Still we did not get along so fast as in the early part of the evening; it would have been cruel to take unfair advantage of Sophy's indomitable spirit; the girl would have walked till she dropped, and I had some consideration for her. Therefore it was that we did not reach the middle of Deering Woods till past ten, by which time the moon had risen. When I was not talking to Sophy my mind was occupied by the task upon which I had been engaged. Since my first introduction to the Mystery of M. Felix a great deal had been accomplished. The mystery has been practically solved, although the public were not yet in possession of the facts. Emilia's agony was over, as I believed, for my wildest dreams would not have compassed what was to occur during the next few weeks; she had been fortunate in gaining a champion so noble and generous as M. Bordier, and her daughter's happiness was assured. I could understand now her anxiety as to M. Bordier's silence since his discovery of the copy of the marriage certificate, and I divined his reason for it. With a horror of publicity, and out of regard for her, he did not wish her to become acquainted with his and his son's arrest until he himself informed her of it, and he entertained a hope that the report of the case would not get into the London papers. I also now understood her anxious references to M. Julian's state of health; they bore upon his failing sight, to restore which he and his father had come to London. The young man had been imprudent, but I trusted to Mr. Wordsworth's assurances that he could make a cure of him if Julian would abide by his instructions. I had no doubt, now that Emilia's good name was established, that Julian would submit to the guidance of this eminent oculist, whose heart was as kind as his skill was great. So far, all was well, but I was not satisfied; I could not consider my task accomplished till I had brought Dr. Peterssen and M. Felix to the bar of justice and restored to Emilia's arms the husband she believed she had lost in Switzerland. Sophy broke in upon my musings. "Is there a man in the moon?" she asked. "They say so," I answered, lightly. "I see 'is face," said Sophy, "as plain as plain can be." We were near the fallen cliffs as these words passed between us, and before I had time to utter another my attention was arrested by the sound of a shot. "What's that?" cried Sophy. "A gun or pistol fired," I replied, "and not far off." "I don't mean the firing," said Sophy, "I mean the scream. Didn't yer 'ear it?" "No, Sophy, no scream reached my ears." "It reached mine. I can 'ear anything, if it's in the next street." "Was it after or before the shot?" I asked. "About the same time, I think. They come both together." "Let us go and see what it is, if you're not afraid."