INERROR。
Theyburntacorpseuponthesand——
Thelightshoneoutafar；
ItguidedhometheplungingboatsThatbeatfromZanzibar。
SpiritofFire，where’erThyaltarsrise。
ThouartLightofGuidancetooureyes！
SalsetteBoat-Song。
Thereishopeforamanwhogetspubliclyandriotouslydrunkmoreoftenthatheoughttodo；butthereisnohopeforthemanwhodrinkssecretlyandaloneinhisownhouse——themanwhoisneverseentodrink。
Thisisarule；sotheremustbeanexceptiontoproveit。
Moriarty’scasewasthatexception。
HewasaCivilEngineer，andtheGovernment，verykindly，puthimquitebyhimselfinanout-district，withnobodybutnativestotalktoandagreatdealofworktodoHedidhisworkwellinthefouryearshewasutterlyalone；buthepickeduptheviceofsecretandsolitarydrinking，andcameupoutofthewildernessmoreoldandwornandhaggardthanthedead-alivelifehadanyrighttomakehim。
YouknowthesayingthatamanwhohasbeenaloneinthejungleformorethanayearisneverquitesaneallhislifeafterPeoplecreditedMoriarty’squeernessofmannerandmoodywaystothesolitude，andsaiditshowedhowGovernmentspoiltthefuturesofitsbestmenMoriartyhadbuilthimselftheplinthofaverygodreputationinthebridge-dam-girderlineButheknew，everynightoftheweek，thathewastakingstepstounderminethatreputationwithLLLand“Christopher“andlittlenipsofliqueurs，andfilthofthatkindHehadasoundconstitutionandagreatbrain，orelsehewouldhavebrokendownanddiedlikeasickcamelinthedistrict，asbettermenhavedonebeforehim。
GovernmentorderedhimtoSimlaafterhehadcomeoutofthedesert；
andhewentupmeaningtotryforapostthenvacantThatseason，MrsReiver——perhapsyouwillrememberher——wasintheheightofherpower，andmanymenlayunderheryokeEverythingbadthatcouldbesaidhasalreadybeensaidaboutMrsReiver，inanothertale。
Moriartywasheavily-builtandhandsome，veryquietandnervouslyanxioustopleasehisneighborswhenhewasn’tsunkinabrownstudyHestartedagooddealatsuddennoisesorifspokentowithoutwarning；and，whenyouwatchedhimdrinkinghisglassofwateratdinner，youcouldseethehandshakealittleButallthiswasputdowntonervousness，andthequiet，steady，“sip-sip-
sip，fillandsip-sip-sip，again。”thatwentoninhisownroomwhenhewasbyhimself，wasneverknownWhichwasmiraculous，seeinghoweverythinginaman’sprivatelifeispublicpropertyouthere。
Moriartywasdrawn，notintoMrsReiver’sset，becausetheywerenothissort，butintothepowerofMrsReiver，andhefelldowninfrontofherandmadeagoddessofherThiswasduetohiscomingfreshoutofthejungletoabigtownHecouldnotscalethingsproperlyorseewhowaswhat。
BecauseMrsReiverwascoldandhard，hesaidshewasstatelyanddignifiedBecauseshehadnobrains，andcouldnottalkcleverly，hesaidshewasreservedandshyMrsReivershy！Becauseshewasunworthyofhonororreverencefromanyone，hereverencedherfromadistanceanddoweredherwithallthevirtuesintheBibleandmostofthoseinShakespeare。
Thisbig，dark，abstractedmanwhowassonervouswhenaponycanteredbehindhim，usedtomooninthetrainofMrsReiver，blushingwithpleasurewhenshethrewawordortwohiswayHisadmirationwasstrictlyplatonic：evenotherwomensawandadmittedthisHedidnotmoveoutinSimla，soheheardnothingagainsthisidol：whichwassatisfactoryMrsReivertooknospecialnoticeofhim，beyondseeingthathewasaddedtoherlistofadmirers，andgoingforawalkwithhimnowandthen，justtoshowthathewasherproperty，claimableassuchMoriartymusthavedonemostofthetalking，forMrsReivercouldn’ttalkmuchtoamanofhisstamp；
andthelittleshesaidcouldnothavebeenprofitableWhatMoriartybelievedin，ashehadgoodreasonto，wasMrsReiver’sinfluenceoverhim，and，inthatbelief，sethimselfseriouslytotrytodoawaywiththevicethatonlyhehimselfknewof。
