retired to their 
 respective rooms, I was about to take him to 
 task when he stopped me. 
 
 "Dick, old man," he said with a solemnity 
 that could not have been greater had he been 
 telling me of some great tragedy, " I want you 
 to give me your congratulations. Miss Trevor 
 has consented to become my wife." 
 
 I was so surprised that I scarcely knew what 
 to do or say. 
 
 " Good gracious, man ! — then why are you so 
 downcast 1" 1 replied. " I had made up my mind 
 that she had refused you ! " 
 
 " I am far from being downcast," he said as 
 solemnly as before. " I am the happiest man Jf^ 
 in the world. Can't you understand how I feel r" 
 Somehow — now that it is over, and I have won 
 her — ^it seems so great a thing that it almost 
 overwhelms me. You don't know, Dick, how 
 proud I am that she should have taken me I " 
 
 B 
 
258 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " And BO you ought to be," I said enthusiastic- 
 ally. " You'll have a splendid wife, and I know 
 you'll make a good husband." 
 
 " I don't deserve it, Dick," he continued in 
 humiliating self-abasement. " She is too good 
 for me, much too good." 
 
 " I remember that I said the same thing my- 
 self," I replied. " Come to me in five years' 
 time and let me hear what you have to say 
 then." 
 
 " Confound you," he answered ; '* why do you 
 talk like that ? " 
 
 " Because it's the way of the world, my lad," I 
 answered. " But there, you'll learn all for your- 
 self soon enough. Now let me order a whisky- 
 and-potash for you, and then off you go to bed." 
 
 *'A whisky-and-potash ? " he cried, with 
 horror depicted on his face. " Do you think I'm 
 going to drink whisky on the night that she has 
 accepted me ? You must be mad." 
 
 "Well, have your owq way," I answered. 
 *' For my own part, I have no such scruples. I 
 have been married too long." 
 
 I rang the bell, and, when my refreshment was 
 brought to me, drank it slowly, as became a 
 philosopher. 
 
 It would appear that Miss Trevor had already 
 told my wife, for I was destined to listen to a 
 considerable amount of information concerning 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 259 
 
 it before I was allowed to close my eyes that 
 night. 
 
 " I always said that they were suited to each 
 other," she observed. " She will make an ideal 
 Duchess, and I think he may consider himself a 
 very lucky fellow. What did he say about it ? " 
 
 "He admitted that he was not nearly good 
 enough for her." 
 
 " That was nice of him. And what did you 
 say?" 
 
 " I told him to come to me in five years' time 
 and let me hear what he had to say then," 
 I answered with a yawn. 
 
 I had an idea that I should get into trouble 
 over that remark, and I was not mistaken. I 
 was told that it was an unfeeling thing to have 
 said, that it was not the sort of idea to put into 
 a young man's head at such a time, and that if 
 every one had such a good wife as some other 
 people she could name, they would have reason 
 to thank their good fortune. 
 
 "If I am not mistaken, you told me you were 
 not good enough for me when I accepted you," 
 she retorted. " What do you say now ? " 
 
 "Exactly what I said then," I answered 
 diplomatically. " I am not good enough for you. 
 You should have married the Dean." 
 
 " Don't be absurd. The Dean is a dear old 
 thing, but is old enough to be my father," 
 
260 'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 
 
 " He will be Glenbarth's father-in-law directly," 
 1 said with a chuckle, **and then that young 
 man will have to drink his claret and listen to 
 his sermons. In consideration of that I will 
 forgive him all his sins against me." 
 
 Then I fell asleep, to dream that I was a rival 
 of S-t. George chasing a dragon over the seats of 
 the Colosseum ; to find, when I had run him to 
 earth, that he had assumed human shape, and 
 was no other than my old friend the Dean of 
 Bedminster. 
 
 Next morning the young couple's behaviour at 
 breakfast was circumspection itself The worthy 
 old Dean ate his breakfast unconscious of the 
 shell that was to be dropped into his camp an 
 hour later, while my wife purred approval over 
 the teapot. Meanwhile I wondered what Nikola 
 would have to say when he heard of the engage- 
 ment. After the meal was over we left the 
 Duke and Dean together. Somehow, I don't 
 think Glenbarth was exactly at his ease, but 
 when he reappeared half- an -hour later and shook 
 me by the hand, he vowed that the old gentle- 
 man was the biggest trump in the world, and 
 that I was the next. From this I gathered 
 that the matter had been satisfactorily settled, 
 and that, so far as parental consent was 
 concerned, Miss Gertrude Trevor was likely to 
 become the Duchess of Glenbarth without any 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 261 
 
 unnecessary delay. Though there was not much 
 time to spare before our train started, there was 
 still sufficient for the lovers to make a journey to 
 the Piazza di Trevi, where a magnificent diamond 
 ring was purchased to celebrate the engagement. 
 A bracelet that would have made any woman's 
 mouth water was also dedicated to the same 
 purpose. A memorial bracelet on the Etruscan 
 model was next purchased for my wife, and was 
 handed to her later on by her grateful friends. 
 
 " You did so much for us," said the Duke 
 simply, when Miss Trevor made the presentation. 
 
 My lady thereupon kissed Miss Trevor and 
 thanked the Duke, while I looked on in 
 amazement. 
 
 " Come, now," I said, "I call that scarcely fair. 
 Is the poor dragon to receive nothing? I was 
 under the impression that I had done more than 
 any one to bring about this happy result." 
 
 " You shall have our gratitude," Miss Trevor 
 replied. " That would be so nice, wouldn't it ? " 
 
 " We'll see what the Duke says in five years," 
 I answered, and with this Parthian shot I left 
 them. 
 
 Next morning we reached Venice. The 
 journey had been a very pleasant one, but I must 
 say that I was not sorry when it was over. 
 The picture of two young lovers, gazing with 
 devotion into each other's eyes hour after hour, 
 
262 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 is apt to pall upon one. We had left Mestre 
 behind us, and were approacliing the bridge I 
 have described before as connecting Venice with 
 the mainland, when I noticed that Gertrude 
 Trevor had suddenly become silent and pre- 
 occupied. She had a headache, she declared to 
 my wife, but thought it would soon pass off. On 
 reaching the railway-station we chartered a barca 
 to take us to our hotel. When we reached it, 
 Galaghetti was on the steps to receive us. His 
 honest face beamed with satisfaction, and the 
 compliments he paid my wife when she set foot 
 upon the steps, were such as to cover her with 
 confusion. I directed my party to go up-stairs, 
 and then drew the old man on one side. 
 
 "Don Jos^ de Martinos?" I asked, knowing 
 that it was sufficient merely to mention his 
 name. 
 
 "He is gone, my lord," Galaghetti replied. 
 " Since he was a friend of yours, I am sorry I 
 could keep him no longer. Perhaps your lord- 
 ship does not know that he has gambled all his 
 money away, and that he has not even enough 
 left to discharge his indebtedness to me." 
 
 " I certainly did not know it," I replied. " And 
 I am sorry to hear it. Where is he now 1 " 
 
 " I could not say," Galaghetti replied. " But 
 doubtless I could find out if your lordship desires 
 to know." 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 263 
 
 "You need not do that," I answered. "I 
 merely asked out of curiosity* Don Martinos 
 was no friend of mine." 
 
 Then, bidding him good-day, I made my way 
 up-stairs, turning over in my mind what I had 
 heard. I was not at all surprised to hear that 
 the Don had come to grief, though I had not 
 expected that the catastrophe would happen 
 in so short a time. It was satisfactory to know, 
 however, that in all probability he would never 
 trouble us again. 
 
 That afternoon, according to custom, we spent 
 an hour at Florians cafe. The Duke and 
 Gertrude stroUed up and down, while my wife 
 drew my attention to their happiness. I had 
 on several occasions sang Glenbarth's praises to 
 the Dean, and as a result the old gentleman was 
 charmed with his future son-in-law, and seemed 
 to think that the summit of his ambition had 
 been achieved. During our sojourn on the 
 piazza I kept my eyes open, for I was in hopes of 
 seeing Nikola, but I saw nothing of him. If I 
 was not successful in that way, however, I was 
 more so in another. I had found a budget of 
 letters awaiting me on my return from Rome, and 
 as two of them necessitated my sending telegrams 
 to England, I allowed the rest of the party to 
 return to hotel by boat, while I made my way to 
 the telegraph-office. Haying sent them off, I 
 
264 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 walked on to the Rio del Barcaroli, engaged a 
 gondola there, and was about to step into it, 
 when I became aware of a man watching me. 
 He proved to be none other than the Spaniard, 
 Don Martinos, but so great was the change 
 in him that for a moment I scarcely recognized 
 him. Though only a fortnight had elapsed 
 since I had last seen him, he had shrunk to 
 what was only a shadow of his former self. 
 His face was of a pasty, fishy whiteness, and his 
 eyes had a light in them that I had not seen 
 there before. For the moment I thought he had 
 been drinking, and that his unnatural appearance 
 was the result. Remembering his murderous 
 intention on the morning of the frustrated duel, 
 I felt inclined not to speak to him. My pity, 
 however, got the better of me, and I bade him 
 good-day. He did not return my salutation, 
 however, but looked at me as if I were some 
 one he had seen before, but could not remember 
 where. I then addressed him by name. 
 
