. "What does it all mean?"

"Case of Sir Charles Darryll," Field panted. "We know all about that. We
shall have your friend Sartoris, in a minute, to say nothing of Reggie
and Cora. If you tell us everything and make a clean breast of your part
of it----"

"Shan't," Bentwood said sullenly. "You can find out that for yourself."

Field pursed his lips in a soft whistle. The two shadows by the gate
came up.

"Keep him close by," Field said. "He is just valiantly drunk now, but
unless I greatly mistake my man, he will listen to reason shortly. Don't
take him far away, as I may want to make use of him presently. I am glad
that he arrived on the scene before the motor came up."

Again the tense silence fell on the group; once more they had to possess
their souls in patience. Field appeared more cheerful and philosophical;
the arrest of Bentwood seemed to have taken a heavy weight from his
mind. He took out a cigarette and lighted it. Mark turned to Mary.

"You are sure that you will not reconsider your decision?" he said. "I
wish that I could persuade you not to remain here. It has been quite
painful enough for you already, and you can do no good. Why should you
witness the final humiliation of it?"

Mary looked at the speaker; a grateful sigh came from her lips.

"You are more than kind to me," she said. "But I have drunk so deeply of
the cup of humiliation that a draught more or less makes no difference.
Heaven knows how I have tried to avert this thing, to ward off the
danger that I could not see. And yet all this time I knew that sooner or
later the blow would fall. Mr. Ventmore, how old do you take me to be?"

Mark could not say. It was rather an awkward question.

"I see by your silence that you would rather not reply," Mary said. "It
means that you would have a delicacy in calling me an old woman. And yet
I am barely thirty. When I think what I was three years ago, it seems to
me as if ages had passed. Of course, this is all silly talk, but I must
talk or go mad."

"There is a happier time coming for you," Mark said.

"I know that. Once that blow has fallen, I shall regard myself as free
of my cares. And now, with that prospect before me, I would avert the
calamity if I could. And yet I have done my best and nobody could do
more."

Silence fell again, for Mark could not think of anything else to say.
The silence was broken presently by the clang and snarl of a distant
motor car, and Field pitched his cig