nce. If I fail
in that it is not from lack of inclination, but--because I am just
learning submission." He uttered the last words in a lower, softer
tone, and fell back as he uttered them, laying his hand upon his hat.

Anger, self-shame, and a strange thrilling emotion, she could not, or
would not recognize or define, urged her out of herself, beyond herself,
and beyond the bounds of propriety or courtesy. Sweeping toward him with
one swift movement, she extended one hand with downward turned palm, in
a quick, meaning gesture, and said,

"Doctor Heath, I have lost Sybil Lamotte's letter."

"Lost it! How?"

"That I should be glad to know; since I showed it to you last night and
replaced it in my pocket, I have not seen it, and, Doctor Heath, as I do
not wish without your knowledge, to be in possession of any secret of
yours, I may as well tell you now that I overheard your warning to the
detective last night."

"My warning!" he repeated, parrot-like.

"Your reminder that you must be to him, _Doctor Heath from nowhere_!"

Doctor Heath from nowhere, gazed at her for a moment as if petrified,
his mind seeming reluctant or unable to grasp at once her full meaning;
then he came close to her, straight and tall, and paler than her own
pale robe; the blood of all the Howards flashing from his eye, and
speaking in his bearing. Thus, for a moment, they faced each other,
pale, passionate, mute; then a voice, soft and suave, broke the spell.

"I trust you will pardon me."

They turned swiftly, neither had faced the door; both had been too
preoccupied to observe or hear. How long he had been a listener he alone
could tell; but there stood Mr. Jerry Belknap, private detective, one
hand resting on the handle of the closed door, the other holding an open
note book.

Doctor Heath vouchsafed him one dark glance, then bending above the
uplifted hand of Constance Wardour, he looked straight down into her
eyes, and said in a low, tense voice,

"Miss Wardour, your words have been not an accusation, but an insult; as
such, I can only accept them--in silence; good morning."

Then he turned, waved the private detective haughtily from before the
door, and strode out, his heels ringing firm upon the hall marble as he
went.

"I fear I intruded," said Mr. Belknap, innocently. "I have just finished
making some notes in the library, and am ready to proceed to the upper
floor."

"Breakfast." It was Nelly who appeared with this announ