ighting to recall his thoughts.

Twice over he threw his head back, and shook it as if something
compressed his brain and confused him. Then the stimulant he had taken
began to act, and he went to a drawer and took out a new screw-driver,
with which, after seeing that the blinds were down and the curtains
drawn over the window, he crossed to the door on the left of the
fireplace; but only to turn away again, and take up the lamp and place
it on a stand, so that it should light him in the work he had in hand.

He was alert and eager now, as, with deft touches, he forced the
screw-driver under a piece of moulding at the top and front edge of the
door, wrenched them off, and bared some half dozen screw-heads. These
he rapidly turned and withdrew, laying them down one by one till all
were out, when, from an inner pocket, he took out a key, unlocked the
door, threw it open, and went into the bathroom, lamp in hand.

Placing it on the polished lid, he rapidly toiled on till these screws
were taken out in turn, when, lifting the lamp with his left hand, he
threw up the lid with his right, and stood staring down into the bath
with a shudder, which rapidly passed away.

The lid fell with a heavy, dull sound, and, with a curious, wondering
look, he turned and went slowly back to his table, set down the lamp,
caught it up again, and walked into the bathroom, where he again set
down the lamp, tore a fly-leaf from a letter in his pocket, folded it
into a spill, and lit it at the lamp chimney.

"Will it burn slowly or explode at once?" he said, with a reckless
laugh. "Let's see!" and once more he threw up the lid.

CHAPTER FORTY.

FOR HIS SAKE.

Edie rushed to her cousin where she lay prone on the carpet, her face
turned toward the shaded lamp, which threw its soft light upon her face,
and, even then, in her horror, the girl thought it had never looked so
beautiful before; while, as Guest, full of remorse, joined her, he felt
ready to bite out his tongue in impotent rage against himself for a
boyish babbler in making known to two gentlewomen his fearful discovery
at the chambers.

"Shall I ring?" he said excitedly; and he was half-way to the bell
before Edie checked him.

"Ring? No; you absurd man!" she cried impatiently. "Lock the doors.
Nobody must know of this but us. Here, quick, water."

Guest was hurrying to obey the businesslike little body's orders about
the doors when she checked him again.

"No, no;