To the major's surprise, he found that Jaggard had recovered his senses, and although still weak from his accident and long insensibility, he was able to talk fairly well. Jen was puzzled by this sudden--that is, this comparatively sudden--recovery; and he expressed himself somewhat forcibly to the housemaid Anne, who had been watching for so long by the bedside of the sick man. The woman, with the shrewdness of her class, gave her opinion as to its reason. "Ever since that handkerchief has been removed sir," said she, earnestly, "Jaggard has got well. I do believe, sir, that the scent on it kept the poor dear stupid." Another light was let in on Jen's mind. Here was the handkerchief again--perfumed with the devil-stick decoction of poison by Dido, applied by the hand of Etwald, and its design was evidently to keep Jaggard in a state of stupor and prevent him from, making dangerous disclosures. Dido and Etwald once more in partnership. Jen was more convinced than ever that the pair were at the bottom of the whole terrible affair. "I am glad to see that you are better, Jaggard," he said, while standing by the bed. "Yes, sir, thank you, sir," replied the man, in a weak voice. "I'm sorry, sir, but I couldn't help myself. I was drugged, sir." "I guessed as much," said Jen, grimly. "And who drugged you?" "That black devil, Dido, sir," replied Jaggard, faintly. "I guessed as much," said the major once more. CHAPTER XVII. THE STORY OF THE NIGHT. Exhausted by the few words which he had spoken, Jaggard fell back on his pillows in a dead faint. Seeing that further conversation was impossible at the present moment, Jen left the patient to the tender attention of Anne, and withdrew to seek David. He found him in a melancholy mood, pacing up and down the lawn before the window of the smoking-room. On perceiving his guardian, Sarby turned pale, for he thought that Jen had come to continue their previous conversation, and so force his confidence. But the first words of the major at once undeceived him. "Well, David!" said the newcomer, with significance, "I have made one discovery without your help." "A discovery. What is it?" "I know who drugged Jaggard. I have learned who stole the body of Maurice!" "Then you know more than I do," replied David, with all the appearance of truth. "My knowledge extends only to the death; not to the seizure of the body." "And you refuse to aid me," said the major, reproachfully; "well, keep your secret, I may be able to do without your help. But," added Jen, fixing a piercing glance on the young man, "I notice that you do not ask me the name of the person who drugged Jaggard." "Because I guess the name." "Ah!" "Mrs. Dallas," said David, faintly. "It was Mrs. Dallas." Jen drew back a step and looked at his ward with marked surprise. "No," he said, at length. "Mrs. Dallas has had nothing to do with it." "But I thought from what you said of the handkerchief dropped in the room--"