prayed to the wooden table, as expect any
mercy or pity from this man, to whom such abject misery was better than
meat and drink.

With a contemptuous gesture, as if to spurn her from his sight, he said:

"Get up, my good woman. I shall keep your secret as long as it pleases
me. Perhaps for ever, who can tell? Good John, simple John," he laughed
maliciously. "He little thinks his wife was given to taking trips to
Canterbury with handsome young men. There! There!" he added, as a moan
of anguish burst from the dry lips of the tortured woman. "That will do.
I shan't enlighten good kind John, as long as you do what I want. I need
a bed. I'm going to sleep here to-night. Hullo! who's that?" He broke
off suddenly, as Jessica, tired of waiting outside for his departure,
entered the room, her dark eyes dilated with anxiety.

She paused at the sound of his voice, and stared at him. She recognised
him as the man she had seen with Leroy, and some subtle instinct seemed
to tell her that he was evil. Jasper, too, stared at her uneasily. A
memory of another person, strangely like her, crossed his mind, but he
was too full of his knowledge concerning Leroy to consider any fresh
train of thought.

Mrs. Ashford hastily composed her features.

"Only a girl stopping here," she said hurriedly; then, turning to the
silent spectator, she said, "Go, my dear, I shall not want you at
present," and Jessica gladly left the room, while Jasper, taking her to
be a servant, gave no more thought to her.

"Now what about a room?" he said imperiously, as he took off his light
overcoat.

"You shall have the best, sir," replied Lucy, only too eager to
conciliate him. "Anything--everything we have is yours."

"Very kind of you, I'm sure," yawned Jasper. "Set about it then."

He was tired, for he had done a great deal of walking for him, who was
accustomed to use his own or his friend's motor for every journey, great
or small. Besides, he had somehow missed Adrien despite his care, and
was greatly puzzled and irritated.

He was turning to follow Lucy, when there came a sound of footsteps,
followed by another loud knock at the door, and a man's commanding
voice:

"Help! Quick here with a light!"

Lucy screamed, and Jasper Vermont turned rather pale, for he instantly
recognised the voice as that of the man he had sought so diligently all
that day. But he had no desire to be discovered just then, so, taking
the frightened woman almost savagely b