se, Mr. Bygrave?"

"Yes, ma'am--two. My wife and my niece."

"That is rather a strange coincidence of misfortunes."

"It is, ma'am. Very strange."

In spite of Mrs. Lecount's resolution not to be offended, Captain
Wragge's exasperating insensibility to every stroke she aimed at him
began to ruffle her. She was conscious of some little difficulty in
securing her self-possession before she could say anything more.

"Is there no immediate hope," she resumed, "of Miss Bygrave being able
to leave her room?"

"None whatever, ma'am."

"You are satisfied, I suppose, with the medical attendance?"

"I have no medical attendance," said the captain, composedly. "I watch
the case myself."

The gathering venom in Mrs. Lecount swelled up at that reply, and
overflowed at her lips.

"Your smattering of science, sir," she said, with a malicious smile,
"includes, I presume, a smattering of medicine as well?"

"It does, ma'am," answered the captain, without the slightest
disturbance of face or manner. "I know as much of one as I do of the
other."

The tone in which he spoke those words left Mrs. Lecount but one
dignified alternative. She rose to terminate the interview. The
temptation of the moment proved too much for her, and she could not
resist casting the shadow of a threat over Captain Wragge at parting.

"I defer thanking you, sir, for the manner in which you have received
me," she said, "until I can pay my debt of obligation to some purpose.
In the meantime I am glad to infer, from the absence of a medical
attendant in the house, that Miss Bygrave's illness is much less serious
than I had supposed it to be when I came here."

"I never contradict a lady, ma'am," rejoined the incorrigible captain.
"If it is your pleasure, when we next meet to think my niece quite well,
I shall bow resignedly to the expression of your opinion." With those
words, he followed the housekeeper into the passage, and politely opened
the door for her. "I mark the trick, ma'am!" he said to himself, as he
closed it again. "The trump-card in your hand is a sight of my niece,
and I'll take care you don't play it!"

He returned to the parlor, and composedly awaited the next event which
was likely to happen--a visit from Mrs. Lecount's master. In less than
an hour results justified Captain Wragge's anticipations, and Noel
Vanstone walked in.

"My dear sir!" cried the captain, cordially seizing his visitor's
reluctant hand, "I know what you have