The Pools of Silence

f, after he had left Berselius's house, in t

ew and most unexpected course; it was as though a train on the North German had, suddenly, by some m

actice in some big central American town. It would be a hard fight, for money was sc

hat had elbowed itself out of vagueness stood before him: A

o stood before him very definitely and

Abe Summers, who kept the store in Dodgeville, Vermont, years ago-that is to say, when Paul Quincy Adams was twelve, an orchard-robbing hooligan, wh

ossible, he has reached the goal of life; no tide can take him higher toward the Absolute. He has reach

oot, walking and taking his way mechanicall

inst the tapestry, the curves of her lips that could speak so well without speaking,

the Seine, when someone gripped his arm from behind, and, turning, he found himself face to face with Dr. Stenhou

asking you to come and see us. I remembered it was over on the other side of the wate

just at

Thabor to see a patient; walk along with me-it

the Place d

work, I expect," said Stenhouse. "Ar

ing so; but I have to feel my way very cautiously, for the mon

cal man, especially when he is just starting? I've been

ar

of starting in some American city; well, let me tell you, there

but just for the present I am fixed. I am going

doct

thousand francs a month and everythi

he mal

has to ru

e you go

alled Be

lius?" asked Stenh

Avenue Malakoff. I have just retu

in the Rue du Mont Thabor by t

d Adams, "w

es. Wait for me, for a moment, like a good fellow. I shan't detain you l

use's manner impressed him uncomfortably, for, if Captain Berselius had been the devil, the Englishman c

et, and it fitted Adams's mood as he waited, watching t

ive minutes Ste

" said

rushed. Come with me to a little place I know in the Rue St. Ho

ed table with the cup of tea and the bun before him. "You say you

do you know

this, and it's between ourselves, the man'

eerful," s

to my mind, is that he is not a murderer. He has killed two men in duels, and they say that it is a sight to see him fighting. Mind you, when I say 'murderer,' I do not mean to imply that he is a man who would murder for money. Give the devil his due. I mean that he is quite beyond reason when aroused, and if you were to hit Captain Berselius in the face he would kill you as certain as I'll get indigestion from that bun I have just swallowed. The last doctor he took with him to Africa died at Marseilles from

imself at so doing, "that an expedition like that, if it is not held together by a firm han

, the man who died in the hospital at Marseilles, cursing Berselius, yet so magnetized by the power of the chap that y

ng him in the street one might take him for a very ordinary person. M

"Beware of a man with a pe

eems quite natural to the man, yet somehow bad, as if it came from a profound

" said Stenhouse,

ms, "I believe the man to have great go

n who is half good-so to speak-is a much more dangerous villain than the barrier bully without heart or soul. When hell makes

Berselius, and I will have to go. Bes

Maxine, and a smi

nhouse, rising to go. "Well, 'he who will

et, but I shall

o the Rue St. Honor

Stenhouse, getti

plied Adams, w

ing especial to do, he determined to go to Schauna

, with a long white beard, he remembers the fowling-pieces and rifles which he supplied to the Emperor Maximilian before that unfortunate gentleman started on his fatal expedition in search of a throne. He is a mathematician as well a

nd glass cases the long processions of guns and rifles, smooth, sl

chaunard's are worth lingering over, for the modern duelling pistol is a thing of beauty, ver

ring amongst his wa

Rue de la Paix, and the old gun-merchant came forward

to buy some rifles for a big-game expediti

, he is a customer of mine. As a matter of fact, his guns for his new expedition are alre

dams. "I am g

ptain Berseliu

s a do

ers through his beard. "Have you had much experience amidst big game, and can

I have not had much experience in big-gam

pale-faced young man came forwa

me thi

old man took down a double-barrelled cordite ri

nothing living it will not kill." He laughed softly to himself, and then directed Armand to bring forward an elephant gun of the old patt

one hand, and raised it to his shoulde

here's a gun wor

admiration at the giant h

ry well. Ma foi, but you suit one an

ick me up by the bushel in the States.

hat on earth could you want with

ot weight for weight, mind you-but gun for gun-tha

it hits harder, just as a ca

rselius is paying for my guns; they are his, part of the expedition-I want th

that when an American takes a whim into his head it is best for all

curiosity. But if you must have it-well, I w

ams. "Have you

and re-filled and percussioned. Ah, well, monsieur, you must have your own way. Armand, take the gun; have it attended to and pack

erless-ejector cordite rifle and a .256 sporting Mannlicher, for Schaunard was

d he, opening the door as Adams was taking his departure, "I will give you one more piece of advice about this e

at is th

n't

n his heel, and Schaunard la

gined that the two men had

, the door of the shop re-opened,

nsi

id Adams,

me for the gun t

"I will call in and pay you for

di