Hisexperienceswhilehewasfightingwithitmusthavebeenpeculiar，butheneverdescribedthemSometimeshewouldholdofffromeverythingexceptwaterforaweekThen，onarainynight，whennoonehadaskedhimouttodinner，andtherewasabigfireinhisroom，andeverythingcomfortable，hewouldsitdownandmakeabignightofitbyaddinglittleniptolittlenip，planningbigschemesofreformationmeanwhile，untilhethrewhimselfonhisbedhopelesslydrunkHesufferednextmorning。
Onenight，thebigcrashcameHewastroubledinhisownmindoverhisattemptstomakehimself“worthyofthefriendship“ofMrs。
ReiverThepasttendayshadbeenverybadones，andtheendofitallwasthathereceivedthearrearsoftwoandthree-quarteryearsofsippinginoneattackofdeliriumtremensofthesubduedkind；
beginningwithsuicidaldepression，goingontofitsandstartsandhysteria，andendingwithdownrightravingAshesatinachairinfrontofthefire，orwalkedupanddowntheroompickingahandkerchieftopieces，youheardwhatpoorMoriartyreallythoughtofMrsReiver，forheravedaboutherandhisownfallforthemostpart；thoughheravelledsomePWDaccountsintothesameskeinofthoughtHetalked，andtalked，andtalkedinalowdrywhispertohimself，andtherewasnostoppinghimHeseemedtoknowthattherewassomethingwrong，andtwicetriedtopullhimselftogetherandconferrationallywiththeDoctor；buthismindranoutofcontrolatonce，andhefellbacktoawhisperandthestoryofhistroublesItisterribletohearabigmanbabblinglikeachildofallthatamanusuallylocksup，andputsawayinthedeepofhisheartMoriartyreadouthisverysoulforthebenefitofanyonewhowasintheroombetweenten-thirtythatnightandtwo-forty-fivenextmorning。
Fromwhathesaid，onegatheredhowimmenseaninfluenceMrs。
Reiverheldoverhim，andhowthoroughlyhefeltforhisownlapseHiswhisperingscannot，ofcourse，beputdownhere；buttheywereveryinstructiveasshowingtheerrorsofhisestimates……
Whenthetroublewasover，andhisfewacquaintanceswerepityinghimforthebadattackofjungle-feverthathadsopulledhimdown，MoriartysworeabigoathtohimselfandwentabroadagainwithMrs。
Reivertilltheendoftheseason，adoringherinaquietanddeferentialwayasanangelfromheavenLateronhetooktoriding——nothacking，buthonestriding——whichwasgoodproofthathewasimproving，andyoucouldslamdoorsbehindhimwithouthisjumpingtohisfeetwithagaspThat，again，washopeful。
Howhekepthisoath，andwhatitcosthiminthebeginning，nobodyknowsHecertainlymanagedtocompassthehardestthingthatamanwhohasdrankheavilycandoHetookhispegandwineatdinner，butheneverdrankalone，andneverletwhathedrankhavetheleastholdonhim。
Oncehetoldabosom-friendthestoryofhisgreattrouble，andhowthe“influenceofapurehonestwoman，andanangelaswell“hadsavedhimWhentheman——startledatanythinggoodbeinglaidtoMrsReiver’sdoor——laughed，itcosthimMoriarty’sfriendship。
Moriarty，whoismarriednowtoawomantenthousandtimesbetterthanMrsReiver——awomanwhobelievesthatthereisnomanonearthasgoodandcleverasherhusband——willgodowntohisgravevowingandprotestingthatMrsReiversavedhimfromruininbothworlds。
ThatsheknewanythingofMoriarty’sweaknessnobodybelievedforamomentThatshewouldhavecuthimdead，thrownhimover，andacquaintedallherfriendswithherdiscovery，ifshehadknownofit，nobodywhoknewherdoubtedforaninstant。
Moriartythoughthersomethingsheneverwas，andinthatbeliefsavedhimselfWhichwasjustasgoodasthoughshehadbeeneverythingthathehadimagined。
Butthequestionis，whatclaimwillMrsReiverhavetothecreditofMoriarty’ssalvation，whenherdayofreckoningcomes？
