"You cannot deceive me, Mr. Gryce; you are as sorry for the girl as you can be; and so am I too. By the way, I do not think I should speak of her as a girl. From something she said yesterday I am convinced she is a married woman; and that her husband----" "Well, madam?" "I will not give him a name, at least not before your scheme has been carried out. Are you ready for the undertaking?" "I will be this afternoon. At half-past three she is to leave the house. Not a minute before and not a minute later. Remember." XXXV. A RUSE. It was a new thing for me to enter into any scheme blindfold. But the past few weeks had taught me many lessons and among them to trust a little in the judgment of others. Accordingly I was on hand with my patient at the hour designated, and, as I supported her trembling steps down the stairs, I endeavored not to betray the intense interest agitating me, or to awaken by my curiosity any further dread in her mind than that involved by her departure from this home of bounty and good feeling, and her entrance upon an unknown and possibly much to be apprehended future. Mr. Gryce was awaiting us in the lower hall, and as he caught sight of her slender figure and anxious face his whole attitude became at once so protecting and so sympathetic, I did not wonder at her failure to associate him with the police. As she stepped down to his side he gave her a genial nod. "I am glad to see you so far on the road to recovery," he remarked. "It shows me that my prophecy is correct and that in a few days you will be quite yourself again." She looked at him wistfully. "You seem to know so much about me, doctor, perhaps you can tell me where they are going to take me." He lifted a tassel from a curtain near by, looked at it, shook his head at it, and inquired quite irrelevantly: "Have you bidden good-bye to Miss Althorpe?" Her eyes stole towards the parlors and she whispered as if half in awe of the splendor everywhere surrounding her: "I have not had the opportunity. But I should be sorry to go without a word of thanks for her goodness. Is she at home?" The tassel slipped from his hand. "You will find her in a carriage at the door. She has an engagement out this afternoon, but wishes to say good-bye to you before leaving." "Oh, how kind she is!" burst from the girl's white lips; and with a hurried gesture she was making for the door when Mr. Gryce stepped before her and opened it. Two carriages were drawn up in front, neither of which seemed to possess the elegance of so rich a woman's equipage. But Mr. Gryce appeared satisfied, and pointing to the nearest one, observed quietly: "You are expected. If she does not open the carriage door for you, do not hesitate to do it yourself. She has something of importance to say to you."