municated with the police station at
Wells, through me that a man is to be sent down from London. I didn't
come here as a spy--don't think that; I was coming here, anyhow. On the
other hand, I believe that your uncle is playing a dangerous game. I am
going to have Mr. John P. Dunster put in charge of a Norwich physician
to-morrow."

"Thank God!" the boy murmured.

"Look here," Hamel continued, "what are you doing in this business,
anyway? You are old enough to know your own mind and to go your own
way."

"You say that because you don't know," Gerald declared bitterly.

"In a sense I don't," Hamel admitted, "and yet your sister hinted to me
only this afternoon that you and she--"

"Oh, I know what she told you!" the boy interrupted. "We've worn the
chains for the last eight years. They are breaking her. They've broken
my mother. Sometimes I think they are breaking me. But, you know, there
comes a time--there comes a time when one can't go on. I've seen some
strange things here, some that I've half understood, some that I haven't
understood at all. I've closed my eyes. I've kept my promise. I've
done his bidding, where ever it has led me. But you know there is a
time--there is a limit to all things. I can't go on. I spied on this
man Dunster. I brought him here. It is I who am responsible for anything
that may happen to him. It's the last time!"

Gerald's face was white with pain. Hamel laid his hand upon his
shoulder.

"My boy," he said, "there are worse things in the world than breaking
a promise. When you gave it, the conditions which were existing at the
time made it, perhaps, a right and reasonable undertaking, but sometimes
the whole of the conditions under which a promise was given, change.
Then one must have courage enough to be false even to one's word."

"Have you talked to my sister like that?" Gerald asked eagerly.

"I have and I will again," Hamel declared. "To-morrow morning I leave
this house, but before I go I mean to have the affair of this man
Dunster cleared up. Your uncle will be very angry with me, without a
doubt. I don't care. But I do want you to trust me, if you will, and
your sister. I should like to be your friend."

"God knows we need one!" the boy said simply. "Good night!"

Once more the house was quiet. Hamel pushed his window wide open and
looked out into the night. The air was absolutely still, there was no
wind. The only sound was the falling of the low waves upon the stony