he had broken a
few minutes earlier.

'I don't guess,' he said, 'whether you're believe these thoughts for
yourself, but there's a gap between you and me, Paul. Ye've had grave
troubles.

'I have, sir,' said Paul.

'I've known it,' said his father. 'I've thoughts in my mind when ye're
away: "Paul's blythe," or I thenk of ye, lad; I sit here in the auld
arm-chair and think of ye, and eh, man, I'm just as certain of myself
as if I were aware of every fact in your existence. Promise me this. I'm
wearing we meet this last time for ever, and I want ye to keep the auld
feelings from time to time. Write a little more regularly, about ye.
Take me into confidence when ye're gone.

Paul promised, and all the estrangement seemed to melt away. This was to
be their last meeting, both or them guessed it, and when at last it
grew to the time Paul must go, the father went down the long hall the
front-door. Paul fumbled for the pocket-book in the darkness of the
passage found a piece of paper, and kissed the old man at parting he
thrust this into his hand.

Arrived at the station nearest to Montcourtois; then the voiture from
the hotel with the grinning Victor on the box, and Laurent waiting.

'No bad news' asked Paul.

'Things are not quite what they might be or what they should be,'
Laurent answered. 'But get in, and we will talk as we drive. Do you
remember,' he asked, whilst Victor filled the night with the noise of a
fusillade of whip-crackings--'do you remember that I told, you some time
ago that a man should have no secrets from his physician?

'Yes,' said Paul. 'Well?'

'Have you had any secrets from me in respect to Madame Armstrong?'

'No; nothing that I can think of. I don't quite see what you are driving
at.'

'Do you remember,' Laurent asked, 'the evening on which you first
called me to attend her--the night on which she cried out that they were
dancing in the wood, and that their bones were white? Do you remember?'

'Good God!' cried Paul; 'do I remember?'

'Did you ever diagnose that case? the doctor asked.

'No. Do you mean to say that her mind is affected, that----

'You never guessed?' asked Laurent, leaning across to him and grasping
him by the arm--'you never guessed? Upon your life and honour?'

'Guessed? Guessed what?'

'Now,' said Laurent, 'I am going to hurt you, and I cannot help it. I am
sorry, but it must be.'

'Speak out, man!' gasped Paul--'speak out!'

'That,' said Laurent, 'was de