So far the reader may wonder at the elements of this story. African , mysterious strangers, and barbaric women seem to be out of place when set in the sober framework of an English town. But romance is not dependent upon landscape or on surroundings for its occurrence: it is to be found everywhere, and very often in the most unlikely places. Here, for instance, by some trick of Fate, certain people had come together, certain passions had been aroused, and now that the drama had been set in motion, it seemed likely that it would play itself out to a conclusion. Tragical, certainly; for herein the elements of comedy seem to be wanting. But then Fate is so pessimistic.  
For a whole week after the events already related, nothing new took place likely to alter the situation. Maurice and David remained coldly polite, and very of one another; neither mentioned the name of Isabella, nor did the one or the other see the girl. Mrs. Dallas took care of that. , no doubt, under the advice of Dido (for she had no will of her own), she kept Isabella within doors, and refused to allow her to communicate with Maurice. But, on the other hand, she did not force her to see David; and Isabella was thankful for the consideration.
 
But there was one visitor to The Wigwam whom Isabella would gladly have avoided--no less an individual than Dr. Etwald. After the violent scene with Maurice, the widow so overtaxed her strength that she became ill, and the doctor was sent for. His presence appeared to Mrs. Dallas, and he came frequently. When she could, Isabella absented herself; but this she was not able to do on all occasions, and so she had to endure his speeches, and the mesmeric quality of his gaze. This last, especially, was a trial to one of her sensitive organization, and one day she felt so uncomfortable that she with Etwald.
 
"You make me afraid, doctor," she said, impetuously. "Your gaze is disagreeable to me."
 
"My dear young lady," replied the man, , "I must look at you when I address you."
 
"Then don't address me!"
 
"Isabella, do not be rude!" cried Mrs. Dallas, who had overheard this passage at arms; whereupon the girl, with a glance at her , left the room.
 
"I'm sure I don't know what I'll do with Isabella," sighed Mrs. Dallas; "she is getting so disobedient."
 
"Perhaps I can assist you."
 
Mrs. Dallas looked uneasily at her medical attendant.
 
"No," she said, quietly "I may persuade her into doing what I want."
 
"Which is, to marry Mr. David Sarby," said Etwald coolly. "In that case I can only hope that the young lady will continue , as I wish to marry her myself."
 
"I know--I know! But I don't want her to marry you, doctor. Mr. Sarby is the man for my daughter. He is good-looking and clever and--"
 
"And poor!" finished Etwald.
 
"Well, yes," Mrs. Dallas, "there is that objection. But it is not much of an obstacle, as Isabella has money. The young couple can live on three thousand a year."
 
Dr. Etwald went home with this sum running in his head, and more than ever he resolved to marry Isabella. He was in love with her, and would have taken her without a penny; but all the same, if she was an heiress in a small way, it was all the better. The doctor was clever but poor, and with an income like that he could move to London and do great things. There were many schemes in Etwald's head, and certain of these he to put into execution at once, in order to secure Isabella to wife.
 
Some time Major Jen had asked Etwald about the devil-stick, but only to be informed that the doctor knew nothing of the missing article.
 
"I have not set eyes on it since that night you showed it to me," declared Etwald, coolly. "You refused to sell it to me, so of course I gave up all idea of possessing it. All the same," finished he, politely, "I am sorry that it is lost."
 
"Lost! Stolen, you mean," Jen, . "That negress--"
 
"Dido! Well, I admit that such a barbaric treasure would her, the more particularly as she knows about such wizard instruments. Ask her if she took it."
 
"I have done so, and I have asked Mrs. Dallas also," replied Jen; "but it seems that Dido wasn't out of the house on that night. She was ill--and, oddly enough, I hear, Etwald, that it was you who made her ill."
 
"Really!" said Etwald, quite self-possessed. "I suppose Mr. Alymer told you so. I thought as much," he continued, as Jen nodded. "He saw me calming Dido's when I arrived to ask Mrs. Dallas for her daughter's hand. This negress is , and on that day she happened to be so. I quieted her, yet Mr. Alymer accuses me of having caused her illness."
 
"I don't know anything about it, Etwald; but truth to tell, Maurice does not like you!"
 
"Because I ill concerning him!"
 
"Oh, that was rubbish," said Jen, contemptuously. "You didn't mean it."
 
"Didn't I! Wait and see!"
 
After which Etwald bowed his visitor politely to the door of the gloomy old house which he occupied in Deanminster, and Jen returned home, quite baffled as to what could have become of the devil-stick. All his proved , and he was unable even to how it had disappeared; yet knowing its fatal qualities, he was in constant lest it should reappear in connection with a tragedy. Maurice still held to his idea that Dido had taken the wand, but Jen's inquiries proved that the negress had not been out of the house the night in question.
 
"Then it must have been Battersea!" said Maurice, decidedly. "He is a friend of Dido's, and a of Isabella's. I'll find out if he stole the stick for the negress or for Dr. Etwald."
 
This was easier said than done, as Mrs. Dallas would not allow Maurice to set foot in the house. Still Maurice hoped to learn............