,
you are a---- I would rather not use the word,' he added with a laugh.

'You see,' went on Jack, 'that he is very anxious to prove Maurice St.
Mabyn to have been killed in a native uprising. I'll tell you why. He
tried to murder him, and it was only by the mercy of God that he failed
to do so.'

'Murder him! How dare you say such a thing?' gasped Sir Thomas.

'Maurice told me so himself--told me in India in 1914.'

'Great God, you shall prove this!' and now Springfield was really
aroused. 'If he was not dead in July, 1914, where has he been these
three years? Why has he sent no word? What has become of him? Who
has seen him since April of that year when he was killed?--I mean
besides this madman?'

'General Gregory, to whom he reported himself.'

'Do you mean to say that he reported himself to General Gregory?' His
voice was hoarse, and I saw him reel as though some one had struck him.

'I do mean to say so. He told me so himself. If I have told a lie,
you can easily prove it by communicating with him.'

Springfield laughed again, and in his laugh was a ring of triumph.

'It is easy to say that, because Gregory is dead. He died two years
ago. A dead man is a poor witness.'

'I don't ask any one to accept my words without proof,' said Jack
Carbis. 'Proof will not be wanting. You say that Maurice St. Mabyn
was killed in a skirmish, that you saw his dead body, and that you had
no hand whatever in it?'

'I _do_ say it,' cried Springfield hoarsely. 'I swear by Almighty God
that your charges are venomous lies, and----'

But he did not finish the sentence. At that moment I heard the murmur
of voices outside the room, the door opened, and a tall, bronzed but
somewhat haggard-looking man entered the room.

'Maurice!'

It was George St. Mabyn who uttered the word, but it was not like his
voice at all.

The new-comer gave a quick glance around the room, as though he wanted
to take in the situation, then he took a quick step towards Lady
Bolivick.

'Will you forgive me for coming in this way, Lady Bolivick?' he said
quietly. 'But I could not help myself. I only got back an hour or two
ago, and the servants were so upset that they lost their heads
entirely. But they did manage to tell me that George was here, so I
took the liberty of an old friend and----; but what's this? Is
anything the matter? George, old man, why--why----' and he looked at
George St. Mabyn and Norah Blackwater inquiri