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 Again I pressed her to reveal to me what she knew regarding that mysterious woman who was in association with the fellow Eastwell.

But once again she steadfastly declined to reveal anything.

'No, no!' she protested. 'Please don't ask me, Claude.'

'But surely I have a right to know!' I declared. 'Your enemies are mine; and we are fighting them together. We have agreed to marry, Roseye, therefore you may surely trust me with your secret!'

I had halted at a stile before crossing our path leading into the wood, and, as I held her hand in mine, I looked straight into her big blue eyes.

She drew a long breath, and her gaze wavered. I saw that she now relented, and that she was unable to refute my argument.

I pressed her hand and, in a deep, earnest voice, urged:

'Tell me darling. Do tell me?'

Again her chest heaved and fell beneath her furs.

'Well, Claude. It's—it's a strange story—as strange as any woman has ever lived to tell,' she said at last, with great hesitation and speaking very slowly. 'On that morning when I left I received a letter purporting to come from you, and urging me to meet you in secret on the departure platform of the Great Northern station at King's Cross. Naturally, much puzzled, I went there, wondering what had happened. While waiting, a woman—the woman you have seen—came up to me and told me that you