t Delamayn," he said,
"when you found that he had only fainted under the fatigue. Was it
something more than a common fainting fit?"

"It is useless to conceal it now," replied Mr. Speedwell. "He has had a
narrow escape from a paralytic stroke."

"Was that what you dreaded when you spoke to him at Windygates?"

"That was what I saw in his face when I gave him the warning. I was
right, so far. I was wrong in my estimate of the reserve of vital power
left in him. When he dropped on the race-course, I firmly believed we
should find him a dead man."

"Is it hereditary paralysis? His father's last illness was of that
sort."

Mr. Speedwell smiled. "Hereditary paralysis?" he repeated. "Why the man
is (naturally) a phenomenon of health and strength--in the prime of his
life. Hereditary paralysis might have found him out thirty years
hence. His rowing and his running, for the last four years, are alone
answerable for what has happened to-day."

Sir Patrick ventured on a suggestion.

"Surely," he said, "with your name to compel attention to it, you ought
to make this public--as a warning to others?"

"It would be quite useless. Delamayn is far from being the first man
who has dropped at foot-racing, under the cruel stress laid on the vital
organs. The public have a happy knack of forgetting these accidents.
They would be quite satisfied when they found the other man (who happens
to have got through it) produced as a sufficient answer to me."

Anne Silvester's future was still dwelling on Sir Patrick's mind. His
next inquiry related to the serious subject of Geoffrey's prospect of
recovery in the time to come.

"He will never recover," said Mr. Speedwell. "Paralysis is hanging over
him. How long he may live it is impossible for me to say. Much depends
on himself. In his condition, any new imprudence, any violent emotion,
may kill him at a moment's notice."

"If no accident happens," said Sir Patrick, "will he be sufficiently
himself again to leave his bed and go out?"

"Certainly."

"He has an appointment that I know of for Saturday next. Is it likely
that he will be able to keep it?"

"Quite likely."

Sir Patrick said no more. Anne's face was before him again at the
memorable moment when he had told her that she was Geoffrey's wife.

FOURTEENTH SCENE.--PORTLAND PLACE.

CHAPTER THE FORTY-SIXTH.

A SCOTCH MARRIAGE.

IT was Saturday, the third of October--the day on which the assertion of
Arnold's m