Late that evening came Lord Elmscott to see me, and asked me with a concern which I little expected, after his curt desertion of a few hours agone, what dispute had arisen between Marston and myself. I told him as much as I could without revealing the ground of our quarrel; that Marston had certain knowledge concerning myself which he was minded to impart to Countess Lukstein; that I was fully sensible the Countess ought to be informed of the matter, but that I wished to carry the information myself; that I doubted Marston would not speak the truth, but would distort the story to suit his own ends. The rest of the events I related to him in the order in which they had occurred. "But it may be," he objected, "that Marston has really fallen sick." For reply, I handed him the stick of wood, and told him how it had been delivered. "The fellow's cunning," he observed, "for not only is he out of your reach, but he locks your mouth. You cannot urge that a man refuses to meet you when he lies abed with a fever, and you cannot prove that the sickness is feigned." For awhile he sat silent, drumming with his fingers on the table. Then he asked: "How comes it that Marston knows of this secret?" "His sister must have told him," I replied. "His sister!" he repeated. "Why, you never met her before this month." "I told her on the first occasion that I met her. She was in some measure concerned in it." He looked at me shrewdly. "She was engaged to Sir Julian Harnwood," said he. I nodded assent. He brought his fist down on the table with a bang. "The trouble springs from that cursed journey of yours to Bristol. I warned you harm would come of it. Had Lady Tracy any reason to fear you?" "None," I replied promptly. "Or any reason to fear Countess Lukstein?" "None," I replied again; but after a moment's thought I added: "But she did fear her. I am sure of it." He sprang to his feet. "Three days!" he cried. "Three days! We may yet outwit him." "How?" I asked, with the greatest eagerness. "I'll not tell you now. 'Tis no more than a fancy. Wait you here your three days. Keep a strict watch on Marston's house. 'Tis unlikely that he will move before the time, since he would rather you spared him the telling of the story; but there's no trusting him. On Thursday I will come to you here before midnight; so wait for me, unless, of course, Marston leaves before then. In that case, follow him, but send word here of your direction. You must be wary; the fellow's cunning, and may get free from his house in some disguise."