d a wild cry as Stratton rushed at her, caught her by the
shoulder with a fierce grip, and swung her away.

"I tell you," he cried, with a fierce growl, "I will not have the place
touched. Go! At once!"

The woman was too much alarmed to speak, and, making for the door,
hurried out, and made for the porter's lodge, "that agitated," as she
said to herself afterward, "that she felt as if she could never go there
again."

Stratton wiped the cold sweat from his brow as soon as he was alone, and
once more began to pace the room, with the key in his hand. But he did
not use it. Thrusting it back in his pocket, he sat down and hurriedly
wrote a letter, in which he inclosed a cheque; then looking out an
address from a directory, he fastened down the envelope, and opened the
window, at which he waited till he saw a familiar face, and asked its
owner to slip the letter in the first pillar box.

This act seemed to revive him, and he grew a little calmer. He turned
to a cabinet containing natural history specimens preserved in spirits,
and taking out first one and then another, he carefully examined them,
removing the tied-down stoppers of several of the large-mouthed vessels;
and he was still examining one of these, with the spirit therein looking
limpid still, when there was a double knock.

His first idea, as he started up, was to hurriedly replace the glass
vessel, but a moment's thought decided him upon leaving it on the table
and opening the door.

"Back again, you see," said Guest, looking at him inquiringly. "Ah,
busy with your specimens. That's right. Nothing like keeping the mind
busy; but clear away; the fellow will be here soon with the dinner, and
I've brought some cigars. Mrs Brade been?"

"Yes; but you are not going to stay here this evening?"

"Indeed, but I am."

Stratton frowned, but said nothing, and in due time the dinner came, was
eaten, and the evening became a repetition of the last, but with the
difference that Stratton seemed far more calm and able to keep himself
under control.

But as the night wore on he stubbornly refused to go to bed. If his
friend intended to stay there in a chair, he would do the same.

"Compulsion will only make him wild and irritate his wound," thought
Guest, and twelve o'clock struck as they settled themselves in their
chairs as before.

"Better humour him," said Guest to himself, as he felt more content with
the change growing in his friend; "he'll be bet