"All right, Mr. Drelincourt. You'll excuse me, sir, I'm sure, but duty is duty." With that he shut the door, turned on his heel, and strode back to his post in the entrance hall. Drelincourt went back to the easy chair and seated himself on one of its low, broad arms. His features were tense and drawn, but his marvelous command over himself was in no wise shaken. "How the evening sun lights up that window and brings out the motto of my ancestors: _J'espère toujours. Tojours j'espère!_ Who shall dare to sound the depths of infinite compassion? Even for such as I there may be hope. 'Swift and painless' were the Italian doctor's words when he gave me this." He was gazing at the vial, which lay in the palm of his hand. "Now to find out whether he spoke the truth!" With that he stood up and put the unstoppered vial to his lips. CHAPTER XIV. WITH ALL SPEED. On quitting Fairlawn, which they did together after their interview with Drelincourt, Sir John Musgrave and Mr. Ormsby parted at the park gates, each going his own way. The baronet took the road to Sunbridge, and, picking up a brother magistrate en route, drove with him direct to the jail. There Roden Marsh was at once summoned before them, and having been severely lectured for his insane act, was forthwith ordered to be set at liberty. Mr. Drelincourt's voluntary confession that he, and he alone, was the guilty person obviated all necessity for Rodd's further confinement. He left the jail fearing the worst, his heart tortured with anxiety of the most poignant kind. His proffered sacrifice had been contemned, and, so far as he could judge, had merely been the means of precipitating a catastrophe to avert which he would willingly have given his life's blood. His one burning desire just now was to reach Fairlawn with all possible speed. That his being there would avail to dissuade Felix from his rash purpose he greatly doubted, but not willingly would he throw away the faintest chance. Perhaps, even now, he might be too late! The jail at Sunbridge was little more than a stone's cast from the railway station, and no sooner was the grim portal shut behind him than he hurried off to the latter, with the intention of hiring a cab in which to be driven to Fairlawn. It was growing dark by this time, and the station lamps were being lighted one by one. A train had arrived a few minutes earlier, and every cab but one had been engaged. Towards this one he now made his way, but only reached it in time to see the door banged by the driver, and to find that it had already an occupant. With a muttered anathema, he glanced inside the cab, and then, not a little to his surprise, saw that the person about to be driven off in it was none other than Mrs. Jenwyn. The same instant it struck him that if her destination was Wyvern Towers, the one cab would serve the purpose of both. It appeared that the recognition had been mutual, and, in point of fact, Mrs. Jenwyn was the first to speak.