r appearance, dressed, when there was the alarm
in the house.

For a few moments the rush of blood to his head seemed to blind him, and
his knees shook, for he fancied that he was about to have another
seizure. But he recovered himself in a few moments, and again took up
the train of thought. John Gurdon--burglarious entry--Norton apparently
in league with him, and ready to try and save his life. What did it all
mean? Was Norton a greater scoundrel even than he had given him the
credit of being, and was this some new plot for aggrandising himself at
the weak husband's expense? If so, who were mixed up in it?

He staggered again, as the blood flew to his head, in his vain
endeavours to piece together the scraps of the puzzle, so as to make a
defined whole. But once more, with an effort, he shook off the
weakness, and, stooping down, he scooped up some water in the hollow of
his hand, and bathed his face, for he was now alone, the servants who
had accompanied him having borne the two insensible men to the house.

The next minute the boat returned, and her prow struck the bank.

"Well?" said Sir Murray, eagerly, for the men were alone.

"He's gone, sir," said the groom, solemnly. "The piles are very
slippery, and the poor fellow, whoever he was, could hold on no longer.
We've been feeling about with the sculls, but we can't find him."

Again that rushing of blood to the head and the choking sensation, and
Sir Murray Gernon gasped for air, as he staggered about like a drunken
man.

Could it be possible? Was it Norton, and was he removed from his
path?--removed by his own act while engaged in some nefarious scheme?

For a few moments a strange sense of mingled exultation and horror
oppressed the baronet, and he stood staring vacantly in the faces of his
servants.

Would he like them to go and try again? though, as the water was so
deep, there was not much chance of finding the poor fellow till morning.

Yes, he would like them to go; and he would come with them himself; and,
entering the boat, Sir Murray made the weary men row on and on,
backwards and forwards, through the two openings of the wooden bridge,
as, armed himself with the weed-grapnel in the prow, he dragged it over
the same ground again and again, expecting at each check it received
that it was hooked in the body of the man whom he looked upon as the
blight of his existence.

At length, the men being completely worn out, the search was given