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pistol-hand wavered, fell to his side, and sinking into a chair, he

seemed to shrink into himself as he stared dully at a worn patch in

the carpet

"Only one beside myself knows of this," said Barnabas

"Well?" The word see lips He

lay back in the rickety chair, his argard eyes, and, alers and lay all unheeded

"Not another soul shall ever know," said Barnabas earnestly,

"the world shall be none the wiser if you will promise to stop,--now,

--to free yourself from Chichester's influence, now,--to let me help

you to redeem the past Promiseevidence--here and now"

"And--if I--c-can't?"

Barnabas sighed, and folding up the crumpled paper, thrust it back

into his pocket

"You shall have--a week, to make up your mind You know , Barnabas stepped

towards the door, but, seeing the look on Barrymaine's face, he

stooped very suddenly, and picked up the pistol Then he unlocked

the door and went out, closing it behind him Upon the dark stairs

he encountered Mr S

nervous havoc of his whiskers

"Gad, Beverley!" he exclaiht not to have left you alone

with him,--deuce of a state about it, 'ponto you both I was afraid"