 In reply he beckoned to me to follow him out 
 of earshot of the gondolier. ^ 
 
 ** I canDot remember your name," he said, 
 gripping me by the arm, " but I know that I 
 have met you before. I cannot remember any- 
 thing now because — because " Here he 
 
 paused and put his hand to his forehead as if 
 he were in pain. I endeavoured to make him 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 265 
 
 understand who I was, but without success. He 
 shook his head and looked at me, talking for a 
 moment in Italian, then in Spanish, with inter- 
 ludes of English. A more pitiable condition for 
 a man to get into could scarcely be imagined. 
 At last I tried him with a question I thought 
 might have some effect upon him. 
 
 "Have you met Doctor Nikola lately?" I 
 inquired. 
 
 The ejffect it produced upon him was instan- 
 taneous. He shrunk from me as if he had been 
 struck, and, leaning against the wall of the house 
 behind him, trembled like an aspen leaf. For a 
 man usually so self-assertive — one might almost 
 say so aggressive — here was a terrible change. I 
 was more than ever at a loss to account for it. 
 He was the last man I should have thought would 
 have been taken in such a way. 
 
 " Don't tell him ; you must not tell him, 
 promise me that you will not do so," he whispered 
 in English. " He would punish me if he knew, 
 
 and — and " Here he fell to whimpering like 
 
 a child who feared chastisement. It was not a 
 pretty exhibition, and I was more shocked by it 
 than I can say. At this juncture I remembered 
 the fact that he was without means, and as my 
 heart had been touched by his pathetic condition, 
 I was anxious to recder him such assistance as 
 was in my power. For this reason I endeavoured 
 
266 'FABEWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 to press a loan upon him, telling him that he 
 could repay me when things brightened. 
 
 " No, no," he answered, with a flash of his old 
 spirit ; then he added in a whisper, ** He would 
 know of it ! " 
 
 " Who would know of it ? " I asked. 
 
 "Doctor Nikola," he answered. Then laying 
 his hand upon my arm again, and placing his 
 mouth close to my ear as if he were anxious to 
 make sure that no one else should hear, he went 
 on, " I would rather die of starvation in the streets 
 than fall into his hands. Look at me," he 
 continued, after a moment's pause. " Look 
 what I am ! I tell you he has got me body and 
 soul. I cannot escape from him. I have no 
 will but his, and he is killing me inch by inch. 
 I have tried to escape, but it is impossible. If 
 I were on the other side of the world and he 
 wanted me I should be obliged to come." Then 
 with another change as swift as thought he began 
 to defy Nikola, vowing that he v)ould go away, 
 and that nothing should ever induce him to see 
 him again. But a moment later he was back in 
 his old condition once more. 
 
 *' Farewell, Senor," he whispered. " I must be 
 going. There is no time to lose. He is awaiting 
 me." 
 
 " But you have not told me where you are 
 living now ? " 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 267 
 
 " Cannot you guess ? " he answered, still in the 
 same curious voice. "My home is the Palace 
 Revecce in the Rio del Consiglio." 
 
 Here was surprise indeed ! The Don had gone 
 to live with Nikola. Was it kindness that had 
 induced the latter to take him in ? If not, what 
 were his reasons for so doing ? 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 As may be supposed my meeting with the Don 
 afforded me abundant food for reflection. Was 
 it true, as he had said, that in his hour of 
 distress Nikola had afforded him an asylum? 
 and if so, why was the latter doing so ? I 
 knew Nikola too well by this time to doubt that 
 he had some good and sufficient reason for his 
 action. Lurking at the back of my mind was a 
 hideous suspicion that, altl^ough I tried my 
 hardest not to think of it, would not allow itself to 
 be banished altogether. I could not but remember 
 the story Nikola had told me on that eventful 
 evening concerning his early life, and the chance 
 remark he had let fall one day that he knew 
 more about the man, Don Martinos, than I sup- 
 posed, only tended to confirm it. If that were so, 
 and he still cherished, as I had not the least doubt 
 he did — for Nikola was one who never forgave or 
 forgot, — the same undying hatred and desire for 
 vengeance against his old enemy, the son of his 
 mother s betrayer, then there was — but here I was 
 
 268 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 compelled to stop. I could not go on. The 
 death-like face of the man I had just left rose 
 before my mind's eye like an accusing angel, 
 whereupon I made a resolution that I would 
 think no more of him nor would I say anything 
 to any member of our party concerning my 
 meeting with him that afternoon. It is super- 
 fluous to remark that the latter resolve was more 
 easily kept than the former. 
 
 The first dinner in Venice after our return 
 was far from being a success. Miss Gertrude's 
 headache, instead of leaving her, had become so 
 bad that she was compelled to go forthwith to 
 bed, leaving Glenbarth in despair, and the rest 
 of our party as low-spirited as possible. Next 
 morning she declared she was a little better, 
 though she complained of having passed a 
 wretched night. 
 
 " I had such horrible dreams," she told my wife, 
 " that when I woke up I scarcely dared close my 
 eyes again." 
 
 ** I cannot remember quite what she said she 
 dreamt," said Phyllis when she told me the story ; 
 ** but I know that it had something to do with 
 Doctor Nikola and his dreadful house, and that 
 it frightened her terribly." 
 
 The girl certainly looked pale and haggard, 
 and not a bit like the happy creature who had 
 stepped into the train at Rome. 
 
270 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 " Heaven grant that there is not more trouble 
 ahead," I said to myself, as I smoked my pipe and 
 thought over the matter. " I am beginning to 
 wish we had not come to Venice at all. In 
 that case we should not have seen Nikola or the 
 Don, Miss Trevor would not have been in this 
 state, and I should not have been haunted day 
 and night with this horrible suspicion of foul 
 play." 
 
 It was no use, however, talking of what might 
 or might not have happened. It was sufficient 
 that the things I have narrated had come to 
 pass, and I must endeavour to derive what 
 satisfaction I could from the reflection that I 
 had done all that wars possible under the 
 circumstances. 
 
 On the day following our return to Venice, 
 the Dean of Bedminster set off for England. I 
 fancy he was sorry to go, and of one thing I am 
 quite sure, and that was that we regretted losing 
 him. It was arranged that, as soon as we 
 returned to England, we should pay him a 
 visit at Bedminster, and that the Duke should 
 accompany us. Transparently honest though 
 he was in all things, I fancy the old gentleman 
 had a touch of vanity in his composition, and 
 I could quite understand that he would be 
 anxious to show off his future son-in-law before 
 the society of his quiet cathedral town. 
 
'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 271 
 
 On the night following his departure, I had 
 the most terrible dream I have had in my 
 life. Though some time has elapsed since then, 
 I can still recall the fright it gave me. My 
 wife declares that she could see the effect of it 
 upon my face for more than a day afterwards. 
 But this, I think, is going a little too far. I 
 am willing, however, to admit that it made a 
 very great impression upon me at the time — the 
 more so for the reason that it touched my 
 thought, and I was quite at a loss to understand 
 it. It was night, I remember, and I had just 
 entered the Palace Revecce. I must have been 
 invisible, for, though I stood in the room with 
 Nikola, he did not appear to be aware of my 
 presence. As usual he was at work upon some 
 of his chemical experiments. Then I looked at his 
 face, and saw that it wore an expression that I 
 had never seen there before. I can describe it 
 best by saying that it was one of absolute 
 cruelty, unrelieved by even the smallest gleam 
 of pity. And yet it was not cruelty in the 
 accepted meaning of the word, so much as an 
 overwhelming desire to punish and avenge. I 
 am quite aware, on reading over what I have 
 just written, that my inability to convey the 
 exact impression renders my meaning obscure. 
 Yet I can do no more. It was a look beyond 
 the power of my pen to describe. Presently he 
 
272 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 put down the glass he held in his hand, and 
 looked up with his head a little on one side, 
 as if he were listening for some sound in the 
 adjoining room. There was a shuffling footstep 
 in the corridor outside, and then the door opened 
 and there entered a figure so awful that I shrank 
 back from it appalled. It was Don Martinos, 
 and yet it was not the Don. The face and the 
 height were perhaps the same, but the man 
 himself was — oh, so different. On seeing Nikola 
 he shambled forward, rather than walked, and 
 dropped in a heap at his feet, clutching at his 
 knees, and making a feeble whining noise, not 
 unlike that of an animal in pain. 
 