ABANKFRAUD。
Hedrankstrongwatersandhisspeechwascoarse；
Hepurchasedraimentandforeboretopay；
Hestruckatrustingjuniorwithahorse，AndwonGymkhanasinadoubtfulway。
Then，’twixtaviceandfolly，turnedasideTodogooddeedsandstraighttocloakthem，lied。
THEMESSROOM。
IfReggieBurkewereinIndianow，hewouldresentthistalebeingtold；butasheisinHong-Kongandwon’tseeit，thetellingissafeHewasthemanwhoworkedthebigfraudontheSindandSialkoteBankHewasmanagerofanup-countryBranch，andasoundpracticalmanwithalargeexperienceofnativeloanandinsuranceworkHecouldcombinethefrivolitiesofordinarylifewithhiswork，andyetdowellReggieBurkerodeanythingthatwouldlethimgetup，dancedasneatlyasherode，andwaswantedforeverysortofamusementintheStation。
Ashesaidhimself，andasmanymenfoundoutrathertotheirsurprise，thereweretwoBurkes，bothverymuchatyourservice。
“ReggieBurke。”betweenfourandten，readyforanythingfromahot-
weathergymkhanatoariding-picnic；and，betweentenandfour，“Mr。
ReginaldBurke，ManageroftheSindandSialkoteBranchBank。”
Youmightplaypolowithhimoneafternoonandhearhimexpresshisopinionswhenamancrossed；andyoumightcallonhimnextmorningtoraiseatwo-thousandrupeeloanonafivehundredpoundinsurance-policy，eightypoundspaidinpremiumsHewouldrecognizeyou，butyouwouldhavesometroubleinrecognizinghim。
TheDirectorsoftheBank——ithaditsheadquartersinCalcuttaanditsGeneralManager’swordcarriedweightwiththeGovernment——
pickedtheirmenwellTheyhadtestedReggieuptoafairlyseverebreaking-strainTheytrustedhimjustasmuchasDirectorsevertrustManagersYoumustseeforyourselfwhethertheirtrustwasmisplaced。
Reggie’sBranchwasinabigStation，andworkedwiththeusualstaff——oneManager，oneAccountant，bothEnglish，aCashier，andahordeofnativeclerks；besidesthePolicepatrolatnightsoutside。
Thebulkofitswork，foritwasinathrivingdistrict，washoondiandaccommodationofallkindsAfoolhasnogripofthissortofbusiness；andaclevermanwhodoesnotgoaboutamonghisclients，andknowmorethanalittleoftheiraffairs，isworsethanafool。
Reggiewasyoung-looking，clean-shaved，withatwinkleinhiseye，andaheadthatnothingshortofagallonoftheGunners’Madeiracouldmakeanyimpressionon。
Oneday，atabigdinner，heannouncedcasuallythattheDirectorshadshiftedontohimaNaturalCuriosity，fromEngland，intheAccountantlineHewasperfectlycorrectMrSilasRiley，Accountant，wasaMOSTcuriousanimal——along，gawky，rawbonedYorkshireman，fullofthesavageself-conceitthatblossom’sonlyinthebestcountyinEnglandArrogancewasamildwordforthementalattitudeofMrSRileyHehadworkedhimselfup，aftersevenyears，toaCashier’spositioninaHuddersfieldBank；andallhisexperiencelayamongthefactoriesoftheNorthPerhapshewouldhavedonebetterontheBombayside，wheretheyarehappywithone-halfpercentprofits，andmoneyischeapHewasuselessforUpperIndiaandawheatProvince，whereamanwantsalargeheadandatouchofimaginationifheistoturnoutasatisfactorybalance-
sheet。
Hewaswonderfullynarrow-mindedinbusiness，and，beingnewtothecountry，hadnonotionthatIndianbankingistotallydistinctfromHomeworkLikemostcleverself-mademen，hehadmuchsimplicityinhisnature；and，somehoworother，hadconstruedtheordinarilypolitetermsofhisletterofengagementintoabeliefthattheDirectorshadchosenhimonaccountofhisspecialandbrillianttalents，andthattheysetgreatstorebyhimThisnotiongrewandcrystallized；thusaddingtohisnaturalNorth-countryconceit。
Further，hewasdelicate，sufferedfromsometroubleinhischest，andwasshortinhistemper。