g clothes. So far as
appearance went the comparison was not inapt.

As he reached the hall the porter came up to him with his cloak.

"There is a gentleman waiting for you in the strangers' room, sir," he
said.

Mr. Maddison turned away that the man might not see the sudden dread in
his face. It was not a long respite he craved for--only one evening. Was
even this to be denied him?

"Any name?" he asked quietly.

"He gave none," the man answered; "but I think it is Sir Allan
Beaumerville."

"Ah!" Mr. Maddison felt a sudden relief which escaped him in that brief
interjection. He was scarcely surprised at this visit. "I will go to
him," he said. "Call me a hansom, Grey, will you?"

The porter went outside, and Mr. Maddison crossed the hall and in a
small, dimly-lit room, found himself face to face with his visitor.

Sir Allan wore the brilliant uniform of a colonel in the yeomanry, for
the dinner to which he was going was to be followed by an official
reception. But he was very pale, and his manner had lost much of its
studied nonchalance.

"I followed you here," he began at once, "because, after your departure,
I began to realize more fully the seriousness of what you told me."

"Yes. I thought at the time that your indifference was a little
remarkable," Mr. Maddison said quietly. The positions between them were
entirely reversed. It was Sir Allan Beaumerville now who was placing a
great restraint upon himself, and Mr. Maddison who was collected and at
his ease.

"I was taken by surprise," Sir Allan continued. "Since you left me I
have been picturing all manner of horrible things. Have you fully
realized that you may be arrested at any moment on this frightful
charge?"

"I have fully realized it," Mr. Maddison answered calmly. "In fact, when
the porter told me that a gentleman wished to see me, I imagined at once
that it had come."

"And have you considered, too," Sir Allan continued, "how overwhelming
the evidence is against you?"

"I have considered it."

"Then why do you linger here for one moment? Why don't you escape while
you have the chance?"

"Why should I?" Mr. Maddison answered. "I shall make no attempt to
escape."

Sir Allan's face grew a shade more pallid, and betrayed an agitation
which he strove in vain to conceal.

"But supposing you are arrested," he said quickly, "everything will go
against you. What shall you do?"

"I shall accept my fate, whatever it may be," was the quiet re