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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont filmds en commenpant par la premidre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et er. terminant par la dernidre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaitra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". ues cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent §tre film6s d des taux de rdduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour §tre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est film6 A partir de Tangle supdrieur gauche, de gauche d droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images ndcessaire. Los diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. rrata o jelure, 1 d □ 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 i 4 5 6 The Lunotic at Large A Novel BY J. STORER CLOUSTON CANADIAN COPYRIGHT EDITION, THE W. J. GAGE CO., Limited TORONTO 1810 'MIXED, in the year iSgg. ; r The Lunatic at Large p \c THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. INTRODUCTORY. Into the history of Mr Francis Beveridge, as supplied by the obliging candour of the Baron von Blitzenberg and the notes of Dr Escott, Dr Twiddel and his friend Robert Welsh make a kind of explanatory entry. They most effectually set the ball a-rolling, and so the story starts in a small room looking out on a very uninteresting London streveridge, "it would take two men to do that." " Huh !" snorted the Emperor, "you are so d — d strong, are you ? " *• I mean," answered his vis-d-vt's with his polite smile, " that it would take one man to put something in and another to take it out." This remark not only turned the laugh entirely on Mr Beveridge's side, but it intro duced the upsetting factor. n CHAPTER III. tro Till': Lad)' Alicia a Fyre, thou^^h of the outer everyday vrorld herself, had, in common with most families of any pretensions to ancient dignity, a creditable sprinkling of uncles and cousins domiciled in Clankwood, and so she frequently attended these dances. To-night her eye had been caught by a tall, graceful figure executing a pas seul in the middle of the room with its hands in its pockets. The face of this gentleman was so composed and handsome, and he seemed so oblivious to the presence of everybody else, that her interest was immediately excited. During the set of lancers in which he was her visd-vis she watched him furtively with a growing feeling of admiration. She had never heard him say a word, and it was with a sen- sation of the liveliest interest that she listened to his brief passage with her partner. At his i 34 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. final retort her tender heart was overcome with pity. He was poor, then, or at least he was allowed the use of no money. And all of him that was outside his pockets seemed so sane and so gentlemanly ; it seemed a pity to let him lack a little sympathy. The Lady Alicia might be described as a becoming frock stuffed with sentiment. Through a pair of large blue eyes she drank in romance, and with the reddest and most undecided of lips she felt a vague desire to kiss something. At the end of the dance she managed by a series of little manoeuvres to find herself standing close to his elbcvv. She sighed twice, but he still seemed absorbed in lilrs thoughts. Then with a heroic eftbrt she summoned up her courage, and said in a low and rather shaky voice. •* You — you — you are unha — appy." Mr Beveridge turned and looked down on her with great interest. Her eyes met his for a moment and straightway sought the floor. Thus she saw nothing of a smile that came and went like the shadow of a puff of smoke. He took his hands out of his pockets, folded his arms, and, with an air of the deepest de- THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 35 jection, sighed heavily. She took courage and looked up again, and then, as he only gazed into space in the most romantically melancholy fashion and made no answer, she asked again very timidly, '* Wh — what is the matter ? " Without saying a word Mr Beveridge bent courteously and offered her his right arm. She took it with the mcst delicious trepidation, glancing round hurriedly to see whether the Countess noticed her. Another dance was just beginning, and in the general movement her mysterious acquaintance led her without observation to a seat in the window of a cor- ridor. There he pressed her hand gently, stroked his long moustaches for a minute, and then said, with an air of reflection, ** There are three ways of making a woman like one. I am slightly out of practice. Would you be kind enough to suggest a method of pro- cedure .