Part 64 (2/2)

”Yes, it is,” was the reply; and the hansom was stopped, and Lord Evelyn descended. ”I am happy to say that I can still answer for myself. I thought we were in for a smash.”

”Can you spare me five minutes?”

”Five hours if you like.”

The man was paid; the two friends walked along the pavement together.

”I am glad to have found you after all, Evelyn,” Brand said. ”The fact is, my nerves have had a bad shake.”

”I never knew you had any. I always fancied you could drive a fire-brigade engine full gallop along the Strand on a wet night, with the theatres coming out.”

”A few minutes' talk with you will help me to pull myself together again. Need we go into the house?”

”We sha'n't wake anybody.”

They noiselessly went into the house, and pa.s.sed along the hall until they reached a small room behind the dining-room. The gas was lit, burning low. There were biscuits, seltzer-water, and spirits on the table.

Lord Evelyn was in the act of turning the gas higher, when he happened to catch sight of his friend. He uttered a quick exclamation. Brand, who sat down in a chair, was crying, with his hands over his face, like a woman.

”Great heavens, what is it, Brand?”

That confession of weakness did not last long. Brand rose to his feet impatiently, and took a turn or two up and down the small room.

”What is it? Well, I have received my sentence to-night, Evelyn. But it isn't that--it is the thought of those I shall leave behind--Natalie, and those boys of my sister's--if people were to find out after all that they were related to me!”

He was looking at the things that presented themselves to his own mind; he forgot that Evelyn could not understand; he almost forgot that he was speaking aloud. But by-and-by he got himself better under control. He sat down again. He forced himself to speak calmly: the only sign of emotion was that his face was rather pale, and his eyes looked tired and hara.s.sed.

”Yes, I told you my nervous system had got a shock, Evelyn; but I think I have got over it. It won't do for me in my position to abandon one's self to sentiment.”'

”I wish you would tell me what you mean.”

Brand regarded him.

”I cannot tell you the whole thing, but this will be enough. The Council have decreed the death of a certain person, and I am appointed his executioner.”

”You are raving mad!”

”Perhaps it would be better if I were,” he said, with a sigh. ”However, such is the fact. The ballot was taken to-night; the lot fell to me. I have no one to blame except myself.”

Lord Evelyn was too horrified to speak. The calm manner of his companion ought to have carried conviction with it; and yet--and yet--how could such a thing be possible?

”Yes, I blame myself,” Brand said, ”for not having made certain reservations when pledging myself to the Society. But how was one to think of such things? When Lind used to denounce the outrages of the Nihilists, and talk with indignation of the useless crimes of the Camorra, how could one have thought it possible that a.s.sa.s.sination should be demanded of you as a duty?”

”But Lind,” Lord Evelyn exclaimed--”surely Lind does not approve of such a thing?”

”No, he does not,” Brand answered. ”He says it will prove a misfortune--”

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