in the Blackwater Park neighbourhood, and I had
presented to him a letter of introduction from Miss Halcombe, in which
she recommended me to his friendly attention in the strongest terms. I
now wrote, referring to this letter, and to what I had previously told
Mr. Dawson of the delicate and dangerous nature of my inquiries. I had
not revealed to him the truth about Laura, having merely described my
errand as being of the utmost importance to private family interests
with which Miss Halcombe was concerned. Using the same caution still,
I now accounted for my presence at Knowlesbury in the same manner, and
I put it to the doctor to say whether the trust reposed in me by a lady
whom he well knew, and the hospitality I had myself received in his
house, justified me or not in asking him to come to my assistance in a
place where I was quite friendless.

I obtained permission to hire a messenger to drive away at once with my
letter in a conveyance which might be used to bring the doctor back
immediately. Oak Lodge was on the Knowlesbury side of Blackwater. The
man declared he could drive there in forty minutes, and could bring Mr.
Dawson back in forty more. I directed him to follow the doctor
wherever he might happen to be, if he was not at home, and then sat
down to wait for the result with all the patience and all the hope that
I could summon to help me.

It was not quite half-past one when the messenger departed. Before
half-past three he returned, and brought the doctor with him. Mr.
Dawson's kindness, and the delicacy with which he treated his prompt
assistance quite as a matter of course, almost overpowered me. The
bail required was offered, and accepted immediately. Before four
o'clock, on that afternoon, I was shaking hands warmly with the good
old doctor--a free man again--in the streets of Knowlesbury.

Mr. Dawson hospitably invited me to go back with him to Oak Lodge, and
take up my quarters there for the night. I could only reply that my
time was not my own, and I could only ask him to let me pay my visit in
a few days, when I might repeat my thanks, and offer to him all the
explanations which I felt to be only his due, but which I was not then
in a position to make. We parted with friendly assurances on both
sides, and I turned my steps at once to Mr. Wansborough's office in the
High Street.

Time was now of the last importance.

The news of my being free on bail would reach Sir Percival, to an
ab