I might multiply hundreds of these minor happenings, and it is not surprising that Mrs. Grier came to regard them as of slight importance, whereas the existing grave situation was not only of recent growth, but its nature and extent had been sedulously kept from her. So, there never was less tangible connection between trivial cause and actual effect than between the mother’s resolve to keep an eye on her son for a day or two and the outcome of that resolution. Examining events in critical review afterwards, I saw that a host of things which might have occurred were diverted from their obvious channels by Mrs. Grier’s interference at that moment. Some of these became clear before many hours had sped. First and foremost of these baffled circumstances--Hooper’s acquaintance with Miss Cazenove was delayed a whole day. Secondly--but here I avail myself of the only chance given me in the course of a singularly straightforward tale to whet the reader’s appetite somewhat by refusing to raise the curtain on the last act of the drama before the penultimate scene has been packed away with the other stage accessories. And, indeed, I am concealing nothing from you in the ordered narration of the story. Mrs. Grier kept the two young men busy all the day, and insisted on Hooper remaining to dinner that evening. She learnt not a word which cleared the puzzle. Hooper and Karl were chiefly reminiscent in their talk. The shrewd American quickly took the cue of his friend’s attitude. Neither by look nor speech did he betray the trust reposed in him. Mrs. Grier twice swung the conversation round to the occupants of the Castello Rondo. She did this neatly and without undue insistence, and quite as cleverly did Hooper express his desire to meet such an exceptionally gifted girl as Maggie Hutchinson was, by all accounts. Dear lady! She remained awake that night until assured that Karl was safe and sound in his room. She was bewildered, but far from alarmed. Yet she knelt and prayed long and earnestly for the welfare of her loved ones, husband and son, and her last conscious words, uttered with trembling lips ere she closed her tear-laden eyes, were:-- “Karl, mein liebchen, Gott befolen!” Little did she dream that she owed her restful sleep to the influence which Karl exerted in her behalf, nor has she ever known the terrible strain she imposed by her well-meant efforts to pierce the mystery which surrounded him. That was mercifully kept from her. Had she ever realized that the long-drawn-out programme she devised in order to distract his mind was really the quickest means to bring him to utter destruction, she would never have forgiven herself. Hooper was on the rack all the time. The signs which an anxious mother interpreted as lassitude and a weariness of spirit were clear evidence to him that Karl was suffering an agony of restraint.