\"Goon，AuntJanet。\"
Shedidnotseemtorecognizeconsciouslythelikenessbetweenpastandpresent；buttheeffectwasthere，forshewentonmorelikeheroldself，thoughtherewasapropheticgravityinhervoice，moremarkedthanIhadeverheardfromher：
\"AllthisI’vetoldyewaswell；but，oh，laddie，therewasadreadfullacko’livin’joysuchasIshouldexpectfromthewomanwhommyboyhadchosenforhiswife——andatthemarriagecoupling，too！Andnowonder，whenallissaid；forthoughthemarriageveilo’lovewasfine，an’thegarlando’flowerswasfresh—gathered，underneaththema’wasnaneitherthanaghastlyshroud。AsIlookedinmyveesion——ormaybedream——Iexpectittoseethewormscrawlroundtheflagstaneatherfeet。If’twasnotDeath，laddiedear，thatstoodbyye，itwastheshadowo’Deaththatmadethedarknessroundye，thatneitherthelighto’candlesnorthesmokeo’heathenincensecouldpierce。Oh，laddie，laddie，waeismethatIhaeseensicaveesion——wakingorsleeping，itmattersnot！Iwassairdistressed——sosairthatIwokewi’ashriekonmylipsandbathedincoldsweat。Iwouldhaecomedoontoyetoseeifyouwereheartyorno——oreventolistenatyourdoorforanysoundo’yerbeingquick，butthatIfearedtoalarmyetillmornshouldcome。I’vecountedthehoursandtheminutessincemidnight，whenIsawtheveesion，tillIcamehitherjustthenow。\"
\"Quiteright，AuntJanet，\"Isaid，\"andIthankyouforyourkindthoughtformeinthematter，nowandalways。\"ThenIwenton，forI
wantedtotakeprecautionsagainstthepossibilityofherdiscoveryofmysecret。Icouldnotbeartothinkthatshemightrunmyprecioussecrettoearthinanywell—meantpieceofbungling。Thatwouldbetomedisasterunbearable。Shemightfrightenawayaltogethermybeautifulvisitor，evenwhosenameororiginIdidnotknow，andImightneverseeheragain：
\"Youmustneverdothat，AuntJanet。YouandIaretoogoodfriendstohavesenseofdistrustorannoyancecomebetweenus——whichwouldsurelyhappenifIhadtokeepthinkingthatyouoranyoneelsemightbewatchingme。\"
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
April27，1907。
AfteraspelloflonelinesswhichhasseemedendlessIhavesomethingtowrite。WhenthevoidinmyheartwasbecomingthereceptacleformanydevilsofsuspicionanddistrustIsetmyselfataskwhichmight，Ithought，keepmythoughtsinpart，atanyrate，occupied——toexploreminutelytheneighbourhoodroundtheCastle。Thismight，I
hoped，serveasananodynetomypainofloneliness，whichgrewmoreacuteasthedays，thehours，woreon，evenifitshouldnotultimatelyaffordmesomecluetothewhereaboutsofthewomanwhomI
hadnowgrowntolovesomadly。
Myexplorationsoontookasystematicform，asIintendedthatitshouldbeexhaustive。IwouldtakeeverydayaseparatelineofadvancefromtheCastle，beginningatthesouthandworkingroundbytheeasttothenorth。Thefirstdayonlytookmetotheedgeofthecreek，whichIcrossedinaboat，andlandedatthebaseofthecliffopposite。Ifoundthecliffsaloneworthavisit。HereandtherewereopeningstocaveswhichImadeupmymindtoexplorelater。I
managedtoclimbupthecliffataspotlessbeetlingthantherest，andcontinuedmyjourney。Itwas，thoughverybeautiful，notaspeciallyinterestingplace。IexploredthatspokeofthewheelofwhichVissarionwasthehub，andgotbackjustintimefordinner。
ThenextdayItookacourseslightlymoretotheeastward。Ihadnodifficultyinkeepingastraightpath，for，onceIhadrowedacrossthecreek，theoldchurchofSt。Savarosebeforemeinstatelygloom。ThiswasthespotwheremanygenerationsofthenoblestoftheLandoftheBlueMountainshadfromtimeimmemorialbeenlaidtorest，amongstthemtheVissarions。Again，Ifoundtheoppositecliffspiercedhereandtherewithcaves，somewithwideopenings，——
