rong emotion began to
show itself on Midwinter's cheeks.

"More explanations!" he said, and drew back a step, with his eyes fixed
in a sudden terror of inquiry on Allan's face.

"You don't know what I know, Midwinter. You don't know that what I have
done has been done with a good reason. And what is more, I have not
trusted to myself--I have had good advice."

"Did you hear what I said just now?" asked Midwinter, incredulously.
"You can't--surely, you can't have been attending to me?"

"I haven't missed a word," rejoined Allan. "I tell you again, you don't
know what I know of Miss Gwilt. She has threatened Miss Milroy. Miss
Milroy is in danger while her governess stops in this neighborhood."

Midwinter dismissed the major's daughter from the conversation with a
contemptuous gesture of his hand.

"I don't want to hear about Miss, Milroy," he said. "Don't mix up Miss
Milroy--Good God, Allan, am I to understand that the spy set to watch
Miss Gwilt was doing his vile work with your approval?"

"Once for all, my dear fellow, will you, or will you not, let me
explain?"

"Explain!" cried Midwinter, his eyes aflame, and his hot Creole blood
rushing crimson into his face. "Explain the employment of a spy? What!
after having driven Miss Gwilt out of her situation by meddling with her
private affairs, you meddle again by the vilest of all means--the means
of a paid spy? You set a watch on the woman whom you yourself told me
you loved, only a fortnight since--the woman you were thinking of as
your wife! I don't believe it; I won't believe it. Is my head failing
me? Is it Allan Armadale I am speaking to? Is it Allan Armadale's face
looking at me? Stop! you are acting under some mistaken scruple. Some
low fellow has crept into your confidence, and has done this in your
name without telling you first."

Allan controlled himself with admirable patience and admirable
consideration for the temper of his friend. "If you persist in refusing
to hear me," he said, "I must wait as well as I can till my turn comes."

"Tell me you are a stranger to the employment of that man, and I will
hear you willingly."

"Suppose there should be a necessity, that you know nothing about, for
employing him?"

"I acknowledge no necessity for the cowardly persecution of a helpless
woman."

A momentary flush of irritation--momentary, and no more--passed over
Allan's face. "You mightn't think her quite so helpless," he said, "if
you knew the trut