"I swear I'm not!" cried the doctor, with an earnestness there was no mistaking. "And I'm very thankful I'm not. I wouldn't lead the life I've led for the past two weeks for all the women alive. I'm glad you're here, and that the whole thing is knocked in the head." He spoke with the dogged recklessness of a man goaded to desperation. Mollie turned again to her guardian and laid her face on his shoulder. "Send that man away, guardy. His presence in the room turns me sick to death." "I am going, Miss Dane," said Dr. Oleander, turning moodily to the door, "and I shall not go to Cuba. I shall not quit New York. Let you or your guardian prosecute me if you dare!" He stalked out with the last words. No one moved or spoke until the house-door banged after him. Then Mme. Blanche, seeing all was lost, gave one horrible scream, clasped her hands over her head, and fell back in violent hysterics. "Ring for her maid, guardy," said Mollie. "You had best take her up to her room. Sir Roger, Mr. Ingelow, please to remain. Mr. Sardonyx, excuse me, but you have heard all that it is necessary you should hear." The lawyer became angry-red, but turned at once to go. "I have no wish to pry into your very extraordinary secrets or escapades, Miss Dane," he said, haughtily. "Permit me to wish you good-evening." Mr. Sardonyx departed. Mr. Walraven saw his wife safely conveyed to her room and left in charge of her maid, and then returned to the dining-room. Mollie's first act was to hold out both hands, with infinite grace and courtesy, to Hugh Ingelow. "Mr. Ingelow, words are poor and weak to tell you how I thank you. I have not deserved it from you. I can only ask you to try and forgive me." The young artist lifted the fair little hands to his lips. "I am repaid ten thousand-fold," he said, quietly. "I would give my life to serve you." "In the name of Heaven, Mollie," cried the nearly frantic master of the house, "what does all this extraordinary mystery mean?" "It means that a terrible crime has been committed, guardy," Mollie replied, gravely, "and that your wife and her cousin are among the chief conspirators. Sit down and I will tell you the whole story. Sir Roger Trajenna, likewise. I owe you both a full explanation. Mr. Ingelow knows already." She sat down before them, and beginning at the beginning, told them the whole story--her forced and mysterious marriage and its very unpleasant sequel. "That I ever escaped," she concluded, "I owe, under Providence, to Mr. Ingelow. Guardy, I would have spared you if I could; but, you see, it was impossible. Of course, we won't prosecute your wife or her cousin. I am almost satisfied, now, that I know I am not Guy Oleander's wretched wife." "But, heavens above, Mollie Dane!" cried the bewildered Mr. Walraven, "whose wife are you?" "Ah, guardy, I would give a great deal to know that." "Whom do you suspect?" "I suspect no one now."