•* " Such a beginning was so wholly unexpected that Lady Alicia could only give a little gasp of consternation. Her companion, after paus- ing an instant for a reply, went on in the same tone, " 1 am aware that I have begun well. 1 attracted your attention, I elicited your l^ THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. , I sympathy, and I pressed your hand ; but for the life of me I can't remember what I gener- ally do next." Poor Lady Alicia, who had come with a bucketful of sympathy ready to be gulped down by this unfortunate gentleman, was only able to stammer, ** I — I really don't know, Mr " '* Hamilton," said Mr Beveridge, unblush- ingly. *• At least that name belongs to me as much as anything can be said to in a world where my creditors claim my money and Dr Congleton my person." "You are confined and poor, you mean.'*" asked Lady Alicia, beginning to see her way aofain. '• Poor and confined, to put them in their proper order, for if I had the wherewithal to purchase a balloon I should certainly cease to be confined." His admirer found it hard to reply ade- quately to this, and Mr Beveridge cont* lued, " To return to the delicate subject from which we strayed, what would you like me to do, — put my arm round your waist, relate my troubles, or turn my back on you?" " Are — are those the three ways you spoke THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 37 to le- of — to make women like you, I mean ? " Lady Alicia ventured to ask, though she was be- ginning to wish the sofa was larger. " They are examples of the three classical methods : cuddling, humbugging, and piquing. Which do you prefer ? " " Tell me about your — your troubles," she answered, gaining courage a little. *' You belong to the sex which makes no mention of figs and spades," he rejoined ; *' but I understand you to mean that you pefer humbuggin;^." He drew a long face, sighed twice, and looking tenderly into Lady Alicia's blue eyes, began in a gentle, reminiscent voice, " My boyhood was troubled and unhappy : no kind words, no caresses. I was beaten by a cruel stepfather, ignored and insulted for my physical deformities by a heartless stepmothe*." He stopped to sigh again, and Lady Alicia, with a boldness that surprised herself, and a perspicacity that would have surprised her friends, asked, "How could they — I mean, were they doif/i step ? " " Several steps," he replied ; *' in fact, quite a long journey." 38 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. li With this explanation Lady Alicia was forced to remain satisfied ; but as he had paused a second time, and seemed to be immersed in the study of his shoes, she inquired again, " You spoke of physical infirmities ; do you mean ? " " Deformities," he corrected ; ** up to the age of fourteen years I could only walk sideways, and my hair parted in the middle." He spoke so seriously that these unusual maladies seemed to her the most touching misfortunes she had ever heard of. She mur- mured gently, " Yes ? " " As the years advanced," Mr Beveridge continued, " and I became more nearly the same weight as my stepfather, my life grew happier. It was decided to send me to college, so I was provided with an insufficient cheque, a complete set of plated forks, and three bath- towels, and despatched to the University of Oxford. At least I think that was the name of the corporation which took my money and endeavoured to restrict my habits, though, to confess the truth, my memory is not what it used to be. There I learned wisdom by the practice of lolly- the most amusing and effec- THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 39 id to it ne ac- tive method. My tutor used to tell me I had some originality. I apologised for its presence in such a respectable institution, and undertook to pass an examination instead. I believe I succeeded : I certainly remember giving a dinner to celebrate something. Thereupon at my own expense the University inflicted a degree upon me, but I was shortly afterwards compensated by the death of my uncle and my accession to his estates. Having enjoyed a university education, and accordingly possess- ing a corrected and regulated sentiment, I was naturally inconsolable at the decease of this venerable relative, who for so long had shown a kindly interest in the poor orphan lad." He stopped to sigh again, and Lady Alicia asked with great interest, ** But your step- parents, you always had them, hadn't you ? " " Never ! " he replied, sadly. " Never ? " she exclaimed in some bewilder- ment. " Certainly not often," he answered, " and oftener than not, never. If you had told me beforehand you wished to hear my history, I should have pruned my family tree into a more presentable shape. But if you will kindly tell 40 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. ! ■;li \h ine as I go aloni^ which of my relatives you disapprove of, and who you would like to be introduced, I shall arrange the plot to suit you." •* I only wish to hear the true story, Mr