"Not a bit, Guest; not a bit. I'm afraid you are right, but I must fight this out." The door was reached and Sir Mark uttered a sigh of relief, for there was no crowd--not a carriage to be seen; and, upon entering the house, it was to find that every friend and visitor had departed. Sir Mark strode in upright and firm, and Guest stopped to say good-bye. "No, no, my lad; don't leave me yet," said the old man. "Come up and face the ladies first." He led the way up into the drawing room, expecting to find Myra prostrate; but there was only one figure to greet him--his sister. The door, however, had hardly closed before Edie, who had been with her cousin, ran into the room flushed and eager. "Where is Myra?" "Lying down, uncle. We--auntie and I--persuaded her to go to her room." "Is she much broken down--much--" "My dear Mark!" cried his sister sharply, "Myra is a sensible girl. Now, then, don't keep us in suspense. Tell me: is it all true about that man?" "Yes, Rebecca--I mean no," cried Sir Mark furiously; "of course not, and I'm going to instruct counsel and--damme, it's some enemy's work. I'll pour such a broadside into him! Why, confound it all!" he cried, as a sudden thought struck him, and he turned to Guest, "this must be some of your friend's work." "Sir Mark!" "Oh, uncle!" "Don't talk stuff, Mark," cried his sister almost at the same moment. "Is it likely? Then it is all true. What an escape! Well, I'm glad it happened when it did." Sir Mark gave a furious stamp on the floor, but turned calmly enough on Guest offering his hand. "You will excuse me now, Sir Mark." "Eh? What? Going? Well, if you must. But don't leave me in the lurch, my lad. Come back and have a bit of dinner with me. I shall be very dull. No; I won't ask you here. It will be miserable. Meet me at the club." Guest promised, and then shook hands with Miss Jerrold, who pressed his fingers warmly; but when he turned to say good-bye to Edie she was not in the room. "Too upset," he muttered as he went down. "Might have said good-bye, though." "Good-bye, Mr Guest," came from the little conservatory half-way down to the hall; and there was Edie waiting. "No, no; don't stop me. I must run up to Myra. Good-bye, Percy. Oh, I am so glad." "Good-bye, _Percy_--good-bye, _Percy_," Guest kept on saying to himself as he walked slowly along one side of the square. "_Percy_, for the first time. Good Heavens, Mal!" he cried, starting as a hand was thrust under his arm--"you? I was coming on. I've something particular to tell you." "Thank you," said Stratton quietly. "I know everything." "What? I did not see you at the church." "No; I had not the heart to come. I said I would, but I stayed away." "Good. Right," said Guest. "But I was obliged to come to see her go--for one glance unseen." "And you saw the arrest?"