“I had recognized his step,” continued Mohun, “but I did not move or turn my head, for I had not recovered from my feeling of ill humor toward the faithful retainer. I allowed him to approach me, and then said coldly, without looking at him-- “‘Who is that?’ “‘I, sir,’ said Nighthawk, in a trembling voice. “‘What do you want?’ “‘I wish to speak to you, sir.’ “‘I am not at leisure.’ “‘I _must_ speak to you, sir.’ “I wheeled round in my chair, and looked at him. His pallor was frightful. “‘What does all this mean?’ I said, coldly, ‘this is a singular intrusion.’ “‘I would not intrude upon you, if it was not necessary sir,’ he said, in an agitated voice, ‘but I must speak to you to-night!’ “There was something in his accent which frightened me, I knew not why. “‘Well speak!’ I said, austerely, ‘but be brief!’ “‘As brief as I can, sir; but I must tell you all. If you strike me dead at your feet, I must tell you all, sir!’ “In spite of myself I shuddered. “‘Speak!’ I said, ‘what does this mean, Nighthawk?’ Why do you look like a ghost at me?’ “He came up close to me. “‘What I have to tell you concerns your honor and your life, sir!’ he said, in a low tone. “I gazed at him in speechless astonishment. Was I the prey of some nightmare? I protest to you, Surry, I thought for a moment that I was dreaming all this. A tremor ran through my frame; I placed my hand upon my heart, which felt icy cold--then suddenly my self-possession and coolness seemed to return to me as by magic. “‘Explain your words,’ I said, coldly, ‘there is some mystery in them which I do not understand. Speak, and speak plainly.’ “‘I will do so, sir,’ he replied, in the same trembling voice. “And going to the door of the apartment, he bent down and placed his ear at the key-hole. He remained in this attitude for a moment without moving. Then rising, he went to the window, and drawing aside the curtains, looked out on the chill moonlit expanse. This second examination seemed to satisfy him. At the same instant a light step--the step of madam--was heard crossing the floor of the apartment, above our heads; and this evidently banished Nighthawk’s last fears. “He returned quickly to the seat where I was sitting; looked at me for some minutes with eyes full of fear, affection, sympathy, fright, and said in a voice so low, that it scarce rose above a whisper:--