It would seem,
however, that there is another kind of demonic power--the power of
shedding quite unconsciously one's personality upon all brought into
contact with it. The demonic power of Rossetti, like that of _D'Arcy_
in this story, was quite unconscious. In Rossetti's presence, as in
_D'Arcy's_, it was impossible not to yield to this strange,
mysterious power. At the time when he was not so entirely reclusive
as he afterwards became, when he used to meet all sorts of people,
the author had many opportunities of noticing its effect upon others.
He has seen them try to resist it, and in vain. On a certain occasion
a very eminent man, much used to society, and much used to the
brilliant literary clubs of London, was quite cowed and silenced
before Rossetti. It is necessary to dwell upon these subtle
distinctions, because this is the D'Arcy who, as a critic has
remarked, 'is the real protagonist of _Aylwin_--although the reader
does not discover it until the very end of the story, where D'Arcy
is the character who unravels and explains all.
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