d Durrance. "She said not a word about it, she never
showed me the feather, she even forbade Willoughby to hint of it, she
sent him away from Devonshire before I knew that he had come. You are
disappointed at that," he added quickly.

Lieutenant Sutch was startled. It was true he was disappointed; he was
jealous of Durrance, he wished Harry Feversham to stand first in the
girl's thoughts. It was for her sake that Harry had set about his
difficult and perilous work. Sutch wished her to remember him as he
remembered her. Therefore he was disappointed that she did not at once
come with her news to Durrance and break off their engagement. It would
be hard for Durrance, no doubt, but that could not be helped.

"Then how did you learn the story?" asked Sutch.

"Some one else told me. I was told that Willoughby had come, and that he
had brought a white feather, and that Ethne had taken it from him. Never
mind by whom. That gave me a clue. I lay in wait for Willoughby in
London. He is not very clever; he tried to obey Ethne's command of
silence, but I managed to extract the information I wanted. The rest of
the story I was able to put together by myself. Ethne now and then was
off her guard. You are surprised that I was clever enough to find out
the truth by the exercise of my own wits?" said Durrance, with a laugh.

Lieutenant Sutch jumped in his seat. It was mere chance, of course, that
Durrance continually guessed with so singular an accuracy; still it was
uncomfortable.

"I have said nothing which could in any way suggest that I was
surprised," he said testily.

"That is quite true, but you are none the less surprised," continued
Durrance. "I don't blame you. You could not know that it is only since I
have been blind that I have begun to see. Shall I give you an instance?
This is the first time that I have ever come into this neighbourhood or
got out at your station. Well, I can tell you that you have driven me up
a hill between forests of pines, and are now driving me across open
country of heather."

Sutch turned quickly towards Durrance.

"The hill, of course, you would notice. But the pines?"

"The air was close. I knew there were trees. I guessed they were pines."

"And the open country?"

"The wind blows clear across it. There's a dry stiff rustle besides. I
have never heard quite that sound except when the wind blows across
heather."

He turned the conversation back to Harry Feversham and his
disappear