ham to see you, sir," said Holmes. "Says it's very particular,
sir."

"Who? Oh, all right. Show him in." A bored note sounded in Mordaunt's
voice. "And you needn't sit up, Holmes. I'll let him out," he added.

"Very good, sir," said Holmes, without enthusiasm. He never liked to
retire before his master.

Mordaunt rose with a faint touch of impatience. He expected to see Max,
and wondered that the news of his arrival in town had reached him so
quickly. But it was Rupert who entered, and turned to satisfy himself
that the door was shut before he advanced to greet his brother-in-law.

Mordaunt stood by the window and watched the precaution with a certain
grim curiosity. He fancied he could guess the reason of this midnight
visitation, but as the boy came towards him and halted in the full light
he saw that he was mistaken. There was no indignant questioning visible
on Rupert's face. It looked only grey and haggard and desperate.

"Look here," he said, speaking jerkily, as if it were only by a series of
tense efforts that he spoke at all. "I've come to tell you something. I
don't know how you'll take it. And I may as well admit--that I'm horribly
afraid. Do you mind if I have a drink--just to help me through?"

Mordaunt closed the window, and came quietly forward. Just for a moment
he fancied that Rupert had already fortified himself in the manner
indicated for the ordeal of meeting him, and then again he realized that
he was mistaken. The eyes that looked into his were perfectly sane, but
they held an almost childlike appeal that made his heart contract
suddenly. He bit his lip savagely. Why on earth couldn't the fellow have
left him alone for this one night at least?

He forced himself to be temperate, but there was no warmth in his tone as
he said, "I've no objection to your having a drink if you want it. I
suppose you've got into a scrape again, and want me to help you out?"

"No, it's not that--at least, not in the sense you mean."

Hurriedly Rupert made answer. He looked for a moment at the glasses on
the table, but he did not attempt to help himself. Suddenly he shivered.

"Ye gods! What an infernal night! I had to walk ever so far before I
found a taxi. I came up by the evening train--couldn't get off duty
sooner. I thought you would be off to Dover before I got here. And I--and
I--" He broke off blankly and became silent, as if he had forgotten what
he had meant to say.

Mordaunt leaned over the table, a