Hamilton." " Fortescue," he corrected. *• I certainly prefer to be called by one name at a time, but never by the same twice running." He smiled so agreeably as he said this that Lady Alicia, though puzzled and a little hurt, could not refrain from smiling back. ** Let me hear the rest," she said. " It is no truer than the first part, but quite as entertaining. So, if you like, I shall en- deavour to recall the series of painful episodes that brought me to Clank wood," he answered, very seriously. Lady Alicia settled herself comfortably into one corner of the sofa and prepared to feel affected. But at that moment the portly form of Dr Congleton appeared from the direction of the ballroom with a still more portly dowager on his arm. "My mother ! " exclaimed Lady Alicia, rising quickly to her feet. '•Indeed."*" said Mr Beveridge, who still THE LUiNAllC AT LAKGK. 41 kept his seat. •♦She certainly looks handsome enough." This speech made Lady Alicia blush very becomingly, and the Countess looked at her sharply. "Where have you been, Alicia?" "The room was rather warm, mamma, and " " In short, madam," interrupted Mr Beve- ridge, rising and bowing, " your charming daughter wished to study a lunatic at close quarters. I am mad. and I obligingly raved. Thus " He ran one hand through his hair so as to make it fall over his eyes, blew out his cheeks, and uttering a yell, sprang high into the air, and descended in a sitting posture on the floor. "That, madam, is a very common symptom,' he explained, with a smile, smoothing down his hair again, "as our friend Dr Congleton will tell vou." Both the doctor and the Countess were too astonished to make any reply, so he turned again to Lady Alicia, and offering his arm. said, "Let me lead you back to our fellow- fools." , p HI 4^ THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. ** Is he safe ?" whispered the Countess. " I — 1 believe so," replied Dr Congleton in some confusion ; " but I shall have him watched more carefully." As they entered the room Mr Beveridge whispered, *' Will you meet a poor lunatic again ? " And the Lady Alicia pressed his arm. 41 CHAPTER IV. On the mornino; after the dance Dr Congleton sumnioned Dr Escott to his room. " Escott," he began, " we must keep a little sharper eye on Mr Beveridge." •* Indeed, sir ? " said Escott ; " he seems to me harmless enough." •• Nevertheless, he must be watched. Lady Grillyer was considerably alarmed by his con- duct last night, and a client who has confided so many of her relatives to my care must be treated with the greatest regard. I receive pheasants at Christmas from no fewer than fourteen families of title, and my reputation for discretion is too \aluable to be risked. When Mr Beveridge is not under your own eyes you must see that Moggridge always keeps him in sight." Accordingly Moggridge, a burly and sea- soned attendant on refractory patients, was told 44 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. t 1 off to keep an unobtrusivtt <;ye on that accom- plished gentleman. His (hities appeared light enough, for, as I have said, Mr Beveridge's eccentricities had hitherto been merely of the most playful nature. After luncheon on this same day he gave Escott twelve breaks and a beating at billiards, and then having borrowed and approved of one of his cigars, he strolled into the park. If he intended to escape observation, he certainly showed the most skilful strategy, for he dodged deviously through the largest trees, and at last, after a roundabout ramble, struck a sheltered walk that ran underneath the high, glass- decked outer wall. It was a sunny winter afternoon. The boughs were stripped, and the leaves lay littered on the walk or flickered and stirred through the grass. In this spot the high trees stood so close and the bare branches were so thick that there was still an air of quiet and seclusion where he paced and smoked. Every now and then he stopped and listened and looked at his watch, and as he walked backwards and forwards an amused smile would come and go. All at once he heard something move on the 'IHE LUNATIC Al LAKGE. 45 far side of the wall : he paused to make sure, and then he whistled. The sounds outside ceased, and in a moment somethinsf fell softly behind him. He turned quickly and snatched up a little buttonhole ot flowers with a still smaller note tied to tiie stems. *' An uncommonly happy idea," he said to himself, looking at the missive with the air of one versed in these matters. Then he leisurely proceeded to unfold and read the note. " To my friend," he read, " if I may call you a friend since I have known you only such a short time — ma) I ? This is just to express my sympathy, and althou^^h I cannot express it well, still perhaps you will forgive my feeble effort ! ! " At this point, just as he was regarding the double mark of exclamation