ButMalachias’talebegantofreezethemwithhorror。Heconjuredupthescenebeforethem。Thesecretpanelbesidethechimneyslidbackandintherecessappeared……Haines！Whichofusdidnotfeelhisfleshcreep？
HehadaportfoliofullofCelticliteratureinonehand，intheotheraphialmarkedPoison。Surprise，horror，loathingweredepictedonallfaceswhileheeyedthemwithaghastlygrin。Ianticipatedsomesuchreception，hebeganwithaneldritchlaugh，forwhich，itseems，historyistoblame。Yes，itistrue。IamthemurdererofSamuelChilds。AndhowIampunished！Theinfernohasnoterrorsforme。Thisistheappearanceisonme。Tareandages，whatwaywouldIberestingatall，hemutteredthickly，andItrampingDublinthiswhilebackwithmyshareofsongsandhimselfaftermethelikeofasoulthorabullawurrus？Myhell，andIreland’s，isinthislife。ItiswhatItriedtoobliteratemycrime。Distractions，rookshooting，theErselanguageherecitedsome，laudanumheraisedthephialtohislips，campingout。Invain！Hisspectrestalksme。Dopeismyonlyhope……Ah！Destruction！Theblackpanther！Withacryhesuddenlyvanishedandthepanelslidback。Aninstantlaterhisheadappearedinthedooroppositeandsaid：MeetmeatWestlandrowstationattenpasteleven。Hewasgone！Tearsgushedfromtheeyesofthedissipatedhost。
Theseerraisedhishandtoheaven，murmuring：ThevendettaofMananaan！
ThesagerepeatedLextalionis。Thesentimentalistishewhowouldenjoywithoutincurringtheimmensedebtorshipforathingdone。Malachias，overcomebyemotion，ceased。Themysterywasunveiled。Haineswasthethirdbrother。HisrealnamewasChilds。Theblackpantherwashimselftheghostofhisownfather。Hedrankdrugstoobliterate。Forthisreliefmuchthanks。
Thelonelyhousebythegraveyardisuninhabited。Nosoulwilllivethere。
Thespiderpitchesherwebinthesolitude。Thenocturnalratpeersfromhishole。Acurseisonit。Itishaunted。Murderer’sground。
Whatistheageofthesoulofman？Asshehaththevirtueofthechameleontochangeherhueateverynewapproach，tobegaywiththemerryandmournfulwiththedowncast，sotooisheragechangeableashermood。NolongerisLeopold，ashesitsthere，ruminating，chewingthecudofreminiscence，thatstaidagentofpublicityandholderofamodestsubstanceinthefunds。
HeisyoungLeopold，asinaretrospectivearrangement，amirrorwithinamirrorhey，presto！，hebeholdethhimself。Thatyoungfigureofthenisseen，precociouslymanly，walkingonanippingmorningfromtheoldhouseinClambrassilstreettothehighschool，hisbooksatchelonhimbandolierwise，andinitagoodlyhunkofwheatenloaf，amother’sthought。
Oritisthesamefigure，ayearorsogoneover，inhisfirsthardhatah，thatwasaday！，alreadyontheroad，afullfledgedtravellerforthefamilyfirm，equippedwithanorderbook，ascentedhandkerchiefnotforshowonly，hiscaseofbrighttrinketwarealas，athingnowofthepast！，andaquiverfulofcompliantsmilesforthisorthathalfwonhousewifereckoningitoutuponherfingertipsorforabuddingvirginshylyacknowledgingbuttheheart？tellme！hisstudiedbaisemoins。Thescent，thesmilebutmorethanthese，thedarkeyesandoleaginousaddressbroughthomeatduskfallmanyacommissiontotheheadofthefirmseatedwithJacob’spipeafterlikelaboursinthepaternalingleamealofnoodles，youmaybesure，isaheating，readingthroughroundhornedspectaclessomepaperfromtheEuropeofamonthbefore。Buthey，presto，themirrorisbreathedonandtheyoungknighterrantrecedes，shrivels，toatinyspeckwithinthemist。Nowheishimselfpaternalandtheseabouthimmightbehissons。
Whocansay？Thewisefatherknowshisownchild。HethinksofadrizzlingnightinHatchstreet，hardbythebondedstoresthere，thefirst。Togethersheisapoorwaif，achildofshame，yoursandmineandofallforabareshillingandherluck-penny，togethertheyheartheheavytreadofthewatchastworaincapedshadowspassthenewroyaluniversity。Bridie！