 ** Get up," said Nikola sternly, and as he said 
 it he pointed to a couch on the further side of 
 the room. 
 
 The man went and stretched himself out upon 
 it as if in obedience to some unspoken command. 
 Nikola followed him, and having exposed the 
 other's chest, took from the table what looked like 
 a hypodermic syringe, filled it from one of the 
 graduated glasses upon the table, and injected 
 the contents beneath the prostrate man's skin. An 
 immediate and violent fit of trembling was the 
 result, followed by awful contortions of the face. 
 Then suddenly he stiffened himself out and lay 
 like one dead. Taking his watch from his pocket 
 Nikola made a careful note of the time. So vivid 
 
ftlK 
 
 f 
 
 
 i. 
 
 ■H^' 1 
 
 1, ,^t r . , 
 
 T 
 
 s 
 
 1 
 
 
 1 
 
 "He crawled upon the floor like a dog." 
 Farewell, Nikola."'} [Page 27J 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 273 
 
 was my dream that I can even remember hearing 
 the ticking of the watch. Minute after minute 
 went by, until at last the Don opened his eyes. 
 Then I realized that the man was no longer a 
 human being, but an animal. He uttered horrible 
 noises in his throat, that were not unlike the 
 short, sharp bark of a wolf, and when Nikola bade 
 him move he crawled upon the floor like a dog. 
 After that he retreated to a corner, where he 
 crouched and glowered upon his master, as 
 if he were prepared at any moment to spring 
 upon him and drag him down. As one throws 
 a bone to a dog so did Nikola toss him food. 
 He devoured it ravenously, as would a 
 starving cur. There was foam at the corners 
 of his mouth, and the light of madness in his 
 eyes. Nikola returned to the table and began 
 to pour some liquid into a glass. So busily 
 occupied was he, that he did not see the thing, 
 I cannot call it a man, in the corner, get on to 
 his feet. He had taken up a small tube and 
 was stirring the contents of the glass with it, 
 when the other was less than a couple of feet 
 from him. I tried to warn him of his danger, 
 only to find that I could not utter a word. 
 Then the object sprang upon him and clawed at 
 his throat. He turned, and, a moment later, 
 the madman was lying, whining feebly, upon 
 the floor, and Nikola was wiping the blood 
 
 s 
 
274 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 from a scratch on the left-hand side of his 
 throat. At that moment I awoke to find myself 
 sitting up in bed, with the perspiration streaming 
 down my face. 
 
 " I have had such an awful dream ! " I said, in 
 answer to my wife's startled inquiry as to what 
 was the matter. "I don't know that I have 
 ever been so frightened before." 
 
 "You are trembling now," said my wife. 
 " Try not to think of it, dear. Remember it 
 was only a dream." 
 
 That it was something more than a mere 
 dream I felt certain. It was so complete and 
 dovetailed so exactly with my horrible suspicions 
 that I could not altogether consign it to the 
 realms of fancy. Fearing a repetition if I 
 attempted to go to sleep again, I switched on 
 the electric light and endeavoured to interest 
 myself in a book, but it was of no use. The 
 face of the poor brute I had seen crouching in 
 the corner haunted me continually, and would 
 not be dispelled. Never in my life before had 
 I been so thankful to see the dawn. At break- 
 fast my wife commented upon my dream. 
 Miss Trevor, however, said nothing. She became 
 quieter and more distracted every day. Towards 
 the evening Glenbarth spoke to me concerning 
 her. 
 
 " I don't know what to make of it all," he 
 
'FAKE WELL, NIKOLA' 275 
 
 said anxiously. " She assures me that she is 
 perfectly well and happy, but seeing the con- 
 dition she is in, I can scarcely believe that. It 
 is as much as I can do to get a word out of her. 
 If I didn't know that she loves me I should 
 begin to imagine that she regretted having 
 promised to be my wife." 
 
 *' I don't think you need be afraid of that/' 
 I answered. " One has only to look at her face 
 to see how deeply attached she is to you. The 
 truth of the whole matter is, my dear fellow, I 
 have come to the conclusion that we have had 
 enough of Venice. Nikola is at the bottom of 
 our troubles, and the sooner we see the last 
 of him the better it will be for all parties 
 concerned." 
 
 " Hear, hear, to that," he answered fervently. 
 " Deeply grateful though I am to him for what 
 he did when Gertrude was ill, I can honestly 
 say that I never want to see him again." 
 
 At luncheon that day I accordingly broached 
 the subject of our return to England. It was 
 received by my wife and the Duke with un- 
 feigned satisfaction, and by Miss Trevor with 
 what appeared to be approval It struck me, 
 however, that she did not seem so anxious to 
 leave as I expected she would be. This some- 
 what puzzled me, but I was not destined to 
 remain very long in ignorance of the reason. 
 
276 'FAREWELL. NIKOLA' 
 
 That afternoon I happened to be left alone 
 with her for some little time. We talked for 
 a while on a variety of topics, but I could see 
 all the time that there was something she was 
 desirous of saying to me, though she could not 
 quite make up her mind ho\/to commence. At 
 last she rose, and crossing the room took a chair 
 by my side. 
 
 ** Sir Richard, I am going to ask a favour of 
 you," she said, with a far-away look in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " Let me assure you that it is granted before 
 you ask it," I replied. " Will you tell me what 
 it is?" 
 
 " It may appear strange to you," she said, " but 
 I have a conviction, absurd, superstitious, or 
 whatever you may term it, that some great 
 misfortune will befall me if I leave Venice just 
 yet. I am not my own mistress, and must stay. 
 I want you to arrange it." 
 
 This was a nice sort of shell to have dropped 
 into one's camp, particularly at such a time and 
 under such circumstances, and I scarcely knew 
 what reply to make. 
 
 " But what possible misfortune could befall 
 you?" I asked. 
 
 "I cannot say," she replied. "I am only 
 certain that I must remain for a little while 
 longer. You can have no idea what I have 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 277 
 
 suffered lately. Bear with me, Sir Eichard." 
 Here she lifted a face of piteous entreaty to me, 
 which I was powerless to resist, adding, "I 
 implore you not to be angry with me." 
 
 " Is it likely that I should be angry with you. 
 Miss Gertrude ? " I replied. " Why should I be ? 
 If you really desire to remain for a little longer 
 there is nothing to prevent it. But you must 
 not allow yourself to become ill again. Believe 
 me it is only your imagination that is playing 
 tricks with you." 
 
 " Ah ! you do not know everything," she 
 answered. "Every night I have such terrible 
 dreams that I have come to dread going to bed." 
 
 I thought of my own dream on the previous 
 night, and could well understand how she felt. 
 After her last remark she was silent for some 
 moments. That there was something still to 
 come, I could see, but what it was I had no 
 more idea than a child. At last she spoke. 
 
 "Sir Eichard," she said, "would you mind 
 very much if I were to ask you a most import- 
 ant question? I scarcely like to do so, but I 
 know that you are my friend, and that you will 
 give me good advice." 
 
 "I will endeavour to do so," I replied. 
 " What is the question you wish to ask me ? " 
 
 " It is about my engagement," she replied. 
 " You know how good and unselfish the Duke 
 
278 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 is, and how truly he believes in me. I could 
 not bear to bring trouble upon him, but in love 
 there should be no secrets — nothing should be 
 hidden one from the other. Yet I feel that 
 I am hiding so much — can you understand what 
 I mean ? " 
 
 " In a great measure," I answered, " but I 
 should like to do so thoroughly. Miss Gertrude, 
 if I may hazard a guess, I should say that you 
 have been dreaming about Doctor Nikola again?" 
 
 " Yes," she answered after a moment's hesita- 
 tion. ** Absurd though it may be, I can think 
 of no one else. He weighs upon my spirits like 
 lead, and yet I know that I should be grateful 
 to him for all he did for me when I was so ill. 
 But for him I should not be alive now." 
 
 "I am afraid that you have been allowing the 
 thought of your recent danger to lie too heavily 
 upon your mind," I continued. " Eemember 
 that this is the nineteenth century, and that 
 there are no such things as you think Nikola 
 would have you believe." 
 
 " When I know that there are ? " she asked, 
 looking at me reproachfully. *' Ah, Sir Richard," 
 she continued, " if you knew all that I do you 
 would pity me. But no one will ever know, and 
 I cannot tell them. But one thing is quite 
 certain. I must stay in Venice for the present — 
 happen what may. Something tells me so, day 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 279 
 
 and night. And when I think of the Duke my 
 heart well-nigh breaks for fear I should bring 
 trouble upon him." 
 
