ery seasonable weather, as they call it, to-day.
My butler--the best and most methodical of chaps, by the way--is in a
frightful state because you have been annoyed, it seems, while you have
been waiting for me. So sorry to have kept you. Accident in the kitchen,
it seems. Hope it won't interfere with our getting a decent dinner
to-night, for of course you'll stay?"

I fabricated an engagement for the evening on the spot, and explained
how I had felt like spending an afternoon in the country, and seeing
what the river looked like at Christmas time.

"I've only a few minutes to stay, really," I said, "for I've set my
heart on walking back to Marlow. Farnham knows I'm here, I suppose?"

"Oh, that's the pity of it," he ejaculated. "Farnham's away, after all.
You know what an erratic fellow he is? Well, he got tired of business,
and not dreaming you would come, ran into town to dine with some people
who had asked him the other day. The fact is, I fancy there's a fair
lady in the case. But he did say something about looking you up at the
Savoy, if he had time, and as trains are bad to-day, he meant to spend
the night in town."

As Wildred went volubly on with his apologies and explanations, I did
not take my eyes from his face. It was as open and candid in expression
as a face of his peculiar type could be, and yet, though there was no
earthly reason why I should disbelieve anything he had said, there was a
vague doubt in my mind as uncomfortable to bear as a haunting sense of
guilt.

CHAPTER VI

An Adventure in the Park

"Farnham promised," I said, "to dine with me to-morrow night, you know.
It is very much to be regretted that you have an engagement, but I hope
that you will remind him of his to me."

"I will do so, certainly," Wildred returned. "Not that any reminder
could be needed, for Farnham is one of your most enthusiastic admirers,
I should say."

We were vastly polite to each other during what remained of the
conversation, far more ceremoniously so than we should have been likely
to be had there been any solid liking on either side under the thin
veneer of friendliness.

In a few moments I had got away, despite Wildred's repeated request that
I should remain and share his lonely Christmas dinner with him. Somehow,
a mouthful of food taken in that house would have choked me, and I left
with the echo of the awful cry I had heard still seemingly ringing in my
ears.

I half expected that Farnham