Mark ran down to the gate, and took the telegram away from little Max, whose mouth trembled piteously at not being allowed to deliver it in person to the pretty English lady, and--scarcely waiting to hear the porter's explanation that as he had to come up to the station he had brought the message with him, knowing that he would probably find the English couple in their favourite retreat--he tore open the envelope as he went up the winding path. The first thing that met him was the heading: _From H. Caffyn, Pillar Hotel, Wastwater_, and he dared not go on. Something very serious must have happened, since Caffyn had sent a telegram! Before he could read further Mabel came down to meet him. 'It _is_ Dolly, then!' she cried as she saw Mark's face. 'Oh, let us go back at once, Mark, let us go back!' 'It's not from home,' said Mark: 'it's private; go up again, Mabel, I will come to you presently.' Mabel turned without a word, wounded that he should have troubles which she might not share with him. When Mark read the telegram he could scarcely believe his eyes at first. Could it really be that the miracle had happened? For the words ran, '_H. of his own accord decided to leave England without further delay. Started yesterday._' That could only mean one thing after what Caffyn had said when they met last. Vincent had gone with Gilroy. In India he would be comparatively harmless; it would be even possible now to carry out some scheme by which the book could be restored without scandal. At last the danger was past! He crumpled up the telegram and threw it away, and then sprang up to rejoin Mabel, whose fears vanished as she met his radiant look. 'I hope I didn't frighten you, darling,' he said. 'It was a business telegram, about which I was getting anxious. I was really afraid to read it for a time; but it's all right, it's good news, Mabel. You don't know what a relief it is to me! And now what shall we do? I feel as if I couldn't stay up here any longer. Shall we go and explore the surrounding country? It won't tire you?' Mabel was ready to agree to anything in her delight at seeing Mark his old self again, and they went up the narrow street of Klein Laufingen, and through the gatehouse out upon the long white tree-bordered main road, from which they struck into a narrow path which led through the woods to the villages scattered here and there on the distant green slopes.