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"Bad night," Do a worse one that I'm here, Squire," the old man replied hoarsely "I've corant it for your own sake You'll not sleep in the oak rooht?"

"And why not?" Dominey asked

"It's next her ladyship's"

"Well?"

The old h of a purpose, refused to help hian and mumbled to himself

"Say exactly what you wish to, Middleton," Dorandfather have been solicitors to the estate for a great et rightly into touch with you, Squire, and that's a fact," Middleton went on despairingly "The shape of you seeer and your voice harder I don't seem to be so near to you as I'd wished, to say what's in h tied! Never mind, speak to me just as man to man"

"It was I who first met you, Squire," the old ht across the park, with your ar down your face and clothes, and the red light in your eyes--o into hysterics I saw her laugh and sob like a maniac, and, God help us! that's what she's been ever since"

The twowith fierce excitement It was obvious that he had only paused for breath He had more to say

"I was by your side, Squire," he went on, "when her ladyship caught up the knife and ran at you, and, as you well know, it was I, seizing her froht, and it was I ent for the doctor the next ht and missed your throat by a bare inch I heard her call to you, heard her threat It was a madwoman's threat, Squire, but her ladyship is a madwoman at this moment, and with a knife in her hand you'll never be safe in this house"

"We et possession of any weapon"