But the thin shrill screaming continued till the little red face grew livid and wrinkled almost beyond resemblance to its kind; then Musk relinquished his futile scrutiny, and signed to his wife to resume the walking, but himself remained in the room. And he leant on his stick as he had leant on it at the funeral; but here in his house he wore his hat; and from under its broad brim he followed them, backward and forward, to and fro, with smouldering eyes. "Do you know what I've vowed?" he presently went on. "Do you know the oath I took, there at that open grave, when all the tomfoolery was over, and that Jesuit jerry-builder had taken his hook?" "I'm sure I don't," sighed Mrs. Musk, as the child lay once more still against her withered bosom. "I stood there," said Jasper, "and I swore I'd find the man. And I swore I'd tear his heart out when I've found him. And I'll do both!" His voice rose so swiftly to so fierce a pitch that the woman started violently, and the infant wailed again. Instantly the room shook, and with one stride, paid for by a spasm of pain, the husband towered above the wife; and this time it was a heavy hand upon her shrunk and shrinking shoulder that put a stop to the walk. "Do _you_ know who it is?" he cried. "My God, I believe you do!" "I don't, indeed!" "She never told you?" "God knows she did not." "Or anybody else?" "I don't know." "But you think--you think! I see it in your face. Who is it you think she may have told? I'll soon find out from him or her; trust me to wring that out!" For answer, the woman subsided in sobs upon the horsehair sofa, rocking herself and the baby in her grief and terror. "You'll be that angry with me," she moaned; "you'll be right mad!" "Oh, no, I sha'n't," said Musk, in a kindlier voice. "I'm not so bad as all that, though this do fare to make a man crazy. Tell away, old woman, and don't you be afraid." "Oh, Jasper, it was when you were gone to Lakenhall for the doctor--that last time!" "Well?" "She knew the end was near. Poor thing! Poor thing!" "What did she say?" "That she'd die more happier if only she could speak--if only I would send----" "Not for Carlton?" The wife could only nod in her fear and desperation. "You sent for that man the moment my back was turned?" "Oh, I knew that'd make you right wild--I knew--I knew!" Musk controlled himself by an effort. "That don't. That sha'n't. I'll have it out of him, that's all; he's not the Church o' Rome yet! Go on. Go on." "I went myself. No one knew. I left her alone time I was gone." "And you brought him back with you?" "Well, he got here first. He ran all the way." "He knew better than to let me catch him. Jesuit! How long was he with her?" "Not long, Jasper, not long indeed!" "And you heard nothing?" "Not a word. I stayed downstairs. I had to promise her that before I went. She had something to say to Mr. Carlton that nobody else must know."