as Anscombe, cool and
collected as usual, I noticed, but evidently perplexed.

"If there is any shooting to be done," he was saying, "I think
you had better begin with me."

His calmness seemed to exasperate Rodd, who lifted the revolver.
But I too was prepared, for in that house I always went armed.
There was no time to get at the man, who was perhaps fifteen feet
away, and I did not want to hurt him. So I did the best I could;
that is, I fired at the pistol in his hand, and the light being
good, struck it near the hilt and knocked it off the barrel
before the he could press the trigger, if he really meant to
shoot.

"That's a good shot," remarked Anscombe who had seen me, while
Rodd stared at the hilt which he still held.

"A lucky one," I answered, walking forward. "And now, Dr. Rodd,
will you be so good as to tell me what you mean by flourishing a
revolver, presumably loaded, in the faces of a lady and an
unarmed man?"

"What the devil is that to you," he asked furiously, "and what do
you mean by firing at me?"

"A great deal," I answered, "seeing that a young woman and my
friend are concerned. As for firing at you, had I done so you
would not be asking questions now. I fired at the pistol in your
hand, but if there is more trouble next time it shall be at the
holder," and I glanced at my revolver.

Seeing that I meant business he made no reply, but turned upon
Marnham who had followed me.

"This is your work, you old villain," he said in a low voice that
was heavy with hate. "You promised your daughter to me. She is
engaged to me, and now I find her in this wanderer's arms."

"What have I to do with it?" said Marnham. "Perhaps she has
changed her mind. You had better ask her."

"There is no need to ask me," interrupted Heda, who now seemed to
have got her nerve again. "I _have_ changed my mind. I never
loved you, Dr. Rodd, and I will not marry you. I love Mr.
Anscombe here, and as he has asked me to be his wife I mean to
marry him."

"I see," he sneered, "you want to be a peeress one day, no doubt.
Well, you never shall if I can help it. Perhaps, too, this fine
gentleman of yours will not be so particularly anxious to marry
you when he learns that you are the daughter of a murderer."

That word was like a bombshell bursting among us. We looked at
each other as people, yet dazed with the shock, might on a
battlefield when the noise of the explosion has died and the
smoke cleared away,