I gave my horse to my groom, Lanty O’Regan, and hurried to my rooms, and took out my pistol-case, as my only luggage. I felt hot, feverish, mad almost, and a goblet of well-iced champagne failed to soothe me. I heard the laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the joviality of the hussar mess ringing through the open windows as I crossed the dark barrack square on my way to the railway station; but when I was about to issue from the main-guard gate Pitblado placed in my hand a little packet, which a mounted servant had just brought for me, and which seemed to contain a little box. Trembling, I opened it by the light of the main-guard lantern, and found it to contain my ring—my famous Rangoon ring—_returned_. I placed it quietly on the finger from whence I had drawn it when at Calderwood Glen, and thanking the sentry who held the lantern with some smiling remark, continued my way to the train, which soon bore me to Maidstone. Though I knew it not, Berkeley was in another compartment of the carriage I occupied. *CHAPTER XXII.* Your words have took such pains, as if they laboured To bring manslaughter into form, set quarrelling Upon the head of valour:— He’s truly valiant that can wisely suffer The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment carelessly, And ne’er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger. If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill, What folly ’tis to hazard life for ill! TIMON OF ATHENS. To write to Lady Louisa a full explanation of the affair was among the first of my resolutions; but would she believe me?—one against whom appearances, already, no doubt, coloured, distorted, and elaborated by Berkeley’s cunning insinuations, were so strong? Without a word of inquiry, or hearing any exculpation, she and Cora had retired together, and with him, under his requested escort. What fatal use would he not make of the time thus given him! On, on went the swift train; but to me even the express seemed a laggard to-night! Alas! that she I loved so deeply should think so meanly of me, as she undoubtedly did now.