I stopped, as if I had run against a wall. I swear, till then no shadowy thought of this side of the question had darkened my heart in passing. Still, impelled to an awful haste, I beat the whole horror resolutely to one side and rushed on my way. “Presently--presently,” I muttered, “I will sit down and rest and think it over from beginning to end.” By that time I was in a street of ugly cockney houses stretching monotonously on either side. I was speeding down it, seeking its name, and convinced from my inquiries that I could not be far from my destination, when something standing crouched against a low front garden wall, where it met the angle of a tall brick gate post, caught the tail of my eye and stopped me with a jerk. It was Duke, and I had run him down. He spat a curse from his drawn, white lips, as I faced him, and bade me begone as I valued my life. “Duke,” I panted, watchful of him, “I do value it now--never mind why. I value it far above his you have come to take. But he is my brother--and you were once my friend.” “No longer--I swear it,” he cried, blazing out on me dreadfully. “Will you go while there’s time?” Then he assumed a mockery more bitter than his rage. “Harkee!” he whispered. “This isn’t the place. I came here to be out of the way and rest. I’ll go home by and by.” “Will you come with me now?” “With you? Haven’t I had enough of you Trenders? I put it to you as a reasonable man.” As he spoke the wail of a young child came through the window of an upper room of the house adjoining. At the sound he seized my wrists in one of his hands with the grip of iron forceps. “Listen there!” he muttered. “That’s his child, do you hear? He perpetuates his wicked race without a scruple. Wouldn’t it be a good thing now to cut down the poisonous weed root and branch?” I stared at him in horror. Hardly till this moment had the fact of Jason’s being married recurred to me since I first heard of it the night before. “His child?” I echoed. “What’s the fool gaping at? Would his pretty deception be complete without a wife and baby in the background to spur his fancy?” The door of the adjoining house was opened and a light footfall came down the steps. I saw a devil leap into Duke’s eyes, and on the instant sprung at him. He had me down directly, for his strength was fearful, but I clutched him frantically as I fell, and he couldn’t shake me off. Struggling--sobbing--warding my head as best I could from his battering blows--I yet could find voice to cry from the ground--“Jason, in God’s name, run! He’s going to murder you!”