"As I tell you, my dear Archie, it was a question of a quarter of an hour." "When I got there the house was in commotion. They had found her lying in the hall, as you had left her. She was regaining consciousness as I arrived. When she saw me she made me stoop down and she whispered to me. She told me that it was you who had done it, and that you did it just as she was starting to save you." "She has, perhaps, her own notions of salvation." "I think she meant it. She said she was coming to warn you against a man named Haines." "Haines? Indeed! That is the second time I have been warned against a man named Haines. By the way, I have just come from Horseferry Road. Pendarvon has given the show away." "Pendarvon?" "Yes, Pendarvon. He has, what I believe old-fashioned thieves used to call, blown the gaff. The place is in the hands of the police. I escaped up the chimney. I expect that the gentlemen in blue will soon be here. I have no doubt that already they have missed me and are hot upon my trail." "Reggie!" In Lord Archibald's voice there was something which sounded very like a sob. "Don't worry about me, dear boy. For me, anyhow, all things are over. You'll be all right. After all, it was lucky for you that I was first upon the scene." Having paused, he added, "Tell her, when she is all right again, as you seem to think she will be, that I am sorry I did it. She should have left me a wider option." "I don't believe she means to give you away. When the policemen asked her who had done it she said that the man was a stranger to her. She had never seen him in her life before." "Did she, indeed? How very odd! They tell you not to trust a woman. My experience teaches me not to trust a man. One thing I do regret. I should have liked to have killed Pendarvon. Archie, I want you to do me a favour--to take a message." "To whom?" "To Miss Jardine. Will you do it?" "Yes." The speaker's voice was even more husky than before. Mr. Townsend scribbled a few words on a page of his pocket-book. Tearing out the leaf, he handed it to Lord Archibald Beaupré. "Give her that. Not necessarily at once, but some time when the thing's all over. And tell her----" He stopped; then, with a smile, went on, "Yes, tell her that I loved her, but that already, when my love for her was born, it was too late." "I'll tell her. What are you going to do yourself?" "Do? Wait; they'll soon be here. I have one or two matters which will occupy me till they come. Good-bye." He held out his hand. The other grasped it in his own. "By ----, Reggie, I had almost sooner that it had been I." "Don't be an ass, dear boy. Slip across the water till the wind has blown a little of the dust away." He nodded, moved quickly across the pavement, and disappeared into the house. Lord Archibald Beaupré was left standing in the street, clutching the sheet of paper tightly in his hand.