Just then Carriston returned. I don't want to raise home tempests, yet I must say he was accompanied by the most beautiful creature my eyes have ever lighted upon. True, she was pale as a lily--looked thin and delicate, and her face bore traces of anxiety and suffering, but for all that she was beautiful--too beautiful for this world, I thought, as I looked at her. She was clinging in a half-frightened, half-confiding way to Carriston, and he--happy fellow!--regardless of our presence, was showering down kisses on her sweet pale face. Confound it! I grow quite romantic as I recall the sight of those lovers. A most curious young man, that Carriston! He came to us, the lovely girl on his arm, without showing a trace of his recent excitement. "Let us go now," he said, as calmly as if he had been taking a quiet evening drive. Then he turned to me. "Do you think, Mr. Fenton, you could without much trouble get the dog-cart up to the house?" I said I would try to do so. "But what about these people?" asked Brand. Carriston gave them a contemptuous glance. "Leave them alone," he said. "They are but the tools of another--him I cannot touch. Let us go." "Yes, yes. But why not verify your suspicions while you can?" Just like Brand! He's always wanting to verify everything. In searching for the key we had found some papers on our prisoner. Brand examined them, and handed to Carriston an envelope which contained what looked like bank-notes. Carriston glanced at it. "The handwriting is, of course, disguised," he said, carelessly; "but the postmark shows whence it came. It is as I always told you. You agree with me now?" "I am afraid I must," said Brand, humbly. "But we must do something about this man," he continued. Hereupon Carriston turned to our prisoner. "Listen, you villain," he said. "I will let you go scot-free if you breathe no word of this to your employer for the next fortnight. If he learns from you what has happened before that time, I swear you shall go to penal servitude. Which do you choose?" I pulled out the gag, and it is needless to say which the fellow chose. Then I went off, and recovered the horse and cart. I relighted the lamps, and with some difficulty got the dog-cart up to the house, Carriston having exactly anticipated the events of the night. The parcel he had brought with him contained a bonnet and a thick, warm cloth cloak. His beautiful friend was equipped with these; then leaving the woman of the house to untie her husband at her leisure and pleasure, away we started; the doctor sitting by me; Carriston and the lady behind. We just managed to catch the last train from C----. Not feeling sure as to what form inquiries might take to-morrow, I thought it better to go up to town with my friends; so, as we passed through Midcombe, I stopped, paid my bill, and gave instructions for my luggage to be forwarded to me. By six o'clock the next morning we were all in London. DR. BRAND IN CONCLUSION.