otherstheopeningsofwhichwerepartlyaboveandpartlybelowwater。Icould，however，findnomeansofclimbingthecliffatthispart，andhadtomakealongdetour，followingupthelineofthecreektillfurtheronIfoundapieceofbeachfromwhichascentwaspossible。HereIascended，andfoundthatIwasonalinebetweentheCastleandthesouthernsideofthemountains。IsawthechurchofSt。Savaawaytomyright，andnotfarfromtheedgeofthecliff。
Imademywaytoitatonce，forasyetIhadneverbeennearit。
HithertomyexcursionshadbeenlimitedtotheCastleanditsmanygardensandsurroundings。ItwasofastylewithwhichIwasnotfamiliar——withfourwingstothepointsofthecompass。Thegreatdoorway，setinamagnificentfrontageofcarvedstoneofmanifestlyancientdate，facedwest，sothat，whenoneentered，hewenteast。
Tomysurprise——forsomehowIexpectedthecontrary——Ifoundthedooropen。Notwideopen，butwhatiscalledajar——manifestlynotlockedorbarred，butnotsufficientlyopenforonetolookin。Ientered，andafterpassingthroughawidevestibule，morelikeasectionofacorridorthananostensibleentrance，mademywaythroughaspaciousdoorwayintothebodyofthechurch。Thechurchitselfwasalmostcircular，theopeningsofthefournavesbeingspaciousenoughtogivetheappearanceoftheinteriorasawhole，beingahugecross。
Itwasstrangelydim，forthewindowopeningsweresmallandhigh—
set，andwere，moreover，filledwithgreenorblueglass，eachwindowhavingacolourtoitself。Theglasswasveryold，beingofthethirteenthorfourteenthcentury。Suchappointmentsastherewere——
forithadageneralairofdesolation——wereofgreatbeautyandrichness，——especiallysotobeinaplace——evenachurch——wherethedoorlayopen，andnoonewastobeseen。Itwasstrangelysilentevenforanoldchurchonalonesomeheadland。Therereignedadismalsolemnitywhichseemedtochillme，accustomedasIhavebeentostrangeandweirdplaces。Itseemedabandoned，thoughithadnotthatairofhavingbeenneglectedwhichissooftentobenoticedinold’churches。Therewasnoneoftheeverlastingaccumulationofdustwhichprevailsinplacesofhighercultivationandlargerandmorestrenuouswork。
InthechurchitselforitsappendingchambersIcouldfindnoclueorsuggestionwhichcouldguidemeinanywayinmysearchfortheLadyoftheShroud。Monumentstherewereinprofusion——statues，tablets，andallthecustomarymemorialsofthedead。Thefamiliesanddatesrepresentedweresimplybewildering。OftenthenameofVissarionwasgiven，andtheinscriptionwhichitheldIreadthroughcarefully，lookingtofindsomeenlightenmentofanykind。Butallinvain：therewasnothingtoseeinthechurchitself。SoI
determinedtovisitthecrypt。Ihadnolanternorcandlewithme，sohadtogobacktotheCastletosecureone。
Itwasstrange，cominginfromthesunlight，hereoverwhelmingtoonesorecentlyaccustomedtonorthernskies，tonotetheslendergleamofthelanternwhichIcarried，andwhichIhadlitinsidethedoor。
Atmyfirstentrytothechurchmymindhadbeensomuchtakenupwiththestrangenessoftheplace，togetherwiththeintensityofwishforsomesortofclue，thatIhadreallynoopportunityofexaminingdetail。Butnowdetailbecamenecessary，asIhadtofindtheentrancetothecrypt。Mypunylightcouldnotdissipatethesemi—Cimmeriangloomofthevastedifice；Ihadtothrowthefeeblegleamintooneafteranotherofthedarkcorners。
