the present owner held out to us. In reporting what Penrose said, I
communicate a discovery, which I venture to think will be as welcome to
you, as it was to me.

"He began by reminding me of what I had myself told him in speaking of
Romayne. 'You mentioned having heard from Lord Loring of a great sorrow
or remorse from which he was suffering,' Penrose said. 'I know what he
suffers and why he suffers, and with what noble resignation he submits
to his affliction. We were sitting together at the table, looking over
his notes and memoranda, when he suddenly dropped the manuscript from
which he was reading to me. A ghastly paleness overspread his face. He
started up, and put both his hands to his ears as if he heard something
dreadful, and was trying to deafen himself to it. I ran to the door
to call for help. He stopped me; he spoke in faint, gasping tones,
forbidding me to call any one in to witness what he suffered. It was not
the first time, he said; it would soon be over. If I had not courage to
remain with him I could go, and return when he was himself again. I so
pitied him that I found the courage to remain. When it was over he took
me by the hand, and thanked me. I had stayed by him like a friend, he
said, and like a friend he would treat me. Sooner or later (those were
his exact words) I must be taken into his confidence--and it should be
now. He told me his melancholy story. I implore you, Father, don't ask
me to repeat it! Be content if I tell you the effect of it on myself.
The one hope, the one consolation for him, is in our holy religion. With
all my heart I devote myself to his conversion--and, in my inmost soul,
I feel the conviction that I shall succeed!'

"To this effect, and in this tone, Penrose spoke. I abstained from
pressing him to reveal Romayne's confession. The confession is of no
consequence to us. You know how the moral force of Arthur's earnestness
and enthusiasm fortifies his otherwise weak character. I, too, believe
he will succeed.

"To turn for a moment to another subject. You are already informed that
there is a woman in our way. I have my own idea of the right method of
dealing with this obstacle when it shows itself more plainly. For the
present, I need only assure you that neither this woman nor any woman
shall succeed in her designs on Romayne, if I can prevent it."

Having completed his report in these terms, Father Benwell reverted to
the consideration of his proposed inquiries in