"Sir," said Barnabas at last, "this is what I would have told you. I

am the lawful son of Joan Beverley, whose maiden name I took for--a

purpose. I have but to prove my claim and I can dispossess you of

the inheritance you hold, which is mine by right. But, sir, I have

enough for my needs, and I am, therefore, prepared to forego my just

claim--on a condition."

Mr. Chichester neither moved nor spoke.

"My condition," Barnabas continued, "is this. That, from this hour,

you loose whatever hold you have upon Ronald Barrymaine,--that you

have no further communication with him, either by word or letter.

Failing this, I institute proceedings at once, and will dispossess

you as soon as may be. Sir, you have heard my condition, it is for

you to answer."

But, as he ended, Billy Button pointed a shaking finger downwards at

the grass midway between them, and spoke: "Look!" he whispered, "look! Do you not see it--bubbling so dark,

--down there among the grass? Ah! it reaches your feet, Barnaby

Bright. But--look yonder! it rises to his heart,--look!" and with a

sudden, wild gesture, he pointed to Chichester's rigid figure.

"Blood!" he cried, "blood!--cover it up! Oh, hide it--hide it!" Then,

turning about, he sped away, his muffled buttons jingling faintly as

he went, and so was presently gone.

Then Barnabas loosed his horse and mounted, and, with never a glance

nor word to the silent figure beneath the finger-post, galloped away

London-wards.

Now, had it been possible for a worn and decrepit finger-post to be

endued with the faculty of motion (which, in itself, is a ridiculous

thought, of course), it is probable that this particular one would

have torn itself up bodily, and hastened desperately after Barnabas

to point him away--away, east or west, or north or south,--anywhere,

so long as it was far enough from him who stood so very still, and

who stared with such eyes so long upon the moon, with his right hand

still hidden in his breast, while the vivid mark glowed, and glowed

upon the pallor of his cheek.




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