informed her that the marriage was a bogus marriage from beginning to end--that he was, in fact, already married. He said he wished to have nothing more to do with her, and gave her a bank-note for a thousand pounds to solace her wounded feelings, which bank-note she flung into the fire. You may ask why this man was not prosecuted for bigamy. I will tell you. The matter was kept quiet in order to spare the feelings of my poor deluded Juana. Think what the trial would have meant to her. I myself arranged with the priest and one or two other officials that the whole thing should be buried in oblivion. I had reserved my own punishment for the villain who thus escaped the law. To proceed, Juana had two children--twins. They were named Juana and Teresa. Shortly after their birth their mother died. But before she died--on her death-bed--I married her. I had begged to do so before, but she had declined. I swore to her that I would regard Juana and Teresa as my own children, but of my intended vengeance against her murderer I said nothing. Hers was a gentle heart, and she might have put me on my oath to abandon that vengeance. From the day of her death I lived for nothing save the punishment of a villain. It was my one thought. I subordinated everything to it. It made my temper uncertain; it involved me in endless difficulties; it estranged me from my dear one’s elder daughter, and often I felt that I was harsh to Teresa, my favourite and the last-born. But I could not do otherwise. I was a monomaniac. I dreamt only of the moment when I should see my enemy at my feet, begging for mercy. That moment has come. He is here. Watch him. He could only be wounded in one place--his pocket. His pocket is the heel of this noble Achilles, and it is his pocket that my sword has pierced.’ With outstretched finger Raphael Craig pointed with passionate scorn at the figure of Simon Lock. ‘Beg for my mercy,’ Craig commanded., And to Richard’s amazement Simon Lock answered: ‘I entreat your mercy, Craig.’ ‘That is well. I am satisfied,’ said Craig. ‘They say that revenge turns to ashes in the mouth. I don’t think it does.’ ‘Mr. Craig,’ said Lock suavely to Richard, ‘has given a highly-coloured account of a somewhat ordinary affair. But to appease him I do certainly ask his mercy. I do admit that he has the upper hand.’ ‘And I will see you eternally damned, Simon Lock,’ said Raphael Craig, ‘before I grant you an ounce of mercy! There is no mercy for such as you, who are never merciful yourselves. I only wanted to hear you beg, that was all. I hadn’t the slightest intention of letting you off.’ Simon Lock got up.