stand her nor
understand myself. I ought to shrink from the poor creature there,
sleeping off--I don't know what. But I don't. I feel drawn to her,
instead, irresistibly drawn, as if my place were at her bedside to
comfort and protect."

At this impulsive assertion springing from a depth of feeling for which
the staid lawyer had no measure, a perplexed frown chased all the
urbanity from his face. Some thought, not altogether welcome, had come to
disturb him. He eyed Mr. Ransom closely from under his clouded brows. He
could do this now with impunity, for Mr. Ransom's glances were turned
whither his thoughts and inclinations had wandered.

"I would advise you," came in slow comment from the watchful lawyer, "not
to be too certain of your conclusions till doubt becomes an absolute
impossibility. Instinct is a good thing but it must never be regarded as
infallible. It may be proved that it is your wife who has fled, after
all. In which case it would be a great mistake to put any faith in this
gipsy girl, Anitra."

Mr. Ransom's face hardened; his eyes did not leave the direction in which
they were set.

"I will remember," said he.

His companion did not appear satisfied, and continued emphatically:

"Whether the woman now here is Mrs. Ransom or her wild and irresponsible
sister, she is a person of dangerous will and one not to be lightly
regarded nor carelessly dealt with. Pray consider this, Mr. Ransom, and
do not allow impulse to supersede judgment. If you will take my advice--"

"Speak."

"I should treat her as if she were the woman she calls herself, or, at
least, as if you thought her so. Nothing--" this word he repeated as he
noted the incredulity with which the other listened--"would be so likely
to make her betray herself as that."

"Let us go back and listen again at her door," was Mr. Ransom's emphatic
but inconsequent reply.

The lawyer desisted from further advice, but sighed as he followed his
new client into the hall. At the turn of the staircase they were stopped
by the sound of wrangling voices in the office below. Mr. Harper heard
his name mentioned and hastened to interfere. Assuring Mr. Ransom of his
speedy return, he stepped down-stairs, and in a few minutes reappeared
with a middle-aged man of characteristic appearance, whom he introduced
to Mr. Ransom as Mr. Goodenough. The sight of the uncouth head of their
youthful acquaintance of the morning peering up after him from the foot
of the stai