in suspense. Tell me: is it all true about
that man?"

"Yes, Rebecca--I mean no," cried Sir Mark furiously; "of course not, and
I'm going to instruct counsel and--damme, it's some enemy's work. I'll
pour such a broadside into him! Why, confound it all!" he cried, as a
sudden thought struck him, and he turned to Guest, "this must be some of
your friend's work."

"Sir Mark!"

"Oh, uncle!"

"Don't talk stuff, Mark," cried his sister almost at the same moment.
"Is it likely? Then it is all true. What an escape! Well, I'm glad it
happened when it did."

Sir Mark gave a furious stamp on the floor, but turned calmly enough on
Guest offering his hand.

"You will excuse me now, Sir Mark."

"Eh? What? Going? Well, if you must. But don't leave me in the
lurch, my lad. Come back and have a bit of dinner with me. I shall be
very dull. No; I won't ask you here. It will be miserable. Meet me at
the club."

Guest promised, and then shook hands with Miss Jerrold, who pressed his
fingers warmly; but when he turned to say good-bye to Edie she was not
in the room.

"Too upset," he muttered as he went down. "Might have said good-bye,
though."

"Good-bye, Mr Guest," came from the little conservatory half-way down
to the hall; and there was Edie waiting. "No, no; don't stop me. I
must run up to Myra. Good-bye, Percy. Oh, I am so glad."

"Good-bye, _Percy_--good-bye, _Percy_," Guest kept on saying to himself
as he walked slowly along one side of the square. "_Percy_, for the
first time. Good Heavens, Mal!" he cried, starting as a hand was thrust
under his arm--"you? I was coming on. I've something particular to
tell you."

"Thank you," said Stratton quietly. "I know everything."

"What? I did not see you at the church."

"No; I had not the heart to come. I said I would, but I stayed away."

"Good. Right," said Guest.

"But I was obliged to come to see her go--for one glance unseen."

"And you saw the arrest?"

"I saw the struggle in the crowd. A man hurried into a cab, which was
driven off. I was some distance away--in the square."

"Ah!" ejaculated Guest, and then there was a pause, broken at last by
Stratton, who said solemnly:

"Saved from a life of misery and despair. Thank God! thank God!"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

WIFE TO A CONVICT.

Sir Mark awoke the next morning thoroughly convinced that he had been
the victim of a scoundrel, but he kept his word, and did everything
possibl