However, fortune favored him, and to state the truth, fortune rather astonished him; for upon arriving within the grounds of Mrs. Dallas, the major met with Isabella herself. In a light-colored dress, with sunshade and straw hat, she was strolling down the walk which led to the gate. On coming up with Jen, he was surprised to see that her manner was calm and collected; in all respects different from that displayed during the frenzy of the midnight visit. He could hardly believe that she was the same girl. "I am glad to see you, major," said she, holding out her hand. "You have saved me the trouble of a journey, as I was on my way to your house." "To see me, Miss Dallas?" "Yes, to see you," she replied, with a serious face. "In order to talk with you about my last visit--on that terrible night." "My dear young lady," he remonstrated, "why distress yourself with recollections of these things?" "Because it is necessary that I should do so, major. It is my intention to aid you in your search for the assassin of Maurice. Oh, yes, you may look doubtful as to my ability to help you, but I can and will. I am not the mad woman who burst into your library at three in the morning. I am cool and calm and bent upon revenge. Maurice is dead. I loved him. And I intend to devote myself to avenging his death. Come, major, sit upon this seat beside me, and relate all you have heard, all you have discovered. With my woman's wit I may be able to help you in the way the mouse aided the lion. Begin!" Jen was astonished, both at her peremptory tone and her quiet manner. Whatever influence had been at work, it was certainly wonderful how she had calmed down from the nervous, hysterical girl into the reasonable and cool-headed woman. Isabella noted the amazement of the major, and guessing its cause, she explained the reason of the change in her looks, manner and nervous system. "Dr. Etwald cured me, major," she said quietly. "He has preserved my sanity, and I owe him a debt of gratitude." "You certainly do," said Jen, dryly. "Will you repay it by marrying him?" "No. I shall marry no one; not even Mr. Sarby, much as my mother wishes me to do so. I live only to avenge the death of Maurice, to recover his body from those who have stolen it. Come, major, tell me what you know." Thus adjured, and feeling that he could not do without her assistance, Jen related all that he had heard from Arkel, and also his own personal experience with regard to the finding of the handkerchief marked "M. D." Isabella heard him to the end in silence, her large and shining eyes fixed upon his face. When he paused, she pondered and finally spoke out. "It would seem that you suspect Dido or my mother of having something to do with the matter," she remarked coldly. Major Jen equivocated. "No," he replied. "I don't say that exactly, but you must admit that the finding of the handkerchief bound round Jaggard's head is strange." "Not at all. Dr. Etwald used it as a bandage."