AtlastIfound，behindthegreatscreen，anarrowstonestaircasewhichseemedtowinddownintotherock。Itwasnotinanywaysecret，butbeinginthenarrowspacebehindthegreatscreen，wasnotvisibleexceptwhenclosetoit。IknewIwasnowclosetomyobjective，andbegantodescend。AccustomedthoughIhavebeentoallsortsofmysteriesanddangers，IfeltawedandalmostoverwhelmedbyasenseoflonelinessanddesolationasIdescendedtheancientwindingsteps。Theseweremanyinnumber，roughlyhewnofoldinthesolidrockonwhichthechurchwasbuilt。
Imetafreshsurpriseinfindingthatthedoorofthecryptwasopen。Afterall，thiswasdifferentfromthechurch—doorbeingopen；
forinmanyplacesitisacustomtoallowallcomersatalltimestofindrestandcomfortinthesacredplace。ButIdidexpectthatatleastthefinalresting—placeofthehistoricdeadwouldbeheldsafeagainstcasualintrusion。EvenI，onaquestwhichwasverynearmyheart，pausedwithanalmostoverwhelmingsenseofdecorumbeforepassingthroughthatopendoor。Thecryptwasahugeplace，strangelyloftyforavault。Fromitsformation，however，Isooncametotheconclusionthatitwasoriginallyanaturalcavernalteredtoitspresentpurposebythehandofman。Icouldhearsomewherenearthesoundofrunningwater，butIcouldnotlocateit。
Nowandagainatirregularintervalstherewasaprolongedbooming，whichcouldonlycomefromawavebreakinginaconfinedplace。Therecollectionthencametomeoftheproximityofthechurchtothetopofthebeetlingcliff，andofthehalf—sunkcavernentranceswhichpiercedit。
Withthegleamofmylamptoguideme，Iwentthroughandroundthewholeplace。Thereweremanymassivetombs，mostlyrough—hewnfromgreatslabsorblocksofstone。Someofthemweremarble，andthecuttingofallwasancient。Solargeandheavyweresomeofthemthatitwasawondertomehowtheycouldeverhavebeenbroughttothisplace，towhichtheonlyentrancewasseeminglythenarrow，tortuousstairwaybywhichIhadcome。AtlastIsawnearoneendofthecryptagreatchainhanging。Turningthelightupward，Ifoundthatitdependedfromaringsetoverawideopening，evidentlymadeartificially。Itmusthavebeenthroughthisopeningthatthegreatsarcophagihadbeenlowered。
Directlyunderneaththehangingchain，whichdidnotcomeclosertothegroundthansomeeightortenfeet，wasahugetombintheshapeofarectangularcofferorsarcophagus。Itwasopen，saveforahugesheetofthickglasswhichrestedaboveitontwothickbalksofdarkoak，cuttoexceedingsmoothness，whichlayacrossit，oneateitherend。OnthefarsidefromwhereIstoodeachofthesewasjoinedtoanotheroakplank，alsocutsmooth，whichslopedgentlytotherockyfloor。Shoulditbenecessarytoopenthetomb，theglasscouldbemadetoslidealongthesupportsanddescendbytheslopingplanks。
Naturallycurioustoknowwhatmightbewithinsuchastrangereceptacle，Iraisedthelantern，depressingitslenssothatthelightmightfallwithin。
ThenIstartedbackwithacry，thelanternslippingfrommynervelesshandandfallingwitharingingsoundonthegreatsheetofthickglass。
Within，pillowedonsoftcushions，andcoveredwithamantlewovenofwhitenaturalfleecespriggedwithtinyspraysofpinewroughtingold，laythebodyofawoman——noneotherthanmybeautifulvisitor。
Shewasmarblewhite，andherlongblackeyelasheslayonherwhitecheeksasthoughsheslept。
Withoutawordorasound，savethesoundsmadebymyhurryingfeetonthestoneflooring，Ifledupthesteepsteps，andthroughthedimexpanseofthechurch，outintothebrightsunlight。IfoundthatI
hadmechanicallyraisedthefallenlamp，andhadtakenitwithmeinmyflight。
Myfeetnaturallyturnedtowardshome。Itwasallinstinctive。Thenewhorrorhad——forthetime，atanyrate——drownedmymindinitsmystery，deeperthanthedeepestdepthsofthoughtorimagination。
