short and smiled.

'Was that all?' I asked, smiling also. 'What did he say?'

'Well, sir, for a moment I thought the fellow was going to faint, but
it was a pleasurable shock, and he made a feeble clutch at her hand,
and his face was one beam of gratitude as he looked in hers and
whispered, while he clung to her hand, "To-morrow." Then of course
she turned to me, and I, pretending to have been quite unobservant,
ordered her away, and made their next visit contingent upon his good
behaviour during the next twenty-four hours.'

I saw that the time had now come when the patient and I must
understand each other better, and I began by taking the doctor a
little into my confidence, telling him a little of what I knew and a
part of what I guessed at or suspected.

'I want now to enlighten him a little concerning this attack upon him,
doctor,' I concluded, 'and if I don't make him talk----'

'Oh, see him by all means. There's nothing worse for the sick than
suspense. I begin to understand matters. Since his return to
consciousness he has seemed singularly apathetic, but let me tell you
one thing: there were two nights--he was always wildest at night--when
he talked incessantly about that meeting at the bridge, and he fully
believes now that she, whoever that may be, was there. His first
question asked, after being told of his mishap, was this: "Was anyone
else attacked or injured besides myself that night at the bridge?" and
when I answered no, he seemed relieved of a great anxiety.'

I had not seen him since the full return of his senses, and he seemed
very glad to see me. When the doctor had warned him against much
conversation, and had left us, I drew my chair close beside his cot,
so that I could look into his face and he in mine.

'My friend,' I began, 'I am doctor enough to know that a mind at ease
is a great help toward recovery, and I am going to set your mind at
ease upon some points at least. Mind,' I added, smiling in spite of
myself, 'I do not say your heart. Now, to do this I may need to put a
few questions; and to obey the doctor and at the same time come to an
understanding with you, I will make my questions direct, and you can
answer them by a nod.'

At this he nodded and smiled.

'I dare say,' I went on, 'you wonder how and why you were treated to
that sudden ducking?'

Again he nodded; this time quite soberly.

'I am going to enlighten you, in a measure, and I am obliged, in order
to do so, to t