 I did my best to comfort her ; promised that 
 if she really desired to remain in Venice I would 
 arrange it for her, and by so doing committed 
 myself to a policy that I very well knew, when I 
 came to consider it later, was not expedient, and 
 very far from being judicious. Regarded seriously 
 in a sober commonplace light, the whole affair 
 seems too absurd, and yet at the time nothing 
 could possibly have been more real or earnest. 
 When she had heard me out, she thanked me very 
 prettily for the interest I had taken, and then 
 with a little sigh, that went to my heart, left 
 the room. Later in the afternoon I broke the 
 news to my wife, and told her of the promise I 
 had given Gertrude. 
 
 "But what does it all mean, Dick ? " she 
 asked, looking at me with startled eyes. " What 
 is it she fears will happen if she goes away from 
 Venice ? " 
 
 " That is what I cannot get her to say," I 
 replied. " Indeed I am not altogether certain 
 that she knows herself. It's a most perplexing 
 business, and I wish to goodness I had never had 
 anything to do with it. The better plan, I 
 think, would be to humour her, keep her as 
 cheerful as we can, and when the proper time 
 
280 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 arrives, get her away from Venice and home to 
 England as quickly as we can." 
 
 My wife agreed with me on this point, and 
 our course of action was thereupon settled. 
 
 Later in the afternoon I made a resolution. 
 My own suspicions concerning the wretched 
 Martinos were growing so intolerable that I 
 could bear them no longer. The memory of 
 the dream I had had on the previous night 
 was never absent from my thoughts, and I 
 felt that unless I could set matters right once 
 and for all, and convince myself that they 
 were not as I suspected with Anstruther's 
 friend, I should be unable to close my eyes when 
 next I went to bed. For this reason I deter- 
 mined to set off to the Palace Eevecce at once, 
 and to have an interview with Nikola in the 
 hope of being able to extort some information 
 from him. 
 
 " Perhaps after all," I argued, " I am worrying 
 myself unnecessarily. There may be no connec- 
 tion between Martinos and that South American." 
 
 I determined, however, to set the matter at 
 rest that afternoon. Accordingly at four o'clock 
 I made an excuse and departed for the Kio del 
 Consiglio. 
 
 It was a dark, cloudy afternoon, and the 
 house, as I approached it, looked drearier, if 
 such a thing were possible, than I had ever 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 281 
 
 seen it. I disembarked from my gondola at 
 the steps, and having bade the man wait 
 for me, which he did on the other side of the 
 street, I rang the bell. The same old servant 
 whom I remembered having seen on a previous 
 occasion answered it, and informed me that his 
 master was not at home, but that he expected 
 him every minute. I determined to wait for 
 him and ascended the stairs to his room. The 
 windows were open, and from where I stood I 
 could watch the gondolier placidly eating his bread 
 and onions on the other side of the street. So 
 far as I could see there was no change in the 
 room itself. The centre table as usual was 
 littered with papers and books, that near the 
 window was covered with chemical apparatus, 
 while the old black cat was fast asleep upon 
 the couch on the other side. The oriental rug, 
 described in another place, covered the ominous 
 trap-door so that no portion of it could be seen. 
 I was still standing at the window looking 
 down upon the canal below, when the door 
 at the further end softly opened and a face 
 looked in at me. Good heavens ! I can even 
 now feel the horror which swept over me. It 
 was the countenance of Don Martinos, but so 
 changed, even from what it had been when I had 
 seen him in the Rio del Barcaroli, that I scarcely 
 recognized it. It was like the face of an animal 
 
282 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 and of a madman, if such could be combined. 
 He looked at me and then withdrew, closing 
 the door behind him, only to re-open it a 
 few moments later. Having apparently made 
 sure that I was alone, he crept in, and, crossing 
 the room, approached me. For a moment I 
 was at a loss how to act. I was not afraid that 
 the poor wretch might do me any mischief, but 
 my whole being shrank from him with a physical 
 revulsion beyond all description in words. I can 
 understand now something of the dislike my 
 wife and the Duke declared they entertained for 
 him. On tip-toe, with his finger to his lips, as 
 if to enjoin silence, he crept towards me, mut- 
 tering something in Spanish that I could not 
 understand ; then in English he continued — 
 " Hush, Senor, cannot you see them ? " 
 He pointed his hand in various directions as 
 if he could see the figures of men and women 
 moving about the apartment. Once he bowed 
 low as if to some imaginary dignitary, drawing 
 back at the same time, as if to permit him to 
 pass. Then turning to me he continued, "Do 
 you know who that is ? No ! Then I will tell 
 you. Senor, that is the most noble Admiral 
 Kevecce, the owner of this house." 
 
 Then for a short time he stood silent, pickiug 
 feebly at his fingers and regarding me ever and 
 anon from the corner of his eye. Suddenly 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 283 
 
 there was a sharp quick step in the corridor 
 outside, the handle of the door turned, and 
 Nikola entered the room. As his glance fell 
 upon the wretched being at my side a look not 
 unlike that I had seen in my dream flashed into 
 his countenance. It was gone again, however, 
 as suddenly as it had come, and he was advanc- 
 ing to greet me with all his old politeness. It 
 was then that the folly of my errand was borne 
 in upon me. Even if my suspicions were correct 
 what could I do, and what chance could I hope 
 to have of being able to induce Nikola to con- 
 fide in me ? Meanwhile he had pointed to 
 the door, and Martinos, trembling in every 
 limb, was slinking towards it like a whipped 
 hound. At that moment I made a discovery that 
 I confess came near to depriving me of my 
 presence of mind altogether. You can judge of 
 its value for yourself when I say, that extending 
 to the lobe of Nikola's left ear half-way down and 
 across his throat was a newly-made scar, just 
 such an one, in fact, as would be made by a hand 
 with sharp finger-nails clutching at it. Could 
 my dream have been true, after all ? 
 
 " I cannot tell you how delighted I am to see 
 you, my dear Sir Eichard," said Nikola as he 
 seated himself. " I understood that you had 
 returned to Venice." 
 
 Having out-grown the desire to learn how 
 
284 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA » 
 
 Nikola had become aware of anything, I merely 
 agreed that we had returned, and then took the 
 chair he offered me. 
 
 When all the circumstances are taken into 
 consideration, I really think that that moment 
 was certainly the most embarrassing of my life. 
 Nikola's eyes were fixed steadily upon mine, and 
 I could see in them what was almost an expres- 
 sion of malicious amusement. As usual he was 
 making capital out of my awkwardness, and as I 
 knew that I could do no good, I. felt that there 
 was nothing for it but for me to submit. Then 
 the miserable Spaniard's face rose before my 
 mind's eye, and I felt that I could not abandon 
 him, without an effort, to what I knew would be 
 his fate. Nikola brought me up to the mark 
 even; quicker than I expected. 
 
 " It is very plain," he said, with a satirical 
 smile playing round his thin lips, *'that you have 
 come with the intention of saying something 
 important to me. What is it ? " 
 
 At this I rose from my chair and went across 
 the room to where he was sitting. Placing my 
 hand upon his shoulder I looked down into his 
 face, took courage, and began. 
 
 "Doctor Nikola," I said, "you and I have 
 known each other for many years now. We 
 have seen some strange things together, one of 
 us perhaps less willingly than the other. But I 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 285 
 
 venture to think, however, that we have never 
 stood on stranger or more dangerous ground than 
 we do to-night.'' 
 
 " I am afraid I am scarcely able to follow 
 your meaning," he replied. 
 
 I knew that this was not the case, but I was 
 equally convinced that to argue the question 
 with him would be worse than useless. 
 
 " Do you remember the night on which you 
 told me that story concerning the woman who 
 lived in this house, who was betrayed by the 
 Spaniard, and who died on that Spanish island ? " 
 I asked. 
 
 He rose hurriedly from his chair and went 
 to the window. I heard him catch his breath, 
 and knew that I had moved him at last. 
 
 " What of it ? " he inquired, turning on me 
 sharply as he spoke. 
 
 " Only that I have come to see you concerning 
 the denouement of that story," I answered. " I 
 have come because I cannot possibly stay away. 
 You have no idea how deeply I have been thinking 
 over this matter. Do you think I cannot see 
 through it and read between the lines? You 
 told it to me because in some inscrutable fashion 
 of your own you had become aware that Don 
 Martinos would bring a letter of introduction to 
 me from my friend Anstruther. Eemember it 
 was I who introduced him to you ! Do you 
 
286 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 think that I did not notice the expression that 
 came into your face whenever you looked at 
 him ? Later my suspicions were aroused. The 
 Don was a Spaniard, he was rich, and he had 
 made the mistake of admitting that while he had 
 been in Chili he had never been in Equinata. 
 You persuaded me to bring him to this house, 
 and here you obtained your first influence over 
 him." 
 
 " My dear Hatteras," said Nikola, *^ you are 
 presupposing a great deal. And you get beyond 
 my depth. Don't you think it would be wiser 
 if you were to stick to plain facts ? " 
 
 " My suppositions are stronger than my facts," I 
 answered. *' You laid yourself out to meet him, 
 and your influence over him became greater every 
 day. It could be seen in his face. He was 
 fascinated, and could not escape. Then he 
 began to gamble, and found his money slipping 
 through his fingers like water through a sieve." 
 
