r
her spirits under my wife's care. Is there anything more that I can
do? Whatever questions Agnes has asked of me I have answered to the
best of my ability; she knows all that you told me about Francis and
the Countess last night. But try as I may I can't quiet her mind. I
have given up the attempt in despair, and left her in the drawing-room.
Go, like a good fellow, and try what you can do to compose her.'

In those words, Lord Montbarry stated the case to his brother from the
rational point of view. Henry made no remark, he went straight to the
drawing-room.

He found Agnes walking rapidly backwards and forwards, flushed and
excited. 'If you come here to say what your brother has been saying to
me,' she broke out, before he could speak, 'spare yourself the trouble.
I don't want common sense--I want a true friend who will believe in me.'

'I am that friend, Agnes,' Henry answered quietly, 'and you know it.'

'You really believe that I am not deluded by a dream?'

I know that you are not deluded--in one particular, at least.'

'In what particular?'

'In what you have said of the Countess. It is perfectly true--'

Agnes stopped him there. 'Why do I only hear this morning that the
Countess and Mrs. James are one and the same person?' she asked
distrustfully. 'Why was I not told of it last night?'

'You forget that you had accepted the exchange of rooms before I
reached Venice,' Henry replied. 'I felt strongly tempted to tell you,
even then--but your sleeping arrangements for the night were all made;
I should only have inconvenienced and alarmed you. I waited till the
morning, after hearing from my brother that you had yourself seen to
your security from any intrusion. How that intrusion was accomplished
it is impossible to say. I can only declare that the Countess's
presence by your bedside last night was no dream of yours. On her own
authority I can testify that it was a reality.'

'On her own authority?' Agnes repeated eagerly. 'Have you seen her
this morning?'

'I have seen her not ten minutes since.'

'What was she doing?'

She was busily engaged in writing. I could not even get her to look at
me until I thought of mentioning your name.'

'She remembered me, of course?'

'She remembered you with some difficulty. Finding that she wouldn't
answer me on any other terms, I questioned her as if I had come direct
from you. Then she spoke. She not only admitted that she had the same
superstitious motive f