"Yes," he said. "I got down, or rather fell down, inside the old tower last night, and I have the precious packet in my possession." "Ah," she said. "I do not know whether I should be glad or sorry. If it contains what I suspect, it must mean so much to me in many ways." "It is just for that reason that I stopped to see you," he replied. "I wanted to set your mind at rest." "Then it does not contain incriminating evidence?" she asked. "On the contrary, it puts everyone connected with the plot completely in my power." "But then----" she began. "But then," he continued, taking up her words, "I hope to be able to save your husband from the fruits of his folly." "But is that possible?" "I hope so. I shall tell better after I have seen him. We are to have an interview this morning, and all I can say now is, that you must trust implicitly in me and believe that everything will come out all right in the end." "I am so selfish that your words make me very happy," said Madame Darcy, "when my heart should be filled with sorrow at the troubles of my friend. This discovery must be a sad blow to you." "How do you mean?" he said. "Why, in regard to Miss Fitzgerald." The Secretary bit his lip. "It seems impossible," he said tersely, "for us to have a conversation without introducing her name. Surely by this time you must know----" "I only know what you have told me," she replied. The Secretary started to say something and then thought better of it, and contented himself by remarking:-- "My eyes have been opened a good deal in the last few days, Inez." She reached up and took his hand in hers. "My friend," she said, "I understand." For a moment there was silence between them, and then pulling himself together, he explained that he was on his way to an appointment. So he left her, smiling at him through her tears, for in these few moments Inez De Costa had found great sorrow and great joy. * * * * * The station, a small rustic affair, at which few trains stopped, seemed at first glance to be bare of passengers, and on accosting a porter, the Secretary was informed that he had yet nearly fifteen minutes to wait. "She's in a siding in the next station now, sir, waiting for the London express to pass; it goes through here in about five minutes, and as soon as the line's clear she'll be along."