I could see Ray's black eyes flashing. He almost gripped my arm as he drew me away. We three left the house together. At the bottom of the drive we met a carriage sent down from Rowchester. Ray stopped it. "Blenavon and I will take this carriage to the station," he said. "Will you, Ducaine, return to Lady Angela and tell her exactly what has happened?" "Oh, come, I'm not going to have that," Blenavon exclaimed. "It will not be unexpected news," Ray said sternly. "Your sister suspects already." "I'm not going to be bundled away and leave you to concoct any precious story you think fit," Blenavon declared, doggedly. "I--" Ray opened the carriage door and gripped Blenavon's arm. "Get in," he said in a low, suppressed tone. There was something almost animal in the fury of Ray's voice. I looked away with a shudder. Blenavon stepped quietly into the carriage. Then Ray came over to me, and as he looked searchingly into my face, he pointed up the carriage drive. "Boy," he said, "you are young, and in hell itself there cannot be many such as she. You think me brutal. It is because I remember--your mother!" He stepped into the carriage. I turned round and set out for Rowchester. CHAPTER XXV MY SECRET There followed for me another three days of unremitting work. Then midway through one morning I threw my pen from me with a great sense of relief. They might come or send for me when they chose. I had finished. My eyes were hot and my brain weary. Instinctively I threw open my front door, and it seemed to me that the sun and the wind and the birds were calling.