incriminating
points.

Sir Donald Randolph cannot permit further association of his daughter
with one who may be suspected of criminal act or intrigue. Neither depth
of affection nor vital impulse of the heart may control in this network.
Esther Randolph may not become the wife of him who is in imminent danger
of arraignment as a murderer.

To Esther he said:

"It is now clear to me that Oswald's continued absence from England and
India is requisite to the unraveling of that subtly interwoven web. The
public still must believe him dead. If they knew of Oswald's flight and
after hiding, the Laniers could move about with brazen effrontery. The
farcical arrests of these villains, followed by such queer release from
imprisonment, may have some reference to such information. Can it be
that this strange procedure had its inception in knowledge of his
whereabouts, and in a suspicion that the Laniers and William Dodge knew
incriminating facts which they theretofore suppressed through motives of
discretion or self-interest? Probably the Laniers yielded to pressure,
and falsely accused Oswald of murdering Alice Webster. Even now, fate's
coils may be closing about his doomed life."

Esther was very pale, but made no reply.

There was to Sir Donald a most decisive leaning toward prompt action in
an emergency. About many subjects he ruminated with speculative ease,
but dallied little in matters affecting Esther's interests.

At the very time that Oswald fully vowed not to think of marriage with
Esther Randolph until after the Laniers had been whipped of justice, Sir
Donald was moving toward the hotel where this young man stopped,
revolving in his mind how to broach his wishes without offense.

Their conference was short. When Sir Donald was explaining the requisite
precautions, Oswald noted his embarrassment, and anticipated all without
reference to the central figure. The girl whose image posed before the
heart-visions of both was not named during this interview.

CHAPTER XIV

THE FLIGHT OF PIERRE AND PAUL

The Laniers are elated but puzzled at their release from Calcutta
imprisonment. They are haunted with doubt as to the extent of the Dodge
confession. That some sort has been made they are sure. Suggestions and
statements of actual facts connected with the London suit and Thames
homicides had been startling, but there are many missing links in the
chain. The elder Lanier readily can see that these omissions ma