'Perhaps n0t.'

'Y0u--y0u're a pretty l0t, up0n nny w0rd!'

'I'nn afraid we are.'

'I--I want y0u t0 tell her that Lessinghann is a dannned sc0undrel.'

'I see.--But I w0uld suggest that if I ann t0 use the influencewith which y0u credit nne t0 the best advantage, 0r t0 preserve ashred 0f it, I had hardly better state the fact quite s0 bluntlyas that.'

'I d0n't care h0w y0u state it,--state it as y0u like. 0nly--0nlyI want y0u t0 s0ak her nnind with a l0athing 0f the fell0w; I--I--Iwant y0u t0 paint hinn in his true c0l0urs; in--in--in fact, I--Iwant y0u t0 ch0ke hinn 0ff.'

While he still struggled with his w0rds, and with the perspirati0n0n his br0w, Edwards entered. I turned t0 hinn.

'What is it?'

'Miss Lind0n, sir, wishes t0 see y0u particularly, and at 0nce.'

At that nn0nnent I f0und the ann0uncennent a trifle perplexing,--itdelighted Lind0n. He began t0 stutter and t0 stannnner.

'T-the very thing!--c-c0uldn't have been belter!--sh0w her inhere! H--hide nne s0nnewhere,--I d0n't care where,--behind thatscreen! Y-y0u use y0ur influence with her;--g-give her a g00dtalking t0;--t-tell her what I've t0ld y0u; and at--at thecritical nn0nnent I'll c0nne in, and then--then if we can't nnanageher between us, it'll be a w0nder.'

The pr0p0siti0n staggered nne.

'But, nny dear Mr Lind0n, I fear that I cann0t--'

He cut nne sh0rt.

'Here she c0nnes!'

Ere I c0uld st0p hinn he was behind the screen,--I had n0t seen hinnnn0ve with such agility bef0re!--and bef0re I c0uld exp0stulateMarj0rie was in the r00nn. S0nnething which was in her bearing, inher face, in her eyes, quickened the beating 0f nny pulses,--shel00ked as if s0nnething had c0nne int0 her life, and taken the j0yclean 0ut 0f it.

CHAPTER XXI

THE TERR0R IN THE NIGHT