with reminiscent entertainment, a plaintive voice from the other side of the wall cried in a stage whisper, " Have you got it ? " Mr Beveridge composed his face, and heav- ing his shoulders to his ears in the effort, gave vent to a prodigious sigh. " A million thanks, my fairest and kindest 46 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. of friends," he answered in the same tone. " I read it now : I drink it in, I " He kissed the back of his hand loudly two or three times, sighed again, and continued his reading. ** I wish I could help you," it ran, "but I am afraid I cannot, as the world is so censorious, is it not ? So you must accept a friend's sym- pathy if it does not seem to you too bold and forward of her ! ! ! Perhaps we may meet again, as I sometimes go to Clankwood. Au revoir. — Your sympathetic well-wisher. A. A F." He folded it up and put it in his waistcoat- pocket, then he exclaimed in audible aside, his voice shaking with the mc effecting thrill, '* Perhaps we may meet again ! OvAy perhaps I O Alicia ! " And then dropping again into a stage whisper, he asked, ** Are you still there, Lady Alicia.?" A timorous voice replied, " Yes, Mr For- tescue. But I really ;;/««?/ go now!" " Now ? So soon ? " " I have stayed too long already." "'Tis better to have stayed too long than never to wear stays at all," replied Mr Beveridge. There was no response for a moment. Then THli LUNATIC AT LARGE. 47 a low voice, a little hurt and a good deal [)uzzled, asked with evident hesitation. *• What — what did you say, Mr Fortescue ? " '• I said that Lady Alicia's stay cannot be too long," he answered, softly. '• But — but what good can I be ?" •' The good you cannot help being." There was another moment's pause, then the voice whispered, " I don't quite understand you." "My Alicia understands me not!" Mr Beveridge soliloquised in another audible aside. Aloud, or rather in a little lower tone, he answered, ** I am friendless, poor, and im- prisoned. What is the good in your staying ? Ah, Lady Alicia ! But why should I detain you ? Go, fair friend ! Go. and forget poor Francis Beveridge ! " There came a soft, surprised answer, '• Francis Beveridge ? " " Alas ! you have guessed my secret. Yes, that is the name of the unhappiest of mortals." As he spoke these melancholy words he threw away the stump of his cigar, took another from his case, and bit off the end. The voice replied. ** I shall remember it — among my friends." 1' I ?i ii I' li 48 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. Mr Be vendue struck a match. •' H'sh ! Whatever is that ? " cried the voice in alarm. " A heart breaking," he replied, lighting his cigar. " Don't talk like that," said the voice. ** It — it distresses me." There was a break in the voice. " And, alas ! between distress and consolation there are fifteen perpendicular feet of stone and mortar and the relics of twelve hundred bottles of Bass," he replied. ** Perhaps," — the voice hesitated — " perhaps we may see each other some day." "Say to-morrow at four o'clock," he sug- gested, pertinently. ** If you could manage to be passing up the drive at that hour." There was another pause. '* Perhaps " the voice began. At that moment he heard the sharp crack of a branch behind him, and turning instantly he spied the uncompromising countenance of Moggridge peering round a tree about twenty paces distant. Lack of presence of mind and quick decision were not amongst Mr Beveridge's failings. He struck a theatrical attitude at THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. m his 5 of once, and began in a loud voice, gazing up at the tops of the trees, "He comes ! A stranger comes! Yes, my fair friend, we may meet again. Au revoir, but only for a while ! Ah, that a breaking heart should be lit for a moment and then the lamp be put out ! " Meanwhile Moggridge was walking towards him. " Ha, Moggridge ! " he cried. " Good day." "Time you was goin' in, sir," said Mogg- ridge, stolidly ; and to himself he muttered, " He's crackeder than I thought, a-shoutin* and a-ravin' to hisself Just as well I kept a heye on 'im." Like most clever people, Mr Beveridge generally followed the line of least resistance. He slipped his arm through his attendant's, shouted a farewell apparently to some imagin- ary divinity overhead, and turned towards the house. " This is an unexpected pleasure," he re- marked. " Yes, sir," replied Moggridge. *• Funny thing your turning up. Out for a walk, I suppose 1 " 50 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. " For a stroll, sir — that's to say ** he stopped. " That on these chilly afternoons the dear good doctor is afraid of my health ? " '• That's kind o' it, sir." ** But of course I'm not supposed to notice anything, eh ? " Moggridge looked a trifle uncomfortable and was discreetly silent. Mr Bcveridge smiled at his own perspicacity, and then be- gan in the most friendly tone, *' Well, I feel flattered that so stout a man has been told off to take care of me. What an arm you've got, man." " Pretty fair, sir," said Moggridge, compla- cently. " And I am thankful, too," continued Mr Beveridge, ** that you'i'e a man of some sense. There are a lot of fools in the world, Mogg- ridge, and I'm somewhat of an epicure in the matter of heads.'' " Mine 'as been considered pretty sharp," Moggridge admitted, with a gratified relax- ation of his wooden countenai ce. *' Have a cigar ? " his patient asked, taking out his case. THE LUNATIC A I LARGE. 