general
and Mrs. Abercrombie, white with snow, came to the door. They entered
together, the lady expressing surprise at their appearance, at which
the general growled some incoherent sentences and strode away from them
and up the stairs, Mrs. Abercrombie following close after him.

"There's something wrong, I'm afraid," said the gentleman, whose name
was Craig, as he and his wife gained their own room. "They went in a
carriage, I know. What can it mean?"

"I hope the general has not been drinking too much," remarked the wife.

"I'm afraid he has. He used to be very intemperate, I've heard, but
reformed a year or two ago, A man with any weakness in this direction
would be in danger at an entertainment such as Mr. and Mrs. Birtwell
gave to-night."

"I saw the general taking wine with a lady," said Mrs. Craig.

"If he took one glass, he would hardly set that as a limit. It were much
easier to abstain altogether; and we know that if a man over whom drink
has once gained the mastery ventures upon the smallest indulgence of
his appetite he is almost sure to give way and to fall again. It's a
strange thing, and sad as strange."

"Hark!"

Mr. Craig turned quickly toward the door which when opened made a
communication between their apartment and that of General and Mrs.
Abercrombie. It was shut, and fastened on both sides, so that it could
not be opened by the occupants, of either room.

A low but quickly-stifled cry had struck on the ears of Mr. and Mrs.
Craig. They looked at each other with questioning glances for several
moments, listening intently, but the cry was not repeated.

"I don't like that," said Mr. Craig. He spoke with concern.

"What can it mean?" asked his wife.

"Heaven knows!" he replied.

They sat silent and listening. A sharp click, which the ear of Mr.
Craig detected as the sound made by the cocking of a pistol, struck
upon the still air. He sprang to his feet and took a step or two toward
the door leading into the hall, but his wife caught his arm and clung
to it tightly.

"No, no! Wait! wait!" she cried, in a deep whisper, while her face
grew-ashen pale. For some moments they stood with repressed breathing,
every instant expecting to hear the loud report of a pistol. But the
deep silence remained unbroken for nearly a minute; then a dull
movement of feet was heard in the room, and the opening and shutting of
a drawer.

"No, general, you will not do that," they heard Mrs. Abercrombie say,