the keys of the two other doors of communication were in the possession of Mr. Gale. They accordingly permitted Dexter to go into the study. He closed the door (the door that opened on the corridor), and remained absent for some time-in the study as the men supposed; in the bedchamber as we know, from what he let out at his interview with you. Now, he could enter that room, as you rightly imagine, in but one way-by being in possession of the missing key. How long he remained there, I cannot discover. The point is of little consequence. The servant remembers that he came out of the study again "as pale as death," and that he passed on without a word, on his way back to his own room.

'These are facts. The conclusion to which they lead is serious in the last degree. It justifies everything that I confided to you in my office at Edinburgh. You remember what passed between us. I say no more.

'As to yourself next. You have innocently aroused in Miserrimus Dexter a feeling towards you, which I need not attempt to characterize. There is a certain something—I saw it myself-in your figure, and in some of your movements, which does recall the late Mrs. Eustace to those who knew her well, and which has evidently had its effect on Dexter's morbid mind. Without dwelling further on this subject, let me only remind you that he has shown himself (as a consequence of your influence over him) to be incapable, in his moments of agitation, of thinking before he speaks, while he is in your presence. It is not merely possible, it is highly probable, that he may betray himself far more seriously than he has betrayed himself yet, if you give him the opportunity. I owe it to you (knowing what your interests are) to express myself plainly on this point. I have no sort of doubt that you have advanced one step nearer to the end which you have in view, in the brief interval since you left Edinburgh. I see in your letter (and in my discoveries) irresistible evidence that Dexter must have been in secret communication with

the deceased lady (innocent communication, I am certain, so far as she was concerned), not only at the time of her death, but probably for weeks before it. I cannot disguise from myself, or from you, my own strong persuasion that, if you succeed in discovering the nature of this communication, in all human likelihood you prove your husband's innocence by the discovery of the truth. As an honest man, I am bound not to conceal this. And, as an honest man also, I am equally bound to add that, not even with your reward in view, can I find it in my conscience to advise you to risk what you must risk, if you see Miserrimus Dexter again. In this difficult and delicate matter, I cannot, and will not, take the responsibility. The final decision must rest with yourself. One favour only I entreat you to grant-let me hear what you resolve to do as soon as you know it yourself.'

The difficulties which my worthy correspondent felt were no difficulties to me. I did not possess Mr. Playmore's judicial mind. My resolution (come what might of it) to see Miserrimus Dexter again, was settled before I had read his letter to the end.

The mail to France crossed the frontier the next day. There was a place for me under the protection of the conductor, if I chose to take it. Without consulting a living creature-rash as usual, headlong as usual-I took it.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ON THE JOURNEY BACK.

IF I had been travelling homeward in my own carriage, the remaining chapters of this narrative would never have been written. Before we had been an hour on the road, I should have called to the driver, and should have told him to turn back.

Who can be always resolute?

In asking that question, I speak of the women, not of the men. I had been resolute in turning a deaf ear to Mr. Playmore's doubts and cautions; resolute in holding out against my mother in law; resolute in taking my place by the French mail. Until ten minutes after we had driven away from the inn my courage held out-and then it failed me; then I said to myself, 'You wretch, you have deserted your husband!' For hours afterwards, if I could have stopped the mail, I would have done it. I hated the conductor, the kindest of men. I hated the Spanish ponies that drew us, the cheeriest animals that ever jingled a string of bells. I hated the bright day that would make things pleasant, and the bracing air that forced me to feel the luxury of breathing, whether I liked it or not. Never was a journey more miserable than my safe and easy journey to the frontier! But one little comfort helped me to bear my heart-ache resignedly-a stolen morsel of Eustace's hair. We had started at an hour of the morning when he was still sound asleep. I could creep into his room, and kiss him, and cry over him softly, and cut off a stray lock of his hair, without danger of discovery. How I summoned resolution enough to leave him is, to this hour, not clear to my mind. I think my mother-in-law must have helped me, without meaning to do it. She came into the room with an erect head, and a cold eye: she said, with an unmerciful emphasis on the word, 'If you mean to go, Valeria, the carriage is here.' Any woman with a spark of spirit in her would have meant it under those circumstances. I meant it-and did it.

And then I was sorry for it. Poor humanity!

Time has got all the credit of being the great consoler of afflicted mortals. In my opinion, Time has been over-rated in this matter. Distance does the same beneficent work, far more speedily, and (when assisted by Change) far more effectually as well. On the railroad to Paris, I became capable of taking a sensible view of my position. I could now remind mysel

that my husband's reception of me-after the first surprise and the first happiness had passed away-might not have justified his mother's confidence in him. Admitting that I ran a risk in going back to Miserrimus Dexter, should I not have been equally rash, in another way, if I had returned, uninvited, to a husband who had declared that our conjugal happiness was impossible, and that our married life was at an end? Besides, who could say that the events of the future might not yet justify me-not only to myself, but to him? I might yet hear him say, 'She was inquisitive when she had no business to inquire; she was obstinate when she ought to have listened to reason; she left my bedside when other women would have remained: but in the end she atoned for it allshe turned out to be right!'

I rested a day at Paris, and wrote three letters.

One to Benjamin, telling him to expect me the next evening. One to Mr. Playmore, warning him in good time, that I meant to make a last effort to penetrate the mystery at Gleninch. One to Eustace (of a few lines only), owning that I had helped to nurse him through the dangerous part of his illness; confessing the one reason which had prevailed with me to leave him; and entreating him to suspend his opinion of me, until time had proved that I loved him more dearly than ever. This last letter I enclosed to my mother-in-law; leaving it to her discretion to choose the right time for giving it to her son. I positively forbade Mrs. Macallan, however, to tell Eustace of the new tie between us. Although he had separated himself from me, I was determined that he should not hear of it from other lips than mine. Never mind why! There are certain little matters which I must keep to myself; and this is one of them.

My letters being written, my duty was done. I was free to play my last card in the game-the darkly-doubtful game which was neither quite for me, nor quite against me, as the chances now stood.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

ON THE WAY TO DEXTER.

'I DECLARE to Heaven, Valeria, I believe that monster's madness is infectious-and you have caught it!'

This was Benjamin's opinion of me (on my arrival at the villa); after I had announced my intention of returning Miserrimus Dexter's visit, in his company.

Being determined to carry my point, I could afford to try the influence of mild persuasion. I begged my good friend to have a little patience with me. I have already told you,' I added. to me to see Dexter again.'

'And do remember what 'It is of serious importance

See him again?' Benjamin after he grossly insulted

I only heaped fuel on the fire. repeated, indignantly. See him, you, under my roof, in this very room? I can't be awake; I must be asleep and dreaming.'

It was wrong of me, I know. But Benjamin's virtuous indignation was so very virtuous that it let the spirit of mischief loose in me. I really could not resist the temptation to outrage his sense of propriety, by taking an audaciously liberal view of the whole matter.

'Gently, my good friend, gently!' I said. 'We must make allowances for a man who suffers under Dexter's infirmities, and lives Dexter's life. And really we must not let our modesty lead us beyond reasonable limits. I begin to think that I took rather a prudish view of the thing myself, at the time. A woman who respects herself, and whose whole heart is with her husband, is not so very seriously injured when a wretched crippled creature is rude enough to put his arm round her waist. Virtuous indignation (if I may venture to say so) is sometimes very cheap indignation. Besides, I have