"Was?" repeated the Marquis.

"Yes, was,--for begad! when I called on my man this morning he'd

bolted, damme if he hadn't!"

"Gone?" exclaimed the Marquis in blank amazement.

"Clean gone! Bag and baggage! I tell you he's bolted, but--with all

due respect to you, Marquis, only from his creditors. He was

devilish deep in with Gaunt, I know, beside Beverley here. Oh damme

yes, he only did it to bilk his creditors, for Carnaby was always

game, curse me if he wasn't!"

Hereupon the Marquis had recourse to his snuff-box again.

"Under the circumstances," said he, sighing and shaking his head,

"I think I'll go and talk with our invalid--"

"No good, my boy, if you mean Devenham," said Tressider, shaking his

head, "just been there,--Viscount's disappeared too--been away all

night!"

"What?" cried Barnabas, springing to his feet, "gone?"

"Damme if he hasn't! Found his fellow in the devil of a way about it,

and his little rascal of a groom blubbering on the stairs."

"Then I must dress! You'll excuse me, I know!" said Barnabas, and

rang for Peterby. But his hand was even yet upon the bellrope when

stumbling feet were heard outside, the door was flung wide, and the

Viscount himself stood upon the threshold.

Pale and haggard of eye, dusty and unkempt, he leaned there, then

staggering to a chair he sank down and so lay staring at the floor.

"Oh, Bev!" he groaned, "she's gone--Clemency's gone, I--I can't find

her, Bev!"

Now hereupon the Marquis very quietly took up his hat and, nodding

to Barnabas, linked his arm in Tressider's and went softly from the

room, closing the door behind him.

"Dick!" cried Barnabas, bending over him, "my dear fellow!"

"Ever since you spoke, I--I've wanted her, Bev. All through my

illness I've hungered for her--the sound of her voice,--the touch of

her hand. As soon as I was strong enough--last night, I think it

was--I went to find her, to--to kneel at her feet, Bev. I drove down

to Frittenden and oh, Bev--she was gone! So I started back--looking

for her all night. My arm bothered me--a bit, you know, and I didn't

think I could do it. But I kept fancying I saw her before me in the

dark. Sometimes I called to her--but she--never answered, she's--gone,

Bev, and I--"

"Oh, Dick--she left there weeks ago--"

"What--you knew?"

"Yes, Dick."

"Then oh, Bev,--tell me where!"

"Dick, I--can't!"

"Why--why?"

"I promised her to keep it secret."

"Then--you won't tell me?"

"I can't."

"Won't! won't! Ah, but you shall, yes, by God!"

"Dick, I--"

"By God, but you shall, I say you shall--you must--where is she?"

The Viscount's pale cheek grew suddenly suffused, his eyes glared

fiercely, and his set teeth gleamed between his pallid lips.

"Tell me!" he demanded.




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