BOOKIV：UNDERTHEFLAGSTAFF
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
May1，1907。
ForsomedaysafterthelastadventureIwasintruthinahalf—dazedcondition，unabletothinksensibly，hardlycoherently。Indeed，itwasasmuchasIcoulddotopreservesomethingofmyhabitualappearanceandmanner。However，myfirsttesthappilycamesoon，andwhenIwasoncethroughitIreacquiredsufficientself—confidencetogothroughwithmypurpose。Graduallytheoriginalphaseofstupefactionpassed，andIwasabletolookthesituationintheface。Iknewtheworstnow，atanyrate；andwhenthelowestpointhasbeenreachedthingsmustbegintomend。Still，IwaswofullysensitiveregardinganythingwhichmightaffectmyLadyoftheShroud，orevenmyopinionofher。IevenbegantodreadAuntJanet’sSecond—Sightvisionsordreams。Thesehadafatalhabitofcomingsoneartofactthattheyalwaysmadeforadangerofdiscovery。IhadtorealizenowthattheLadyoftheShroudmightindeedbeaVampire——oneofthathorridracethatsurvivesdeathandcarriesonalife—in—deathexistenceeternallyandonlyforevil。
Indeed，IbegantoEXPECTthatAuntJanetwoulderelonghavesomepropheticinsighttothematter。Shehadbeensowonderfullycorrectinherpropheticsurmiseswithregardtoboththevisitstomyroomthatitwashardlypossiblethatshecouldfailtotakecognizanceofthislastdevelopment。
Butmydreadwasnotjustified；atanyrate，Ihadnoreasontosuspectthatbyanyforceorexerciseofheroccultgiftshemightcausemeconcernbythediscoveryofmysecret。OnlyoncedidIfeelthatactualdangerinthatrespectwasclosetome。Thatwaswhenshecameearlyonemorningandrappedatmydoor。WhenIcalledout，\"Whoisthat？Whatisit？\"shesaidinanagitatedway：
\"ThankGod，laddie，youareallright！Gotosleepagain。\"
Lateron，whenwemetatbreakfast，sheexplainedthatshehadhadanightmareinthegreyofthemorning。Shethoughtshehadseenmeinthecryptofagreatchurchclosebesideastonecoffin；and，knowingthatsuchwasanominoussubjecttodreamabout，cameassoonasshedaredtoseeifIwasallright。Hermindwasevidentlysetondeathandburial，forshewenton：
\"Bytheway，Rupert，IamtoldthatthegreatchurchontimetopofthecliffacrossthecreekisSt。Sava’s，wherethegreatpeopleofthecountryusedtobeburied。Iwantyoutotakemetheresomeday。
Weshallgooverit，andlookatthetombsandmonumentstogether。I
reallythinkIshouldbeafraidtogoalone，butitwillbeallrightifyouarewithme。\"Thiswasgettingreallydangerous，soIturneditaside：
Really，AuntJanet，I’mafraiditwon’tdo。Ifyougoofftoweirdoldchurches，andfillyourselfupwithafreshsupplyofhorrors，I
don’tknowwhatwillhappen。You’llbedreamingdreadfulthingsaboutmeeverynightandneitheryounorIshallgetanysleep。\"Itwenttomyhearttoopposeherinanywish；andalsothiskindofchaffyoppositionmightpainher。ButIhadnoalternative；thematterwastooserioustobeallowedtoproceed。ShouldAuntJanetgotothechurch，shewouldsurelywanttovisitthecrypt。Shouldshedoso，andtherenoticetheglass—coveredtomb——asshecouldnothelpdoing——theLordonlyknewwhatwouldhappen。ShehadalreadySecond—Sightedawomanbeingmarriedtome，andbeforeImyselfknewthatIhadsuchahope。Whatmightshenotrevealdidsheknowwherethewomancamefrom？ItmayhavebeenthatherpowerofSecondSighthadtorestonsomebasisofknowledgeorbelief，andthathervisionwasbutsomeintuitiveperceptionofmyownsubjectivethought。Butwhateveritwasitshouldbestopped——atallhazards。
