“The wound was through, the throat, it is said,” said Miss Grainger. “But how confused the whole story is. Who is Barnard, and why did Calvert fight to save Barnard’s honour?” “No, aunt. It was to rescue Mr. Graham’s, the man who was about to marry Sophia Calvert.” “Not at all, Milly. It was Graham who shot Barnard; and then poor Calvert, horrified at his friend’s fate--” Calvert never waited for more. He saw that there was that amount of mistake and misunderstanding, which required no aid on his part, and now nothing remained but to present himself suddenly before them as a fugitive from justice seeking shelter and protection. The rest he was content to leave to hazard. A sharp ring at the door-bell was scarcely answered by the servant, when the man came to the drawing-room door, and made a sign to Miss Grainger. “What is it, Giacomo? What do you mean?” she cried. “Just one moment, signora; half a minute here,” he said. Well accustomed to the tone of secrecy assumed by Italians on occasions the least important, Miss Grainger followed him outside, and there, under the glare of the hall-lamp, stood Calvert, pale, his hair dishevelled, his cravat loosened, and his coat-sleeve torn. “Save me! hide me!” said he, in a low whisper. “Can you--will you save me?” She was one not unfitted to meet a sudden change; and, although secretly shocked, she rallied quickly, and led him into a room beside the hall “I know all,” said she. “We all knew it was your name.” “Can you conceal me here for a day--two days at furthest?” “A week, if you need it.” “And the servant--can he be trusted?” “To the death. I’ll answer for him.” “How can you keep the secret from the girls?” “I need not; they must know everything.” “But Florence; can she--has she forgiven me?” “Yes, thoroughly. She scarcely knows about what she quarrelled with you. She sometimes fears that she wronged you; and Milly defends you always.” “You have heard--you know what has happened to me?” “In a fashion: that is, we only know there has been a duel. We feared you had been wounded; and, indeed we heard severely wounded.”