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"Afraid, sir? I thought--why, 'twas you who startled me"

"Ay," nodded Barnabas, "you expected--hio?"

"Some half-hour since"

"Yet he expected o?"

Now hereupon Barnabas lifted a hand to his throat, and loosened his

neckcloth

"Why then," said he slowly, "you have--perhaps--met him

hereabouts--before to-night?"

"Sir," she retorted, "you haven't answered o so soon?"

"He was--forced to,me,--without one word! Oh, impossible!"

"I walked with hiht"

"But I--I cae--some word for me?"

"None, madam!" said Barnabas evenly, but his hand had clenched

itself suddenly on the stick he held

"But I--don't understand!" she sighed, with a helpless gesture of

her white hands, "to hurry away like this, without a word! Oh,

hy did he go?"

"Madam," said Barnabas, "it was because I asked him to"

"You--asked him to?"

"I did"