Harz　said　abruptly：　〃There　are　worse　things　than　murder。〃
  〃Ah！　par　exemple！〃　said　Sarelli。
  There　was　a　slight　stir　all　round　the　table。
  〃Verry　good；〃　cried　out　Herr　Paul；　〃a　vot'　sante；　cher。〃
  Miss　Naylor　shivered；　as　if　some　one　had　put　a　penny　down　her　back；
  and　Mrs。　Decie；　leaning　towards　Harz；　smiled　like　one　who　has　made　a
  pet　dog　do　a　trick。　　Christian　alone　was　motionless；　looking
  thoughtfully　at　Harz。
  〃I　saw　a　man　tried　for　murder　once；〃　he　said；　〃a　murder　for　revenge；
  I　watched　the　judge；　and　I　thought　all　the　time：　'I'd　rather　be　that
  murderer　than　you；　I've　never　seen　a　meaner　face；　you　crawl　through
  life；　you're　not　a　criminal；　simply　because　you　haven't　the
  courage。'〃
  In　the　dubious　silence　following　the　painter's　speech；　Mr。　Treffry
  could　distinctly　be　heard　humming。　　Then　Sarelli　said：　〃What　do　you
  say　to　anarchists；　who　are　not　men；　but　savage　beasts；　whom　I　would
  tear　to　pieces！〃
  〃As　to　that；〃　Harz　answered　defiantly；　〃it　maybe　wise　to　hang　them；
  but　then　there　are　so　many　other　men　that　it　would　be　wise　to　hang。〃
  〃How　can　we　tell　what　they　went　through；　what　their　lives　were？〃
  murmured　Christian。
  Miss　Naylor；　who　had　been　rolling　a　pellet　of　bread；　concealed　it
  hastily。　　〃They　arealways　given　a　chance　torepentI　believe；〃
  she　said。
  〃For　what　they　are　about　to　receive；〃　drawled　Dawney。
  Mrs。　Decie　signalled　with　her　fan：　〃We　are　trying　to　express　the
  inexpressibleshall　we　go　into　the　garden？〃
  All　rose；　Harz　stood　by　the　window；　and　in　passing；　Christian　looked
  at　him。
  He　sat　down　again　with　a　sudden　sense　of　loss。　　There　was　no　white
  figure　opposite　now。　　Raising　his　eyes　he　met　Sarelli's。　　The　Italian
  was　regarding　him　with　a　curious　stare。
  Herr　Paul　began　retailing　apiece　of　scandal　he　had　heard　that
  afternoon。
  〃Shocking　affair！〃　he　said；　〃I　could　never　have　believed　it　of　her！
  B…　is　quite　beside　himself。　　Yesterday　there　was　a　row；　it　seems！〃
  〃There　has　been　one　every　day　for　months；〃　muttered　Dawney。
  〃But　to　leave　without　a　word；　and　go　no　one　knows　where！　　B…　is
  'viveur'　no　doubt；　mais；　mon　Dieu；　que　voulezvous？　　She　was　always　a
  poor；　pale　thing。　　Why！；　when　my…〃　he　flourished　his　cigar；　〃I　was
  not　always…what　I　should　have　been…one　lives　in　a　world　of　flesh
  and　blood…we　are　not　all　angels…que　diable！　　But　this　is　a　very
  vulgar　business。　　She　goes　off；　leaves　everything…without　a　word；
  and　B…is　very　fond　of　her。　　These　things　are　not　done！〃　the
  starched　bosom　of　his　shirt　seemed　swollen　by　indignation。
  Mr。　Treffry；　with　a　heavy　hand　on　the　table；　eyed　him　sideways。
  Dawney　said　slowly：
  〃B…　is　a　beast；　I'm　sorry　for　the　poor　woman；　but　what　can　she　do
  alone？〃
  〃There　is；　no　doubt；　a　man；〃　put　in　Sarelli。
  Herr　Paul　muttered：　〃Who　knows？〃
  〃What　is　B…　going　to　do？〃　said　Dawney。
  〃Ah！〃　said　Herr　Paul。　　〃He　is　fond　of　her。　　He　is　a　chap　of
  resolution；　he　will　get　her　back。　　He　told　me：　'Well；　you　know；　I
