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〃Quite so。 Well； I am in a position to contradict that statement at all
events。 Crashaw was seen after that； considerably later indeed。〃
〃How do you know？〃
〃Because I happened to see Crashaw myself at about two o'clock this
morning。〃
〃You saw Crashaw？ You； Villiers？〃
〃Yes； I saw him quite distinctly； indeed； there were but a few feet
between us。〃
〃Where； in Heaven's name； did you see him？〃
〃Not far from here。 I saw him in Ashley Street。 He was just leaving
a house。〃
〃Did you notice what house it was？〃
〃Yes。 It was Mrs。 Beaumont's。〃
〃Villiers！ Think what you are saying； there must be some mistake。
How could Crashaw be in Mrs。 Beaumont's house at two o'clock in the
morning？ Surely； surely； you must have been dreaming； Villiers； you
were always rather fanciful。〃
〃No； I was wide awake enough。 Even if I had been dreaming as you
say； what I saw would have roused me effectually。〃
〃What you saw？ What did you see？ Was there anything strange
about Crashaw？ But I can't believe it； it is impossible。〃
〃Well； if you like I will tell you what I saw； or if you please； what I
think I saw； and you can judge for yourself。〃
〃Very good； Villiers。〃
The noise and clamour of the street had died away； though now and
then the sound of shouting still came from the distance； and the dull；
leaden silence seemed like the quiet after an earthquake or a storm。
Villiers turned from the window and began speaking。
〃I was at a house near Regent's Park last night； and when I came away
the fancy took me to walk home instead of taking a hansom。 It was a
clear pleasant night enough； and after a few minutes I had the streets pretty
much to myself。 It's a curious thing； Austin； to be alone in London at night；
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the gas…lamps stretching away in perspective； and the dead silence； and
then perhaps the rush and clatter of a hansom on the stones； and the fire
starting up under the horse's hoofs。 I walked along pretty briskly； for I was
feeling a little tired of being out in the night； and as the clocks were
striking two I turned down Ashley Street； which； you know； is on my way。
It was quieter than ever there； and the lamps were fewer； altogether； it
looked as dark and gloomy as a forest in winter。 I had done about half the
length of the street when I heard a door closed very softly； and naturally I
looked up to see who was abroad like myself at such an hour。 As it
happens； there is a street lamp close to the house in question； and I saw a
man standing on the step。 He had just shut the door and his face was
towards me； and I recognized Crashaw directly。 I never knew him to
speak to； but I had often seen him； and I am positive that I was not
mistaken in my man。 I looked into his face for a moment； and thenI
will confess the truthI set off at a good run； and kept it up till I was
within my own door。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Why？ Because it made my blood run cold to see that man's face。 I
could never have supposed that such an infernal medley of passions could
have glared out of any human eyes； I almost fainted as I looked。 I knew I
had looked into the eyes of a lost soul； Austin； the man's outward form
remained； but all hell was within it。 Furious lust； and hate that was like
fire； and the loss of all hope and horror that seemed to shriek aloud to the
night； though his teeth were shut； and the utter blackness of despair。 I am
sure that he did not see me； he saw nothing that you or I can see； but what
he saw I hope we never shall。 I do not know when he died； I suppose in
an hour； or perhaps two； but when I passed down Ashley Street and heard
the closing door； that man no longer belonged to this world； it was a
devil's face I looked upon。〃
There was an interval of silence in the room when Villiers ceased
speaking。 The light was failing； and all the tumult of an hour ago was
quite hushed。 Austin had bent his head at the close of the story； and his
hand covered his eyes。
〃What can it mean？〃 he said at length。
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〃Who knows； Austin； who knows？ It's a black business； but I think
we had better keep it to ourselves； for the present at any rate。 I will see if
I cannot learn anything about that house through private channels of
information； and if I do light upon anything I will let you know。〃
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VII
THE ENCOUNTER IN SOHO
Three weeks later Austin received a note from Villiers； asking him to
call either that afternoon or the next。 He chose the nearer date； and found
Villiers sitting as usual by the window； apparently lost in meditation on the
drowsy traffic of the street。 There was a bamboo table by his side； a
fantastic thing； enriched with gilding and queer painted scenes； and on it
lay a little pile of papers arranged and docketed as neatly as anything in
Mr。 Clarke's office。
〃Well； Villiers； have you made any discoveries in the last three
weeks？〃
〃I think so； I have here one or two memoranda which struck me as
singular； and there is a statement to which I shall call your attention。〃
〃And these documents relate to Mrs。 Beaumont？ It was really
Crashaw whom you saw that night standing on the doorstep of the house
in Ashley Street？〃
〃As to that matter my belief remains unchanged； but neither my
inquiries nor their results have any special relation to Crashaw。 But my
investigations have had a strange issue。 I have found out who Mrs。
Beaumont is！〃
〃Who is she？ In what way do you mean？〃
〃I mean that you and I know her better under another name。〃
〃What name is that？〃
〃Herbert。〃
〃Herbert！〃 Austin repeated the word； dazed with astonishment。
〃Yes； Mrs。 Herbert of Paul Street； Helen Vaughan of earlier adventures
unknown to me。 You had reason to recognize the expression of her face；
when you go home look at the face in Meyrick's book of horrors； and you
will know the sources of your recollection。〃
〃And you have proof of this？〃
〃Yes； the best of proof； I have seen Mrs。 Beaumont； or shall we say
Mrs。 Herbert？〃
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〃Where did you see her？〃
〃Hardly in a place where you would expect to see a lady who lives in
Ashley Street； Piccadilly。 I saw her entering a house in one of the
meanest and most disreputable streets in Soho。 In fact； I had made an
appointment； though not with her； and she was precise to both time and
place。〃
〃All this seems very wonderful； but I cannot call it incredible。 You
must remember； Villiers； that I have seen this woman； in the ordinary
adventure of London society； talking and laughing； and sipping her coffee
in a commonplace drawing…room with commonplace people。 But you
know what you are saying。〃
〃I do； I have not allowed myself to be led by surmises or fancies。 It
was with no thought of finding Helen Vaughan that I searched for Mrs。
Beaumont in the dark waters of the life of London； but such has been the
issue。〃
〃You must have been in strange places； Villiers。〃
〃Yes； I have been in very strange places。 It would have been useless；
you know； to go to Ashley Street； and ask Mrs。 Beaumont to give me a
short sketch of her previous history。 No； assuming； as I had to assume；
that her record was not of the cl