 " You have come to the conclusion, then, that 
 I am responsible for that also ? " 
 
 *' I do not say that it was your doing exactly," 
 I said, gathering courage from the calmness of 
 his manner and the attention he was giving 
 me. ** But it fits in too well with the whole 
 scheme to free you entirely from responsibility. 
 Then look at the change that began to come 
 over the man himself. His faculties were 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 287 
 
 leaving him one by one, being wiped out, just as 
 a school-boy wipes his lesson from a slate. If he 
 had been an old man I should have said that it 
 was the commencement of his second childhood ; 
 but he is still a comparatively young man.'^ 
 
 " You forget that while he had been gambling 
 he had also been drinking heavily. May not 
 debauchery tell its own tale '? " 
 
 " It is not debauchery that has brought about 
 this terrible change. Who knows that better 
 than yourself? After the duel, which you pro- 
 videntially prevented, we went to Rome for a 
 fortnight. On the afternoon of our return I met 
 him near the telegraph- office. At first glance 
 I scarcely recognized him, so terrible was the 
 change in his appearance. If ever a poor wretch 
 was on the verge of idiotcy he was that one* 
 Moreover, he informed me that he was living 
 with you. Why should the fact that he was 
 so doing produce such a result ? I cannot 
 say ! I dare not try to understand it ! But, for 
 pity's sake, Nikola, by aU you hold dear I 
 implore you to solve the riddle. Last night I 
 had a dream ! " 
 
 ** You are perhaps a believer in dreams ? " he 
 remarked very quietly, as if the question scarcely 
 interested him. 
 
 ** This dream was of a description such as I 
 have never had in my life before/' I answered, 
 
288 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 disregarding the sneer, and then told it to him, 
 increasing rather than lessening the abominable 
 details. He heard me out without moving a 
 muscle of his face, and it was only when I had 
 reached the climax and paused that he spoke. 
 
 " This is a strange rigmarole you tell me," he 
 said. " Fortunately you confess that it was only 
 a dream." 
 
 " Doctor Nikola," I cried, " it was more than a 
 dream. To prove it, let me ask you how you 
 received that long scratch that shows upon your 
 neck and throat ? " 
 
 I pointed my finger at it, but Nikola returned 
 my gaze still without a flicker of his eyelids. 
 
 " What if I do admit it ? " he began. " What 
 if your dream were correct? What difl'erence 
 would it make?" 
 
 I looked at him in amazement. To tell the 
 truth I was more astonished by his admission of 
 the correctness of my suspicions than I should 
 have been had he denied them altogether. As 
 it was, I, was too much overcome to be able to 
 answer him for a few moments. 
 
 " Come," he said, " answer my question. 
 What if I do admit the truth of all you 
 Bay?" 
 
 " You confess then that the whole business 
 has been one long scheme to entrap this wretched 
 man, and to get him into your power ? " 
 
FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 289 
 
 n fr 
 
 'Tis/' lie answered, still keeping his eyes 
 fixed upon me. " You see I am candid I Go 
 on!'' 
 
 My brain began to reel under the strain placed 
 upon it. Since he had owned to it, what was I 
 to do ? What could I say ? 
 
 " Sir Eichard Hatteras," said Nikola, approach- 
 ing a little nearer to me, resting one hand upon 
 the table and speaking very impressively, '' I 
 wonder if it has struck you that you are a brave 
 man to come to me to-day and to say this to 
 me ? In the whole circle of the men I know I 
 may declare with truth that I am not aw^are of 
 one other who would do so much. What is this 
 man to you that you should befriend him ? He 
 would have robbed you of your dearest friend 
 without a second thought, as he would rob you 
 of your wife if the idea occurred to him. He is 
 without bowels of compassion ; the blood of 
 thousands stains his hands and cries aloud for 
 vengeance. He is a fugitive from justice, a 
 thief, a liar, and a traitor to the country he 
 swore to govern as an honest man. On a certain 
 little island on the other side of the world there 
 is a lonely churchyard, and in that churchyard 
 a still lonelier grave. In it lies the body of a 
 woman — my mother. In this very room that 
 woman was betrayed by his father. So in this 
 room also shall that betrayal be avenged. I 
 
 T 
 
290 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 iiave waited all my life; tlie opportunity has 
 been long in coming. Now, however, it has 
 arrived, and I am decreed by Fate to be the 
 instrument of Vengeance ! " 
 
 I am a tall man, but as he said this Nikola 
 seemed to tower over me, his face set hard as a 
 rock, his eyes blazing like living coals, and his 
 voice trembling under the influence of his passion. 
 Little by little I was growing to think as he 
 did, and to look upon Martinos as he saw him. 
 
 '* But this cannot go — it cannot go on," I 
 repeated, in a last feeble protest against the 
 . horror of the thing. *' Surely you could not find 
 it in your heart to treat a fellow-creature so ? " 
 
 "He is no fellow- creature of yours or mine," 
 Nikola retorted sternly, as if he were rebuking a 
 childish mistake. " Would you call the man who 
 shot down those innocent young men of Equinata, 
 before their mothers' eyes, a fellow-creature ? Is 
 it possible that the son of the man who so cruelly 
 wronged and betrayed the trusting woman he 
 first saw in this room, who led her across the 
 seas to desert her, and to send her to her grave, 
 could be called a man? I will give you one 
 more instance of his barbarity." 
 
 So saying, he threw off the black velvet coat 
 he was wearing, and drawing up his right shirt- 
 sleeve, bade me examine his arm. I saw 
 that from the shoulder to the elbow it was 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 291 
 
 covered with the scars of old wounds, strange 
 white marks, in pairs, and each about half-an- 
 inch long. 
 
 " Those scars," he went on, " were made by his 
 orders, and with hot pincers, when I was a boy. 
 And as his negro servants made them he laughed 
 and taunted me with my mother's shame. No ! 
 No ! This is no man — rather a dangerous animal, 
 that were best out of the way. It has been told 
 me that you and I shall only meet twice more. 
 Let those meetings lead you to think better of 
 me. The time is not far distant when I must 
 leave the world ! When that hour arrives there 
 is a lonely monastery in a range of eastern 
 mountains, upon which no Englishman has ever 
 set his foot. Of that monastery I shall become 
 an inmate. No one outside its walls will ever 
 look upon my face again. There I shall work 
 out my Destiny, and, if I have sinned, be sure I 
 shall receive my punishment at those hands that 
 alone can bestow it. Now leave me ! " 
 
 God help me for the coward I am, but the fact 
 remains that I left him without another word. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 If I were offered my heart's desire in return 
 for so doing, I could not tell you how I got 
 home after my interview with Nikola at the 
 Palace Revecce. I was unconscious of everything 
 save that I had gone to Nikola's house in the 
 hope of being able to save the life of a man, 
 whom I had the best of reasons for hating, and 
 that at the last moment I had turned coward 
 and fled the field. No humiliation could have 
 been more complete. Nikola had won a victory, 
 and I knew it, and despaired of retrieving it. 
 On reaching the hotel I was about to disembark 
 from my gondola, when a voice hailed me from 
 another craft, proceeding in the direction I had 
 come. 
 
 " Dick Hatteras, as I'm a sinner ! " it cried. 
 " Don't you know me, Dick ? " 
 
 I turned to see a face I well remembered 
 smiling at me from the gondola. I immediately 
 bade my own man put me out into the stream, 
 which he did, and presently the two gondolas 
 
 292 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 293 
 
 lay side by side. The man who had hailed me 
 was none other than George Beckworth, a 
 Queensland sugar-planter, with whom I had 
 been on terms of the most intimate friendship 
 in bygone days. And as there was a lady 
 seated beside him, I derived the impression that 
 he had married since I had last seen him. 
 
 ^'This is indeed a surprise," he said, as we 
 shook hands. "By the way, let me introduce 
 you to my wife, Dick." He said this with all 
 the pride of a newly-married man. "My dear, 
 this is my old friend, Dick Hatteras, of whom 
 I have so often spoken to you. What are you 
 doing in Venice, Dick ? " 
 
 " I have my wife and some friends travelling 
 with me," I answered. " We are staying at 
 Galaghetti's hotel yonder. Cannot you and 
 your wife dine with us to-night ? " 
 
 " Impossible, I am afraid," he answered. " We 
 sail to-night in the P. and 0. boat. Won't you 
 come and dine with us ? " 
 
 " That is equally impossible," I replied. " We 
 have friends with us. But I should like to see 
 something more of you before you go, and if you 
 will allow me I'll run down after dinner for a 
 chat about old times." 
 
 " I shall be delighted," he answered. " Be 
 sure that you do not forget it." 
 
