smile.

"Well, and what of it?" he cried. "They are not likely to bully you or
cross-examine you. Just tell them what you saw from the balcony. Indeed
you can't very well say anything else, or they will see that you are
lying, and then heaven alone knows what may happen to you, as well as to
me."

She got up in a pet. "You're callous, Dick--callous!" she told him. "Oh,
I wish you had never come to me for shelter."

He looked at her and sneered. "That's a matter you can soon mend," he
told her. "Call up Terence and the others and have me shot. I promise
I shall make no resistance. You see, I'm not able to resist even if I
would."

"Oh, how can you think it?" She was indignant.

"Well, what is a poor devil to think? You blow hot and cold all in a
breath. I'm sick and ill and feverish," he continued with self-pity,
"and now even you find me a trouble. I wish to God they'd shoot me and
make an end. I'm sure it would be best for everybody."

And now she was on her knees beside him, soothing him; protesting that
he had misunderstood her; that she had meant--oh, she didn't know what
she had meant, she was so distressed on his account.

"And there's never the need to be," he assured her. "Surely you can be
guided by me if you want to help me. As soon as ever my leg gets well
again I'll be after fending for myself, and trouble you no further. But
if you want to shelter me until then, do it thoroughly, and don't give
way to fear at every shadow without substance that falls across your
path."

She promised it, and on that promise left him; and, believing him, she
bore herself more cheerfully for the remainder of the day. But that
evening after they had dined her fears and anxieties drove her at last
to seek her natural and legal protector.

Sir Terence had sauntered off towards the house, gloomy and silent as he
had been throughout the meal. She ran after him now, and came tripping
lightly at his side up the steps. She put her arm through his.

"Terence dear, you are not going back to work again?" she pleaded.

He stopped, and from his fine height looked down upon her with a curious
smile. Slowly he disengaged his arm from the clasp of her own. "I am
afraid I must," he answered coldly. "I have a great deal to do, and I am
short of a secretary. When this inquiry is over I shall have more time
to myself, perhaps." There was something so repellent in his voice, in
his manner of uttering those last words, that she stood