t yet," I inquired after Puck's health from Mrs Newton,
told Miss Emma Page that Grandmamma had been admiring her sister's
dress, and slipped out of the door when I arrived at it. In my room
Lucette was standing with the cloak ready to throw over me.

"Monsieur Ebate is at the _escalier derobe_," said she. Poor Lucette
could get no nearer Hebblethwaite. "He tell me, this night,
Mademoiselle goes on an errand for the good Lord. May the Lord keep
safe His messenger!"

"Mr Hebblethwaite goes with me," said I. "He will take all the care of
me he can."

"I will trust him for that!" said Lucette, with a little nod. "He is
good man, _celui-la_. But, Mademoiselle, `except the Lord keep the
city--' you know."

"`The watchman waketh but in vain.' Yes, Lucette, I know, in every
sense. But how do you know that Mr Hebblethwaite is a good man?"

"Ah! I know, I. And I know what makes him stay in London, all same.
Now Mademoiselle is ready, and Caesar is at the door, la-bas."

Down-stairs I ran, joined Ephraim, who also wore a large cloak over his
evening dress, and we went out of the back-door, which was guarded by
Caesar, whose white teeth and gleaming eyes were all I could see of him
in the dusk.

"Lucette asked leave to take Caesar into the affair," said Ephraim.
"She promised to answer for him as for herself. Now, Cary, we must step
out: there is no time to lose."

"As fast as you please," said I.

In a few minutes, we came to Mr Raymond's house. I never knew before
where he lived. It is in a small house in Endell Street. An elderly
woman opened the door, who evidently expected us, and ushered us at once
into a living-room on the right hand. Here I saw Mr Raymond and a
lady--a lady past her youth, who had, as I could not help seeing, been
extreme beautiful. I thought there was no one else till I heard a voice
beside me:

"I fear I am almost a stranger, Miss Cary."

"Mr Keith!" I did not feel him a stranger, but a very old friend
indeed. But how ill he looked! I told him so, and he said he was
wonderfully better,--quite well again,--with that old, sweet smile that
he always had. My heart came up into my throat.

"Mr Keith, must you go into this danger?"

"If I fail to go where my Master calls me, how can I look for His
presence and blessing to go with me? They who go with God are they with
whom God goes."

"Are you quite sure He has called you?"

"Quite sure." His fine eyes lighted up.