ched the sheet of spangled gold before him softly
heaving and appearing to send the star reflections sweeping at last in a
golden cream upon the sands, life seemed, after all, worth living, and
his cares and sufferings petty and contemptible.

He wandered on close by the sea, where it broke gently in phosphorescent
spray, till he was abreast of the cottage under the cliff where
Brettison lodged with their charge. There was a feeble light burning,
and it shed out its glow through the open door, while lamps glimmered
from higher up the cliff, where three or four miniature chateaux, the
property of Parisians--let to visitors to the lovely little fishing
village--were snugly ensconced in the sheltering rocks.

There were voices just above the cottage, and a woman's speaking
volubly, and he fancied he recognised that of the nurse, but felt that
she would hardly have left her patient, though there was no reason why
she should not, for Barron would have been in bed an hour or two, and it
was absurd to expect her to be always on the watch.

Stratton felt a strong desire, almost irresistible, as he gazed at the
light from the cottage door, to go up, enter, and gaze at the man who
had come between him and happiness. He took a few steps forward under
the influence upon rum, but only to stop and think, as the voluble voice
above still went on in its peculiar French.

"It would not be safe," he thought, with a shudder. His presence had
influenced the man imperceptibly when waking, might it not also as he
slept?

Stratton drew back, and continued his walk along the shore, enjoying the
coolness of the fiery looking water which washed over and about his
feet, full, as it were, of phosphorescent creatures, while here and
there to his right, where the sea lay calm amid the rocks, the water was
covered with what resembled a golden, luminous oil, which flashed softly
at times with a bluish tint.

"Brettison is right," he said to himself. "Life is grand, and it is our
petty cares which spoil it. Not petty, though, mine," he added, with a
sigh. "Ah! what it might be if I could but hope."

He drew a long, deep breath, and then made an effort to forget the past
in the glory of the present. He bared his head to the soft, warm night
air, and walked slowly on, gazing up into the depths of the vast arch
above his head, where stars innumerable shone on and on till they
resembled golden dust. The grandeur of the scene impressed him, a