ast suddenly heaved--"he was not drowned, after all; he--"

A sudden shot from the park rang out; the coin fell from the girl's
hand; other shots followed. She ran out upon the balcony, a stifled cry
on her lips; she stared off, but only the darkness met her gaze.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XV

CURRENTS AND COUNTER CURRENTS

Not far from one of the entrances to Regent's Park or the hum of Camden
Town's main artery of traffic, lay a little winding street which,
because of its curving lines, had long been known as Spiral Row.
Although many would not deign in passing to glance twice down this
modest thoroughfare, it presented, nevertheless, a romantic air of charm
and mystery. The houses nestled timidly behind time-worn walls; it was
always very quiet within this limited precinct, and one wondered
sometimes, by day, if the various secluded abodes were really inhabited,
and by whom? An actress, said vague rumor; a few scribblers, a pair of
painters, a military man or two. Here Madam Grundy never ventured, but
Calliope and the tuneful nine were understood to be occasional callers.
One who once lived in the Row has likened it to a tiny Utopia where each
and every one minded his own business and where the comings and goings
of one's neighbor were matters of indifference.

Into this delectable byway there turned, late in the night of the second
day after that memorable evening at Strathorn House, a man who, looking
quickly around him, paused before the closed gate of one of the
dwellings. The street, ever a quiet one, appeared at that advanced hour
absolutely deserted, and, after a moment's hesitation, the man pulled
the bell; for some time he waited; but no response came. He looked in;
through the shrubbery he could dimly make out the house, set well back,
and in a half uncertain way he stood staring at it, when from the end of
the street, he heard a vehicle coming rapidly toward him.

More firmly the man jerked at the handle of the bell; this time his
efforts were successful; a glimmer as from a candle appeared at the
front door, and a few minutes later a dark form came slowly down the
graveled walk. As it approached the vehicle also drew nearer; the man
regarded the latter sidewise; now it was opposite him, and he turned his
back quickly to the flare of its lamps. But in a moment it had whirled
by, with a note of laughter from its occupants, light pleasure seekers;
at the same time a ke