51 "Thank you, sir, I don't mind if I do." '• You will find it a capital smoke. I don't throw them away on every one." Moggridue, completely thawed, lit his cigar and slackened his pace, for such frank apprecia- tion of his merits was rare in a critical world. •' You can perhaps believe, Mogirridge," said Mr Beveridge, reflectively, "that' one doesn't olien have the chance of talking confidential!) to a man of sense in Clank wood." " No, sir, 1 should himagine not." "And so one has sometimes to talk to oneself." This was said so sadly that Moggridge be- gan to feel uncomfortably affected. " Ah, Moggridge, one cannot always keep silence, even when one least wants to be overheard. Have you ever been in love, Moggridge .'* " The burly keeper changed coun.enance a litde at this embarrassingly direct question, and answered diffide-Jy, - Well, sir, to be sure men is men and woming will be woming." "The deuce, they will!" replied Mr Bev- eridge, cordially; "and it's rather hard to for- get 'em, eii ? " i : 11 52 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. " H indeed it is, sir." " I remembered this afternoon, but I should like you as a good chap to forget. You won't mention my moment of weakness, Moggridge ? " " No, sir," said Moggridge, stoutly. '* I sup- pose I hought to report what I sees, but I won't this time." " Thank you," said Mr Beveridge, pressing his arm. *' I had, you know, a touch of the sun in India, and I sometimes talk when I shouldn't. Though, after all, that isn't a very uncommon complaint." And so it happened that no rumour preju- dicial either to his sanity or to the progress of his friendship with the Lady Alicia reached the ears of the authorities. 53 CHAPTER V. Towards four o'clock on the following after- noon Mr Beveridge and Moggridge were walk- ing leisurely down the long drive leading from the mansion of Clankwood to the gate that opened on the humdrum outer world. Finding that an inelastic matter of yards was all the tether he could hope for, Mr Beveridge thought it best to take the bull by the horns, and make a companion of this necessity. So he kept his attendant by his side, ana regaled him for some time with a series of improbable reminiscences and tolerable cigars, till at last, round a bend of the avenue, a lady on horseback came into view. As she drew a little nearer he stopped with an air of great surprise and pleasure. " I believe, Moggridge, that must be Lady Alicia a Fyre ! " he exclaimed. " It looks huncommon like her, sir," replied Moggridge. 3 $4 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. " I must really speak to her. She was " — and Mr Beveridj^e assumed his inimitable air of manly sentiment — " she was one of my poor mother's dearest friends. Do you mind, Moj^gridge, falling behind a little."* In fact, if you could step behind a tree and wait here for me, it would be pleasanter for us both. We used to meet under happier circumstances, and, don't you know, it might distress her to be reminded of my misfortunes." Such a reasonable request, beseechingly put by so fine a gentleman, could scarcely be refused. Mo^^i^ridiife retired behind the trees that lined the avenue, and Mr Beveridge advanced alone to meet the Lady Alicia. She blushed very becomingly as he raised his hat. "I hardly expected to see you tc-day, Mr Beveridge," she began. ** I on the other hand, have been thinking of nothing else," he replied. She blushed still deeper, but responded a little reprovingly, " It's very polite of vou to say so, but " "Not a bit," said he. "I have a dozen iqually well-turned sentences at my disposal, THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 1^ 1 and, they tell me, a most deluding way of saying them." Suddenly out of her depth again, poor Lady Alicia could only strike out at random. •' Who tell you t " she managed to say. " First, so far as my poor memory goes, my mother's lady's-maid informed me of the fact ; then I think my sister's governess," he replied, ticking off his informants on his fingers with a half-abstracted air. ♦• After that came a num- ber of more or less reliable individuals, and lastly the Lady Alicia k Fyre." " Me ? I'm sure I never said " "None of them ever sate/;' he inter- rupted. " But what have I done, then ? " she asked, tightening her reins, and making her horse fidget a foot or two farther away. "You have begun to be a most adorable friend to a most unfortunate man." Still Lady Alicia looked at him a little dubiously, and only said, " I — I hope I'm not too friendly." "There are no degrees in friendly," he replied. "There are only aloofly, friendly, and more than friendly." 