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waning light。
〃What is it； dear？〃 she said。
〃Oh； Margaret！ are you there？ I did not know you were in the room。
I found myself at the door before I knew what I was doing。〃
〃But you came back of yourself this time。〃
〃Yes I did。 But I still feel inclined to go。〃
〃There is no sin in that； so long as you do not encourage the
feeling； or yield to it。〃
〃I hate it。〃
〃You will soon be free from it。 Keep on courageously； dear sister。
You will be in liberty and joy soon。〃
〃God grant it。〃
〃He will； Euphra。 I am sure he will。〃
〃I am sure you know； or you would not say it。〃
A knock came to the street door。 Euphra started； and sat in the
attitude of a fearful listener。 A message was presently brought
her； that Mr。 Sutherland was in the drawing…room； and wished to see
her。
Euphra rose immediately； and went to him。 Margaret； who did not
quite feel that she could be trusted yet； removed to a room behind
the drawing…room； whence she could see Euphra if she passed to go
down stairs。
Hugh asked her if she could tell him anything more about Count
Halkar。
〃Only；〃 she answered； 〃that I am still surer of his being near me。〃
〃How do you know it？〃
〃I need not mind telling you； for I have told you before that he has
a kind of supernatural power over me。 I know it by his drawing me
towards him。 It is true I might feel it just the same whether he
was in America or in London； but I do not think he would care to do
it； if he were so far off。 I know him well enough to know that he
would not wish for me except for some immediate advantage to
himself。〃
〃But what is the use of his doing so； when you don't know where he
is to be found。〃
〃I should go straight to him； without knowing where I was going。〃
Hugh rose in haste。
〃Put on your bonnet and cloak； and come with me。 I will take care
of you。 Lead me to him； and the ring shall soon be in your hands
again。〃
Euphra hesitated； half rose； but sat down immediately。
〃No； no！ Not for worlds；〃 she said。 〃Do not tempt me。 I must
notI dare notI will not go。〃
〃But I shall be with you。 I will take care of you。 Don't you think
I am able； Euphra？〃
〃Oh； yes！ quite able。 But I must not go anywhere at that man's
bidding。〃
〃But it won't be at his bidding： it will be at mine。〃
〃Ah！ that alters the case rather； does it not？ I wonder what
Margaret would say。〃
〃Margaret！ What Margaret？〃 said Hugh。
〃Oh！ my new maid；〃 answered Euphra； recollecting herself。
〃Not being well at present； she is my nurse。〃
〃We shall take a cab as soon as we get to the corner。〃
〃I don't think the count would be able to guide the horse；〃 said
Euphra； with a smile。 〃I must walk。 But I should like to go。 I
will。 It would be such a victory to catch him in his own toils。〃
She rose and ran up stairs。 In a few minutes she came down again；
cloaked and veiled。 But Margaret met her as she descended； and
leading her into the back drawing…room； said：
〃Are you going； Euphra？〃
〃Yes； but I am going with Mr。 Sutherland；〃 answered Euphra； in a
defensive tone。 〃It is to please him； and not to obey the count。〃
〃Are you sure it is all to please Mr。 Sutherland？ If it were； I
don't think you would be able to guide him right。 Is it not to get
rid of your suffering by yielding to temptation； Euphra？ At all
events； if you go； even should Mr。 Sutherland be successful with
him； you will never feel that you have overcome him； or he； that he
has lost you。 He will still hold you fast。 Don't go。 I am sure
you are deceiving yourself。〃
Euphra stood for a moment and pouted like a naughty child。 Then
suddenly throwing her arms about Margaret's neck； she kissed her；
and said：
〃I won't go； Margaret。 Here； take my things up stairs for me。〃
She threw off her bonnet and cloak； and rejoined Hugh in the
drawing…room。
〃I can't go；〃 she said。 〃I must not go。 I should be yielding to
him； and it would make a slave of me all my life。〃
〃It is our only chance for the ring；〃 said Hugh。
Again Euphra hesitated and wavered； but again she conquered。
〃I cannot help it；〃 she said。 〃I would rather not have the ring than
goif you will forgive me。〃
〃Oh； Euphra！〃 replied Hugh。 〃You know it is not for myself。〃
〃I do know it。 You won't mind then if I don't go？〃
〃Certainly not； if you have made up your mind。 You must have a good
reason for it。〃
〃Indeed I have。〃 And even already she felt that resistance brought
its own reward。
Hugh went almost immediately； in order to make his report to
Falconer； with whom he had an appointment for the purpose。
〃She is quite right；〃 said Falconer。 〃I do not think； in the
