tic, a civilized fanatic, but desperately and even horribly in
earnest. A believer in torment, a man who held the vigorous faith that
makes for martyrdom and can also pile wood for the fires that burn the
bodies of others for the eventual welfare of their souls.
Unquestionably, the Rev. Francis Heath was a man not to be judged by an
average inch rule, and Coryndon thought over him as he listened to his
voice and watched his strained, tempest-tossed face. Whether he was
involved in the disappearance of Absalom or not, he recognized that
Heath was a strong man, and that his ill-balanced force would need very
little to make him a violent man. It surprised him less to think that
Hartley attached suspicion to the Rector of St. Jude's than it had at
first, and he left the church with a very clear impression of the
clergyman put carefully away beside his appreciation of Leh Shin's
assistant. He had caught just a glimpse of the personality of the man,
and was busy building it up bit by bit, working out his idea by first
trying to fathom the temperament that dwelt in the spare body and drove
and wore him hour after hour.

The Rev. Francis Heath had paid some Chinaman to keep silence, but
though he might pay a Chinaman, he could do nothing with his own
conscience, and it was with a hidden adversary that he wrestled day and
night. Coryndon's face was pitiless as the face of a vivisecting
surgeon. Had she known of his mission, Mrs. Wilder might have beaten her
beautiful head on the stones under his feet, and she would have gained
nothing whatever of concession or mercy.

Atkins and the Barrister were dining with Hartley that night, and as
Coryndon never cared to hurry over his dressing, he went at once to his
room and called Shiraz.

"All is well, my Master," said Shiraz, in a low voice. "But it would be
wise if the Master were to curse his servant in a loud voice, since it
is expected that he will do so, and the monkey-folk in the servants'
quarter listen without, concealing their pleasure in the Sahib's wrath."

When the proceedings terminated and Coryndon had accepted his servant's
long excuse for his delay, the doors were closed, Shiraz having first
gone out to shake his fist at Hartley's boy.

"Thus much have I discovered, Lord Sahib," said Shiraz, when he had
explained that the house was in readiness and the necessary furniture
bought and stored temporarily at the shop of Leh Shin, the Chinaman.
"There is an old hate bet