. Yet it was more than remarkable that he sought not to
disguise his personal appearance if he wished to remain dead to the
world. Perhaps, however, being unknown in that rural district--for he
once had told me that he had never visited his wife's home since his
marriage--he considered himself perfectly safe from recognition.
Besides, from their conversation I gathered that they only met on rare
occasions, and certainly Mary kept up the fiction of mourning with the
greatest assiduity.

I recollected what old Mrs. Mivart had told me of her daughter's
erratic movements; of her short mysterious absences with her
dressing-bag and without a maid. It was evident that she made flying
visits in various directions in order to meet her "dead" husband.

Courtenay spoke again, after a brief silence, saying:

"I had no idea that the doctor was down here, or I should have kept
away. To be seen by him would expose the whole affair."

"I was quite ignorant of his visit until I went in to dinner and found
him already seated at table," she answered. "But he will leave
to-morrow. He said to-night that to remain away from his patients for
a single day was very difficult."

"Is he down here in pursuance of his inquiries, do you think?"
suggested her husband.

"He may be. Mother evidently knew of his impending arrival, but told
me nothing. I was annoyed, for he was the very last person I wished to
meet."

"Well, he'll go in the morning, so we have nothing to fear. He's safe
enough in bed, and sleeping soundly--confound him!"

The temptation was great to respond aloud to the compliment; but I
refrained, laughing within myself at the valuable information I was
obtaining.

CHAPTER XVIII.

WORDS OF THE DEAD.

Justice is always vigilant--it stops not to weigh causes or motives,
but overtakes the criminal, no matter whether his deeds be the
suggestion of malice or the consequence of provoked revenge. I was all
eagerness to face the pair in the full light and demand an
explanation, yet I hesitated, fearing lest precipitation might prevent
me gaining knowledge of the truth.

That they had no inclination to walk further was evident, for they
still stood there in conversation, facing each other and speaking
earnestly. I listened attentively to every word, my heart thumping so
loudly that I wondered they did not hear its excited pulsations.

"You've seen nothing of Sir Bernard?" she was saying.

"Sir Bernard!" he echoed. "Why