d; but any doubt of me was
impossible to her true heart. I sounded at that moment the superb
loyalty of her nature, and my pride in her seemed to lift me into
heaven.

"In charge?" she asked, with a little tender, mirthful tremor in her
voice. "No, I shall not give the gentleman in charge. Tell me what it
means, John."

I told her first, briefly and rapidly, the story of poor old Ruffiano's
betrayal, and how I had let Brunow go. Then I told her of Hinge's
recognition of Sacovitch, of the meeting in Richmond Park, of what
Hinge had heard at the cottage; and, finally, of what we had both heard
together. I had called for Hinge at the very beginning of my narrative,
and by the time I came to his share in it he was present, hastily
muffled in an overcoat, and divided between a desire to stand immovably
at attention and a contradictory attempt furtively to smooth his hair,
which rayed out all round his head in disorderly spikes, and gave him a
look of having been frightened out of his life.

"But why," she asked me, "did you take such an extraordinary action? Why
not communicate with me?"

Then I had to tell her the story of that wretched Constance, which would
have been an awkward thing to do under any circumstances, but was
made more awkward still by the presence of the hotel manager and the
constable. I went through it, however, without flinching, and I told her
most of what has been set down in the latter part of these pages,
though of course with less detail than I have given here. She scarcely
interrupted me by a word, and when I had done she drew her purse from
her pocket, and taking from it a sovereign, tendered the coin to the
constable.

"You have done your duty, officer," she said. "But you understand that
your services will not be required any longer."

The constable took the coin and pouched it.

"Do I understand, mum," he asked, with a droll stolidity, "that you're
satisfied with the prisoner's story?"

"Yes," returned Violet; "I am quite satisfied. You will not be wanted
any more."

The man took out a key from his pocket, and unlocked the handcuffs
which confined my wrists. He said not a word, but looked at me in a
mute admiration and wonder which spoke volumes. He and the hotel manager
withdrew together, and I sent Hinge to bed.

"Suppose," said Violet, "that I had been away, as you thought I was, you
would have gone to prison."

"Not for long," I answered. "I should have told my story, and you