Thiswholeepisodesetmethinkingintrospectively，andledmegraduallybutimperativelytoself—analysis——notofpowers，butofmotives。Ifoundmyselfbeforelongexaminingmyselfastowhatweremyrealintentions。Ithoughtatfirstthatthisintellectualprocesswasanexerciseofpurereason；butsoondiscardedthisasinadequate——evenimpossible。Reasonisacoldmanifestation；thisfeelingwhichswayedanddominatedmeisnoneotherthanpassion，whichisquick，hot，andinsistent。
Asformyself，theself—analysiscouldleadtobutoneresult——theexpressiontomyselfoftherealityanddefinitenessofanalready—
formedthoughunconsciousintention。Iwishedtodothewomangood——
toserveherinsomeway——tosecurehersomebenefitbyanymeans，nomatterhowdifficult，whichmightbewithinmypower。IknewthatI
lovedher——lovedhermosttrulyandfervently；therewasnoneedforself—analysistotellmethat。And，moreover，noself—analysis，oranyothermentalprocessthatIknewof，couldhelpmyonedoubt：
whethershewasanordinarywoman（oranextraordinarywoman，forthematterofthat）insomesoreandterriblestraits；orelseonewholayundersomedreadfulcondition，onlypartiallyalive，andnotmistressofherselforheracts。Whicheverherconditionmightbe，therewasinmyownfeelingasuperfluityofaffectionforher。Theself—analysistaughtmeonething，atanyrate——thatIhadforher，tostartwith，aninfinitepitywhichhadsoftenedtowardshermywholebeing，andhadalreadymasteredmerelyselfishdesire。OutofitIbegantofindexcusesforhereveryact。InthedoingsoIknewnow，thoughperhapsIdidnotatthetimetheprocesswasgoingon，thatmyviewinitstrueinwardnesswasofherasalivingwoman——thewomanIloved。
Intheformingofourideastherearedifferentmethodsofwork，asthoughtheanalogywithmateriallifeholdsgood。Inthebuildingofahouse，forinstance，therearemanypersonsemployed；menofdifferenttradesandoccupations——architect，builder，masons，carpenters，plumbers，andahostofothers——andallthesewiththeofficialsofeachguildortrade。Sointheworldofthoughtandfeelings：knowledgeandunderstandingcomethroughvariousagents，eachcompetenttoitstask。
HowfarpityreactedwithloveIknewnot；Ionlyknewthatwhateverherstatemightbe，wereshelivingordead，IcouldfindinmyheartnoblamefortheLadyoftheShroud。Itcouldnotbethatshewasdeadintherealconventionalway；for，afterall，theDeaddonotwalktheearthincorporalsubstance，eveniftherebespiritswhichtakethecorporalform。Thiswomanwasofactualformandweight。
HowcouldIdoubtthat，atallevents——I，whohadheldherinmyarms？Mightitnotbethatshewasnotquitedead，andthatithadbeengiventometorestorehertolifeagain？Ah！thatwouldbe，indeed，aprivilegewellworththegivingmylifetoaccomplish。
Thatsuchathingmaybeispossible。Surelytheoldmythswerenotabsoluteinventions；theymusthavehadabasissomewhereinfact。
Maynottheworld—oldstoryofOrpheusandEurydicehavebeenbasedonsomedeep—lyingprincipleorpowerofhumannature？Thereisnotoneofusbuthaswishedatsometimetobringbackthedead。Ay，andwhohasnotfeltthatinhimselforherselfwaspowerinthedeeploveforourdeadtomakethemquickagain，didwebutknowthesecretofhowitwastobedone？
Formyself，IhaveseensuchmysteriesthatIamopentoconvictionregardingthingsnotyetexplained。Thesehavebeen，ofcourse，amongstsavagesorthoseold—worldpeoplewhohavebroughtuncheckedtraditionsandbeliefs——ay，andpowerstoo——downtheagesfromthedimdayswhentheworldwasyoung；whenforceswereelemental，andNature’shandiworkwasexperimentalratherthancompleted。Someofthesewondersmayhavebeenolderstillthantheacceptedperiodofourownperiodofcreation。Maywenothaveto—dayotherwonders，differentonlyinmethod，butnotmoresusceptibleofbelief？Obi—
