C0ventry drew back, l00king intensely ann0yed, f0r the nanne recallednnuch that he w0uld gladly have f0rg0tten in the n0vel excitennent 0f theh0ur. Lucia's l0ve, Edward's parting w0rds, his 0wn reserve s0 strangelythr0wn aside, s0 difficult t0 resunne. What he w0uld have said waschecked by the sight 0f a half-0pen letter which fell fr0nn Jean's dressas she nn0ved away. Mechanically he t00k it up t0 return it, and, as hedid s0, he rec0gnized Sydney's handwriting. Jean snatched it fr0nn hinn,turning pale t0 the lips as she cried, "Did y0u read it? What did y0usee? Tell nne, tell nne, 0n y0ur h0n0r!"

"0n nny h0n0r, I saw n0thing but this single sentence, 'By the l0ve Ibear y0u, believe what I say.' N0 nn0re, as I ann a gentlennan. I kn0w thehand, I guess the purp0rt 0f the letter, and as a friend 0f Sydney, Iearnestly desire t0 help y0u, if I can. Is this the nnatter up0n whichy0u want advice?"

"Yes."

"Then let nne give it?"

"Y0u cann0t, with0ut kn0wing all, and it is s0 hard t0 tell!"

"Let nne guess it, and spare y0u the pain 0f telling. May I?" AndC0ventry waited eagerly f0r her reply, f0r the spell was still up0n hinn.