of anxiety? Do you still fear the
exposure of the truth?"

She did not reply, but of a sudden buried her face upon my shoulder and
burst into tears.

"Ah!" I sighed, still stroking her hair sympathetically, "I know what you
must suffer, darling--of the terrible mental strain upon you. I believe
in your innocence--I still believe in it, and if you will bear a stout
heart and trust me, I believe I shall succeed in worsting your enemies."

In a moment her tear-stained face was raised to mine.

"Do you really believe that you can, dear?" she asked anxiously. "Do you
actually anticipate extricating me from this terrible position of doubt,
uncertainty, and guilt?"

"I do--if you will only trust me, and keep a brave heart, darling," I
said. "Already I have made several discoveries--startling ones."

"About Mrs. Petre, perhaps?"

"About her and about others."

"What about her?"

"I have found out where she is living--down at Colchester."

"What?" she gasped, starting. "You've been down there?"

"Yes, I was there yesterday, and I saw Ali and the two servants."

"You saw them--and spoke to them?" she cried incredibly.

"Yes."

"But, Teddy--ah! You don't know how injudicious it was for you to visit
them. Why, you might have----"

"Might have what?" I asked, endeavouring to betray no surprise at her
words.

"Well, I mean you should not have ventured into the enemy's camp like
that. It was dangerous," she declared.

"Why?"

"They are quite unscrupulous," she replied briefly.

"They are your enemies, I know. But I cannot see why they should be
mine," I remarked.

"My enemies--yes!" my love cried bitterly. "It will not be long before
that woman makes a charge against me, Teddy--one which I shall not be
able to refute."

"But I will assist you against them. I love you, Phrida, and it is my
duty to defend you," I declared.

"Ah! You were always so good and generous," she remarked wistfully. "But
in this case I cannot, alas, see how you can render me any aid! The
police will make inquiries, and--and then the end," she added in a voice
scarce above a whisper.

"No, no!" I urged. "Don't speak in that hopeless strain, darling. I know
your position is a terrible one. We need not refer to details; as they
are painful to both of us. But I am straining every nerve--working night
and day to clear up the mystery and lift from you this cloud of
suspicion. I have already commenced by learning one or two facts--facts