tened me with his pistol, and that he was answerable
for the disappearance of Cristel. My first impulse now was to get the
help of a lawyer.

The men at my stables were just stirring when I got home. In ten minutes
more, I was driving to our town.

The substance of the professional opinion which I received has been
already stated in these pages.

One among my answers to the many questions which my legal adviser put to
me led him to a conclusion that made my heart ache. He was of opinion
that my brief absence, while I was taking that fatal "breath of air" on
the banks of the river, had offered to Cristel her opportunity of getting
away without discovery. "Her old father," the lawyer said, "was no doubt
in his bed, and you yourself found nobody watching, in the neighborhood
of the cottage."

"Employ me in some way!" I burst out. "I can't endure my life, if I'm not
helping to trace Cristel."

He was most kind. "I understand," he said. "Try what you can get those
two ladies to tell you--and you may help us materially."

Mrs. Roylake was nearest to me. I appealed to her womanly sympathies, and
was answered by tears. I made another attempt; I said I was willing to
believe that she meant well, and that I should be sorry to offend her.
She got up, and indignantly left the room.

I went to Lady Rachel next.

She was at home, but the servant returned to me with an excuse: her
ladyship was particularly engaged. I sent a message upstairs, asking when
I might hope to be received. The servant was charged with the delivery of
another excuse: her ladyship would write. After waiting at home for hours
I was foolish enough to write, on my side; and (how could I help it?) to
express myself strongly. The she-socialist's reply is easy to remember:
"Dear Mr. Roylake, when you have recovered your temper, you will hear
from me again."

Even my stepmother gained by comparison with this.

To rest, and do nothing, was to exercise a control over myself of which I
was perfectly incapable. I went back to the cottage. Having no hopeful
prospect in any other quarter, I persisted in believing that Toller must
have seen something or heard something that might either help me, or
suggest an idea to my legal adviser.

On entering the kitchen, I found the door of communication wide open, and
the new servant established in the large armchair.

"I'm waiting for my master, sir."

He had got over his fright, and had recovered his temper. The resp