goal； for he felt sure that all Rosa's struggles would； sooner or
later； succumb to her sense of gratitude and his strong will and
patient temper。 But when the victory was won； what a life！ He
must fly with her to some foreign country； pursued from pillar to
post by an enraged husband； and by the offended law。 And if he
escaped the vindictive foe a year or two； how could he escape that
other enemy he knew； and dreadedpoverty？ He foresaw he should
come to hate the woman he was about to wrong； and she would
instantly revenge herself； by making him an exile and； soon or
late； a prisoner； or a pauper。
While these misgivings battled with his base but ardent passion；
strange things were going on out of doorsbut they will be best
related in another sequence of events； to which indeed they fairly
belong。
CHAPTER XXIX。
Staines and Mrs。 Falcon landed at Plymouth； and went up to town by
the same train。 They parted in London； Staines to go down to
Gravesend； Mrs。 Falcon to visit her husband's old haunts； and see
if she could find him。
She did not find him； but she heard of him； and learned that he
always went down to Gravesend from Saturday till Monday。
Notwithstanding all she had said to Staines； the actual information
startled her； and gave her a turn。 She was obliged to sit down；
for her knees seemed to give way。 It was but a momentary weakness。
She was now a wife and a mother； and had her rights。 She said to
herself； 〃My rogue has turned that poor woman's head long before
this； no doubt。 But I shall go down and just bring him away by the
ear。〃
For once her bitter indignation overpowered every other sentiment；
and she lost no time； but late as it was went down to Gravesend；
ordered a private sitting…room and bedroom for the night； and took
a fly to Kent Villa。
But Christopher Staines had the start of her。 He had already gone
down to Gravesend with his carpet…bag； left it at the inn； and
walked to Kent Villa that lovely summer night； the happiest husband
in England。
His heart had never for one instant been disturbed by Mrs。 Falcon's
monstrous suspicion； he looked on her as a monomaniac； a sensible
woman insane on one point； her husband。
When he reached the villa； however； he thought it prudent to make
sure that Falcon had come to England at all； and discharged his
commission。 He would not run the risk； small as he thought it； of
pouncing unexpected on his Rosa； being taken for a ghost； and
terrifying her； or exciting her to madness。
Now the premises of Kent Villa were admirably adapted to what they
call in war a reconnaissance。 The lawn was studded with
laurestinas and other shrubs that had grown magnificently in that
Kentish air。
Staines had no sooner set his foot on the lawn； than he heard
voices； he crept towards them from bush to bush； and standing in
impenetrable shade； he saw in the clear moonlight two figures
Mr。 Lusignan and Reginald Falcon。
These two dropped out only a word or two at intervals； but what
they did say struck Staines as odd。 For one thing； Lusignan
remarked； 〃I suppose you will want to go back to the Cape。 Such
enormous estates as yours will want looking after。〃
〃Enormous estates！〃 said Staines to himself。 〃Then they must have
grown very fast in a few months。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 said Falcon； 〃but I think of showing her a little of
Europe first。〃
Staines thought this still more mysterious； he waited to hear more；
but the succeeding remarks were of an ordinary kind。
He noticed； however； that Falcon spoke of his wife by her Christian
name； and that neither party mentioned Christopher Staines。 He
seemed quite out of their little world。
He began to feel a strange chill creep down him。
Presently Falcon went off to join Rosa； and Staines thought it was
quite time to ask the old gentleman whether Falcon had executed his
commission； or not。
He was only hesitating how to do it； not liking to pounce in the
dark on a man who abhorred everything like excitement； when Rosa
herself came flying out in great agitation。
Oh！ the thrill he felt at the sight of her！ With all his self…
possession； he would have sprung forward and taken her in his arms
with a mighty cry of love； if she had not immediately spoken words
that rooted him to the spot with horror。 But she came with the
words in her very mouth； 〃Papa； I am come to tell you I cannot； and
will not； marry Mr。 Falcon。〃
〃Oh； yes； you will； my dear。〃
〃Never！ I'll die sooner。 Not that you will care for that。 I tell
you I saw my Christopher last nightin a dream。 He had a beard；
but I saw him； oh； so plain； and he said； 'Is this the way you keep
your promise？' That is enough for me。 I have prayed； again and
again； to his star； for light。 I am so perplexed and harassed by
you all； and you make me believe what you like。 Well； I have had a
revelation。 It is not my poor lost darling's wish I should wed
again。 I don't believe Mr。 Falcon any more。 I hear nothing but
lies by day。 The truth comes to my bedside at night。 I will not
marry this man。〃
