lf to be responsible for the danger, but saw the
impossibility of preventing the interview without still greater risk.
Indeed, while Theodora delayed Percy with cautions, impatience, and the
fear of being disappointed, were colouring each sunken cheek with a spot
of burning red, the hands were shaking uncontrollably, and the breath
was shorter than ever, so that she was on the point of going to hasten
the visitor, when he knocked at the door.

She signed to him at once to turn to Arthur, who held out his hand, and
met his greeting with an anxious, imploring gaze, as if to ask whether,
after all, he brought him hope.

'Well,' said Percy, cheerfully, 'I think it is settled.'

Arthur relaxed that painful tension of feature, and lay back on his
pillows, with a relieved though inquiring look.

'Begging your pardon for being meddlesome,' continued Percy, 'I thought
I saw a way of being even with that scoundrel. Your papers had got into
my pocket, and, as I had nothing else to do, I looked them over after
parting with you, and saw a way out of the difficulty. I was coming in
the morning to return them and propound my plan, but finding that you
could not be seen, I ventured to take it on myself at once, for fear he
should get out of reach.'

He paused, but Arthur's eyes asked on.

'I had reason to think him gone to Paris. I followed him thither, and
found he was making up to Mrs. Finch. I let him know that I was aware of
this villainy, and of a good deal more of the same kind, and threatened
that, unless he came in to my terms, I would expose the whole to his
cousin, and let her know that he is at this moment engaged to Miss
Brandon. She is ready to swallow a good deal, but that would have been
too much, and he knew it. He yielded, and gave me his authority to break
up the affair.'

As Arthur was still attentive and anxious, Percy went on to explain that
he had next gone to the man who kept the horses, and by offers of ready
money and careful inspection of his bills, had reduced his charge to
a less immoderate amount. The money had been advanced for a portion of
Arthur's share of the debts, and a purchaser was ready for the horses,
whose price would clear off the rest; so that nothing more was wanted
but Arthur's authority for the completion of the sale, which would free
him from all present danger of pressure upon that score.

'Supposing you do not disavow me, said Percy, 'I must ask pardon for
going such lengths with