ismandFantee—ismhavebeenexercisedinmyownpresence，andtheirresultsprovedbytheevidenceofmyowneyesandothersenses。So，too，havestrangerrites，withthesameobjectandthesamesuccess，inthefarPacificIslands。So，too，inIndiaandChina，inThibetandintheGoldenChersonese。Onallandeachoftheseoccasionstherewas，onmyownpart，enoughbelieftosetinmotionthepowersofunderstanding；andtherewerenomoralscruplestostandinthewayofrealization。ThosewhoselivesaresospentthattheyachievethereputationofnotfearingmanorGodordevilarenotdeterredintheirdoingorthwartedfromasetpurposebythingswhichmightdeterothersnotsoequippedforadventure。Whatevermaybebeforethem——pleasantorpainful，bitterorsweet，arduousorfacile，enjoyableorterrible，humorousorfullofaweandhorror——theymustaccept，takingthemintheonwardcourseasagoodathletetakeshurdlesinhisstride。Andtheremustbenohesitating，nolookingback。Iftheexplorerortheadventurerhasscruples，hehadbettergiveupthatspecialbranchofeffortandcomehimselftoamorelevelwalkinlife。Neithermustthereberegrets。Thereisnoneedforsuch；savagelifehasthisadvantage：itbegetsacertaintolerationnottobefoundinconventionalexistence。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
May2，1907。
IhadheardlongagothatSecondSightisaterriblegift，eventoitspossessor。Iamnowinclinednotonlytobelieve，buttounderstandit。AuntJanethasmadesuchapracticeofitoflatethatIgoinconstantdreadofdiscoveryofmysecret。Sheseemstoparallelmeallthetime，whateverImaydo。Itislikeasortofdualexistencetoher；forsheisherdearoldselfallthetime，andyetsomeotherpersonwithasortofintellectualkitoftelescopeandnotebook，whichareeternallyusedonme。IknowtheyareFOR
me，too——forwhatsheconsidersmygood。Butallthesameitmakesanembarrassment。HappilySecondSightcannotspeakasclearlyasitsees，or，rather，asitunderstands。Forthetranslationofthevaguebeliefswhichitinculcatesisbothnebulousanduncertain——asortofDelphicoraclewhichalwayssaysthingswhichnoonecanmakeoutatthetime，butwhichcanbeafterwardsreadinanyoneofseveralways。Thisisallright，forinmycaseitisakindofsafety；but，then，AuntJanetisaverycleverwoman，andsometimesheherselfmaybeabletounderstand。Thenshemaybegintoputtwoandtwotogether。Whenshedoesthat，itwillnotbelongbeforesheknowsmorethanIdoofthefactsofthewholeaffair。AndherreadingofthemandoftheLadyoftheShroud，roundwhomtheycircle，maynotbethesameasmine。Well，thatwillbeallrighttoo。AuntJanetlovesme——GodknowsIhavegoodreasontoknowthatallthroughtheseyears——andwhateverviewshemaytake，heractswillbeallIcouldwish。ButIshallcomeinforagoodlotofscolding，Iamsure。Bytheway，Ioughttothinkofthat；ifAuntJanetscoldsme，itisaprettygoodproofthatIoughttobescolded。IwonderifIdaretellherall。No！Itistoostrange。
Sheisonlyawoman，afterall：andifsheknewIloved……IwishIknewhername，andthought——asImightmyselfdo，onlythatI
resistit——thatsheisnotaliveatall。Well，whatshewouldeitherthinkordobeatsme。IsupposeshewouldwanttoslippermeassheusedtodowhenIwasaweekiddie——inadifferentway，ofcourse。
May3，1907。
Ireallycouldnotgoonseriouslylastnight。TheideaofAuntJanetgivingmealickingasinthedearolddaysmademelaughsomuchthatnothingintheworldseemedseriousthen。Oh，AuntJanetisallrightwhatevercomes。ThatIamsureof，soIneedn’tworryoverit。Agoodthingtoo；therewillbeplentytoworryaboutwithoutthat。Ishallnotcheckhertellingmeofhervisions，however；Imaylearnsomethingfromthem。
