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your personal appearance； when your cousin came upon this mission。
I was saying； if you remember； that your face was as good or better
than a letter of recommendation。 I wonder if M。 Alain would be
like the rest of us … I wonder what he would think of it？'
Mr。 Romaine was sitting in a chair by the fire with his back to the
windows； and I was myself kneeling on the hearthrug and beginning
mechanically to pick up the scattered bills； when a honeyed voice
joined suddenly in our conversation。
'He thinks well of it； Mr。 Romaine。 He begs to join himself to
that circle of admirers which you indicate to exist already。'
CHAPTER XIX … THE DEVIL AND ALL AT AMERSHAM PLACE
NEVER did two human creatures get to their feet with more alacrity
than the lawyer and myself。 We had locked and barred the main
gates of the citadel； but unhappily we had left open the bath…room
sally…port； and here we found the voice of the hostile trumpets
sounding from within； and all our defences taken in reverse。 I
took but the time to whisper Mr。 Romaine in the ear： 'Here is
another tableau for you！' at which he looked at me a moment with a
kind of pathos； as who should say； 'Don't hit a man when he's
down。' Then I transferred my eyes to my enemy。
He had his hat on； a little on one side： it was a very tall hat；
raked extremely； and had a narrow curling brim。 His hair was all
curled out in masses like an Italian mountebank … a most
unpardonable fashion。 He sported a huge tippeted overcoat of
frieze； such as watchmen wear； only the inside was lined with
costly furs； and he kept it half open to display the exquisite
linen； the many…coloured waistcoat； and the profuse jewellery of
watch…chains and brooches underneath。 The leg and the ankle were
turned to a miracle。 It is out of the question that I should deny
the resemblance altogether； since it has been remarked by so many
different persons whom I cannot reasonably accuse of a conspiracy。
As a matter of fact； I saw little of it and confessed to nothing。
Certainly he was what some might call handsome； of a pictorial；
exuberant style of beauty； all attitude； profile； and impudence： a
man whom I could see in fancy parade on the grand stand at a race…
meeting or swagger in Piccadilly； staring down the women； and
stared at himself with admiration by the coal…porters。 Of his
frame of mind at that moment his face offered a lively if an
unconscious picture。 He was lividly pale； and his lip was caught
up in a smile that could almost be called a snarl； of a sheer； arid
malignity that appalled me and yet put me on my mettle for the
encounter。 He looked me up and down； then bowed and took off his
hat to me。
'My cousin； I presume？' he said。
'I understand I have that honour；' I replied。
'The honour is mine；' said he； and his voice shook as he said it。
'I should make you welcome； I believe；' said I。
'Why？' he inquired。 'This poor house has been my home for longer
than I care to claim。 That you should already take upon yourself
the duties of host here is to be at unnecessary pains。 Believe me；
that part would be more becomingly mine。 And； by the way； I must
not fail to offer you my little compliment。 It is a gratifying
surprise to meet you in the dress of a gentleman； and to see' …
with a circular look upon the scattered bills … 'that your
necessities have already been so liberally relieved。'
I bowed with a smile that was perhaps no less hateful than his own。
'There are so many necessities in this world；' said I。 'Charity
has to choose。 One gets relieved； and some other； no less
indigent； perhaps indebted； must go wanting。'
'Malice is an engaging trait；' said he。
'And envy； I think？' was my reply。
He must have felt that he was not getting wholly the better of this
passage at arms； perhaps even feared that he should lose command of
his temper； which he reined in throughout the interview as with a
red…hot curb； for he flung away from me at the word； and addressed
the lawyer with insulting arrogance。
'Mr。 Romaine；' he said； 'since when have you presumed to give
orders in this house？'
'I am not prepared to admit that I have given any；' replied
Romaine； 'certainly none that did not fall in the sphere of my
responsibilities。'
'By whose orders； then； am I denied entrance to my uncle's room？'
