other nodded; he forgot that the speaker could not see.

'I was not intending to commit suicide. Such an idea didn't even enter
my head. To me, suicide is the resource of a coward. I have been in too
many tight places to ever fear that.'

'Then in the name of goodness why were you trying to get out of that
window?'

'I wanted to escape; to get away!'

'In your shirt and trousers; and they are not over much! Without even
slippers!' A faint smile curled round the lips of the injured man. Hope
was beginning to help already.

'Even that way!'

'But man alive! you were going to your death. How could you expect to
get away in such an outfit without being discovered? When you were
missed the whole countryside would have been up, and even before the hue-
and-cry the first person who saw you would have taken charge of you.'

'I know! I know! I had thought of it all. But I was willing to chance
it. I had my own reasons!' He was silent a while. The Doctor was
silent too. Each man was thinking in his own way. Presently the Doctor
spoke:

'Look here, old chap! I don't want to pry into your secrets; but, won't
you let me help you? I can hold my tongue. I want to help you. You
have earned that wish from any man, and woman too, who saw the burning
ship and what you did to save those on board. There is nothing I would
not do for you. Nothing! I don't ask you to tell me all; only enough
for me to understand and help. I can see that you have some overpowering
wish to get away. Some reason that I cannot fathom, certainly without a
clue. You may trust me, I assure you. If you could look into my face,
my eyes, you would understand. But--There! take my hand. It may tell
you something!'

Harold took the hand placed in his, and held it close. He pressed his
other hand over it also, as though the effect of the two hands would
bring him double knowledge. It was infinitely pathetic to see him trying
to make his untrained fingers do the duty of his trained eyes. But,
trained or not, his hands had their instinct. Laying down gently the
hand he held he said, turning his bandaged eyes in the direction of his
companion:

'I shall trust you! Are we alone; absolutely alone?'

'Absolutely!'

'Have I your solemn promise that anything I say shall never go beyond
yourself?'

'I promise. I can swear, if it will make your mind more easy in the
matter.'

'What do you hold most sacred in the world?' Harold h