 Having assured him that I would not permit 
 
294 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 it to escape my memory, I bade him " good-bye," 
 and then returned to my hotel. A more for- 
 tunate meeting could scarcely have occurred, for 
 now I was furnished with an excellent excuse for 
 leaving my party, and for being alone for a time. 
 Once more I felt that I was a coward for not 
 daring to face my fellow-men. Under the cir- 
 cumstances, however, I knew that it was im- 
 possible. I could no more have spent the 
 evening listening to Glenbarth's happy laughter 
 than I could have jumped the Grand Canal. For 
 the time being the society of my fellow-creatures 
 was absolutely distasteful to me. On ascending 
 to my rooms I discovered my wife and the Duke 
 in the drawing-room, and was informed by the 
 latter that Miss Trevor had again been com- 
 pelled to retire to her room with a severe 
 headache. 
 
 " In that case I am afraid you will only be a 
 small party for dinner," I said. " I am going to 
 ask you to excuse me. You have often heard 
 me speak, my dear, of George Beckworth, the 
 Queensland sugar-planter, with whom I used to 
 be on such friendly terms in the old days ? " 
 
 My wife admitted that she remembered hearing 
 me speak of the gentleman in question. 
 
 **Well, he is in Venice," I replied, ** and he 
 sails to-night by the P. and 0. boat for Colombo. 
 As it is the last time I shall be likely to see him 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 295 
 
 for many years, I feel sure you will not mind my 
 accepting his invitation ? " 
 
 " Of course not, if the Duke will excuse you," 
 she said, and, when the question was put to 
 him, Glenbarth willingly consented to do so. 
 
 I accordingly went to my room to make my 
 toilet. Then, having bade my wife " good-bye," 
 I chartered a gondola and ordered the man to 
 row me to the piazza of Saint Mark. Thence I 
 set off for a walk through the city, caring little 
 in which way I went. It was growing dark by 
 this time, and I knew there was little chance of 
 my being recognized, or of my recognizing any one 
 else. All the time, however, my memory was 
 haunted by the recollection of that room at the 
 Palace Eevecce, and of what was in all probability 
 going on in it. My gorge rose at the idea — all 
 my manhood revolted from it. A loathing of 
 Nikola, such as I had never known before, was 
 succeeded by a deathly chill, as I realized how 
 impotent I was to avert the catastrophe. What 
 could I do ? To have attempted to stay him in 
 his course would have been worse than useless, 
 while to have appealed to the Authorities would 
 only have had the effect of putting myself in 
 direct opposition to him, and who knew what 
 would happen then ? I looked at it from 
 another point of view. Why should I be so 
 anxious to interfere on the wretched Spaniard's 
 
296 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 behalf? I had seen his murderous intention on 
 the morning of the frustrated duel ; I had heard 
 from Nikola of the assassination of those un- 
 fortunate lads in Equinata ; moreover, I was well 
 aware that he was a thief, and also a traitor to 
 his country. Why should he not be punished 
 as he deserved, and why should not Nikola 
 be his executioner ? I endeavoured to convince 
 myself that this was only fit and proper retribu- 
 tion, but this argument was no more successful 
 than the last had been. 
 
 Arguing in this way I walked on and on, 
 turning to right or left, just as the fancy took 
 me. Presently I found myself in a portion of 
 the tow^n into which I had never hitherto pene- 
 trated. At the moment of which I am about to 
 write, I was standing in a narrow lane, paved 
 with large stones, having high dismal houses on 
 either hand. Suddenly an old man turned the 
 corner and approached me. As he passed, I 
 saw his face, and recognized an individual to 
 whom Nikola had spoken in the little church on 
 that memorable evening when he had taken us 
 on a tour of inspection through the city. He 
 was visibly agitated, and was moreover in hot 
 haste. For some reason that I cannot explain, 
 nor, I suppose, shall I ever be able to do so, an 
 intense desire to follow him took possession of 
 me. It must have been more than a desire, for 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 297 
 
 I felt that I must go with him whether I wished 
 to or not. I accordingly dived into the house 
 after him, and followed him along the passage 
 and up the rickety flight of stairs that ascended 
 from it. Having attained one floor we continued 
 our ascent ; the sounds of voices reached us from 
 the different rooms, but we saw no one. On the 
 second landing the old man paused before a door, 
 opened it very softly, and entered. I followed 
 him, and looked about me. It was a pathetic 
 scene that met my eyes. The room was a poor 
 one, and scantily furnished. A rough table 
 and a narrow bed were its only furniture. On 
 the latter a young man was lying, and kneeling 
 on the floor beside him, holding the thin hands 
 in his own, was no less a person than Doctor 
 Nikola himself. I saw that he was aware of my 
 presence, but he took no more notice of me than 
 if I had not existed. 
 
 " You called me too late, my poor Antonio," 
 he said, addressing the old man I had followed. 
 ''Nothing can save him now. He was dying 
 when I arrived." 
 
 On hearing this the old man fell on his knees 
 beside the bed and burst into a flood of weeping. 
 Nikola placed his hand with a kindly gesture 
 upon the other s shoulder, and at the moment 
 that he did so the man upon the bed expired. 
 
 "Do not grieve for him, my friend," said 
 
298 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 Nikola. ** Believe me, it was hopeless from the 
 first. He is better as it is." 
 
 Then, with all the gentleness of a woman, 
 he proceeded to comfort the old man, whose 
 only son lay dead upon the bed. I knew no 
 more of the story than what I had seen, nor 
 have I heard more of it since, but I had been per- 
 mitted to see another side of his character, and 
 one which, in the light of existing circumstances, 
 was not to be denied. He had scarcely finished 
 his kindly offices before there was a heavy step 
 outside, and a black-browed priest entered the 
 room. He looked from Nikola to myself, and 
 then at the dead man upon the bed. 
 
 '* Farewell, my good Antonio," said Nikola. 
 " Have no fear. Remember that your future is 
 my care." 
 
 Then, having said something in an undertone 
 to the priest, he placed his hand upon my arm 
 and led me from the room. When we had left 
 them he murmured in a voice not unlike that in 
 which he had addressed the old man, ** Hatteras, 
 this is another lesson. Is it so difficult to 
 learn?" 
 
 I do not pretend that I made any answer. 
 We passed down the stairs together, and, when 
 we reached the street, stood for a moment at the 
 house-door. 
 
 " You will not be able to understand me," he 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 299 
 
 said ; " nevertheless, I tell you ttiat the end is 
 brought nearer by that one scene. It will not 
 be long before it comes now. All things con- 
 sidered, I do not know that I shall regret it." 
 
 Then, without another word, he strode away 
 into the darkness, leaving me to place what con- 
 struction I pleased upon his last speech. For 
 some moments I stood where he had left me, 
 pondering over his words, and then set off in the 
 direction I had come. As may be imagined, I 
 felt even less inclined than before for the happy, 
 jovial party I knew I should find on board the 
 steamer, but I had given my promise, and could 
 not get out of it. When I reached the piazza 
 of St. Mark once more I went to the steps and 
 hailed a gondola, telling the man to take me 
 to the P. and 0. vessel then lying at anchor in 
 the harbour. He did so, and I made my way up 
 the accommodation-ladder to the deck above, to 
 find that the passengers in the first saloon had 
 just finished their dinner, and were making their 
 appearance on the promenade deck. I inquired 
 of the steward for Air. Beckworth,'and discovered 
 him in the act of lighting a cigar at the smoking- 
 room door. 
 
 He greeted me effusively, and begged me to 
 remain where I was while he went in search of 
 his wife. When she arrived, I found her to be 
 a pretty little woman, with big brown eyes, 
 
300 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 and a sympatlietic manner. She was good 
 enough to say that she had heard such a lot 
 concerning me from her husband, and had always 
 looked forward to making my acquaintance. I 
 accepted a cigar from Beckworth's case, and we 
 then adjourned to the smoking-room for a long 
 talk together. When we had comfortably in- 
 stalled ourselves, my friend's flow of conversation 
 commenced, and I was made aware of all the 
 principal events that had occurred in Queensland 
 since my departure, was favoured with his opinion 
 of England, which he had never before visited, 
 and was furnished with the details as to how he 
 had met his wife, and of the happy event with 
 which their courtship had been concluded. 
 
 " Altogether," he said, " taking one thing with 
 another, I don't know that you'd be able to find 
 a much happier fellow in the world than I am at 
 this moment." 
 
