late? Too late for what, Mistair Lester? What is it you fear for
her?"

"I don't know," I answered; "but something--something. At least, we
could not assume the responsibility of delay."

"No," he agreed; "perhaps not. You are doubtless quite right to
investigate. I wish you success--I wish that I myself might aid you,
there is so much of interest in the case to me; but I fear that to be
impossible. I must rest--I who have so many affairs calling me, so
little desire to rest! Is not the fate ironical?"

And he breathed a sigh, which was doubtless genuine enough.

"Will you go to Paris?" I asked.

"Oh, no; not at once. At Havre I shall meet my agent and transact my
affairs with him. Then I shall seek some place of quiet along the
coast."

"Yes," I said to myself, with leaping heart, "Etretat!" But I dared
not speak the word.

"I shall write to you," he added, "when I have settled. Where do you
stay at Paris?"

"We haven't decided yet," I said.

"We?" he repeated.

"Didn't I tell you? Mr. Royce, our junior partner, is with me--he's
had a breakdown in health, too, and needed a rest."

"It is no matter where you stay," he said; "I shall write to you at
the _poste restante_. I should like both you and your friend to be my
guests before you return to Amer-ric'."

There was a courtesy, a cordiality in his tone which almost disarmed
me. Such a finished scoundrel! It seemed a shame that I couldn't be
friends with him, for I enjoyed him so thoroughly.

"We shall be glad to accept," I answered, knowing in my heart that the
invitation would never be made. "You're very kind."

He waved his hand deprecatingly, then let it fall upon the bed with a
gesture of weariness. I recognized the sign of dismissal. I was ready
to go; I had accomplished all I could hope to accomplish; if I had
not already disarmed his suspicions, I could never do so.

"I am tiring you!" I said, starting up. "How thoughtless of me!"

"No," he protested; "no"; but his voice was almost inaudible.

"I will go," I said. "You must pardon me. I hope you will soon be
better," and I closed the door behind me with his murmured thanks in
my ears.

It was not till after dinner that I found opportunity to relate to
Miss Kemball the details of my talk with Martigny. She listened
quietly until I had finished; then she looked at me smilingly.

"Why did you change your mind?" she asked.

"The adventure tempted me--those are your own words. I thought perh