"Olive!" His voice was husky and broken. "I would do all that and more for you. But since you hold my love so low, let us forget that I have told it; let us part here now, and for always." "Laurence, Laurence, my heart will break." "And for a shadow, Olive." "No, no!" she cried, "no shadow, no folly this. It is only too real. You are right; let us--let us say good-bye." "You tell me to go?" "I--tell--you--to--go." "Then listen to me. I love you, and I intend that you shall be my wife. I don't care for Carson, or the money, or the threatened evil, or anything else. I sweep all these away. I say good-bye now, and I go to London--to Athelstane Place." Olive looked bewildered. "In God's name why?" she faltered. "To learn if the man who was murdered there was the man you should have married." "I--I--why, I am to marry Mr. Carson!" "It is yet to be proved that this man is Mr. Carson." "What do you mean?" "I will tell you what I mean when I come back;" and without a handshake or a glance at her white face, Mallow walked abruptly away. CHAPTER IX. "TWENTY-ONE." On calm reflection, Mallow did not consider that he had behaved very well to Olive. His passion and impetuosity had carried him beyond himself. He had been too rough; too masterful. Instead of suing with soft words, he had sought to dominate by sheer strength of will. A cave man of the stone period could scarce have wooed in style more savage; and when Mallow had regained his self-control, he was heartily ashamed that his fiery temper had got the better of him. But his pride would not allow him to apologize to Olive. Nor did he even excuse himself by letter. He preserved an absolute silence, and kept away from the Manor House. He had not been quite sincere when he declared his intention of proceeding at once to Athelstane Place, but for very shame he could not now withdraw from a position taken up so definitely. Accordingly, on the day preceding Olive's birthday, he announced to Aldean that he was going to London. "Oh, hang it! I do call that shabby," cried Jim, with a look of dismay. "You promised to stay here at least two months." "I'll come down and complete the term shortly, Aldean." "Oh, you don't wish to be here when Miss Bellairs marries Carson, I suppose?" "Miss Bellairs shall never marry Carson if I can help it." "Perhaps not, Mallow, but I don't exactly see how you can help it. This morning I saw Carson, and he tells me the ceremony is to take place in a fortnight." "A great deal can be done in a fortnight, Jim." "Old man?" questioned Jim, with a stare, "have you anything up your sleeve?" "Only my mistrust of Carson, as Carson." "What! that old game? You are becoming a maniac on that subject, Mallow. It's all bosh, you know. Carson is Carson, right enough. Mrs. Purcell, Semberry, Mr. Brock,--they've all said as much."