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have some connection with the odd experience I had gone through。 In a moment they had passed out of sight。 We were not aware that we had witnessed a spectacle the like of which had not been seen in centuries； if ever； since God made the heavens' the great meteor of i86o。
'Let's go back；'said Trumbull。 'We came too far。 I forgot myself。'
'Dangerous here？'I enquired。
'Not at all；'said he； 'but a long way out of town … tired？
'Rather；'I said； grateful for his evident desire to quiet my alarm。
'Come！'said he as we came back to the pavement； his hand upon my shoulder。 'Talk to me。 Tell me … what are you going to do？
We walked slowly down the deserted avenue； I； meanwhile； talking of my pians。
'You love。 Hope；'he said presently。 'You will marry her？
'If she will have me；'said I。
'You must wait；'he said； 'time enough！
He quickened his pace again as we came in sight of the scattering shops and houses of the upper city and no other word was spoken。 On the corners we saw men looking into the sky and talking of the fallen moon。 It was late bedtime when we turned into Gramercy Park。
'Come in；'said he as he opened an iron gate。
I followed him up a marble stairway and a doddering old English butler opened the door for us。 We entered a fine hall； its floor of beautiful parquetry muffled with silken rugs。 High and spacious rooms were all aglow with light。
He conducted me to a large smoking…room； its floor and walls covered with trophies of the hunt … antlers and the skins of carnivora。 Here he threw off his coat and bade me be at home as he lay down upon a wicker divan covered with the tawny skin of some wild animal。 He stroked the fur fondly with his hand。
'Hello Jock！'he said； a greeting that mystified me。
'Tried to eat me；'he added； turning to me。
Then he bared his great hairy arm and showed me a lot of ugly scars； I besought him to tell the story。
'Killed him；'he answered。 'With a gun？
'No … with my hands；'and that was all he would say of it。
He lay facing a black curtain that covered a corner。 Now and then I heard a singular sound in the room … like some faint； far； night cry such as I have heard often in the deep woods。 It was so weird I felt some wonder of it。 Presently I could tell it came from behind the curtain where； also； I heard an odd rustle like that of wings。
I sat in a reverie； looking at the silent man before me； and in the midst of it he pulled a cord that hung near him and a bell rang。
'Luncheon！'he said to the old butler who entered immediately。
Then he rose and showed me odd things； carved out of wood； by his own hand as he told me； and with a delicate art。 He looked at one tiny thing and laid it aside quickly。
'Can't bear to look at it now；'he said。
'Gibbet？'I enquired。
'Gibbet；'he answered。
It was a little figure bound hand and foot and hanging from the gallows tree。
'Burn it！'he said； turning to the old servant and putting it in his hands。 Luncheon had been set between us； the while； and as we were eating it the butler opened a big couch and threw snowy sheets of linen over it and silken covers that rustled as they fell。
'You will sleep there；'said my host as his servant laid the pillows； 'and well I hope。
I thought I had better go to my own lodgings。
'Too late … too late；'said he； and I； leg…weary and half…asleep； accepted his proffer of hospitality。 Then； having eaten； he left me and I got into bed after turning the lights out Something woke me in the dark of the night。 There was a rustling sound in the room。 I raised my head a bit and listened。 It was the black curtain that hung in the corner。 I imagined somebody striking it violently。 I saw a white figure standing near me in the darkness。 It moved away as I looked at it。 A cold wind was blowing upon my face。 I lay a long time listening and by and by I could hear the deep voice of Trumbull as if he were groaning and muttering in his sleep。 When it began to come light I saw the breeze from an open window was stirring the curtain of silk in the corner。 I got out of bed and； peering behind the curtain； saw only a great white owl； caged and staring out of wide eyes that gleamed fiery in the dim light。 I went to bed again； sleeping until my host woke me in the late morning。
After breakfasting I went to the chalet。 The postman had been there but he had brought no letter from Hope。 I waited about home； expecting to hear from her； all that day； only to see it end in bitter disappointment。
Chapter 33
That very night； Ilooked in at the little shop beneath us and met Riggs。 It was no small blessing； just as I was entering upon dark and unknown ways of life； to meet this hoary headed man with all his lanterns。 He would sell you anchors and fathoms of chain and rope enough to hang you to the moon but his 'lights'were the great attraction of Riggs s。 He had every kind of lantern that had ever swung on land or sea。 After dark； when light was streaming out of its open door and broad window Riggs's looked like the side of an old lantern itself。 It was a door； low and wide； for a time when men had big round bellies and nothing to do but fill them and heads not too far above their business。 It was a window gone blind with dust and cobwebs so it resembled the dim eye of age。 If the door were closed its big brass knocker and massive iron latch invited the passer。 An old ship's anchor and a coil of chain lay beside it。 Blocks and heavy bolts； steering wheels； old brass compasses； coils of rope and rusty chain lay on the floor and benches； inside the shop。 There were rows of lanterns； hanging on the bare beams。 And there was Riggs。 He sat by a dusty desk and gave orders in a sleepy； drawling tone to the lad who served him。 An old Dutch lantern； its light softened with green glass； sent a silver bean across the gloomy upper air of the shop that evening。 Riggs held an old un lantern with little streams of light bursting through its perforated walls。 He was blind； one would know it at a glance。 Blindness is so easy to be seen。 Riggs was showing it to a stranger。
'Turn down the lights；'he said and the boy got his step…ladder and obeyed him。
Then he held it aloft in the dusk and the little lantern was like a castle tower with many windows lighted； and； when he set it down； there was a golden sprinkle on the floor as if something had plashed into a magic pool of light there in the darkness。
Riggs lifted the lantern； presently； and stood swinging it in his hand。 Then its rays were sown upon the darkness falling silently into every nook and corner of the gloomy shop and breaking into flowing dapples on the wall。
'See how quick it is！'said he as the rays flashed with the speed of lightning。 'That is the only traveller from Heaven that travels fast enough to ever get to earth。
Then came the words that had a mighty fitness for his tongue。
'Hail； holy light！ Offspring of Heaven first born。
His voice rose and fell； riding the mighty rhythm of inspired song。 As he stood swinging the lantern； then； he reminded me of a chanting priest behind the censer。 In a moment he sat down； and； holding the lantern between his knees； opened its door and felt the candle。 Then as the light streamed out upon his hands； he rubbed them a time； silently； as if washing them in the bright flood。
'One dollar for this little box of daylight；'he said。
'Blind？'said the stranger as he paid him the money。
'No；'said Riggs； 'only dreaming as you are。
I wondered what he meant by the words 'dreaming as you are 。
'Went to bed on my way home to marry；'he continued； stroking his long white beard； 'and saw the lights go out an'went asleep and it hasn t come morning yet … that's what I believe。 I went into a dream。 Think I m here in a shop talking but I m really in my bunk on the good ship Arid coming home。 Dreamed everything since then … everything a man could think of。 Dreamed I came home and found Annie dead； dreamed of blindness； of old age； of poverty； of eating and drinking and sleeping and of many people who pass like dim shadows and speak to me … you are one of them。 And sometimes I forget I am dreaming and am miserable； and then I remember and am happy。 I know when the morning comes I shall wake