For a moment he stood very still, gazing up at the moon, then, all in a moment, had caught my hand to wring it hard; but the pain of his grip was a joy and the look on his face a comfort beyond words. "I--I Swear it!" said he between quivering lips. "God's love, man, I'd promise you anything to-night! And now--laugh, man, laugh--oh, dammit!" Here he choked and was silent awhile. "Where are you taking me, Anthony? I cannot return to the 'Soaring Lark.'" "Of course not. You're coming with me to 'The Bear' at Hadlow. I have a room there. And you'll promise to be guided by me until this--this cursed affair is over--place yourself and the affair in my hands, Perry?" "Most thankfully." "Then I stipulate for supper and bed as soon as possible." "Very well, Anthony--though I ought to draw up some sort of a will first, oughtn't I?" "Yes, it is customary, dear fellow." "There's my Wildfire, I'll leave him to you--if you'll have him." "Of course--and thank you, Perry." "You'll soon grow to love the rascal in spite of his mischievous tricks--" "I hope to heaven I never have the chance--oh, curse and confound it--don't be so devilish calm and assured. You--you talk as if you were going out to your execution!" "No, no, Anthony," I answered, slipping my hand within his arm, "let us rather say--to my triumph." CHAPTER X TELLS HOW A MYSTERY WAS RESOLVED I opened my eyes on a bleak dawn full of a pallid, stealthy mist, to find myself cramped in my chair before the open lattice and with Anthony bending over me, his comely features haggard in the sickly light. "Ha, you didn't go to bed then?" "Evidently not!" I answered, shivering. "But I slept--" "Well, I did--and never a wink, confound it! And here's you basking before an open window--and on such a perfectly damned morning--have you ill again!" and, shivering in his turn, he proceeded to close the lattice and light the candles. "Pray what o'clock is it, Anthony?" "A quarter to four. I have ordered a chaise to be ready in half an hour; seems this 'Anchor' Inn is some eight miles away--and better be a little early than late." After a somewhat hasty toilet, during which Anthony contrived to cut himself, we descended to find a goodly breakfast and a cheerful fire; but scarcely were we at table than Anthony tugged at the bell rope. "Good morrow to thee, Thomas!" quoth he to the portly and somnolent landlord who responded to the summons. "Chaise will be round soon, I hope?" "Whenever ye do so wish, Mr. Anthony, sir." "Excellent! Then pray, Tom, take hence this stuff!" And he pointed to a bottle at his elbow. "Stuff, sir! Oh, Mr. Anthony--stuff?" exclaimed the landlord in sorrowful reproach, his somnolence forgotten in surprise. "It be brandy, sir--best French--your very own particular--" "Aye, Tom, I know it is, and begad, I'm lusting for a mouthful--that's why I bid you take it away--drink coffee instead, confound it! So hence with it, Thomas--away!"