former, causes less practical inconvenience in
its exercise.

Dare was breathing profoundly. Instigated as above mentioned, Havill
got out of bed and stood beside the sleeper. After a moment's pause he
gently pulled back the unfastened collar of Dare's nightshirt and saw
a word tattooed in distinct characters on his breast. Before there was
time for Havill to decipher it Dare moved slightly, as if conscious of
disturbance, and Havill hastened back to bed. Dare bestirred himself yet
more, whereupon Havill breathed heavily, though keeping an intent glance
on the lad through his half-closed eyes to learn if he had been aware of
the investigation.

Dare was certainly conscious of something, for he sat up, rubbed his
eyes, and gazed around the room; then after a few moments of reflection
he drew some article from beneath his pillow. A blue gleam shone from
the object as Dare held it in the moonlight, and Havill perceived that
it was a small revolver.

A clammy dew broke out upon the face and body of the architect when,
stepping out of bed with the weapon in his hand, Dare looked under the
bed, behind the curtains, out of the window, and into a closet, as if
convinced that something had occurred, but in doubt as to what it was.
He then came across to where Havill was lying and still keeping up the
appearance of sleep. Watching him awhile and mistrusting the reality
of this semblance, Dare brought it to the test by holding the revolver
within a few inches of Havill's forehead.

Havill could stand no more. Crystallized with terror, he said, without
however moving more than his lips, in dread of hasty action on the part
of Dare: 'O, good Lord, Dare, Dare, I have done nothing!'

The youth smiled and lowered the pistol. 'I was only finding out whether
it was you or some burglar who had been playing tricks upon me. I find
it was you.'

'Do put away that thing! It is too ghastly to produce in a respectable
bedroom. Why do you carry it?'

'Cosmopolites always do. Now answer my questions. What were you up to?'
and Dare as he spoke played with the pistol again.

Havill had recovered some coolness. 'You could not use it upon me,' he
said sardonically, watching Dare. 'It would be risking your neck for too
little an object.'

'I did not think you were shrewd enough to see that,' replied Dare
carelessly, as he returned the revolver to its place. 'Well, whether you
have outwitted me or no, you will keep the secret as long as I ch