Another instant and they were thunderstruck to behold Sir Charles himself staggering toward them like a drunken man. His face was haggard and drawn, as if he had but just recovered from a convulsion; even his lips were white and rigid, while his forehead shone with the clammy moisture which a fierce agony had drawn forth. Isabel sprang forward, with a sharp cry of pain, but he warded her off by a motion of his hand. His mother shrieked. “Oh, Charles, have you heard?” and Mrs. Coolidge shrank back appalled at this unexpected turn of affairs. “Yes,” he said, in a hollow voice, and casting a look of withering contempt upon Isabel. “I see now why you were so anxious to get rid of me. I mistrusted something was not right, and after sending Brown to the village to execute your commission, I came in by the lawn window, as it was nearer. I entered just as Mrs. Dredmond opened the casket of jewels, and instantly a great deal was explained to me. I was so overcome by the discovery that I dropped upon the divan behind the curtains, where I have remained, a silent witness of all that has occurred in this room.” Adrian, deepest sympathy in his face, went to him, and taking his hand, said, with emotion: “Believe me, Charles, God knows I would have saved you from this if I could. You do not deserve it.” He groaned aloud at these words of sympathy; then wringing his hand he dropped it, and advancing to his mother, demanded, in cold, hard tones: “Madam, where is my brother?” “Your brother—oh, my boy!” she began, between her sobs. “Yes, my brother. I demand him at your hands, and may God forgive you for your iniquity—I am afraid I never can.” The shriek which burst from her died suddenly upon her lips, and the look of anguish in her eyes froze into one of terror, as the drawing-room door slowly swung back, revealing a strange picture within its frame—the little, bent form of Lady Ruxley, her old and withered face full of a stern resolve, one hand resting upon her cane, the other upon the arm of Herbert Randal! CHAPTER XLII WOULD HE FORGIVE HER? Lady Ruxley had arranged with one of the servants that she was to be notified whenever Mr. Dredmond and his wife should come. Consequently she had received the intelligence of their arrival almost immediately. She knew that Adrian would make a clean breast of everything, and she reasoned that it would be the best time now for Herbert to be introduced to his brother and their friends, and have his future position in the family established at once.