insurmountable　obstacles　to　it。　　The　first　is；　I　cannot　add
  the　excellences　of　his　design　to　mine　without　knowing　what
  those　excellences　are；　which　he　will　of　course　keep　a　secret。
  Second；　it　will　not　be　easy　to　promote　a　coolness　between　such
  hot　ones　as　they。'
  'You　make　a　mistake。　　It　is　only　he　who　is　so　ardent。　　She　is
  only　lukewarm。　　If　we　had　any　spirit；　a　bargain　would　be
  struck　between　us：　　you　would　appropriate　his　design；　I　should
  cause　the　coolness。'
  'How　could　I　appropriate　his　design？'
  'By　copying　it；　I　suppose。'
  'Copying　it？'
  'By　going　into　his　studio　and　looking　it　over。'
  Havill　turned　to　Dare；　and　stared。　　'By　George；　you　don't
  stick　at　trifles；　young　man。　　You　don't　suppose　I　would　go
  into　a　man's　rooms　and　steal　his　inventions　like　that？'
  'I　scarcely　suppose　you　would；'　said　Dare　indifferently；　as　he
  rose。
  'And　if　I　were　to；'　said　Havill　curiously；　'how　is　the
  coolness　to　be　caused？'
  'By　the　second　man。'
  'Who　is　to　produce　him？'
  'Her　Majesty's　Government。'
  Havill　looked　meditatively　at　his　companion；　and　shook　his
  head。　　'In　these　idle　suppositions　we　have　been　assuming
  conduct　which　would　be　quite　against　my　principles　as　an
  honest　man。'
  II。
  A　few　days　after　the　party　at　Stancy　Castle；　Dare　was　walking
  down　the　High　Street　of　Markton；　a　cigarette　between　his　lips
  and　a　silver…topped　cane　in　his　hand。　　His　eye　fell　upon　a
  brass　plate　on　an　opposite　door；　bearing　the　name　of　Mr。
  Havill；　Architect。　　He　crossed　over；　and　rang　the　office　bell。
  The　clerk　who　admitted　him　stated　that　Mr。　Havill　was　in　his
  private　room；　and　would　be　disengaged　in　a　short　time。　　While
  Dare　waited　the　clerk　affixed　to　the　door　a　piece　of　paper
  bearing　the　words　'Back　at　2；'　and　went　away　to　his　dinner；
  leaving　Dare　in　the　room　alone。
  Dare　looked　at　the　different　drawings　on　the　boards　about　the
  room。　　They　all　represented　one　subject；　which；　though
  unfinished　as　yet；　and　bearing　no　inscription；　was　recognized
  by　the　visitor　as　the　design　for　the　enlargement　and
  restoration　of　Stancy　Castle。　　When　he　had　glanced　it　over
  Dare　sat　down。
  The　doors　between　the　office　and　private　room　were　double；　but
  the　one　towards　the　office　being　only　ajar　Dare　could　hear　a
  conversation　in　progress　within。　　It　presently　rose　to　an
  altercation；　the　tenor　of　which　was　obvious。　　Somebody　had
  come　for　money。
  'Really　I　can　stand　it　no　longer；　Mr。　Havillreally　I　will
  not！'　said　the　creditor　excitedly。　　'Now　this　bill　overdue
  againwhat　can　you　expect？　　Why；　I　might　have　negotiated　it；
  and　where　would　you　have　been　then？　　Instead　of　that；　I　have
  locked　it　up　out　of　consideration　for　you；　and　what　do　I　get
  for　my　considerateness？　　I　shall　let　the　law　take　its　course！'
  'You'll　do　me　inexpressible　harm；　and　get　nothing　whatever；'
  said　Havill。　　'If　you　would　renew　for　another　three　months
  there　would　be　no　difficulty　in　the　matter。'
  'You　have　said　so　before：　　I　will　do　no　such　thing。'
  There　was　a　silence；　whereupon　Dare　arose　without　hesitation；
  and　walked　boldly　into　the　private　office。　　Havill　was
