"In your place," he said quietly, "I should certainly carry out your son's wishes." But as the mother looked into Lingard's fiercely set face, she told herself, with sombre triumph, that her boy was avenged. At the door he turned and faced her. "I cannot help wondering," he said in measured tones, "whether you have heard what has happened at Rede Place? Mrs. Maule took an overdose of chloral last night. She was found dead this morning." Mrs. Kaye was for a moment utterly astounded by the news. Then, quickly gathering herself together, she said in a low dry tone, "I will ask you to believe, General Lingard, that I was ignorant of this--this judgment when I spoke to you just now." Lingard made no answer; he looked all round him like a man who seeks some way of escape. Suddenly there came into his view the figure of Jane Oglander, moving patiently up and down on the road beyond the gate. So she had waited for him.... * * * * * As Mrs. Kaye went down the passage leading to her husband's study, she murmured once or twice, "Vengeance is mine!" It was a comfortable thought that she was alone in the house. She did not consider her husband anyone. "Vengeance is mine!" she repeated the words in a louder tone. And then she went into the rector's study and very quietly told him what she had just heard. Mr. Kaye was truly shocked and grieved. He had always liked Athena. She had always been quite civil to him, and so kind, so remarkably kind, to his dear dead son. He got up and began looking for his hat. He hoped his wife would not interfere, and prevent his doing what he thought right. It was surely his place, as the clergyman of the parish, to go up to Rede Place and offer his sincere condolences to the bereaved husband.