"You cannot trust me, Nino," she cried a moment later. "But you can nevertheless heed one word which I speak in deepest earnest." "Well?" "Leave this house. Do not seek this man, Malvano." "Why?" he inquired, surprised. "He's my friend. We have met once or twice since we shot together in Berkshire." Again she advanced close to him, so close that he felt her breath upon his cheek, and the sweet odour of lilac from her chiffons filled his nostrils. "If you absolutely refuse to tell me the reason you have come here to-night, then I will tell you," she whispered. "You are in fear." "In fear? I don't understand." "You have enemies, and you wish to consult the Doctor with regard to them," she went on boldly. Then, in a voice scarcely audible, she added, whispering into his ear: "You have received warning." He started suddenly, looking at her dismayed. "Who told you? How did you know?" he gasped. "I cannot now explain," she answered breathlessly, still holding his arm in convulsive grasp, panting as she spoke. "It is sufficient for you to know the intention of your enemies, so that you may be forewarned against them." "Then it is actually true that I'm in personal danger!" he cried. "To my knowledge I've never done an evil turn to anybody, and this is all a puzzling enigma. The letter here"--and he drew from his overcoat a note which had been delivered by a boy-messenger at his chambers in Ebury Street--"this letter is evidently written by an Italian, because of the flourish of the capitals: and I came here to-night to ask Malvano the best course to pursue. I'm staying in the neighbourhood, over at Apethorpe." "Then leave at once," she urged earnestly. "Tomorrow, get away by the first train to London, and thence to the Continent again. Take precautions that you are not followed. Go to France, to Germany, to Spain, anywhere out of reach. Then write to me at the Poste Restante, at Charing Cross, and I will come to you." "But why? How do you know all this?" "Look at that letter, Nino," she said in a low, deep tone. "Look once again at the handwriting." He opened it beneath the silk-shaded lamp and scanned it eagerly. "It's yours," he gasped, the truth suddenly dawning upon him. "You yourself have given me this warning!" She nodded. "Tell me why, quickly," he cried, placing his hand upon her shoulder. "Tell me why." "I warned you, Nino," she answered, in a soft, hoarse voice; "I warned you because I love you." "But what have I to fear?" he demanded. "If I'm threatened I can seek protection of the police. To my knowledge I haven't a single enemy." "We all of us blind ourselves with that consolation," she replied. "But listen. Of all men, avoid Malvano. Leave this house at once, and get out of England at the earliest moment. Your enemies are no ordinary ones; they are desperate, and hold life cheap." "But you!" he cried, puzzled. "You are here, in the house of this very man against whom you warn me!"