Page:Harold Macgrath--The girl in his house.djvu/153

 With all my soul!" Armitage reached out and covered the cold, damp hand with his warm one.

"A madman. And the cap to all this madness was the day you left me with all those powers of attorney. It was a nebulous idea then; but it grew and grew. You remained away so long that I believed you would never return. To protect this child from poverty, from hardship, from menial work! I became obsessed. Legally I knew that you could not disturb her, for she was the daughter of Hubert Athelstone; there were his letters from all over the world, his photograph. It was simple. I would inclose the proper letter, correctly stamped with the stamp of the country I wished it sent from, in a larger envelope, and address it to such and such a consulate, with the superscription directing that if not called for within two weeks, to open and remail. She could not remain in that school forever. Soon she would be facing the world alone; and so I helped myself to half your fortune. Early, before you came back, I used to steal into the house and watch her. I had keys. . And God has brought you back to