“Thank goodness!” said Guest to himself, as he moved slightly and saw that his companion appeared to be sleeping heavily; but as he rose Stratton followed his example, looking very pale, but more like himself.

“Morning; how are you?” said Guest.

“Better—much better.”

“You should have undressed and gone to bed, and you’d have been better still. How’s the shoulder?”

“Gave me a good deal of pain several times in the night, but it is easier now.”

“Glad of it, but take my advice; let’s have in a doctor, and let him dress it properly.”

“There’s no need,” said Stratton quietly. “A wound only needs to be kept from exposure to the air to heal itself.”

“Well, of all the obstinate fellows!”

“Oh, no,” said Stratton, with a wan smile. “You see I have been very obedient. If the wound is disposed to turn bad, as I shall soon know, I will have medical advice. If there is no need, surely you can spare me the annoyance of answering a surgeon all kinds of questions, and being tied-down to his routine.”

“Well, I will not worry you, old fellow, for you do seem to be better.”

“Much,” said Stratton quietly. “I only want to be at peace for a time. I think I shall go into the country.”

“Will you?”

“Y–e–s, I think I will.”

“With me. Then we’ll go as soon as you can start.”

“No, no,” cried Stratton excitedly. “I should be poor company, and would rather go alone.”

“Not fit. Look here. Happy thought. I’ll ask Brettison in.”

“No, no!” cried Stratton excitedly.

“But he’s the very man. Quiet, calm, and don’t talk. Go and pick buttercups and daisies along with him for a few days, and then come back to me quite compos mentis, and we’ll see what can be done.”

Guest made toward the door, but Stratton intercepted him.

“I tell you no,” he said firmly, “and—and—Brettison is out.”

“Out?”

“Gone into the country.”

“Humph!” ejaculated Guest, looking at his friend curiously, for there was something in his manner which puzzled him. But Stratton said cheerfully:

“Nearly nine. Will you order some breakfast from the tavern?”

“Eh, to be sure. Let’s go. No; afraid you are not well enough. I’ll send Mrs Brade. But no nonsense,” said Guest.

“I give you my word,” said Stratton quietly.

“I take it;” and after a visit to the bedroom Guest came back, looking refreshed and ready to go out and order the meal to be brought.

In due time this was at the door, and, to the young barrister’s great satisfaction, his friend drank a cup of coffee, and ate sparingly of some dry toast, looking every minute more and more himself.

There were moments when his face twitched and his eyes looked strange; but that Guest set down to the pain of his wound; and in the course of the morning, feeling more and more relieved, he said:

“Look here, old fellow, I think if you’ll give me your word of honour there shall be no nonsense, I’ll go back to my place and change,”—he glanced at his wedding garments as he spoke.

“Yes, I would,” said Stratton quietly.

“You are not going to be ill?”

“Certainly not.”

“And I can trust you?”

“Of course.”

“Then I will go.”

“Oh, yes; I shall be all right now, and I may write to you from the country and ask you to join me.”

“Thanks,” said Guest dryly; “but you are not going yet. We’ll talk about that when I come back.”

“Come back?” said Stratton wildly.

“Oh, yes; I shan’t be above an hour.”

“But, really, my dear Percy—”

“I will not hear a word now. There, let some fresh air into the room; the place smells stuffy; my fault, I suppose. It’s as if the ghosts of all the cigars I have smoked here were rising up in evidence against me. Ta ta! I shall not be long.”

Stratton made no reply, but smiled at him faintly as he passed out and closed the door after him. But the moment Stratton was alone there was a sudden change. He clasped his hands to his head, and began to pace the room with rapid strides, but dropped one arm directly as he turned pallid with pain.

“What to do?” he muttered—“what to do? Mad? Enough to make me. Well, let them think what they please. It makes no difference now.”

He thrust his hand into his pocket and took out a key, and then shuddered; but drawing himself up, he set his teeth hard and crossed to where the easy-chair stood in which he had passed t............