" he said to himself. Then taking up
the letter he went out in search of some retired spot where it would be
absolutely impossible that he should be interrupted.

Wandering mechanically he found himself on the very spot where they had
investigated the silver box together. That would do. No one would
think of looking for him there.

He took out the letter and again studied every word of it carefully.
There was no getting behind its contents: they were too plain in their
fatal simplicity. And there was an inherent probability about the
potentiality hinted at. He would certainly start at once to investigate
the affair. Better to know the worst at any rate. And then how
heartily he cursed the Kafir's obtrusive gratitude, wishing a
thousand-fold that he had left that sable bird of ill-omen at the mercy
of his chastisers. However, if there was any truth in the story, it was
bound to have come to light sooner or later in any case--perhaps better
now, before the mischief wrought was irreparable. But if it should turn
out to be true--what then? Good-bye to this beautiful and idyllic dream
in which they two had been living during all these months past.
Good-bye to a life's happiness: to the bright golden vista they had been
gazing into together. Why had he not closed with Hlangani's hideous
proposal long ago? Was it too late even now?

The man suffered agonies as he sat there, realising his shattered
hopes--the fair and priceless structure of his life's happiness levelled
to the earth like a house of cards. Like Lucifer fallen from Paradise
he felt ready for anything.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great was Eanswyth's consternation and astonishment when he announced
the necessity of making a start that afternoon.

"The time will soon pass," he said. "It is a horrible nuisance,
darling, but there is no help for it. The thing is too important. The
fact is, something has come to light--something which may settle that
delayed administration business at once."

It might, indeed, but in a way very different to that which he intended
to convey. But she was satisfied.

"Do not remain away from me a moment longer than you can help, Eustace,
my life!" she had whispered to him during the last farewell, she having
walked a few hundred yards with him in order to see the last of him.
"Remember, I shall only exist--not live--during these next few days.
This is the first time