usk had fallen. But he had
nothing to report. He had found no cave where he expected one, and
now guessed that Robert Redmayne's secret holt must be nearer than
they imagined.

The night came at last--very dark overhead but clear and calm.
Beneath "Crow's Nest" the waves, sunk to nothing, made a quiet
whisper along the feet of the precipices and tinkled on the little
beaches that here and there broke the cliff line. The tide was just
making and midnight had struck when Bendigo Redmayne, in
rough-weather kit, stumped down his long flight of steps and went to
sea. Brendon and Jenny stood above under the flagstaff, and soon
they heard the launch purr away swiftly under the darkness.

The woman spoke first.

"Thank God we are at the end of this horrible suspense," she said.
"It has been a cruel nightmare for me, Mr. Brendon."

"I have felt much for you, Mrs. Pendean, and admired your marvellous
patience."

"Who could but be patient with the poor wretch? He has paid the
price of what he did. Even I can say that. There are worse things
than death, Mr. Brendon, and you will presently see them in Robert
Redmayne's eyes. Even Giuseppe was sobered after our first meeting."

That she should use the Italian's Christian name so easily struck
unreasoning regret into the heart of Mark. It gave him an excuse for
a question.

"Do you believe all Doria tells you? Is he regarded here as a
domestic or an equal?"

She smiled.

"As a superior rather than an equal. Yes, I see no reason to doubt
his story. He is obviously a great gentleman and a man of natural
fine feeling. Breeding and education are different things. He has
little education, but a native delicacy of mind belongs to him. You
feel it."

"He interests you?"

"He does," she confessed frankly. "Indeed I owe him something, for
he has a wonderful art and tact to strike the right note with me."

"He has had rare opportunities," said Brendon grudgingly.

"Yes; but not everybody would have taken them. I came here
distracted--half mad. My uncle tried to be kind, but he has no
imagination and could rise to nothing higher than reading me
passages from 'Moby Dick.' Doria was of my own generation and he has
a feminine quality that most men lack."

"I thought women hated feminine qualities in men."

"Perhaps I misuse my words. I mean that he possesses a quick
sympathy and a sort of intuition that are oftener found in a woman
than a man."

Mark was silent and she asked