I was about to leave the room on the swift impulse of excitement and joy, when a fresh and violent gust of wind cast some soot on my rejected manuscript. It lay forgotten on the floor, as I had despairingly thrown it. I hastily picked it up and shook it. Now I could publish it myself, and not only publish it but advertise it, and not only advertise it, but push it, in all the crafty and cautious ways! I smiled as I thought of the vengeance I would take on all those who had scorned and slighted me and my labour. Now they will fawn and whine at my feet like curs! Every stiff and stubborn neck will bend before me. Brains and money together can move the world!
Full of ambitious thought, I caught wild sounds from the violin, and all at once I remembered I had not yet opened the third letter addressed to me, the one coroneted in scarlet and gold, which had remained where it was on the table almost unnoticed till now. I took it up and turned it over with an odd sense of reluctance in my fingers, I read the following lines,
Dear Sir.
I am the bearer of a letter of introduction to you from your former college companion Mr. John Carrington, now of Melbourne, who has been good enough to thus give me the means of making the acquaintance of one, who, I understand, is more than exceptionally endowed with the gift of literary genius. I shall call upon you this evening between eight and nine oclock, trusting to find you at home and disengaged. I enclose my card, and present address, and beg to remain,
Very faithfully yours
Lucio Rimanez.The card mentioned dropped on the table as I finished reading the note. It bore a small, exquisitely engraved coronet and the words Prince Lucio Rimanez while, scribbled lightly in pencil underneath was the address Grand Hotel.
I read the brief letter through again, it was simple enough, expressed with clearness and civility. There was nothing remarkable about it, nothing whatever; yet it seemed to me surcharged with meaning. Why, I could not imagine. How the wind roared! And how that violin next door wailed! My brain swam and my heart ached heavily. I grew irritable and nervous. An impulse of shame possessed me, shame that this foreign prince, with limitless wealth, should be coming to visit me, me, now a millionaire, in my present wretched lodging. If I had had a sixpence about me, (which I had not) I should have sent a telegram to my approaching visitor.
But in any case, I said aloud, addressing myself to the empty room, I will not meet him tonight. Ill go out and leave no message. If he comes he will think I have not yet had his letter. I can make an appointment to see him when I am better lodged, and better dressed.
I groped about the room for my hat and coat, and I was still engaged in a fruitless and annoying search, when I caught a sound of galloping horses hoofs coming to a stop in the street below. I paused and listened. There was a slight commotion in the basement, I heard landladys voice and then a deep masculine voice. After that steps, firm and even, ascended the stairs to my landing.
The devil is in it! I muttered vexedly. Here comes the very man I meant to avoid!
3
The door opened. I could just perceive a tall shadowy figure standing on the threshold. I heard my landladys introductory words A gentleman to see you sir, words that were quickly interrupted by a murmur of dismay at finding the room in total darkness.
Well to be sure! The lamp must have gone out! she exclaimed, then addressing the personage she had ushered thus far, she added, Im afraid Mr Tempest isnt in after all, sir, though I certainly saw him about half-an-hour ago. If you dont mind waiting here a minute Ill fetch a light and see if he has left any message on his table.
The tall stranger advanced a pace or two, and a rich voice with a ring of ironical amusement in it called me by my name,
Geoffrey Tempest, are you there?
Why could I not answer? The strangest and most unnatural obstinacy stiffened my tongue. The majestic figure drew nearer, and once again the voice called,
Geoffrey Tempest, are you there?
I could hold out no longer, and like a coward, I came forward boldly to confront my visitor.
Yes, I am here, I said. I am ashamed to meet you here. You are Prince Rimanez of course. I have just read your note which prepared me for your visit, but I was hoping that my landlady would conclude I was out, and show you downstairs again. You see I am perfectly frank!
You are indeed! returned the stranger. So frank that I cannot fail to understand you. You resent my visit this evening and wish I had not come!
I made haste to deny it, though I knew it to be true. Truth, even in trifles, always seems unpleasant!
Pray do not think me so churlish, I said. The fact is, I only opened your letter a few minutes ago, and before I could make any arrangements to receive you, the lamp went out. I am forced to greet you in this darkness, which is almost too dense to shake hands in.
Shall we try? my visitor enquired. Here is my hand!
I at once extended my hand, and it was instantly clasped in a warm and somewhat masterful manner. At that moment a light flashed on the scene. My landlady entered, bearing her best lamp. She set it on the table. I believe she uttered some exclamation of surprise at seeing me, I did not hear, so entirely was I amazed and fascinated by the appearance of the man whose long slender hand still held mine. I am myself an average good height, but he was fully half a head taller than I, if not more than that. As I looked straightly at him, I thought I had never seen so much beauty and intellectuality combined in the outward personality of any human being. The finely shaped head denoted both power and wisdom, and was nobly poised on his shoulders. The countenance was a pure oval, and singularly pale. He had dark eyes, which had a curious and wonderfully attractive look of mingled mirth and misery. The mouth was firm, determined, and not too small. I felt as if I had known him all my life! And now face to face with him, I remembered my actual surroundings, the bare cold room, the lack of fire, the black soot that sprinkled the carpetless floor, my own shabby clothes. He regarded me, smiling.
I know I have come at an awkward moment, he said. I always do! It is my peculiar misfortune. Well-bred people never intrude where they are not wanted. Im afraid my manners leave much to be desired[10]. Try to forgive me if you can, for the sake of this, and he held out a letter addressed to me in my friend Carringtons familiar handwriting. And permit me to sit down while you read my credentials.
He took a chair and seated himself. I observed his handsome face and easy attitude with renewed admiration.
No credentials are necessary, I said with all the cordiality I now really felt. I have already had a letter from Carrington in which he speaks of you in the highest and most grateful terms. But the fact is well! really, prince, you must excuse me if I seem confused or astonished. I had expected to see quite an old man
No one is old, my dear sir, nowadays! he declared lightly, even the grandmothers and grandfathers are friskier at fifty than they were at fifteen. One does not talk of age at all now in polite society, it is ill-bred, even coarse. Indecent things are unmentionable age has become an indecent thing. You expected to see an old man you say? Well, you are not disappointed I am old. In fact you have no idea how very old I am!