."

Leicester lost control of himself. The man's sky had become as black as
night; all he regarded as worth living for had been destroyed in an
hour.

"You shall not go," he cried, "that is, you shall not go until I have
explained those words which were uttered in a fit of madness."

"Explain? yes, doubtless you would explain, if I would sully my ears by
listening; but I will not. Moreover, see to it that you never dare to
cross my path again."

"I dare anything," he cried, "anything, everything. No, you shall not
get away from me so easily. Oh, yes, I remember, and you remember, too,
the promise which you made last night. You said then, that whatever
might happen, you would _never_ marry another man. Surely you, with your
fine notions, will never break your promise?"

He was beside himself, or he would never have uttered such words. He
saw, moreover, that the arrow had gone home; a look of pain shot across
her face.

"Oh, yes, I've got you," he went on wildly, "and I will hold you to your
words, too. If ever you dream of marrying another man, I will tell him
what you said. Yes, I will do that and more, and----"

"Let me pass," she cried; "as though I could ever dream of marrying an
honourable man after promising to be the wife of such as you. Stand
aside, or I will call the servants."

But she had no need to make this threat. Her words had crushed him too
completely. He obeyed her like a frightened child, and then watched her
with a dazed look in his eyes as she walked out of the room.

"Now go," said John Castlemaine, as he rang the bell. A servant
appeared, and Radford Leicester walked out of the house with the black
night of hell in his heart.

The carriage was still waiting, and both men entered it without a word.

"Where to, sir?" asked the coachman.

But Leicester did not reply, indeed he did not know the man had spoken.

"Where to, sir?" repeated the driver in a louder voice.

Winfield mentioned the name of a station which they had come from that
morning. For two miles they rode in silence, then Leicester turned and
looked at his companion.

"Are you doing anything particular this afternoon, Winfield?" he said.

"No. Nothing in particular."

"Then come back with me to the club, will you?"

"Yes, if you wish."

"Thank you." And again he looked out of the carriage window in a way
that made Winfield sorry he had given his promise.

After they had got into the train, and were on their way ba