"God bless you, boy, for what _you've_ done for me and mine. But--where--where are we going?" "Out into the world," said Varney, "where Mary Carstairs is waiting for you and me." "But--but--I feel extremely nervous--does she know?" "She is going to know in about thirty seconds, and we are the three happiest people in America." "I think," said the old man palely, "that she--she likes me--" "In less than a minute," said the young one, "she is going to love you." His voice betrayed him a little on the words, but he instantly recovered his poise, and, hand on the knob, faced the other with his gayest smile. "Tell me, Mr. Higginson--_did_ you skip to New York that afternoon, when Maginnis and I, you know, dashed up here to assassinate you?" "Yes," replied the handsome old intriguer with a nervous cough, "yes, I--you see, it had been reported to me that Mr. Maginnis had threatened to horsewhip me in the public square, after my attempt to buy the paper and save us all from scandal. So naturally, on the afternoon you mention, I--I anticipated trouble. However, I quietly returned to Hunston on the next train back, going, of course, to a different hotel, a most dreadful little place--" Varney shouted. "It's just as Peter said, I declare! You're the noblest plotter of them all, Mr. Higginson. Dear old Hunston will not look upon your like again." The two enemies came out into the corridor arm-in-arm, and advanced in utter amity to the doorway. And as they walked, Varney's tongue unloosed, and he spoke his still incredible happiness aloud: only, because he was not Latin and exuberant, he spoke it according to the indirect uses of his race. "That man we passed standing in the hall--the one with the face of incredulity and chagrin--was old Callery--horribly miffed because you and I failed to lock in mortal combat. He's a fine fellow, Callery is, only I imagine he's had a lot of hard luck. Did you ever see a prettier little hotel than this--I mean, of course, for a town of this size? _Look_! That's the clerk behind the desk there. An amazingly clever fellow--you just ought to have seen how sharp he was in knowing where you were--and that's a _Cypriani_ cigar he's smoking, if you'd like to know. Jim Hackley's house is just over on the other corner--why, you can _see_ it from here. I want you to know Hackley, sir! A great big whimsical fellow with a fist like a ham and a heart like a woman's.... Ah!..." They emerged from the hotel upon the noisy street, still lively with the rush of home-goers; and now the two men stood side by side before the waiting carriage, and Varney's flow of talk had ceased.