said my cousin。
'By the doctor's； sir；' replied Romaine； 'and I think even you will
admit his faculty to give them。'
'Have a care； sir；' cried Alain。 'Do not be puffed up with your
position。 It is none so secure； Master Attorney。 I should not
wonder in the least if you were struck off the rolls for this
night's work； and the next I should see of you were when I flung
you alms at a pothouse door to mend your ragged elbows。 The
doctor's orders？ But I believe I am not mistaken！ You have to…
night transacted business with the Count； and this needy young
gentleman has enjoyed the privilege of still another interview； in
which （as I am pleased to see） his dignity has not prevented his
doing very well for himself。 I wonder that you should care to
prevaricate with me so idly。'
'I will confess so much；' said Mr。 Romaine； 'if you call it
prevarication。 The order in question emanated from the Count
himself。 He does not wish to see you。'
'For which I must take the word of Mr。 Daniel Romaine？' asked
Alain。
'In default of any better；' said Romaine。
There was an instantaneous convulsion in my cousin's face； and I
distinctly heard him gnash his teeth at this reply； but； to my
surprise； he resumed in tones of almost good humour：
'Come； Mr。 Romaine； do not let us be petty！' He drew in a chair
and sat down。 'Understand you have stolen a march upon me。 You
have introduced your soldier of Napoleon； and （how； I cannot
conceive） he has been apparently accepted with favour。 I ask no
better proof than the funds with which I find him literally
surrounded … I presume in consequence of some extravagance of joy
at the first sight of so much money。 The odds are so far in your
favour； but the match is not yet won。 Questions will arise of
undue influence； of sequestration； and the like： I have my
witnesses ready。 I tell it you cynically； for you cannot profit by
the knowledge； and； if the worst come to the worst； I have good
hopes of recovering my own and of ruining you。'
'You do what you please；' answered Romaine； 'but I give it you for
a piece of good advice； you had best do nothing in the matter。 You
will only make yourself ridiculous； you will only squander money；
of which you have none too much； and reap public mortification。'
'Ah； but there you make the common mistake； Mr。 Romaine！' returned
Alain。 'You despise your adversary。 Consider； if you please； how
very disagreeable I could make myself； if I chose。 Consider the
position of your PROTEGE … an escaped prisoner！ But I play a great
game。 I condemn such petty opportunities。'
At this Romaine and I exchanged a glance of triumph。 It seemed
manifest that Alain had as yet received no word of Clausel's
recapture and denunciation。 At the same moment the lawyer； thus
relieved of the instancy of his fear； changed his tactics。 With a
great air of unconcern； he secured the newspaper； which still lay
open before him on the table。
'I think； Monsieur Alain； that you labour under some illusion；'
said he。 'Believe me； this is all beside the mark。 You seem to be
pointing to some compromise。 Nothing is further from my views。
You suspect me of an inclination to trifle with you； to conceal how
things are going。 I cannot； on the other hand； be too early or too
explicit in giving you information which concerns you （I must say）
capitally。 Your great…uncle has to…night cancelled his will； and
made a new one in favour of your cousin Anne。 Nay； and you shall
hear it from his own lips； if you choose！ I will take so much upon
me；' said the lawyer； rising。 'Follow me； if you please；
gentlemen。'
Mr。 Romaine led the way out of the room so briskly； and was so
briskly followed by Alain； that I had hard ado to get the remainder
of the money replaced and the despatch…box locked； and to overtake
them； even by running ere they should be lost in that maze of
corridors； my uncle's house。 As it was； I went with a heart
divided； and the thought of my treasure thus left unprotected； save
by a paltry lid and lock that any one might break or pick open； put
me in a perspiration whenever I had the time to remember it。 The
lawyer brought us to a room； begged us to be seated while he should
hold a consultation with the doctor； and； slipping out of another
door； left Alain and myself closeted together。
Truly he had done nothing to ingratiate himself； his eve