rself. Perhaps after many
years--perhaps when you have shown yourself worthy, and the world has
forgotten--then--" She shivered at thought of the weary wait ahead of
her; her lips quivered pathetically.

There were many things he wished to ask her; the hunger to retain her in
his arms was almost unbearable. But now that she had been reawakened to
the perils of their situation she allowed him no opportunity. She tore
her lips reluctantly from his; she held him off in an agony of pleading,
and when the mother's voice sounded a second time they returned hand in
hand to the study.

There followed a touching farewell as the blind woman clung shakingly to
the gentle impostor, praying for his safety, imploring him piteously to
be a good man and to walk in the shadow of righteousness. Then came a
lingering, heart-breaking caress, and once more the three were at the
front door.

Van Dam seized the girl's fingers and kissed them, while the look in his
eyes brought tears to hers. Then they were gone; and he stood alone in
the hall of the house he had robbed.

He remained motionless for a time, lost in a blissful intoxication. Was
this strange, new-born delirium--love? It must be, it could be, nothing
else. It was quite amazing, utterly bewildering. He had never dreamed of
anything at all like it. He felt a desire to cry aloud the news of this
marvel; he was melting with pain and gladness; something inside him was
singing gloriously. At thought of Madelon's deep, wide eyes, of her
tender lips, dewy with the birth of passion, his muscles swelled and the
whole world seemed to applaud. But it was so new--so unbelievable! The
swift rush of this afternoon's events had left him in a dizzy whirl. An
hour ago he had been deaf, dumb, and blind, but he had suddenly regained
his every sense. He was no longer _blase_; he was awake with yearnings
and appreciations. Madelon had taught him the greatest secret of the
universe. Madelon--But who the devil was Madelon?

Van Dam brought himself abruptly out of his reverie. There had been
enough mystery for one day. Now for the solution of this puzzle. Back
yonder, gagged and bound, was a cringing human rat who knew everything
Van Dam desired to know, and who would talk, if forced to do so. Roly
decided to have the inmost details of this affair, if it became
necessary to roast the soles of Cousin Alfred's feet over a slow fire in
order to loosen his tongue. Time had flown, but there was a little