n his chair, regarding it. He had found
it and purchased it months before, and still he studied it. His eyes
fell to the page; he wrote on:

You ask no questions, and yet I know that you question.
Well, I will tell you--knowing that you will strain out and
give to others only what should be given.... He has been,
and I have been, in Paris a year. He and I have fought three
times--fought, that is, as men call fighting. Once upon that
mountain-side at home, twice here. Now he is going--and I am
going--to Rome. Shall I fight him again--with metal digged
from the earth, fashioned and sharpened in some red-lighted
shop of the earth? I am not sure that I shall--rather, I
think that I shall not.... Is there ever a place where a
kind of growth does not go on? There is a moonrise in me
that tells me that that fighting is to be scorned. But what
shall I do, seeing that he is my foe?... Ah, I do not
know--save haunt him, save bring and bring again my inner
man, to clinch and wrestle with and throw, if may be, his
inner man. And to see that he knows that I do this--that it
tells back upon him--through and through tells back!... It
has been a strange year. Now and then I am aware of curious
far tides, effects from some giant orb of being. But I go
on.... For my daily life in Paris--here it is, your open
page!... You see, I still seek knowledge, for all your gibe
that I sought darkness. And now, as I go to Rome--

He wrote on, changing now to details as to communication, placing of
moneys, and such matters. At length came references to the last home
news, expressions of trust and affection. He signed his name, folded,
superscribed and sealed the letter, then sat on, studying the picture
before him.

Monseigneur, with gold, with fine horses, with an eery, swooping,
steadiness of direction, journeyed fast. He and his traveling
companion reached Rome early in February. There was a villa, there
were attendants, there was the Frenchman's especial circle, set with
bizarre jewels, princes of the Church, Italian nobles of his
acquaintance, exiles, a charlatan of immense note, certain ladies. He
only asked of his guest, Monsieur Rullock, that he help him to
entertain the whole chaplet, giving to his residence in Rome a certain
splendid virility.

February showed skies like sapphire. There drew on carnival week.
Masks and a wild