r back to Lilian.

'The supposed quarrel between poor Leland and myself is easily
explained. We were rehearsing for amateur theatricals, almost nightly,
in a somewhat animated scene, and I can only suppose that we were
overheard, and that our play was taken for earnest.'

'Have you any clue to the whereabouts of this Greek?' the officer asked
Lilian. The doctor broke in--

'Miss Leland was describing the Greek to me this morning with a view
to his identification, when a man walked into the room, said he had
overheard the lady through the open window, and had seen the man she
described two hours before. He was the boots of an hotel at Kingston. We
came here at once, after sending an officer to look after him.'

'That will do, Mr. Webb,' said the superior official. 'There can be no
necessity for detaining this gentleman.'

Lilian and the doctor read this last sentence in its most superficial
light, but Barndale rose and turned with a feeling of vast inward
relief--

'Our bargain holds good still,' he said to the inspector, as they went
downstairs together.

'Yes, sir,' said the inspector, and bade the trio adieu with great
politeness.

They three took train for Thames Ditton at once, and by the way Barndale
told the story of his arrest.

Arrived at the historic 'Swan,' they settled down to their separate
avocations--Lilian and the doctor to nurse Leland, and Barndale to do
all that in him lay to track the Greek. My story nears its close; and
I may say at once, without word-spinning, that Demetri Agryopoulo
disappeared, and was no more heard of. He was too wily to speak the
English described in the advertisement of his peculiarities. He spoke
German like an Alsatian, French like a Gascon, and Italian like a
Piedmontese, and could pass for any one of the three. By what devices he
held himself in secrecy it matters not here to say. But again, and for
the last time in this story, he went his way, and the darkness shrouded
him.

On the day following Barndale's arrest and release, Lilian sat by her
brother's bedside, when the door of the bedroom opened noiselessly, and
two women stole in on stealthy tiptoe.

One was Barndale's maiden sister, and the other was poor little Thecla
Perzio.

Lilian kissed them both; and Thecla said, in a tearful, frightened
whisper.

'It is all my wicked, wicked fault. But O mademoiselle, may I not help
to nurse him?'

'Not mademoiselle, dear--Lilian!' was Lilian's sole answer.