The time came at last; the moonlight streamed pale and uncertain through the casement; no sound broke the stillness, even the wind had ceased its moaning. He could go forth now without fear of discovery. He could go forth, but to what? His very inability to form an idea of the discoveries he might make, increased the fever of his impatience. He could wait no longer--not a moment--not a second. He opened the door and crept cautiously through the gallery, down stairs into the lower hall, undid the fastenings of the outer door and passed on to the veranda. The garden tools were some of them in a closet in the area; he went down the steps, opened the door, took out a spade and hurried towards the cypress tree. There he was, standing under the moaning branches, his head bare, digging wildly and aimlessly about the roots, peering at every lump of earth with his insane gaze, ready to believe that he had at last come upon that nameless thing for which he sought. And while he dug furiously into the earth, Elizabeth Mellen knelt by the window-seat watching him; and Elsie lay upon the floor, so utterly prostrated that she could only cry out to Elizabeth at intervals in her sharp, discordant voice: "Is he there yet--is he there?" "Still there," she answered. "What is he doing?" "Digging, digging! He is on the wrong side of the tree." Elsie gave a sigh of relief. "No, no," continued Elizabeth; "he stops to throw the earth back--he is going farther round." "Has he found the place--has he?" "Not yet." Elsie could not even groan; her breath came in quick gasps; her hands tore madly at the carpet, but Elizabeth leaned motionless against the window-sill, watching always with that strained gaze. "Where is he now, Bessie?" "He has not reached it--he is near! No! he is digging again--he has not found the place." "If we could only stop him," cried Elsie, roused to new courage. "If I opened my window and called out." "Too late, too late!" "But he will find it--he will find it!" "Then God help me, I can do no more!" Elsie sprang up with another shriek. "You'll tell--you'll tell! I know you will give way--and Grant will murder you--murder us all." Elizabeth caught the frantic creature in her arms, and forced her back on the couch. "Lie still," she said. "Let me go, I say--let me go! I want to die--I won't live after he finds you out. I'll kill you, Elizabeth, if you don't let me go." But Elizabeth held her firmly in spite of her insane struggles, crying out: "It is nothing to you--you have no cause to fear. You are mad, mad! I tell you the trouble is mine; whatever comes falls on my head; be still, Elsie." "You promise. Swear it--swear not to bring my name in." "I have sworn and I will keep my oath," returned Elizabeth. "Disgrace, infamy, death--I will bear them all alone. What should I gain by dragging you down with me?"