  shall　follow　her　wherever　she　goes　till　she　comes　back。'　　He　will　do
  it；　he　is　a　determined　chap；　he　will　follow　her　wherever　she　goes。〃
  Mr。　Treffry　drank　his　wine　off　at　a　gulp；　and　sucked　his　moustache　in
  sharply。
  〃She　was　a　fool　to　marry　him；〃　said　Dawney；　〃they　haven't　a　point　in
  common；　she　hates　him　like　poison；　and　she's　the　better　of　the　two。
  But　it　doesn't　pay　a　woman　to　run　off　like　that。　　B…　had　better
  hurry　up；　though。　　What　do　you　think；　sir？〃　he　said　to　Mr。　Treffry。
  〃Eh？〃　said　Mr。　Treffry；　〃how　should　I　know？　　Ask　Paul　there；　he's　one
  of　your　moral　men；　or　Count　Sarelli。〃
  The　latter　said　impassively：　〃If　I　cared　for　her　I　should　very　likely
  kill　herif　not〃　he　shrugged　his　shoulders。
  Harz；　who　was　watching；　was　reminded　of　his　other　words　at　dinner；
  〃wild　beasts　whom　I　would　tear　to　pieces。〃　　He　looked　with　interest
  at　this　quiet　man　who　said　these　extremely　ferocious　things；　and
  thought：　'I　should　like　to　paint　that　fellow。'
  Herr　Paul　twirled　his　wine…glass　in　his　fingers。　　〃There　are　family
  ties；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　society；　there　is　decency；　a　wife　should　be
  with　her　husband。　　B…　will　do　quite　right。　　He　must　go　after　her；
  she　will　not　perhaps　come　back　at　first；　he　will　follow　her；　she　will
  begin　to　think；　'I　am　helplessI　am　ridiculous！'　　A　woman　is　soon
  beaten。　　They　will　return。　　She　is　once　more　with　her　husband
  Society　will　forgive；　it　will　be　all　right。〃
  〃By　Jove；　Paul；〃　growled　Mr。　Treffry；　〃wonderful　power　of　argument！〃
  〃A　wife　is　a　wife；〃　pursued　Herr　Paul；　〃a　man　has　a　right　to　her
  society。〃
  〃What　do　you　say　to　that；　sir？〃　asked　Dawney。
  Mr。　Treffry　tugged　at　his　beard：　〃Make　a　woman　live　with　you；　if　she
  don't　want　to？　　I　call　it　low。〃
  〃But；　my　dear；〃　exclaimed　Herr　Paul；　〃how　should　you　know？　　You　have
  not　been　married。〃
  〃No；　thank　the　Lord！〃　Mr。　Treffry　replied。
  〃But　looking　at　the　question　broadly；　sir；〃　said　Dawney；　〃if　a
  husband　always　lets　his　wife　do　as　she　likes；　how　would　the　thing
  work　out？　　What　becomes　of　the　marriage　tie？〃
  〃The　marriage　tie；〃　growled　Mr。　Treffry；　〃is　the　biggest　thing　there
  is！　　But；　by　Jove；　Doctor；　I'm　a　Dutchman　if　hunting　women　ever
  helped　the　marriage　tie！〃
  〃I　am　not　thinking　of　myself；〃　Herr　Paul　cried　out；　〃I　think　of　the
  community。　　There　are　rights。〃
  〃A　decent　community　never　yet　asked　a　man　to　tread　on　his　self…
  respect。　　If　I　get　my　fingers　skinned　over　my　marriage；　which　I
  undertake　at　my　own　risk；　what's　the　community　to　do　with　it？　　D'you
  think　I'm　going　to　whine　to　it　to　put　the　plaster　on？　　As　to　rights；
  it'd　be　a　deuced　sight　better　for　us　all　if　there　wasn't　such　a　fuss
  about　'em。　　Leave　that　to　women！　　I　don't　give　a　tinker's　damn　for
  men　who　talk　about　their　rights　in　such　matters。〃
  Sarelli　rose。　　〃But　your　honour；〃　he　said；　〃there　is　your　honour！〃
  Mr。　Treffry　stared　at　him。
  〃Honour！　　If　huntin'　women's　your　idea　of　honour；　wellit　isn't