relation in which she stands to him； that she could safely do
otherwise。 But it seems to me very likely that this will turn out
well for our plans； too。 Let her persist； and in all probability he
will not only have to resign her perforce； but will so far make
himself subject to her in turn； as to seek her who will not go to
him。 He will pull upon his own rope till he is drawn to the spot
where he has fixed it。 What remains for you and me to do； is to
keep a close watch on the house and neighbourhood。 Most likely we
shall find the villain before long。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃
〃The whole affair is mysterious； and has to do with laws with which
we are most imperfectly acquainted； but this seems to me a
presumption worth acting upon。 Is there no one in the house on whom
you could depend for assistancefor information； at least？〃
〃Yes。 There is the same old servant that Mrs。 Elton had with her at
Arnstead。 He is a steady old fellow； and has been very friendly
with me。〃
〃Well； what I would advise is； that you should find yourself
quarters as near the spot as possible； and； besides keeping as much
of a personal guard upon the house as you can； engage the servant
you mention to let you know； the moment the count makes his
appearance。 It will probably be towards night when he calls； for
such a man may have reasons as well as instincts to make him love
the darkness rather than the light。 You had better go at once； and
when you have found a place； leave or send the address here to me；
and towards night…fall I will join you。 But we may have to watch
for several days。 We must not be too sanguine。〃
Almost without a word； Hugh went to do as Falconer said。 The only
place he could find suitable； was a public…house at the corner of a
back street； where the men…servants of the neighbourhood used to
resort。 He succeeded in securing a private room in it； for a week；
and immediately sent Falconer word of his locality。 He then called
a second time at Mrs。 Elton's； and asked to see the butler。 When he
came：
〃Irwan；〃 said he； 〃has Herr von Funkelstein called here to…day？〃
〃No； sir； he has not。〃
〃You would know him； would you not？〃
〃Yes； sir； perfectly。〃
〃Well； if he should call to…night； or to…morrow； or any time within
the next few days； let me know the moment he is in the house。 You
will find me at the Golden Staff； round the corner。 It is of the
utmost importance that I should see him at once。 But do not let him
know that any one wants to see him。 You shall not repent helping me
in this affair。 I know I can trust you。〃
Hugh had fixed him with his eyes； before he began to explain his
wishes。 He had found out that this was the best way of securing
attention from inferior natures； and that it was especially
necessary with London servants； for their superciliousness is cowed
by it； and the superior will brought to bear upon theirs。 It is the
only way a man without a carriage has to command attention from
such。 Irwan was not one of this sort。 He was a country servant；
for one difference。 But Hugh made his address as impressive as
possible。
〃I will with pleasure； sir；〃 answered Irwan； and Hugh felt tolerably
sure of him。
Falconer came。 They ordered some supper； and sat till eleven
o'clock。 There being then no chance of a summons； they went out
together。 Passing the house； they saw light in one upper window
only。 That light would burn there all night； for it was in Euphra's
room。 They went on； Hugh accompanying Falconer in one of his
midnight walks through London； as he had done repeatedly before。
》From such companionship and the scenes to which Falconer introduced
him； he had gathered this fruit； that he began to believe in God for
the sake of the wretched men and women he saw in the world。 At
first it was his own pain at the sight of such misery that drove
him； for consolation； to hope in God； so； at first； it was for his
own sake。 But as he saw more of them； and grew to love them more；
he felt that the only hope for them lay in the love of God； and he
hoped in God for them。 He saw too that a God not both humanly and
absolutely divine； a God less than that God shadowed forth in the
Redeemer of men； would not do。 But thinking about God thus； and
hoping in him for his brothers and sisters； he began to love God。
Then； last of all； that he might see in him one to whom he could
abandon everything； that he might see him perfect and all in all and
as he must befor the sake of God himself； he believed in him as
the