take no end of liberties, but you
must remember that we are neighbours, and therefore have privileges."

What could I say in answer to such a speech as this? As a matter of
fact speech of any sort was denied me; a great sob had stuck in my
throat. They did what was kindest. They left me alone.

I heard them rummaging about in my back room, and soon I heard the
chopping of sticks. Presently I heard the crackling of flames, and I
knew that a fire had been lit. A dreamy partial unconsciousness
destitute of all pain, and not in itself unpleasant, stole over me. I
felt my boots cut from my feet. I was gently lifted up. Some of my
outer garments were removed. Every now and then I heard their voices, I
heard her shocked exclamation as she examined my larder, I heard the
words "starvation," "exhaustion," scarcely applying them to myself.
Then I heard her call to him softly. She was standing by my bookcase.

"Do you see this?" she murmured. "'Guy Ducaine, Magdalen,' and the
college coat of arms. They must belong to him, for that is his name."

I did not hear his answer, but directly afterwards a little exclamation
escaped him.

"By Jove, what luck! I have my flask with me, after all. Is there a
spoon there, Lady Angela?"

She brought him one directly. He stooped down, and I felt the metal
strike my teeth. The brandy seemed to set all my blood flowing once
more warmly in my veins. The heat of the fire, too, was delicious.

And then the strangest thing of all happened. I opened my eyes. My
chair was drawn sideways to the fire and immediately facing the window.
The first thing that I saw was this. Pressed against it, peering into
the room, was the white face of a man, an entire stranger to me.

CHAPTER II

GOOD SAMARITANS

They both hurried to my side. I was sitting up in my chair, pointing,
my eyes fixed with surprise. I do not know even now why the incident
should so much have alarmed me, but it is a fact that for the moment I
was palsied with fear. There had been murder in the man's eyes,
loathsome things in his white unkempt face. My tongue clove to the roof
of my mouth. They gave me more brandy, and then I spoke.

"There was a man--looking in. A man's face there, at the window!"

Ray took up the lamp and strode to the door. When he returned he
exchanged a significant glance with Lady Angela.

"There is no one there now, at any rate," he said. "I dare say it was
fancy."

"It was not," I answered. "It was a