BridieKelly！Hewillneverforgetthename，everrememberthenight，firstnight，thebridenight。Theyareentwinedinnethermostdarkness，thewillerwiththewilled，andinaninstantfiat！lightshallfloodtheworld。Didheartleaptoheart？Nay，fairreader。Inabreath’twasdonebut-hold！Back！Itmustnotbe！Interrorthepoorgirlfleesawaythroughthemurk。Sheisthebrideofdarkness，adaughterofnight。Shedarenotbearthesunnygoldenbabeofday。No，Leopold！Nameandmemorysolacetheenot。Thatyouthfulillusionofthystrengthwastakenfromtheeandinvain。Nosonofthyloinsisbythee。ThereisnonenowtobeforLeopold，whatLeopoldwasforRudolph。
Thevoicesblendandfuseincloudedsilence：silencethatistheinfiniteofspace：andswiftly，silentlythesouliswaftedoverregionsofcyclesofcyclesofgenerationsthathavelived。Aregionwheregreytwilighteverdescends，neverfallsonwidesagegreenpasturefields，sheddingherdusk，scatteringaperennialdewofstars。Shefollowshermotherwithungainlysteps，amareleadingherfillyfoal。Twilightphantomsaretheyyetmouldedinpropheticgraceofstructure，slimshapelyhaunches，asuppletendonousneck，themeekapprehensiveskull。Theyfade，sadphantoms：allisgone。Agendathisawasteland，ahomeofscreechowlsandthesandblindupupa。Netaim，thegolden，isnomore。Andonthehighwayofthecloudstheycome，mutteringthunderofrebellion，theghostsofbeasts。Huuh！
Hark！Huuh！Parallaxstalksbehindandgoadsthem，thelancinatinglightningsofwhosebrowarescorpions。Elkandyak，thebullsofBashanandofBabylon，mammothandmastodon，theycometroopingtothesunkensea，LacusMortis。
Ominous，revengefulzodiacalhost！Theymoan，passingupontheclouds，hornedandcapricorned，thetrumpetedwiththetusked，thelionmanedthegiantantlered，snouterandcrawler，rodent，ruminantandpachyderm，alltheirmovingmoaningmultitude，murderersofthesun。
Onwardtothedeadseatheytramptodrink，unslakedandwithhorriblegulpings，thesaltsomnolentinexhaustibleflood。Andtheequineportentgrowsagain，magnifiedinthedesertedheavens，naytoheaven’sownmagnitude，tillitlooms，vast，overthehouseofVirgo。And，lo，wonderofmetempsychosis，itisshe，theeverlastingbride，harbingerofthedaystar，thebride，evervirgin。Itisshe，Martha，thoulostone，Millicent，theyoung，thedear，theradiant。Howserenedoesshenowarise，aqueenamongthePleiades，inthepenultimateantelucanhour，shodinsandalsofbrightgold，coifedwithaveilofwhatdoyoucallitgossamer！Itfloats，itflowsaboutherstarbornfleshandlooseitstreamsemerald，sapphire，mauveandheliotrope，sustainedoncurrentsofcoldinterstellarwind，winding，coiling，simplyswirling，writhingintheskiesamysteriouswritingtillafteramyriadmetamorphosesofsymbol，itblazes，Alpha，arubyandtriangledsignupontheforeheadofTaurus。
FranciswasremindingStephenofyearsbeforewhentheyhadbeenatschooltogetherinConmee’stime。HeaskedaboutGlaucon，Alcibiades，Pisistratus。
Whereweretheynow？Neitherknew。Youhavespokenofthepastanditsphantoms，Stephensaid。Whythinkofthem？IfIcallthemintolifeacrossthewatersofLethewillnotthepoorghoststrooptomycall？Whosupposesit？I，BousStephanoumenos，bullockbefriendingbard，amlordandgiveroftheirlife。Heencircledhisgaddinghairwithacoronalofvineleaves，smilingatVincent。Thatanswerandthoseleaves，Vincentsaidtohim，willadornyoumorefitlywhensomethingmore，andgreatlymore，thanacapfuloflightodescancallyourgeniusfather。Allwhowishyouwellhopethisforyou。Alldesiretoseeyoubringforththeworkyoumeditate。
Iheartilywishyoumaynotfailthem。Ono，Vincent，Lenehansaid，layingahandontheshouldernearhim，havenofear。Hecouldnotleavehismotheranorphan。Theyoungmansfacegrewdark。Allcouldseehowharditwasforhimtoberemindedofhispromiseandofhisrecentloss。Hewouldhavewithdrawnfromthefeasthadnotthenoiseofvoicesallayedthesmart。
MaddenhadlostfivedrachmasonSceptreforawhimoftherider’sname：
Lenehanasmuchmore。Hetoldthemoftherace。Theflagfelland，huuh，off，scamper，themareranoutfreshlywithO。Maddenup。Shewasleadingthefield：allheartswerebeating。EvenPhylliscouldnotcontainherself。
Shewavedherscarfandcried：Huzzah！Sceptrewins！ButinthestraightontherunhomewhenallwereincloseorderthedarkhorseThrowawaydrewlevel，reached，outstrippedher。Allwaslostnow。Phylliswassilent：
