tones, "drink this and draw
near the fire; you must be chilled to the bone after our Arctic
expedition."

Lucian willingly accepted both these attentions, and sipped his
wine--it was particularly fine claret--before the fire, while Berwin
coughed and shivered, and muttered to himself about the cold of the
season. When Lucian stood up to take his departure, he addressed him
directly:

"Well, sir," said he, with a sardonic smile, "are you convinced that the
struggling shadows on yonder blind were children of your heated fancy?"

"No," said Denzil stoutly, "I am not!"

"Yet you have seen that there is no one in the house!"

"Mr. Berwin," said Lucian, after a moment's thought, "you propose a
riddle which I cannot answer, and which I do not wish to answer. I
cannot explain what I saw to-night, but as surely as you were out of
this house, some people were in it. How this affects you, or what reason
you have for denying it, I do not ask. Keep your own secrets, and go
your own way. I wish you good-night, sir," and Lucian moved towards the
door.

Berwin, who was holding a full tumbler of rich, strong port, drank the
whole of it in one gulp. The strong liquor reddened his pallid face and
brightened his sunken eyes; it even strengthened his already sonorous
voice.

"At least you can inform my good neighbours that I am a peaceful man,
desirous of being left to lead my own life," he said urgently.

"No, sir! I will have nothing to do with your business. You are a
stranger to me, and our acquaintance is too slight to warrant my
discussing your affairs. Besides," added Lucian, with a shrug, "they do
not interest me."

"Yet they may interest the three kingdoms one day," said Berwin softly.

"Oh, if they deal with danger to society," said Denzil, thinking his
strange neighbour spoke of anarchistic schemes, "I would----"

"They deal with danger to myself," interrupted Berwin. "I am a hunted
man, and I hide here from those who wish me ill. I am dying, as you
see," he cried, striking his hollow chest, "but I may not die quickly
enough for those who desire my death."

"Who are they?" cried Lucian, rather startled by this outburst.

"People with whom you have no concern," replied the man sullenly.

"That is true enough, Mr. Berwin, so I'll say good-night!"

"Berwin! Berwin! Ha! ha! A very good name, Berwin, but not for me. Oh,
was there ever so unhappy a creature as I? False name, false friend, in
disgrace, in hiding! Cur