"The house must be searched. He may be concealed within it," said Captain Woolfe. "Show me to the upper rooms," he added to the host. "Readily," replied Kilvert. "And should you discover him, I will be content to take his place, and that I would not do for a thousand pound. This way, captain! this way!" As soon as they were gone, Dame Gives exclaimed, distractedly: "Cruel and ungrateful man! Is this the way you reward me? In my desire to serve you, I have destroyed poor Urso." "You ought to thank me for ridding you of such a miscreant," rejoined Careless. "You do not seem to comprehend the magnitude of his offence." "Yes, I do comprehend it," she rejoined. "I regard the crime with horror. But I am his wife. Save him! save him!" "Impossible!" exclaimed Careless. "I would not save him if I could. I am sorry for you, Mary, but I cannot feel the slightest compassion for the villain you have married. It pains me that his arrest cannot be accomplished without your taking part in it." "Oh! that I could warn him of his danger," she exclaimed. "If I could only give him a signal!" "The signal would be useless," said Careless. "A guard is posted outside." "But he will not enter from the street!" she cried. "The door at the back is left open. I must fasten it." And she would have rushed forth to execute her design if Careless had not prevented her. "I cannot allow you to stir, Mary," he said, detaining her. She besought him to let her go, but he refused. Just then, footsteps were heard in the passage. "Ah, he is here!" she exclaimed. Next moment Urso Gives entered the room, and started on beholding his wife and Careless together. By an instant and rapid retreat he might, perhaps, have escaped, for the way was then clear, but yielding to a sudden impulse of jealous fury, he drew a pistol and fired. His aim was Careless, but the shot took effect on his wife, who was slightly wounded in the arm. Uttering a scream, she would have fallen if Careless had not caught her and placed her in a chair. The report of the pistol brought Captain Woolfe and Kilvert into the room, and in another moment the guard rushed in from the street. Urso, who attempted no resistance, was seized and secured. "Is this the man you seek, Major Careless?" asked Captain Woolfe. "Ay, this is the accursed traitor," was the reply. "And now he would have added murder to his other crimes." "I should be satisfied if I had slain thee," rejoined Urso, fiercely. "I have wrongs enough to avenge." "Search him to see that he hath no concealed weapons," said Careless. "He shall then be taken to the Commandery, in order that his majesty may interrogate him." "I know well what my doom will be, and am prepared for it," said Urso. "Before I am taken hence let me look for the last time upon my wife." Careless signed to the guard to bring him forward.