. "Well, if he's not your dog,
here's his owner to claim him."--And into the room, staring around on
us, walked Farrell.

For the moment I stared at him as at a total stranger. It was only
when, almost ignoring the rest of us, he took a step forward,
pointing a finger at one man--it was only when I turned about and saw
Foe's face--that the truth broke on me--and then, at first, as a wild
surmise, and no more. Even when I wheeled about again and stared at
the man, full belief came slowly: for this Farrell was thin, wiry,
gaunt; sun-tanned, with sunken eyes and a slight stoop; wearing the
clothes of a gentleman and, when at length he spoke, using the accent
of a gentleman. . . . But this came later.

For some seconds he said nothing: he stood and pointed. I glanced at
Constantia, preparing to spring between her and I knew not what.

Constantia, leaning forward a little in her chair, with lips slightly
parted, had, after the first glance, no eyes for the intruder, whom
(I feel sure) she had not yet recognised. Her eyes were fixed on
Jack, at whom the finger pointed: and her hand slid along the arm of
her chair and gripped it, helping her to rise and spring to his side.
Jimmy's face I did not see. He had come to a halt in the doorway.

"_You hound!_"

"Roddy! Catch him--oh, help!"

It was Constantia's call ringing through the room. I sprang about
just in time to give support as Jack fell into our interlacing arms,
and to take the most of his weight as we lowered him flat on the
hearth-rug in a dead faint.

"Call off your damned dog, sir, whoever you are!" shouted Jimmy,
running forward to help us. "We'll talk to you in a moment."

I heard Farrell call "Rover! Rover!" and the dog must have come to
heel instantly. For as I knelt, occupied in loosing Jack's collar,
of a sudden a complete hush fell on the room. Jimmy had run for the
water-bottle. "Don't ring--don't fetch Jephson!" I had commanded.
"Get water from my bedroom." When I looked up to take the bottle,
Farrell still stood implacable before the doorway.

Constantia also looked up. "Who is this gentleman?" she demanded.

"My name is Farrell," answered the figure by the doorway.
"Miss Denistoun may remember a fellow-passenger of some years ago, on
the _Emania_."

I heard the catch of her breath as she knelt by me, staring at him.
I heard Jimmy's muttered "My God!" My arm was reaching to catch
Constantia if she should drop backward.

But s