〃Consider； Rosa； your credit is pledged。 You must not be always
jilting him heartlessly。 Dreams！ nonsense。 ThereI love peace。
It is no use your storming at me； rave to the moon and the stars；
if you like； and when you have done； do pray come in； and behave
like a rational woman； who has pledged her faith to an honorable
man； and a man of vast estatesa man that nursed your husband in
his last illness； found your child； at a great expense； when you
had lost him； and merits eternal gratitude； not eternal jilting。 I
have no patience with you。〃
The old gentleman retired in high dudgeon。
Staines stood in the black shade of his cedar…tree； rooted to the
ground by this revelation of male villany and female credulity。
He did not know what on earth to do。 He wanted to kill Falcon； but
not to terrify his own wife to death。 It was now too clear she
thought he was dead。
Rosa watched her father's retiring figure out of sight。 〃Very
well；〃 said she； clenching her teeth； then suddenly she turned； and
looked up to heaven。 〃Do you hear？〃 said she； 〃my Christie's star？
I am a poor perplexed creature。 I asked you for a sign； and that
very night I saw him in a dream。 Why should I marry out of
gratitude？ Why should I marry one man； when I love another？ What
does it matter his being dead？ I love him too well to be wife to
any living man。 They persuade me； they coax me； they pull me； they
push me。 I see they will make me。 But I will outwit them。 See
see！〃 and she held up a little phial in the moonlight。 〃This shall
cut the knot for me； this shall keep me true to my Christie； and
save me from breaking promises I ought never to have made。 This
shall unite me once more with him I killed； and loved。〃
She meant she would kill herself the night before the wedding；
which perhaps she would not； and perhaps she would。 Who can tell？
The weak are violent。 But Christopher； seeing the poison so near
her lips； was perplexed； took two strides； wrenched it out of her
hand； with a snarl of rage； and instantly plunged into the shade
again。
Rosa uttered a shriek； and flew into the house。
The farther she got； the more terrified she became； and soon
Christopher heard her screaming in the drawing…room in an alarming
way。 They were like the screams of the insane。
He got terribly anxious； and followed her。 All the doors were
open。
As he went up…stairs； he heard her cry； 〃His ghost！ his ghost！ I
have seen his ghost！ No； no。 I feel his hand upon my arm now。 A
beard！ and so he had in the dream！ He is alive。 My darling is
alive。 You have deceived me。 You are an impostora villain。 Out
of the house this moment； or he shall kill you。〃
〃Are you mad？〃 cried Falcon。 〃How can he be alive； when I saw him
dead？〃
This was too much。 Staines gave the door a blow with his arm； and
strode into the apartment； looking white and tremendous。
Falcon saw death in his face； gave a shriek； drew his revolver； and
fired at him with as little aim as he had at the lioness； then made
for the open window。 Staines seized a chair； followed him； and
hurled it at him； and the chair and the man went through the window
together； and then there was a strange thud heard outside。
Rosa gave a loud scream； and swooned away。
Staines laid his wife flat on the floor； got the women about her；
and at last she began to give the usual signs of returning life。
Staines said to the oldest woman there； 〃If she sees me； she will
go off again。 Carry her to her room； and tell her； by degrees；
that I am alive。〃
All this time Papa Lusignan had sat trembling and whimpering in a
chair； moaning； 〃This is a painful scenevery painful。〃 But at
last an idea struck him〃WHY； YOU HAVE ROBBED THE OFFICE！〃
Scarcely was Mrs。 Staines out of the room； when a fly drove up； and
this was immediately followed by violent and continuous screaming
close under the window。
〃Oh； dear！〃 sighed Papa Lusignan。
They ran down； and found Falcon impaled at full length on the
spikes of the villa； and Phoebe screaming over him； and trying in
vain to lift him off them。 He had struggled a little； in silent
terror； but had then fainted from fear and loss of blood； and lying
rather inside the rails； which were high； he could not be
extricated from the outside。
As soon as his miserable condition was discovered； the servants ran
down into the kitchen； and so up to the rails by the area steps。
These rails had caught him； one had gone clean through his arm； the
other had penetrated the fleshy part of the thigh； and a third
pierced his ear。
They got him off； but he was insensible； and the place drenched
with his blood。
Phoebe clutched Staines by the arm。 〃Let me know the worst；〃 said
she。 〃Is he dead？〃
Staines examined him； and said 〃No。〃
〃Can you save him？〃
〃I？〃
〃Yes。 Who can； if you cannot？ Oh； have mercy on me！〃 and she went
on her knees to him； and put her forehead on his knees。
He was touched by her simple faith； and the noble traditions of his
profession sided with his gratitude to this injured woman。 〃My
poor friend；〃 said he； 〃I will do my best； for YOUR sake。〃