 I said I was glad to hear it, and as I did so 
 contrasted his breezy, happy-go-lucky manner 
 with those of certain other people I had been 
 brought in contact with that day. My interview 
 with him must have done me good, for I stayed 
 on, and the hour was consequently late when I 
 left the ship. Indeed, it wanted only a few 
 minutes of eleven o'clock as I went down the 
 accommodation-ladder to the gondola, which I 
 had ordered to come for me at ten. 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 301 
 
 ** Galaghetti's hotel," I said to the man, " and 
 as quickly as you can." 
 
 When I had bade my friends " good-bye '* 
 and left the ship, I felt comparatively cheerful, 
 but no sooner had the silence of Venice closed in 
 upon me again than all my old despondency 
 returned to me. A foreboding of coming mis- 
 fortune settled upon me, and do what I would I 
 could not shake it off. 
 
 When I reached the hotel I found that my 
 party had retired to rest. My wife was sleeping 
 quietly, and not feeling inclined for bed, and 
 dreading lest if I did go I might be assailed by 
 more dreams of a similar description to that I 
 had had on the previous night, I resolved to go 
 back to the drawing-room and read there for a 
 time. This plan I carried into execution, and 
 taking up a new book in which I was very much 
 interested, seated myself in an easy-chair and 
 determined to peruse it. I found some difficulty, 
 however, in concentrating my attention upon it. 
 My thoughts continually reverted to my inter- 
 view that afternoon with Nikola, and also to the 
 scene I had witnessed in the poorer quarter after 
 dark. I suppose eventually I must have fallen 
 asleep, for I remember nothing else until I awoke 
 to find myself sitting up and listening to a light 
 step in the corridor outside. I looked at my 
 watch to discover that the time was exactly 
 
302 'FAKEWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 a quarter to one. In that case, as we monopo- 
 lized the whole of the corrider, who could it be ? 
 In order to find out I went to the door, and 
 softly opened it. A dim light was always left 
 in the passage throughout the night, and by 
 it I was able to see a tall and graceful figure, 
 which I instantly recognized, making for the 
 secondary stairs at the further end. Now these 
 stairs, so I had been given to understand, led to 
 another portion of the hotel into which I had 
 never penetrated. Why, therefore. Miss Trevor 
 was using them at such an hour, and, above all, 
 dressed for going out, I could not for the life of 
 me determine. I could see that, if I was anxious 
 to find out, I must be quick ; so, turning swiftly 
 into the room again, I picked up my hat and set 
 off in pursuit. As the sequel will prove, it was, 
 perhaps, as well that I did so. 
 
 By the time I reached the top of the stairs 
 she was at the bottom, and was speeding along 
 another passage to the right. At the end of this 
 was a door, the fastenings of which she undid, 
 with an ease and assurance that bewildered me. 
 So certain was she of her whereabouts, and so 
 easily did she manipulate the heavy door, that I 
 felt inclined to believe that she must have used 
 that passage many times before. At last she 
 opened it and passed out into the darkness, 
 drawing it to after her. I had paused to watch 
 
'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 808 
 
 her ; now I hastened on even faster than before, 
 fearing that, if I were not careful, I might lose 
 her outside. Having passed the door I found 
 myself in a narrow lane, bounded on either side 
 by high walls, and some fifty or sixty yards in 
 extent. The lane, in its turn, opened into a 
 small square, out of which led two or three other 
 narrow streets. She turned to the left and 
 passed down one of these ; I followed close upon 
 her heels. Of all the strange experiences to which 
 our stay in Venice had given rise, this was cer- 
 tainly one of the most remarkable. That Gertrude 
 Trevor, the honest English girl, the daughter 
 of a dignitary of the Church and a prospective 
 bishop, should leave her hotel in the middle of 
 the night in order to wander about streets with 
 which she was most imperfectly acquainted, was 
 a mj^stery I found difficult to solve. When she 
 had crossed a bridge, which spanned a small canal, 
 she once more turned to the left, passed along the 
 footway before a dilapidated palace, and then 
 entered a narrow passage on the right. The 
 buildings hereabouts were all large, and, as a 
 natural consequence, the streets were so dark 
 that I had some difficulty in keeping her in sight. 
 As a matter of fact she had stopped, and I was 
 almost upon her before I became aware of it. 
 Even then she did not seem to realize my 
 presence. She was standing before a small door. 
 
804 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 which she was endeavouring to push open. At 
 last she succeeded, and without hesitation began 
 to descend some steps inside. Once more I took 
 up the chase, though where we were, and what 
 we were going to do there, I had not the least 
 idea. The small yard in which we found our- 
 selves was stone-paved, and for this reason I 
 wondered that she did not hear my footsteps. It 
 is certain, however, that she did not, for she made 
 for a door I could just discern on the opposite 
 side to that by which we had entered, without 
 turning her head. It was at this point that I 
 began to wish I had brought a revolver or some 
 weapon with me. When she was about to open 
 the door I have just mentioned, I called her 
 softly by name, and implored her to wait for me, 
 but still she took no notice. Could she be a 
 somnambulist ? I asked myself. But if this 
 were so, why had she chosen this particular 
 house ? Having passed the door we stood in a 
 second and larger courtyard, and it was then that 
 the whole mystery became apparent to me. The 
 house to which I had followed her ivas the 
 Palace Revecce, and she was on he?' way to 
 Nikola ! But for what reason ? Was this a trick of 
 Nikola's, or had her terrible dreams taken such a 
 hold upon her that she was not responsible for 
 her actions ? Either alternative was bad enough. 
 Pausing for a moment in the courtyard beside 
 
« FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 305 
 
 the well, she turned quickly to her right hand 
 .^nd began to ascend the stairs towards that 
 awful room, which, so far as I knew, she had never 
 visited before. When she reached it I scarcely 
 knew how to act. Should I enter behind her 
 and accuse Nikola of having enticed her there, or 
 should I wait outside and overhear what trans- 
 pired between them ? At last I made up my 
 mind to adopt the latter course, and, when she 
 had entered, I accordingly remained outside and 
 waited for her. Through the half-open door I 
 could see Nikola, stooping over what looked like 
 a microscope at a side-table. He looked up as 
 Miss Trevor entered, and uttered a cry of sur- 
 prise. As I heard this a sigh of relief escaped 
 me, for his action proved to me that her visit 
 had not been anticipated. 
 
 *' Miss Trevor ! " he said, moving forward to 
 greet her, " what does this mean ? How did you 
 get here ? " 
 
 " I have come to you," she faltered, " because 
 I could not remain away. I have come to 
 you that I may beg of you that wretched man's 
 life. Doctor Nikola, 1 implore you to spare 
 him!" 
 
 "My dear young lady," said Nikola, with a 
 softness in his voice that reminded me of that 
 I had heard in the death-chamber a few hours 
 before, "you cannot understand what you are 
 
 u 
 
806 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA* 
 
 doing. You must let me take you back to your 
 friends. You should not be here at this hour of 
 the night." 
 
 " But I was bound to come — don't I tell you I 
 could not remain away ? Spare him I Oh I for 
 God's sake, spare him ! " 
 
 "You do not know what you are asking. 
 You are not yourself to-night." 
 
 " I only know that I am thinking of you," she 
 answered. " You must not do it I You are so 
 great, so powerful, that you can afford to forgive. 
 Take my life rather than harm him. I will yield 
 it gladly to save you from this sin." 
 
 " To — save — me," I heard him mutter to him- 
 self. " She would save me ! " 
 
 "God would never forgive," she continued, 
 still in the same dreamy voice. 
 
 He moved away from her, and from where I 
 stood I could see how agitated he was. For 
 some moments she knelt, looking up at him, 
 with arms outstretched in supplication ; then he 
 said something to her in a low voice, which I 
 could not catch. Her answer, however, was 
 plain to me. 
 
 " Yes, I have known it always in my dreams," 
 she said. 
 
 " And knowing that, you would still wish me 
 to pardon him ? " 
 
 " In the name of God I would urge you to do 
 
one h-iieii, wiLti arms outstretched, in supplication." 
 Farewell, Nikola.'] [Page 306 
 
•FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 807 
 
 so," slie answered. " The safety of your soul 
 depends upon it." 
 
 Once more Nikola turned away and paced the 
 room. 
 
 "Are you aware that Sir Eichard Hatteras 
 was here on the same errand this afternoon ? " 
 he asked. 
 
 "I know it," she replied, though how she 
 could have done so I could not conceive, nor 
 have I been able to do so since. 
 
 " And does he know that you have come to 
 me now asking me to forgive ? " 
 
 " He knows it," she answered, as before. 
 **He followed me here." 
 
 As she had never looked behind her, how had 
 she known this also ? 
 
 Then Nikola approached the door and threw 
 it open. 
 
 " Come in, Hatteras," he said. " Your presence 
 is discovered." 
 
 " For heaven's sake, Nikola, tell me what this 
 means," I cried, seeing that the girl did not turn 
 towards me. " Is she asleep, or have you brought 
 your diabolical influence upon her ? " 
 
 " She is not asleep, and yet she is not con- 
 scious of her actions," he answered. " There is 
 something in this that passes our philosophy. 
 Had I any idea that she contemplated such a 
 thing, I would have used every efibrt to prevent 
 
808 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 it. Miss Trevor, believe me, you must go home 
 with Sir Richard," he continued, tenderly raising 
 the girl to her feet as he spoke. 
 
