oo soon for congratulations--the lady does not even know my hopes
yet. Indeed, I hardly knew them myself, as definite, till this moment."

"I take it then, Adam, that at the right time I may be allowed to know
who the lady is?"

Adam laughed a low, sweet laugh, such as ripples from a happy heart.

"There need not be an hour's, a minute's delay. I shall be glad to share
my secret with you, sir. The lady, sir, whom I am so happy as to love,
and in whom my dreams of life-long happiness are centred, is Mimi
Watford!"

"Then, my dear Adam, I need not wait to offer congratulations. She is
indeed a very charming young lady. I do not think I ever saw a girl who
united in such perfection the qualities of strength of character and
sweetness of disposition. With all my heart, I congratulate you. Then I
may take it that my question as to your heart-wholeness is answered in
the affirmative?"

"Yes; and now, sir, may I ask in turn why the question?"

"Certainly! I asked because it seems to me that we are coming to a point
where my questions might be painful to you."

"It is not merely that I love Mimi, but I have reason to look on Lady
Arabella as her enemy," Adam continued.

"Her enemy?"

"Yes. A rank and unscrupulous enemy who is bent on her destruction."

Sir Nathaniel went to the door, looked outside it and returned, locking
it carefully behind him.

CHAPTER XX--METABOLISM

"Am I looking grave?" asked Sir Nathaniel inconsequently when he
re-entered the room.

"You certainly are, sir."

"We little thought when first we met that we should be drawn into such a
vortex. Already we are mixed up in robbery, and probably murder, but--a
thousand times worse than all the crimes in the calendar--in an affair of
ghastly mystery which has no bottom and no end--with forces of the most
unnerving kind, which had their origin in an age when the world was
different from the world which we know. We are going back to the origin
of superstition--to an age when dragons tore each other in their slime.
We must fear nothing--no conclusion, however improbable, almost
impossible it may be. Life and death is hanging on our judgment, not
only for ourselves, but for others whom we love. Remember, I count on
you as I hope you count on me."

"I do, with all confidence."

"Then," said Sir Nathaniel, "let us think justly and boldly and fear
nothing, however terrifying it may seem. I suppose I am to take as exact
in every