door. He turned slowly round, then sat upright. The little maid ha

ve woke you but for Mrs. Jones-she's got one of her nasty moods on this morning; she says she

" Rupert replied. "She can star

ed at his reflection in the mirror. The action was unconscious, yet, whenever he caught himself doing it he was filled with a vague sense of uneasiness. On his way

ew seconds the writing was blurred by the mist which rose before his eyes. He experienced a sudden, blessed sense of relief. The horror which had haunted him all

ever have written to him nor le

not hiding, that she had not run

nger which threatened him, the possibility of his arr

eakfast-tray, so he took the card to the ba

n; but I'm moving on to-morrow, so if you get this write by return. Tell me how you are and if eve

gn her name or

know that all was well with him and progressing satisfactorily, caused fear to return. He told himself angrily that he was a fool, he knew his suspici

un away and hidden wher

remain undetected and they would escape. In this case she would be the last person anyone would suspect. No one connected with the aff

e postcard in his pocket. It was only the landlady to ask if he had everything he

" he replied, trying to

or two, or will you be returning to

shall go bac

t return home next day. Some dreadful sub-conscious instin

n, then with unsteady hands tore it up and put it into the fi

o have some ulterior motive. He found himsel

without realising the flight of time. The bacon lay untouched on his plate. He nib

did not move. During the night, during the long hours of darkness, he had made up his mind that the woman he loved was guilt

day he began to reason again,

nding by his side; one on the right,

shadow of guilt. That was his duty, because his life was not his own an

thing, she had done it on the inspiration of the moment; love and fear had made her do it. She had found him seated in this very room determined to take his life. She had entered at the critical moment. And whe

sidered herself at all. It was not just because she loved him and wanted to keep him. He rem

to his face. They we

and

et, his nerve had gone. Again the clock chimed the hour

knock on the door and the landlady entered. He noticed that her

. I didn't know what to say. I told them to

at Mrs. Jones and smiled. "I haven't finis

. Rupert looked at them, and he knew

ence. He glanced at Mrs.

can

ly she st

ed. "I'm sure the young gentleman's d

Mrs. Jones.... Shut

n to be seated. One stepped forward. From the breast-pocke

Rupert Al

a warrant--" He

in his ears. The imaginary figures on either side of his chair had grow

warrant for Rupert Allen Dale's arr

the officer had finished. "But

vase of faded flowers, the red roses which Ruby had left for him.... Her thoughts, which she said would always b

es. He set his teeth, telling h

e was nothing for it now but to do it. To do what he felt was

inish my breakfast?

t his watch. "I can g

ed to remain in this room just a few minutes more. Just a common lodging-house room, t

th nor the lodging-house breakfast service, the framed text on the wall "Home, Sweet Home," the cheap etching of one of Landseer's pictures, or the coloured print from the Christmas number of the Illustrated London News. He did not see the hideous wallpaper with its gre

ared his throat

tantly. "Will y

our-wheeled cab, a policeman on the box next the driver, and inside a man sitting very close to a plain-clothes officer, rose b

ghed then at some foo

n now. "Get a taxi-cab

ut of bravado, but prompted by a sentimental whim, perhaps, he dr

I don't suppose you'll

n his arm. "I don't think

nstairs togethe