t in her hands. She
could see--in the air, before her eyes--in clear, sharp
lettering--"Brent died at half past two this afternoon. Garvey."

The sensation of cold faded into a sensation of approaching
numbness. She went into the hall--to her own rooms. In the
dressing-room her maid, Clemence, was putting away the afternoon
things she had taken off. She stood at the dressing table,
unclasping the string of pearls. She said to Clemence tranquilly:

"Please pack in the small trunk with the broad stripes three
of my plainest street dresses--some underclothes--the things
for a journey--only necessaries. Some very warm things,
please, Clemence, I've suffered from cold, and I can't bear
the idea of it. And please telephone to the--to the Cecil for
a room and bath. When you have finished I shall pay you what
I owe and a month's wages extra. I cannot afford to keep you
any longer."

"But, madame"--Clemence fluttered in agitation--"Madame
promised to take me to America."

"Telephone for the rooms for Miss Susan Lenox," said Susan.
She was rapidly taking off her dress. "If I took you to
America I should have to let you go as soon as we landed."

"But, madame--" Clemence advanced to assist her.

"Please pack the trunk," said Susan. "I am leaving here at once."

"I prefer to go to America, even if madame----"

"Very well. I'll take you. But you understand?"

"Perfectly, madame----"

A sound of hurrying footsteps and Palmer was at the threshold.
His eyes were wild, his face distorted. His hair, usually
carefully arranged over the rapidly growing bald spot above
his brow, was disarranged in a manner that would have been
ludicrous but for the terrible expression of his face. "Go!"
he said harshly to the maid; and he stood fretting the knob
until she hastened out and gave him the chance to close the
door. Susan, calm and apparently unconscious of his presence,
went on with her rapid change of costume. He lit a cigarette
with fingers trembling, dropped heavily into a chair near the
door. She, seated on the floor, was putting on boots.

When she had finished one and was beginning on the other he
said stolidly:

"You think I did it"--not a question but an assertion.

"I know it," replied she. She was so seated that he was
seeing her in profile.

"Yes--I did," he went on. He settled himself more deeply in
the chair, crossed his leg. "And I am glad that I did."

She kept on at lacing the boot. Th