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you are surrounded by Cuban spies； and without so much as a
look behind you； or a single movement to betray your
interest； leave the box where you have put it and come
straight on shore？ Will you do this； and so save your
friend？'
'I do not clearly understand 。 。 。' began Harry。
'No more do I；' replied the Cuban。 'It is not necessary that
we should； so long as we obey the lawyer's orders。'
'Senorita；' returned Harry gravely； 'I think this； of course；
a very little thing to do for you； when I would willingly do
all。 But suffer me to say one word。 If London is unsafe for
your treasures； it cannot long be safe for you； and indeed；
if I at all fathom the plan of your solicitor； I fear I may
find you already fled on my return。 I am not considered
clever； and can only speak out plainly what is in my heart：
that I love you； and that I cannot bear to lose all knowledge
of you。 I hope no more than to be your servant； I ask no
more than just that I shall hear of you。 Oh； promise me so
much！'
'You shall；' she said； after a pause。 'I promise you； you
shall。' But though she spoke with earnestness； the marks of
great embarrassment and a strong conflict of emotions
appeared upon her face。
'I wish to tell you；' resumed Desborough； 'in case of
accidents。 。 。 。'
'Accidents！' she cried： 'why do you say that？'
'I do not know；' said he； 'you may be gone before my return；
and we may not meet again for long。 And so I wished you to
know this： That since the day you gave me the cigarette； you
have never once； not once； been absent from my mind； and if
it will in any way serve you； you may crumple me up like that
piece of paper； and throw me on the fire。 I would love to
die for you。'
'Go！' she said。 'Go now at once。 My brain is in a whirl。 I
scarce know what we are talking。 Go； and good…night； and oh；
may you come safe！'
Once back in his own room a fearful joy possessed the young
man's mind； and as he recalled her face struck suddenly white
and the broken utterance of her last words； his heart at once
exulted and misgave him。 Love had indeed looked upon him
with a tragic mask； and yet what mattered； since at least it
was love … since at least she was commoved at their division？
He got to bed with these parti…coloured thoughts； passed from
one dream to another all night long； the white face of Teresa
still haunting him； wrung with unspoken thoughts； and in the
grey of the dawn； leaped suddenly out of bed； in a kind of
horror。 It was already time for him to rise。 He dressed；
made his breakfast on cold food that had been laid for him
the night before； and went down to the room of his idol for
the box。 The door was open； a strange disorder reigned
within； the furniture all pushed aside； and the centre of the
room left bare of impediment； as though for the pacing of a
creature with a tortured mind。 There lay the box； however；
and upon the lid a paper with these words： 'Harry； I hope to
be back before you go。 Teresa。'
He sat down to wait； laying his watch before him on the
table。 She had called him Harry： that should be enough； he
thought； to fill the day with sunshine； and yet somehow the
sight of that disordered room still poisoned his enjoyment。
The door of the bed…chamber stood gaping open； and though he
turned aside his eyes as from a sacrilege； he could not but
observe the bed had not been slept in。 He was still
pondering what this should mean； still trying to convince
himself that all was well； when the moving needle of his
watch summoned him to set forth without delay。 He was before
all things a man of his word； ran round to Southampton Row to
fetch a cab； and taking the box on the front seat； drove off
towards the terminus。
The streets were scarcely awake； there was little to amuse
the eye； and the young man's attention centred on the dumb
companion of his drive。 A card was nailed upon one side；
bearing the superscription： 'Miss Doolan； passenger to
Dublin。 Glass。 With care。' He thought with a sentimental
shock that the fair idol of his heart was perhaps driven to
adopt the name of Doolan； and as he still studied the card；
he was aware of a deadly； black depression settling steadily
upon his spirits。 It was in vain for him to contend against
the tide； in vain that he shook himself or tried to whistle：
the sense of some impending blow was not to be averted。 He
looked out； in the long； empty streets； the cab pursued its
way without a trace of any follower。 He gave ear； and over
and above the jolting of the wheels upon the road； he was
conscious of a certain regular and quiet sound that seemed to
issue from the box。 He put his ear to the cover； at one
moment； he seemed to perceive a delicate ticking： the next；
the sound was gone； nor could his closest hearkening
recapture it。 He laughed at himself； but still the gloom
continued； and it was with more than the common relief of an
arrival； that he leaped from the cab before the station。
Probably enough on purpose； Teresa had named an hour some
thirty minutes earlier than needful； and when Harry had given
the box into the charge of a porter； who sat it on a truck；
he proceeded briskly to pace the platform。 Presently the
bookstall opened； and the young man was looking at the books
when he was seized by the arm。 He turned； and； though she
was closely veiled； at once recognised the Fair Cuban。
'Where is it？' she asked； and the sound of her voice
surprised him。
'It？' he said。 'What？'
'The box。 Have it put on a cab instantly。 I am in fearful
haste。'
He hurried to obey； marvelling at these changes； but not
daring to trouble her with questions； and when the cab had
been brought round； and the box mounted on the front； she
passed a little way off upon the pavement and beckoned him to
follow。
'Now；' said she； still in those mechanical and hushed tones
that had at first affected him； 'you must go on to Holyhead
alone； go on board the steamer； and if you see a man in
tartan trousers and a pink scarf； say to him that all has
been put off： if not；' she added； with a sobbing sigh； 'it
does not matter。 So； good…bye。'
'Teresa；' said Harry； 'get into your cab； and I will go along
with you。 You are in some distress； perhaps some danger； and
till I know the whole； not even you can make me leave you。'
'You will not？' she asked。 'O Harry； it were better！'
'I will not；' said Harry stoutly。
She looked at him for a moment through her veil； took his
hand suddenly and sharply； but more as if in fear than
tenderness； and still holding him； walked to the cab…door。
'Where are we to drive？' asked Harry。
'Home； quickly；' she answered； 'double fare！' And as soon as
they had both mounted to their places； the vehicle crazily
trundled from the station。
Teresa leaned back in a corner。 The whole way Harry could
perceive her tears to flow under her veil； but she vouchsafed
no explanation。 At the door of the house in Queen Square；
both alighted； and the cabman lowered the box； which Harry；
glad to display his strength； r