dreadful tangle once. And she felt real bad about
it. But it's come out quite simply. And no one will ever know.

"Now, I'll tell you a secret, Big Bear, about the woman you know of. You
must put your head down for I'll have to whisper. That's the way. Now!
She's just madly in love with you, Big Bear. And she is quite, quite free
to tell you so. There! And I reckon she's not Death's property any more.
She's just--yours."

The narrative ended in Merefleet's arms.

* * * * *

A few weeks later Quiller the younger looked up from a newspaper with a
grin.

"Mr. Merefleet's married our little missie, dad," he announced. "I saw it
coming t'other day."

And old Quiller looked up with a gleam of intelligence on his wrinkled
face.

"Why!" he said, with slow triumph. "If that ain't what I persuaded him
for to do, long, long ago! He's a sensible lad, is Master Bernard."

A measure of approval which Merefleet would doubtless have appreciated.

* * * * *

The Sacrifice

CHAPTER I

It had been a hot day at the Law Courts, but a faint breeze had sprung up
with the later hours, blowing softly over the river. It caught the tassel
of the blind by which Field sat and tapped it against the window-frame,
at first gently like a child at play, then with gathering force and
insistence till at last he looked up with a frown and rose to fasten it
back.

It was growing late. The rose of the afterglow lay upon the water,
tipping the silvery ripples with soft colour. It was a magic night. But
the wonder of it did not apparently reach him. A table littered with
papers stood in front of him bearing a portable electric lamp. He was
obviously too engrossed to think of exterior things.

For a space he sat again in silence by the open window, only the
faint rustling of the lace curtain being audible. His somewhat hard,
clean-shaven face was bent over his work with rigid concentration.
His eyelids scarcely stirred.

Then again there came a tapping, this time at the door. The frown
returned to his face. He looked up.

"Well?"

The door opened. A small, sharp-faced boy poked in his head. "A lady to
see you, sir."

"What?" said Field. His frown deepened. "I can't see any one. I told you
so."

"Says she won't go away till she's seen you, sir," returned the boy
glibly. "Can't get her to budge, sir."

"Oh, tell her--" said Fi