else could she
address him?

"No," he said; "it is the simple truth. The man would have shot me."

"Then I am glad," she said quietly, as if there were no more to be said.

He bit his lip again.

"You are looking pale and thin."

"Oh, no," she said. "I am quite well."

Why did he not go? Every moment it became more difficult for her to
maintain her forced calm. If he would only go! But he stood, his eyes
now downcast, now seeking hers, his brows knit, as if he found it awful
to remain, and yet impossible to go.

"Will you tell Mr. Falconer that directly he is able to go out I will
send a carriage for him--a pony phaeton, or something of that sort?" he
said, at last.

Nell inclined her head.

"We will leave here as soon as he can be moved," she said.

His frown deepened.

"Why?" he asked sharply. "Why should you?"

The blood began to mount to her face, and, gnawing at his mustache, he
turned away. But as he did so Dick came down the stairs, two at a time.

"Hi, Drake!" he called out. "Don't go. Falconer would like to see you!"

Drake hesitated just for a second--then----

"I shall be very glad," he said.

Nell moved aside to let him pass, and went into the sitting room, and he
followed Dick upstairs. She went to the window, and stood looking out
for a moment or two, then she caught up her hat and left the house, for
she knew that she could not see him again--ah! not just yet.

Drake went up the stairs slowly, trying to brace himself to go through
the ordeal like a man--and a gentleman. He was going to congratulate Mr.
Falconer on his good fortune in winning the woman he himself loved. It
was a hard, a bitterly hard thing to have to do, but it had to be done.

"Here's Lord Angleford, old man," said Dick, introducing him. "I don't
know whether visitors are permitted yet, but you can lay the blame on
me; and you needn't palaver long, Drake."

"I will take care not to tire Mr. Falconer," said Drake, as he went to
the bedside and held out his hand.

Falconer took it in his thin one, and looked up at the handsome face
with an expression which somewhat puzzled Drake.

"I'm glad to hear you're better," he said. "I suppose I ought not to
refer to the subject, but I can't help saying, Falconer, how much we--I
mean Lady Angleford--and all of us--are indebted to you. But for you the
fellow would have got off, and her diamonds would have been lost."

Falconer noticed the friendly "Falconer," and though his