 " I cannot go until you have sworn to forgive," 
 was her reply. 
 
 "I must have time to think," he answered. 
 "In the morning you will know everything. 
 Trust me until then, and remember always that 
 while Nikola lives he will be grateful." 
 
 Then he assisted me to conduct her down-stairs, 
 and across the two courtyards, to the little 
 postern door through which we had entered the 
 palace. 
 
 '* Have no fear for her," he said, addressing 
 me. " She will go home as she came. And in 
 the morning she will remember nothing of what 
 has transpired." 
 
 Then taking her hand in his he raised it to 
 his lips, and a moment later had bade me fare- 
 well, and had vanished into the palace once more. 
 
 As I tracked her from the hotel, so I followed 
 her back to it again. I was none the less 
 anxious, however. If only Nikola would abandon 
 his purpose, and release his enemy, her action 
 and my anxiety would not be in vain. But 
 would he do so, and in the event of his doing 
 this, would his prophecy that Miss Trevor would, 
 in the morning, remember nothing of what had 
 transpired, prove true ? 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 809 
 
 Turning, twisting as before, we proceeded on 
 our way. My chief fear was that the door 
 through which we had made our exit would be 
 found to be shut on our return. Happily, how- 
 ever, this did not prove to be the case. I saw 
 Miss Trevor enter, and then swiftly followed her. 
 She hastened down the passage, ascended the 
 stairs, passed along the corridor, and made her 
 way to her own room. As soon as I had made 
 certain that she was safely there, I went on to 
 my own dressing-room, and on entering my 
 wife's apartment had the good fortune to find 
 her still asleep. I was still more thankful in the 
 morning when I discovered she had not missed 
 me, and being satisfied on this point, I decided 
 to say nothing whatsoever concerning our ad- 
 venture. 
 
 Miss Trevor was the last to put in an ap- 
 pearance at breakfast, and, as you may suppose, 
 I scanned her face with some anxiety. She 
 looked pale and worn, but it was evident from 
 her manner when she greeted me, that she had 
 not the least idea what she had done during 
 the night. Nikola's promise had proved to be 
 true, and for that reason I was more determined 
 than ever to keep my information to myself. 
 Events could not have turned out more for- 
 tunately for all parties concerned. 
 
 Shortly after breakfast a letter was handed to 
 
310 * FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 me, and, glancing at the writing, I saw that it 
 was from Nikola. I was alone at the time of 
 receiving it, a fact for which I was grateful. I 
 will leave you to imagine with what impatience 
 I opened it. It was short, and merely contained 
 a request that I would call at the Palace Revecce 
 before noon that day, if I could spare the hour. 
 I decided to do so, and I reached the palace 
 twenty minutes or so before the appointed time. 
 The old servitor, who by this time had become 
 familiar with my face, opened the door and 
 permitted me to enter. I inquired if Doctor 
 Nikola were at home, and to my surprise was 
 informed that he was not. 
 
 " Perhaps your Excellency would like to see 
 the other Senor ? " the old man asked, pointing 
 up the stairs. 
 
 I was about to decline this invitation with all 
 possible haste, when a voice I recognized as that 
 of the Don greeted me from the gallery above. 
 
 " Won t you come up-stairs. Sir Richard ? " it 
 said. " I have a letter for you, from my friend, 
 Doctor Nikola ! " 
 
 I could scarcely believe the evidence of my 
 eyes and ears, and when I reached the room of 
 which I had such terrible recollections, my sur- 
 prise was intensified rather than lessened. Mar- 
 tinos had undergone a complete metamorphosis. 
 In outward appearance he was no longer the 
 
* FAREWELL, NIKOLA » $11 
 
 same person, who only the day before had filled 
 me with such terrible repulsions. If such a thing 
 could be believed, he was more like his old self — 
 as I had first seen him. 
 
 " Where is Doctor Nikola ? " I inquired, when 
 I had looked round the room and noticed the 
 absence of the chemical paraphernalia, the multi- 
 tude of books, and the general change in it. 
 
 " He went away early this morning," the Don 
 replied. " He left a letter for you, and requested 
 me to give it you as soon as you should call. I 
 have much pleasure in doing so now." 
 
 I took it and placed it almost mechanically in 
 my pocket. 
 
 "Are you aware when he will return?" I 
 asked. 
 
 " He will never do so," Martinos replied. " I 
 heard the old man below wailing this morning, 
 because he had lost the best master he had ever 
 had." 
 
 " And you ? " 
 
 " I am ruined, as you know," he said, without 
 any reference to his illness, "but the good 
 doctor has been good enough to place twenty 
 thousand lira to my credit, and I shall go else- 
 where and attempt to double it." 
 
 He must have been much better, for he smiled 
 in the old deceitful way as he said this. 
 Kemembering what I knew of him, I turned 
 
312 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 from tlie man in disgust, and bidding him good- 
 day, left the room which I hoped never to see 
 again as long as I might live. In the courtyard 
 I encountered the old caretaker once more. 
 
 " So the Senor Nikola has gone away never 
 to return V I said. 
 
 " That is so, Senor," said the old man with a 
 heavy sigh. " He has left me a rich man, but I 
 do not like to think that I shall never see him 
 again." 
 
 Sitting down upon the edge of the well I took 
 from my pocket the letter the Don had handed 
 me. 
 
 " Farewell, friend Hatteras," it began. " By 
 the time you receive this I shall have left 
 Venice, never more to set foot in it. We shall 
 not meet again. I go to the Fate which claims 
 me, and of which I told you. Think of me 
 sometimes, and, if it be possible, with kindness, 
 
 "Nikola." 
 
 I rose and moved towards the door, placing a 
 gold piece in the old man's hand as I passed him. 
 Then, with a last look at the courtyard, I went 
 down the steps and took my place in the 
 gondola, with a feeling of sadness in my heart 
 for the sad Destiny of the most wonderful man 
 I had ever known. 
 
CHAPTEK XIV 
 
 Next day, much, to Galaghetti's sorrow, we 
 suddenly brought our stay in Venice to a con- 
 clusion, and set off for Paris. The Queen of the 
 Adriatic had lost her charm for us, and for once 
 in our lives we were not sorry to say good-bye 
 to her. The train left the station, crossed the 
 bridge to the mainland, and was presently 
 speeding on her way across Europe. Ever since 
 the morning Miss Trevors spirits had been 
 steadily improving. She seemed to have become 
 her old self in a few hours, and Glenbarth's 
 delight was beautiful to witness. He had been 
 through a good deal, poor fellow, and deserved 
 some recompense for it. We had been upwards 
 of an hour upon our way, when my wife made a 
 curious remark. 
 
 " Good gracious ! " she said, " in our hurry to 
 get away we have quite forgotten to say good- 
 bye to Doctor Nikola ! " 
 
 I saw Miss Trevor give a little shudder. 
 
 313 
 
314 'FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 
 
 *' Do you know," she said, " I had such a 
 curious dream about him last night. I dreamt 
 that I saw him standing in the courtyard of 
 a great building on a mountain-side. He was 
 dressed in a strange sort of yellow gown, not 
 unlike that worn by the Buddhist priests, and was 
 worn almost to a shadow and looked very old. 
 He approached me, and taking my hands, said 
 something that, in the commonplace light of 
 day, doesn't seem to have much sense in it. 
 But I know it affected me very much at the 
 time." 
 
 " What was it ? " I asked, trying to keep my 
 voice steady. 
 
 " It was this," she answered — " ' Remember 
 that I have forgiven ; it is for you to forget,* 
 What could he have meant ? " 
 
 " Since it is only a dream, it is impossible to 
 say," observed my wife, and thus saved me the 
 danger of attempting a solution. 
 
 To bring my long narrative to a conclusion I 
 might say that the Duke and Miss Trevor were 
 married last May. They spent their honeymoon 
 yachting to the West Indies. Some one proposed 
 that they should visit Venice ; indeed, the Earl 
 of Sellingbourne, who had lately purchased the 
 Palace Revecce, and had furnished it, by the 
 way, from the Tottenham Court Eoad, placed it 
 at their disposal* From what I have been told I 
 
•FAREWELL, NIKOLA' 816 
 
 gather that he was somewhat ill-pleased because 
 his offer was not accepted. 
 
 # # « # « 
 
 When the wind howls round the house at 
 night and the world seems very lonely, I 
 sometimes try to picture a monastery on a 
 mountain-side, and then, in my fancy, I see a 
 yellow-robed, mysterious figure, whose dark, 
 searching eyes look into mine with a light that 
 is no longer of this world. To him I cry — 
 
 "farewell, NIKOLA I" 
 
 THE END 
 
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