  standing　at　one　end；　as　gloomy　as　a　thundercloud；　and　at　the
  other　was　the　unfortunate　creditor　with　his　hat　on。　　Though
  Dare's　entry　surprised　them；　both　parties　seemed　relieved。
  'I　have　called　in　passing　to　congratulate　you；　Mr。　Havill；'
  said　Dare　gaily。　　'Such　a　commission　as　has　been　entrusted　to
  you　will　make　you　famous！'
  'How　do　you　do？I　wish　it　would　make　me　rich；'　said　Havill
  drily。
  'It　will　be　a　lift　in　that　direction；　from　what　I　know　of　the
  profession。　　What　is　she　going　to　spend？'
  'A　hundred　thousand。'
  'Your　commission　as　architect；　five　thousand。　　Not　bad；　for
  making　a　few　sketches。　　Consider　what　other　great　commissions
  such　a　work　will　lead　to。'
  'What　great　work　is　this？'　asked　the　creditor。
  'Stancy　Castle；'　said　Dare；　since　Havill　seemed　too　agape　to
  answer。　　'You　have　not　heard　of　it；　then？　　Those　are　the
  drawings；　I　presume；　in　the　next　room？'
  Havill　replied　in　the　affirmative；　beginning　to　perceive　the
  manoeuvre。　　'Perhaps　you　would　like　to　see　them？'　he　said　to
  the　creditor。
  The　latter　offered　no　objection；　and　all　three　went　into　the
  drawing…office。
  'It　will　certainly　be　a　magnificent　structure；'　said　the
  creditor；　after　regarding　the　elevations　through　his
  spectacles。　　'Stancy　Castle：　　I　had　no　idea　of　it！　and　when　do
  you　begin　to　build；　Mr。　Havill？'　he　inquired　in　mollified
  tones。
  'In　three　months；　I　think？'　said　Dare；　looking　to　Havill。
  Havill　assented。
  'Five　thousand　pounds　commission；'　murmured　the　creditor。
  'Paid　down；　I　suppose？'
  Havill　nodded。
  'And　the　works　will　not　linger　for　lack　of　money　to　carry　them
  out；　I　imagine；'　said　Dare。　　'Two　hundred　thousand　will
  probably　be　spent　before　the　work　is　finished。'
  'There　is　not　much　doubt　of　it；'　said　Havill。
  'You　said　nothing　to　me　about　this？'　whispered　the　creditor　to
  Havill；　taking　him　aside；　with　a　look　of　regret。
  'You　would　not　listen！'
  'It　alters　the　case　greatly。'　　The　creditor　retired　with
  Havill　to　the　door；　and　after　a　subdued　colloquy　in　the
  passage　he　went　away；　Havill　returning　to　the　office。
  'What　the　devil　do　you　mean　by　hoaxing　him　like　this；　when　the
  job　is　no　more　mine　than　Inigo　Jones's？'
  'Don't　be　too　curious；'　said　Dare；　laughing。　　'Rather　thank　me
  for　getting　rid　of　him。'
  'But　it　is　all　a　vision！'　said　Havill；　ruefully　regarding　the
  pencilled　towers　of　Stancy　Castle。　　'If　the　competition　were
  really　the　commission　that　you　have　represented　it　to　be　there
  might　be　something　to　laugh　at。'
  'It　must　be　made　a　commission；　somehow；'　returned　Dare
  carelessly。　　'I　am　come　to　lend　you　a　little　assistance。　　I
  must　stay　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　I　have　nothing　else　to
  do。'
  A　carriage　slowly　passed　the　window；　and　Havill　recognized　the
  Power　liveries。　　'Hulloshe's　coming　here！'　he　said　under　his
  breath；　as　the　carriage　stopped　by　the　kerb。　　'What　does　she
  want；　I　wonder？　　Dare；　does　she　know　you？'
  'I　would　just　as　soon　be　out　of　the　way。'
  'Then　go　into　the　garden。'
  Dare　went　out　through　the　back　office　as　Paula　was　shown　in　at
