"Do, my dear son-to-be, hurry on your marriage. You must cable me the moment you get this, when you are likely to arrive, addressing me here, where I shall still be at that time. All our difficulties will end when you are able to hand Garth the million dollars. (I _quite_ understand it would be imprudent to send a cheque or a letter to him. Who knows what desperate thing he might do when he had got the money?) The one safe thing will be a _conversation_, and the money in bonds. Then, as you suggested, you can dictate a document for Garth to sign, compromising to _him_ but not to you. You can also dictate terms--as you would have done from the first, if Marise had not tried to punish you--by punishing _herself_! But oh, let it be soon--soon! The strain is telling upon my nerves--and no doubt the nerves of Marise, though she is singularly reserved with me, I regret to say--one would almost think _sulky_, poor child! "I can't express the pain it gives me to upset you with all these anxieties. But I dared not keep silence, lest you should learn of this journey West, and so on, through some garbled story in the newspapers. You might then think the _worst_; whereas now, you are in the secret of your dear girl's _safety_. No harm will come to her: and thank goodness there will be no tittle-tattle to rouse Mr. Ionides's suspicions! "I presume you will marry your cousin by special licence, so as to hurry things on; and I comfort myself by thinking that before many days all will be _en train_. Perhaps in a fortnight after you reach England you will be arranging to leave again for the benefit of the invalid's health. California is the most wonderful place in the world for a cure. But, of course, the poor OEnone is incurable, and is not likely to be with you on this earth for more than a year or two at worst--I mean, at most. "When you have settled with Garth, he will have no further excuse to assert himself. I shall find a house near Bell Towers, and Marise will come to me. The time of waiting for happiness will pass in the consolation of warm platonic friendship and lovely surroundings. An excuse can be found for Marise's divorce; and Garth will pass out of our lives for ever! "Now I have explained everything as well as I can, and I shall add items of interest each day until time comes for posting my letter. _Au revoir_, dear Tony! Yours, M. S.--the initials you love!" CHAPTER XXV "SOME DAY--SOME WAY--SOMEHOW!" If Zélie Marks had been a malicious girl she could, with a few words through the telephone or on paper, have spoiled at a stroke such few chances of happiness as remained to Garth.