The San Francisco call., 1907-02-10
CHAPTER vsn
a wesderfs.s oner


n my little table lay the letter
II | expected, large, square and
white. tore it open with
trembling fingers. The hand
writing was firm and yet delicate. I
knew at once whose it was
'RowCHESTER. TUESDAY.
Dear Mr.. Ducainc--My father wishes
me to say that he and Lord Chelsford
will call upon you tomorrow morning,
between ten and eleven o'clock. With
best regards. am. Yours sincerely.
ANGELA HARBERLY."
The letter slipped from my hands on
to the table. Lord Cheisford was
Cabinet Minister and q famous man.
What could he have to do with any ap-
pointment which the Duke might offer
me? | read the few words over and
over again. The handwriting, the very
1eint perfume which seemed to steal
out of the. envelope. a moments swift
retrospective thought, and my fancy
had conjured her into actual life She
was there in the room with me, slim
and shadow, with her quiet voice and
movements, and with that haunting.
doubtful look in her dark eyes What
had she meant by that curious warn
ing! What was the knowledge or
the fear which inspired it? If one
ccdld only understand.
sat down In my chair and tried
to read, but the effort was useless
Directly opposite to me was that
black. uncurtained window. Every
time looked up it seemed to become
once more the frame for a white, evil
face. At last could bear it no longer.
rose and left the house. I wandered
capless across the marshes to where
the wet seaweed lay strewn about, and
the long waves came rolling shore
ward; wilderness now indeed of gray
mists, OF dark silent tongues of sea
water cleaving the land. There was
no wind--no other sound than the
steadfast monotonous tapping of the
waves upon the sands. Along that
road he had come; the family burning
light upon my table showed where he
had pressed his face against the win
dow. Then he had wandered on, past
the etorm-bent tree at the turn of the
road pointing landward A. few wards
farther was the creek from which we
had dragged him. The events of the
night struggled to reconstruct them
selves in my mind, and fought against
their slow coalescence. 1 did not wish
to rerhAmber--to believe. In my heart
felt that for some hidden reason Ray
was yAy friend. This visit of the
tend, was without doubt inspired by
him. And. on the other hand. there
was the warming of Lady Angela, so
earnestly expressed, so solemn. almost
sad. How could ] see light through
all these things? How could 1 hope to
understand
The Duke came punctually. spruce
and debonair, a small rose in his but
tonhole. his wizened cheeks aglow
with the smart OF the singing east
wind. With him came Lord Chels-
ford, whose face and figure were fa-
miliar enough to me from the pages
OF the illustrated papers. Dark, spare
and tall. he spoke seldom. but I felt
all the while the merciless investiga-
ton OF his searching eyes. The Duke.
on the other hand, seemed to have
thrown aside some part OF his CUSTOM
airy reserve. He spoke at greater
length and with more freedom than /
you see, Mr.. Dueaine. he began.
Il stn not man who makes idle prom
ises. 4 am here to offer you employ
ment, Il you are open to accept post
o. some Importance, and. also. to be
frank with you. OF some danger"
II am qualified for the post, your
Grace" 1 answered. Il shall be only
toO willing to do my best. But you
must excuse me IL express exactly
what II in my mind. am almost 4
stranger to you. I am complete
stranger to Lord Chelsford. How can
you rely upon my tfustworthiness !?
You must have so many young men to
choose from who are personally known
to you. Why do you come to me?'
The Duke smiled grimly.
In the arst place." he said. I'VE
are only strangers fran f11o ner~Cns