Alix's bedroom door opened and closed. Mrs. Strong was still looking in astonishment up the staircase. "I--she's pretty badly upset, Mr. Thane," she said at last. "That face in the window,--and everything." "Good Lord,--you don't mean to say you saw him?" "Yes,--looking in that window over there. Only for a second. You must have scared him away." "Then, by George, you can identify him!" "He had a mask on. Didn't you see his face?" "No. It was dark. Masked, you say. That's bad. It will be hard to swear--Still, I saw his figure. Short, heavy fellow. Wore a cap." She continued to look anxiously up the stairs. "Wait here," she said shortly. "I must go up to her. Go to the kitchen if you like, and wash the blood off. I'll be back in a jiffy." He waited till she was out of sight, and then limped into the living-room,--but with a swiftness incredible in one with a twisted knee. Going direct to the fireplace, he took something out of his coat pocket and, after a glance at door and window, quickly consigned it to the flames. A small black object it was, that crumpled softly in his palm and was consumed in a flash by the flames. A moment later he entered the kitchen, bringing consternation to the two excited domestics, both of whom sent up cries of alarm at the sight of his bloody face. Meanwhile Mrs. Strong had surprised Alix in her bathroom, frantically washing her hands. She looked up and saw the housekeeper standing in the door behind her. The bowl was half full of reddish water. The expression of disgust in her eyes remained for a moment and then gave way to confusion. Neither spoke for some time. "What are you doing?" asked Mrs. Strong. "Oh, Aunt Nancy!" came in a choked voice from the girl's lips. "Is that blood?" "Yes," replied Alix, looking away. "I--I understand. Oh, Alix,--Alix!" "I don't know what made me do it,--I couldn't help myself. I--Oh, it was terrible! I don't love him,--I don't love him! As long as I live,--as long as I live, I shall never forget it. I shall never know anything like it again. I could feel my soul being dragged out of my body,--Oh, Aunt Nancy! What am I to do? What is to become of me?" "There's only one thing for you to do now," said the other, slowly, levelly. "Stay in this room. Lock the door. Don't see him again. Keep away from him. He's--he's bad, Alix!" "But he is not a coward!" cried the girl eagerly. "He followed that man, he chased him, he was shot at,--that is not what a coward would do. Addison Blythe is mistaken. Those men are mistaken. He--" "I hear people downstairs,--and out in the yard. You must obey me, Alix. You must not see him again tonight. God in heaven, what kind of a spell has he cast upon you? The spell of the devil! Child, child,--don't you understand? That's what it is. The spell that makes women helpless! Stay here! I will send Hilda up to you."