hereyesweresadanemones。Juno，shecried，Iamundone。Butherloverconsoledherandbroughtherabrightcasketofgoldinwhichlaysomeovalsugarplumswhichshepartook。Atearfell：oneonly。Awhackingfinewhip，saidLenehan，isW。Lane。Fourwinnersyesterdayandthreetoday。
Whatriderislikehim？Mounthimonthecamelortheboisterousbuffalothevictoryinahackcanterisstillhis。Butletusbearitaswastheancientwont。Mercyontheluckless！PoorSceptre！hesaidwithalightsigh。Sheisnotthefillythatshewas。Never，bythishand，shallwebeholdsuchanother。Bygad，sir，aqueenofthem。Doyourememberher，Vincent？Iwishyoucouldhaveseenmyqueentoday，Vincentsaid，howyoungshewasandradiantLalagewerescarcefairbesideherinheryellowshoesandfrockofmuslin，Idonotknowtherightnameofit。Thechestnutsthatshadeduswereinbloom：theairdroopedwiththeirpersuasiveodourandwithpollenfloatingbyus。InthesunnypatchesonemighteasilyhavecookedonastoneabatchofthosebunswithCorinthfruitinthemthatPeriplepomenossellsinhisboothnearthebridge。ButshehadnoughtforherteethbutthearmwithwhichIheldherandinthatshenibbledmischievouslywhenIpressedtoodose。Aweekagoshelayill，fourdaysonthecouch，buttodayshewasfree，blithe，mockedatperil。Sheismoretakingthen。
Herposiestoo！Madrompthatitis，shehadpulledherfillaswereclinedtogether。Andinyourear，myfriend，youwillnotthinkwhometusasweleftthefield。Conmeehimself！Hewaswalkingbythehedge，reading，Ithinkabrevierbookwith，Idoubtnot，awittyletterinitfromGlyceraorChloetokeepthepage。Thesweetcreatureturnedallcoloursinherconfusion，feigningtoreproveaslightdisorderinherdress：aslipofunderwoodclungtherefortheverytreesadoreher。Whenconmeehadpassedsheglancedatherlovelyechointhelittlemirrorshecarries。Buthehadbeenkind。Ingoingbyhehadblessedus。Thegodstooareeverkind，Lenehansaid。IfIhadpoorluckwithBass’smareperhapsthisdraughtofhismayservememorepropensely。Hewaslayinghishanduponawinejar：
Malachisawitandwithheldhisact，pointingtothestrangerandtothescarletlabel。Warily，Malachiwhispered，preserveadruidsilence。Hissoulisfaraway。Itisaspainfulperhapstobeawakenedfromavisionastobeborn。Anyobject，intenselyregarded，maybeagateofaccesstotheincorruptibleeonofthegods。Doyounotthinkit，Stephen？Theosophostoldmeso，Stephenanswered，whominapreviousexistenceEgyptianpriestsinitiatedintothemysteriesofkarmiclaw。Thelordsofthemoon，Theosophostoldme，anorange-fieryshiploadfromplanetAlphaofthelunarchain，wouldnotassumetheethericdoublesandthesewerethereforeincarnatedbytheruby-colouredegosfromthesecondconstellation。
However，asamatteroffactthough，thepreposteroussurmiseabouthimbeinginsomedescriptionofadoldrumsorotherormesmerised，whichwasentirelyduetoamisconceptionoftheshallowestcharacter，wasnotthecaseatall。Theindividualwhosevisualorgans，whiletheabovewasgoingon，wereatthisjuncturecommencingtoexhibitsymptomsofanimation，wasasastuteifnotastuterthananymanlivingandanybodythatconjecturedthecontrarywouldhavefoundthemselvesprettyspeedilyinthewrongshop。
DuringthepastfourminutesorthereaboutshehadbeenstaringhardatacertainamountofnumberoneBassbottledbyMessrsBassandCoatBurton-on-Trentwhichhappenedtobesituatedamongstalotofothersrightoppositetowherehewasandwhichwascertainlycalculatedtoattractanyone’sremarkonaccountofitsscarletappearance。Hewassimplyandsolely，asitsubsequentlytranspiredforreasonsbestknowntohimselfwhichputquiteanaltogetherdifferentcomplexionontheproceedings，afterthemomentbefore’sobservationsaboutboyhooddaysandtheturf，recollectingtwoorthreeprivatetransactionsofhisownwhichtheothertwowereasmutuallyinnocentofasthebabeunborn。Eventually，however，boththeireyesmetand，assoonasitbegantodawnonhimthattheotherwasendeavouringtohelphimselftothething，heinvoluntarilydeterminedtohelphimhimselfandsoheaccordinglytookholdofthemediumsizedglassrecipientwhichcontainedthefluidsoughtafterandmadeacapaciousholeinitbypouringalotofitoutwith，alsoatthesametimehowever，aconsiderabledegreeofattentivenessinordernottoupsetanyofthebeerthatwasinitabouttheplace。