lute air, like a man who has
some great purpose to achieve. I thought him looking very white and weak,
and told him that I was sure he was too ill to start upon a long journey,
or any journey. I begged him not to go, if it were possible to avoid
going, and used every argument I could think of to persuade him to
abandon the idea of such a thing. But it was all no use. 'If I had only a
dozen hours to live, I must go,' he said."

"He came to ask you for money for his journey, did he not?"

"He did. I suppose to so close a friend as you are to him, there can be
no breach of confidence in my admitting that. He came to borrow any
ready-money I might happen to have in the house. Fortunately, I had a
hundred and twenty pounds by me in hard cash."

"And he took that?--he wanted as much as that?" asked Gilbert eagerly.

"Yes, he said he was likely to require as much as that."

"Then he must have thought of going to America."

"To America! travel to America in his weak state of health?" cried Mrs.
Branston, aghast.

"Yes. It seems like madness, does it not? But there are circumstances
under which a man may be excused for being almost mad. John Saltram has
gone in pursuit of some one very dear to him, some one who has been
separated from him by treachery."

"A woman?"

Adela Branston's fair face flushed crimson as she asked the question. A
woman? Yes, no doubt he was in pursuit of that woman whom he loved better
than her.

"I cannot stop to answer a single question now, my dear Mrs. Branston,"
Gilbert said gently. "You shall know all by-and-by, and I am sure your
generous heart will forgive any wrong that has been done you in this
business. Good night. I have to catch a train at a quarter to eleven; I
am going to Liverpool."

"After Mr. Saltram?"

"Yes; I do not consider him in a fitting condition to travel alone. I
hope to be in time to prevent his doing anything rash."

"But how will you find him?"

"I must make a round of the hotels till I discover his head-quarters.
Good night."

"Let me order my carriage to take you to the station."

"A thousand thanks, but I shall be there before your carriage would be
ready. I can pick up a cab close by and shall have time to call at my
lodgings for a carpet-bag. Once more, good night."

It was still dark when Gilbert Fenton arrived at Liverpool. He threw
himself upon a sofa in the waiting-room, where he had an hour or so of
uncomfortable, unrefreshing sleep, and then r