  mine。〃
  〃Then　you'd　forgive　her；　sir；　whatever　happened；〃　Dawney　said。
  〃Forgiveness　is　another　thing。　　I　leave　that　to　your　sanctimonious
  beggars。　　But；　hunt　a　woman！　　Hang　it；　sir；　I'm　not　a　cad！〃　and
  bringing　his　hand　down　with　a　rattle；　he　added：　〃This　is　a　subject
  that　don't　bear　talking　of。〃
  Sarelli　fell　back　in　his　seat；　twirling　his　moustaches　fiercely。
  Harz；　who　had　risen；　looked　at　Christian's　empty　place。
  'If　I　were　married！'　he　thought　suddenly。
  Herr　Paul；　with　a　somewhat　vinous　glare；　still　muttered；　〃But　your
  duty　to　the　family！〃
  Harz　slipped　through　the　window。　　The　moon　was　like　a　wonderful　white
  lantern　in　the　purple　sky；　there　was　but　a　smoulder　of　stars。
  Beneath　the　softness　of　the　air　was　the　iciness　of　the　snow；　it　made
  him　want　to　run　and　leap。　　A　sleepy　beetle　dropped　on　its　back；　he
  turned　it　over　and　watched　it　scurry　across　the　grass。
  Someone　was　playing　Schumann's　Kinderscenen。　　Harz　stood　still　to
  listen。　　The　notes　came　twining；　weaving　round　his　thoughts；　the
  whole　night　seemed　full　of　girlish　voices；　of　hopes　and　fancies；
  soaring　away　to　mountain　heightsinvisible；　yet　present。　　Between
  the　stems　of　the　acacia…trees　he　could　see　the　flicker　of　white
  dresses；　where　Christian　and　Greta　were　walking　arm　in　arm。　　He　went
  towards　them；　the　blood　flushed　up　in　his　face；　he　felt　almost
  surfeited　by　some　sweet　emotion。　　Then；　in　sudden　horror；　he　stood
  still。　　He　was　in　love！　　With　nothing　done　with　everything　before
  him！　　He　was　going　to　bow　down　to　a　face！　　The　flicker　of　the　dresses
  was　no　longer　visible。　　He　would　not　be　fettered；　he　would　stamp　it
  out！　　He　turned　away；　but　with　each　step；　something　seemed　to　jab　at
  his　heart。
  Round　the　corner　of　the　house；　in　the　shadow　of　the　wall；　Dominique；
  the　Luganese；　in　embroidered　slippers；　was　smoking　a　long　cherry…wood
  pipe；　leaning　against　a　treeMephistopheles　in　evening　clothes。
  Harz　went　up　to　him。
  〃Lend　me　a　pencil；　Dominique。〃
  〃Bien；　M'sieu。〃
  Resting　a　card　against　the　tree　Harz　wrote　to　Mrs。　Decie：　〃Forgive
  me；　I　am　obliged　to　go　away。　　In　a　few　days　I　shall　hope　to　return；
  and　finish　the　picture　of　your　nieces。〃
  He　sent　Dominique　for　his　hat。　　During　the　man's　absence　he　was　on
  the　point　of　tearing　up　the　card　and　going　back　into　the　house。
  When　the　Luganese　returned　he　thrust　the　card　into　his　hand；　and
  walked　out　between　the　tall　poplars；　waiting；　like　ragged　ghosts；
  silver　with　moonlight。
  VIII
  Harz　walked　away　along　the　road。　　A　dog　was　howling。　　The　sound
  seemed　too　appropriate。　　He　put　his　fingers　to　his　ears；　but　the
  lugubrious　noise　passed　those　barriers；　and　made　its　way　into　his
  heart。　　Was　there　nothing　that　would　put　an　end　to　this　emotion？　　It
  was　no　better　in　the　old　house　on　the　wall；　he　spent　the　night
  tramping　up　and　down。
  Just　before　daybreak　he　slipped　out　with　a　knapsack；　taking　the　road
  towards　Meran。
  He　had　not　quite