with the encouraging words which she might have
used to a child. She put my arm in hers, and led me carefully along
through the wood, as if I had been an old man.

Cristel had saved my life--but she would hear of no allusion to it. She
knew how the poisoner had plotted to get rid of me--but nothing that I
could say induced her to tell me how she had made the discovery. In view
of Trimley Deen, my guardian angel dropped my arm.

"Go on," she said, "and let me see the servant let you in, before I run
home."

If she had not been once more wiser than I was, I should have taken her
with me to the house; I should have positively refused to let her go back
by herself. Nothing that I could say or do had the slightest effect on
her resolution. Does the man live who could have taken leave of her
calmly, in my place? She tore herself away from me, with a sigh of
bitterness that was dreadful to hear.

"Oh, my darling," I said, "do I distress you?"

"Horribly," she answered; "but you are not to blame."

Those were her farewell words. I called after her. I tried to follow her.
She was lost to me in the darkness.

CHAPTER XIV

GLOODY SETTLES THE ACCOUNT

A night of fever; a night, when I did slumber for a few minutes, of
horrid dreams--this was what I might have expected, and this is what
really happened. The fresh morning air, flowing through my open window,
cooled and composed me; the mercy of sleep found me. When I woke, and
looked at my watch, I was a new man. The hour was noon.

I rang my bell. The servant announced that a man was waiting to see me.
"The same man, sir, who was found in the garden, looking at your
flowers." I at once gave directions to have him shown up into my bedroom.
The delay of dressing was more than I had patience to encounter. Unless I
was completely mistaken, here was the very person whom I wanted to
enlighten me.

Gloody showed himself at the door, with a face ominously wretched, as
well as ugly. I instantly thought of Cristel.

"If you bring me bad news," I said, "don't keep me waiting for it."

"It's nothing that need trouble You, sir. I'm dismissed from my master's
service--that's all."

It was plainly not "all." Relieved even by that guarded reply, I pointed
to a chair by the bedside.

"Do you believe that I mean well by you?" I asked.

"I do, sir, with all my heart."

"Then sit down, Gloody, and make a clean breast of it."

He lifted his enormous fist, by way of emphasizing