replied, in some surprise.

"My own knowledge of Sir Percival's obstinacy and impatience of the
Count's control," she answered. "I believe he will insist on meeting
you single-handed--just as he insisted at first on acting for himself
at Blackwater Park. The time for suspecting the Count's interference
will be the time when you have Sir Percival at your mercy. His own
interests will then be directly threatened, and he will act, Walter, to
terrible purpose in his own defence."

"We may deprive him of his weapons beforehand," I said. "Some of the
particulars I have heard from Mrs. Clements may yet be turned to
account against him, and other means of strengthening the case may be
at our disposal. There are passages in Mrs. Michelson's narrative
which show that the Count found it necessary to place himself in
communication with Mr. Fairlie, and there may be circumstances which
compromise him in that proceeding. While I am away, Marian, write to
Mr. Fairlie and say that you want an answer describing exactly what
passed between the Count and himself, and informing you also of any
particulars that may have come to his knowledge at the same time in
connection with his niece. Tell him that the statement you request
will, sooner or later, be insisted on, if he shows any reluctance to
furnish you with it of his own accord."

"The letter shall be written, Walter. But are you really determined to
go to Welmingham?"

"Absolutely determined. I will devote the next two days to earning
what we want for the week to come, and on the third day I go to
Hampshire."

When the third day came I was ready for my journey.

As it was possible that I might be absent for some little time, I
arranged with Marian that we were to correspond every day--of course
addressing each other by assumed names, for caution's sake. As long as
I heard from her regularly, I should assume that nothing was wrong.
But if the morning came and brought me no letter, my return to London
would take place, as a matter of course, by the first train. I
contrived to reconcile Laura to my departure by telling her that I was
going to the country to find new purchasers for her drawings and for
mine, and I left her occupied and happy. Marian followed me downstairs
to the street door.

"Remember what anxious hearts you leave here," she whispered, as we
stood together in the passage. "Remember all the hopes that hang on
your safe return. If strange things happe