aside, take a supposable case. Suppose two sinners of our
daylight world to meet for the first time, mutually unknown, on a
night like this. Invisible, only audible, how might they plunge
profound into most naked intimacy,--read aloud to each other the
secrets of their deepest hearts! Would the confession lighten their
souls, or make them twice as heavy as before? Then, the next morning,
they might meet and pass, unrecognizing and unrecognized. But would
the knot binding them to each other be any the less real, because
neither knew to whom he was tied? Some day, in the midst of friends,
in the brightest glare of the sunshine, the tone of a voice would
strike them pale and cold.

Somewhat after this fashion, perhaps, did Helwyse commune with
himself. He liked to follow the whim of the moment, whither it would
lead him. He was romantic; it was one of his agreeablest traits,
because spontaneous; and he indulged it the more, as being confident
that he had too much solid ballast in the hold to be in danger of
upsetting. To-night, at this point of his mental ramble, he found that
his cigar had gone out. Had he been thinking aloud? He believed not,
and yet there was no telling; he often did so, unconsciously. Were it
so, and were any one listening, that person had him decidedly at
advantage!

What put it into his head that some one might be listening? It may
have come by pure accident,--if there be such a thing. The idea
returned, stealing over his mind like a chilling breath. What if some
one had all along been close beside him, with eyes fixed upon him!
Helwyse found himself sitting perfectly still, holding his breath to
listen. There was no disguising it,--he felt uneasy. He wished his
cigar had not gone out. On second thoughts, he wished there had not
been any cigar at all, because, if any one were near, the cigar must
have pointed out the smoker's precise position. The uneasiness did not
lessen, but grew more defined.

It was like the sensation felt when pointed at by a human finger, or
stared at persistently. Was there indeed any one near? No sound or
movement gave answer, but the odd sensation continued. Helwyse fancied
he could now tell whence it came;--from the left, and not far away. He
peered earnestly thitherward, but his eyes only swallowed blackness.

Was not this carrying a whim to a foolish length? If he thought he
had a companion, why not speak, and end the doubt? But the dense
silence, darkness, uncerta