n in private only. Of course, you
know nothing about it; how should you? But I am not a ballet dancer,
as I believe you think."

"You are not upon the stage, then?"

"No! nor do I dance in short skirts! Some day I will give you an
exhibition in this room! Now don't look like that," I added quickly;
"I was only joking. I would not defile the air around your saintliness
for the world! But I want to tell you this: my dancing is recognised
as an art. I rank everywhere with the men and women who are called
artists, the men and women who are ever striving to realize in some
manner a particular ideal of beauty through different channels. The
highest development of physical beauty in the human form is in grace
of motion. I aim at the beautiful in illustrating this. I didn't know
it myself until a great painter told me so, but I am beginning to
understand. I don't expect you to; you must take it on trust."

"It sounds strange to me, but I do not doubt that there is truth, some
truth in it," he admitted gravely.

"You and I look upon life, and all its connections, with different
eyes," I continued. "What may seem sin to you, may be justified to me.
Yet I will stoop to answer your unspoken question. As I was at Cruta,
so I am now! It may be that I am better, for I have done a good
action!"

He held up his hand, but I took no notice.

"I will tell it you. A few days ago, chance brought in my way a most
unhappy woman. She had escaped from an odious captivity, only to find
herself alone, friendless and penniless in a strange city. The man on
whom she had counted for help she could not find. He had given her an
address where she might always hear of him. Day by day she inquired
there in vain. It may have been through no fault of his, but she was
in sore straits."

"Her name?"

"I found her, and brought her home. She lives with me; she is here!"

The door was opening as I spoke, and she entered. They stood face to
face, silent with the shock of so sudden a meeting. Then he stepped
quickly forward, and, taking her hands, drew her to him. I slipped
away, and left them alone together.

CHAPTER XIII

"THE PATH THAT LEADS TO MADMEN'S KINGDOMS"

A north-country storm of rain and wind had suddenly blown up from
the sea, and the few remaining followers of the De Vaux hounds were
dispersed right and left, making for home with all possible speed. The
sky had looked dull and threatening all day long, and with the first
sh