on had commenced.

CHAPTER XIV. THE LAST WALK IN THE GARDEN.

THE only letter Calvert found at the post-office for the villa was
one in the vicar's hand, addressed to Miss Grainger. Nothing from Loyd
himself, nor any newspaper. So far, then, Loyd had kept his pledge. He
awaited to see if Calvert would obey his injunctions before he proceeded
to unmask him to his friends.

Calvert did not regard this reserve as anything generous--he set it down
simply to fear. He said to himself, "The fellow dreads me; he knows that
it is never safe to push men of my stamp to the wall; and he is wise
enough to apply the old adage, about leaving a bridge to the retreating
enemy. I shall have more difficulty in silencing the women, however. It
will be a hard task to muzzle their curiosity; but I must try some
plan to effect it. Is that telegram for me?" cried he, as a messenger
hastened hither and thither in search for some one.

"II Signor Grainger?"

"Yes, all right," said he, taking it. It was in these few words.

"They find it can be done--make tracks.

"Drayton"

"They find it can be done," muttered he. "Which means it is legal to
apprehend me. Well, I supposed as much. I never reckoned on immunity;
and as to getting away, I'm readier for it, and better provided too,
than you think for, Master Algernon. Indeed, I can't well say what
infatuation binds me to this spot, apart from the peril that attends it.
I don't know that I am very much what is called in love with Florence,
though I'd certainly marry her if she'd have me; but for that there are,
what the lady novelists call, 'mixed motives,' and I rather suspect it
is not with any especial or exclusive regard for her happiness that
I'd enter into the holy bonds. I should like to consult some competent
authority on the physiology of hatred--why it is that, though scores of
fellows have injured me deeply in life, I never bore any, no, nor the
whole of them collectively, the ill will that I feel for that man.
He has taken towards me a tone that none have ever dared to take. He
menaces me! Fifty have wronged, none have ever threatened me. He who
threatens, assumes to be your master, to dictate the terms of his
forbearance, and to declare under what conditions he will spare you.
Now, Master Loyd, I can't say if this be a part to suit _your_ powers,
but I know well, the other is one which in no way is adapted to _mine_.
Nature has endowed me with a variety of exce