Forthelastfour—and—twentyhoursIhave，whilstawake，beenlookingoverAuntJanet’sbooks，ofwhichIbroughtawheendownhere。Geewhizz！Nowondertheolddearissuperstitious，whensheisfilleduptothebackteethwiththatsortofstuff！Theremaybesometruthinsomeofthoseyarns；thosewhowrotethemmaybelieveinthem，orsomeofthem，atallevents。Butastocoherenceorlogic，oranysortofreasonableorinstructivededuction，theymightaswellhavebeenwrittenbysomanyhens！Theseoccultbook—makersseemtogatheronlyalotofbare，baldfacts，whichtheyputdowninthemostuninterestingwaypossible。Theygobyquantityonly。Onestoryofthekind，wellexaminedandwithlogicalcomments，wouldbemoreconvincingtoathirdpartythanawholehecatombofthem。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。
May4，1907。
Thereisevidentlysomethingupinthecountry。Themountaineersaremoreuneasythantheyhavebeenasyet。Thereisconstantgoingtoandfroamongstthem，mostlyatnightandinthegreyofthemorning。
Ispendmanyhoursinmyroomintheeasterntower，fromwhichIcanwatchthewoods，andgatherfromsignsthepassingtoandfro。Butwithallthisactivitynoonehassaidtomeawordonthesubject。
Itisundoubtedlyadisappointmenttome。Ihadhopedthatthemountaineershadcometotrustme；thatgatheringatwhichtheywantedtofiretheirgunsformegavemestronghopes。Butnowitisapparentthattheydonottrustmeinfull——asyet，atallevents。
Well，Imustnotcomplain。Itisallonlyrightandjust。AsyetI
havedonenothingtoprovetothemtheloveanddevotionthatIfeeltothecountry。IknowthatsuchindividualsasIhavemettrustme，andIbelievelikeme。Butthetrustofanationisdifferent。Thathastobewonandtested；hewhowouldwinitmustjustify，andinawaythatonlytroubloustimescanallow。Nonationwill——can——givefullmeedofhonourtoastrangerintimesofpeace。Whyshouldit？
ImustnotforgetthatIamhereastrangerintheland，andthattothegreatmassofpeopleevenmynameisunknown。PerhapstheywillknowmebetterwhenRookecomesbackwiththatstoreofarmsandammunitionthathehasbought，andthelittlewarshiphehasgotfromSouthAmerica。WhentheyseethatIhandoverthewholelottothenationwithoutastringonthem，theymaybegintobelieve。InthemeantimeallIcandoistowait。Itwillallcomerightintime，I
havenodoubt。Andifitdoesn’tcomeright，well，wecanonlydieonce！
Isthatso？WhataboutmyLadyoftheShroud？Imustnotthinkofthatorofherinthisgallery。Loveandwarareseparate，andmaynotmix——cannotmix，ifitcomestothat。Imustbewiseinthematter；andifIhavegotthehumpinanydegreewhatever，mustnotshowit。
Butonethingiscertain：somethingisup，anditmustbetheTurks。
FromwhattheVladikasaidatthatmeetingtheyhavesomeintentionofanattackontheBlueMountains。Ifthatbeso，wemustbeready；
andperhapsIcanhelpthere。Theforcesmustbeorganized；wemusthavesomemethodofcommunication。Inthiscountry，whereareneitherroadsnorrailwaysnortelegraphs，wemustestablishasignallingsystemofsomesort。THATIcanbeginatonce。Icanmakeacode，oradaptonethatIhaveusedelsewherealready。I
shallrigupasemaphoreonthetopoftheCastlewhichcanbeseenforanenormousdistancearound。Ishalltrainanumberofmentobefacileinsignalling。Andthen，shouldneedcome，ImaybeabletoshowthemountaineersthatIamfittoliveintheirhearts……
Andallthisworkmayproveananodynetopainofanotherkind。Itwillhelp，atanyrate，tokeepmymindoccupiedwhilstIamwaitingforanothervisitfrommyLadyoftheShroud。
RUPERT’SJOURNAL——Continued。