Who ne’er has loved, and loved in vain, Can neither feel nor pity pain, The cold repulse, the look askance, The lightning of Love’s angry glance. My curdling blood, my maddening brain, In silent anguish I sustain; And still the heart, without partaking One pang, exults, while mine is breaking. Pour me the poison; fear not, thou! Thou can’st not murder more than now; I’ve lived to curse my natal day And Love, that thus can lingering slay. She retired at an early hour to her bedroom, to weep quietly and to think. No sleep came to her weary, aching brain. The clocks tolled the hour of midnight before Sir Harold came. He stepped about softly, believing that his wife was asleep. Then he pressed a silent kiss upon her lips, and murmured: “Poor Theresa!” The words and the tone rang in her ears to the hour of her death--“Poor Theresa!” It seemed that Sir Harold could find little rest. He was up again at six o’clock, and, after glancing at his wife, was leaving the room, when she held out her arms to him in a childish, loving way. “Kiss me, Harold,” she said. He obeyed, and she whispered: “You will always love poor Theresa a little?” “Can I help doing so, dear one?” he asked. “I should be a brute, unworthy of the name of man, if I did not care for you and protect you forever.” She sighed, and he thought he had never seen her look so lovely before. “At a late hour last night the detective made an appointment to see me at seven o’clock this morning,” he went on. “I cannot rest in consequence, and shall not see you again until breakfast time.” “One more kiss, Harold,” she sighed. “Only one? A hundred, darling, if you want them!” He looked back as he was leaving the room--the last time his eyes rested upon her in life! Poor Theresa! CHAPTER XXV. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. Annesley went to the smoking-room, and read the morning news until the detective came in. Mr. Paul Asbury was punctual to the moment, and there was a gleam of triumph in his eyes that spoke of success and self-confidence. “Good-morning, Sir Harold,” he said. “I must thank you for remaining in London at my request, as your presence will very much simplify matters.” “What news?” demanded Annesley. “I have traced the person who wrote the threatening letter to Lady Annesley, and require further instructions from you.” “Go on.” Sir Harold endeavored to be calm, but his muscles twitched nervously. “Must I take steps to make an arrest?” “Certainly. I mean to make an example of these people. Mr. Asbury, allow me to congratulate you upon your success.” The detective looked away for a moment, then he said: