n, and then,
suddenly staggering back, he made for the open air without a word of
explanation.

Max stared at the doctor, and then followed his father out. But Mr.
Wedmore was already half way to the house, where he shut himself into
the study, and locking the door, refused to be disturbed.

Max was more bewildered than ever by this new turn of affairs. With a
dogged determination not to be kept any longer out of a secret of which
everybody but himself seemed to know something, he went straight up to
the sick-room in search of Carrie. His knock, however, was answered by
the professional nurse, who opened the door and asked him what he
wanted.

"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Max. "At least--I wanted to know how Mr.
Horne is now."

"He won't be so well to-night, I expect," answered the nurse, tartly.
"There's been a great noise and disturbance outside, and he's heard
something of it, and it's made him restless and curious. He is asking
questions about it all the time, and he won't be satisfied. He keeps
asking for the other nurse, who is out taking her walk, as I tell him."

At this point Dudley's voice was heard from the bed. "Who's that at the
door? Who is it?"

Max, after a moment's hesitation, during which the nurse assumed an air
of washing her hands of the whole matter, answered:

"Me, old chap--Max. How are you?"

Dudley sprang up in bed. The nurse folded her arms and frowned.

"Come in, oh, come in, just one moment! I'll be quiet, nurse, quite
quiet. But I must see him--I must see somebody."

Max threw an imploring glance at the nurse, who refused to look at him.
Then he went in.

"Only a minute--I won't stay a minute."

The nurse shrugged her shoulders.

"It's against the doctor's orders. I wash my hands of the consequences,"
said she.

And, with her head held very high, she left the room.

Max stood irresolute. By the look of excitement on Dudley's face, he
judged that anything must be better for him than the eager suspense from
which he was evidently suffering. This news of the death of the odious
inhabitant of the house by the wharf must surely bring relief to him. As
soon as they were alone together, Dudley burst out eagerly:

"That noise! It's no use deceiving me; I know what it was. They were
after him. Tell me--has he got away? Has my father got away?"

CHAPTER XXVI.

BACK TO LOVE AND LIFE.

Max fell into a chair. He stared at Dudley for a few moments before he
could speak.