ve been made by
other men. Try and frame for yourself a more rational code of
living. And judge not with the ready-made judgment of laws, but from
your own consciousness of right and wrong. You are at an
impressionable age, and the effort should help to make a man of
you."

They glided softly along the crowded streets and up into Leicester
Square, where the blaze of lights seemed somehow comforting after
the cold darkness of the night. They stopped outside the _Empire_
and Arnold followed his guide with beating heart as they were shown
to their box. The door was thrown open. Fenella was there alone. She
was sitting a little way back in the box so as to escape observation
from the house. At the sound of their entrance she turned eagerly
toward them. Arnold, who was in advance, stopped short in the act of
greeting her. She was looking past him at her brother. She was
absolutely colorless, her lips were parted, her eyes distended as
though with terror. She had all the appearance of a woman who has
looked upon some terrible thing.

CHAPTER XV

THE RED SIGNET RING

The few minutes which followed inspired Arnold with an admiration
for his companion which he never wholly lost. Sabatini recognized in
a moment his sister's state, but he did no more than shrug his
shoulders.

"My dear Fenella!" he said, in a tone of gentle reproof.

"You haven't heard?" she gasped.

Sabatini drew out a chair and seated himself. He glanced around at
the house and then began slowly to unbutton his white kid gloves.

"I did not buy an evening paper," he remarked. "Your face tells me
the news, of course. I gather that Starling has been arrested."

"He was arrested at five o'clock!" she exclaimed. "He will be
charged before the magistrates to-morrow."

"Then to-morrow," Sabatini continued calmly, "will be quite time
enough for you to begin to worry."

She looked at him for a moment steadfastly. She had ceased to
tremble now and her own appearance was becoming more natural.

"If one had but a man's nerve!" she murmured. "Dear Andrea, you make
me very much ashamed. Yet this is serious--surely it is very
serious?"

Arnold had withdrawn as far as possible out of hearing, but
Sabatini beckoned him forward.

"You are missing the ballet," he said. "You must take the front
chair there. You, too, will be interested in this news which my
sister has been telling me. Our friend Starling has been arrested,
after all. I was afraid he wa