  the　front。　　She　wore　a　grey　travelling　costume；　and　seemed　to
  be　in　some　haste。
  'I　am　on　my　way　to　the　railway…station；'　she　said　to　Havill。
  'I　shall　be　absent　from　home　for　several　weeks；　and　since　you
  requested　it；　I　have　called　to　inquire　how　you　are　getting　on
  with　the　design。'
  'Please　look　it　over；'　said　Havill；　placing　a　seat　for　her。
  'No；'　said　Paula。　　'I　think　it　would　be　unfair。　　I　have　not
  looked　at　Mr。the　other　architect's　plans　since　he　has　begun
  to　design　seriously；　and　I　will　not　look　at　yours。　　Are　you
  getting　on　quite　well；　and　do　you　want　to　know　anything　more？
  If　so；　go　to　the　castle；　and　get　anybody　to　assist　you。　　Why
  would　you　not　make　use　of　the　room　at　your　disposal　in　the
  castle；　as　the　other　architect　has　done？'
  In　asking　the　question　her　face　was　towards　the　window；　and
  suddenly　her　cheeks　became　a　rosy　red。　　She　instantly　looked
  another　way。
  'Having　my　own　office　so　near；　it　was　not　necessary；　thank
  you；'　replied　Havill；　as；　noting　her　countenance；　he　allowed
  his　glance　to　stray　into　the　street。　　Somerset　was　walking
  past　on　the　opposite　side。
  'The　time　isthe　time　fixed　for　sending　in　the　drawings　is
  the　first　of　November；　I　believe；'　she　said　confusedly；　'and
  the　decision　will　be　come　to　by　three　gentlemen　who　are
  prominent　members　of　the　Institute　of　Architects。'
  Havill　then　accompanied　her　to　the　carriage；　and　she　drove
  away。
  Havill　went　to　the　back　window　to　tell　Dare　that　he　need　not
  stay　in　the　garden；　but　the　garden　was　empty。　　The　architect
  remained　alone　in　his　office　for　some　time；　at　the　end　of　a
  quarter　of　an　hour；　when　the　scream　of　a　railway　whistle　had
  echoed　down　the　still　street；　he　beheld　Somerset　repassing　the
  window　in　a　direction　from　the　railway；　with　somewhat　of　a　sad
  gait。　　In　another　minute　Dare　entered；　humming　the　latest　air
  of　Offenbach。
  ''Tis　a　mere　piece　of　duplicity！'　said　Havill。
  'What　is？'
  'Her　pretending　indifference　as　to　which　of　us　comes　out
  successful　in　the　competition；　when　she　colours　carmine　the
  moment　Somerset　passes　by。'　　He　described　Paula's　visit；　and
  the　incident。
  'It　may　not　mean　Cupid's　Entire　XXX　after　all；'　said　Dare
  judicially。　　'The　mere　suspicion　that　a　certain　man　loves　her
  would　make　a　girl　blush　at　his　unexpected　appearance。　　Well；
  she's　gone　from　him　for　a　time；　the　better　for　you。'
  'He　has　been　privileged　to　see　her　off　at　any　rate。'
  'Not　privileged。'
  'How　do　you　know　that？'
  'I　went　out　of　your　garden　by　the　back　gate；　and　followed　her
  carriage　to　the　railway。　　He　simply　went　to　the　first　bridge
  outside　the　station；　and　waited。　　When　she　was　in　the　train；
  it　moved　forward；　he　was　all　expectation；　and　drew　out　his
  handkerchief　ready　to　wave；　while　she　looked　out　of　the　window
  towards　the　bridge。　　The　train　backed　before　it　reached　the
  bridge；　to　attach　the　box　containing　her　horses；　and　the
  carriage…truck。　　Then　it　started　for　good；　and　when　it　reached
  the　bridge　she　looked　out　again；　he　waving　his　handkerchief　to
  her。'
  'And　she　waving　hers　back？'
  'No；　she　didn't。'
  'Ah！'
  'She