56 THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. "I — I think I ought to be going on, Mr Beveridge." That experienced diplomatist perceived that it was necessary to further embellish him- self^ " Are you fond of soldiers ? " he asked, abruptly. " I beg your pardon ? " she said in consider- able bewilderment. " Does a red coat, a medal, and a brass band appeal to you ? Are you apt to be interested in her Majesty's army .** " " I generally like soldiers," she admitted, still much surprised at the turn the conversa- tion had taken. ** Then I was a soldier." " But— really ? " " I held a commission in one of the crackest cavalry regiments," he began dramatically, and yet with a great air of sincerity. '* I was con- sidered one of the most promising officers in the mess. It nearly broke my heart to leave the service." He turned away his head. Lady Alicia was visibly affected. " I am so sorry ! " she murmured. n THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 57 Still keeping his face turned away, he held out his hand and she pressed it gently. "Sorrow cannot give me my freedom," he said. " If there is anything I can do " she began. ••Dismount," he s^Jd, looking up at her tenderly. Lady Alicia never quite knew how it hap- pened, but certainly she found herself standine comes," she shuddered. " All blood! Oh, what have you done to him ?*' •'On my honour, nothing, — I merely haven't washed his face." By this time Moggridge was coming close upon them. •' You won't forget a poor soldier ? " said Mr Beveridge in a lower voice. There was vo reply. "A /foor soldier," he added, with a sigh, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "So poor that even if I had got out, I could only have ridden till I dropped." •* Would you accept ?" she began, timidly. " What day ? " he interrupted, hurriedly. " Tuesday," she hesitated. *' Four o'clock, again. Same place as before. When I whistle throw it over at once." Before they had time to say more, Mogg- ridge, blood- and gravel-stained, came up. '• It's all right, miss," he said, coming be- tween them ; " I'll see that he plays no more of 'is tricks. There's nothin' to be afrightened of." " Stand back ! " she cried ; ** don't come near me!" J? 62 THE LUNAIIC AT LARGE. ' ill Mogi^ridore was too staggered at this out- burst to say a word. " Stand away ! " she said, and the bewildered attendant stood away. She turned to Mr Beveridge. •• Now, will you help me up ?" She mounted lightly, said a brief farewell, and, forgetting all about the call at Clankwood she had ostensibly come to pay, turned her horse's head towards the lodge. "Well, I'm blowed ! " said Moggridge. '* They do blow one," his patient assented. Naturally enough the story of this equestrian adventure soon ran through Clankwood. The exact particulars, however, were a little hard to collect, for while Moggridge supplied many minute and picturesque details, illustrating his own activity and presence f mind and the imminent peril of the Lady Alicia, Mr Beve- ridge recounted an equally vivid story of a runaway horse recovered by himself to its fair owner's unbounded gratitude. ( )ft'icial opinion naturally acc^.pted the official account, and for the next few days Mr Beveridge became an object of considerable anxiety and mistrust. •' 1 can't make the man out," said Sherlaw to 1 THE LUNATiC AT LAKGE. 63 ler Escott. " I had beoun to think there was nothing much the matter with him." " No more there is," replied Escott. " His memory seems to me to have suffered from something, and he simply supplies its place in conversation from his imagination, and in action from the inspiration of the moment. The methods of society are too orthodox for such an aberration, and as his friends doubtless pay a handsome fee to keep him here, old Congers labels hiri mad and locks the door on him." A day or two afterwards official opinion was a little disturbed. Lady Alicia, in reply to anxious inquiries, gave a third version of the adventure, from which nothing in particular could be gathered except tiiat nothing in par- ticular had happened. •' What do you make of this, Escott ? " asked Dr Congleton, laying her note belure his assistant. •• Merely that a woman wrote it." " Hum ! I suppose that is the explanation." Upon which the doctor looked profound and went to lunch. 64 i CHAPTER VI. "Two five-pound notes, half-a sovereign, and seven and sixpence in silver," said Mr Bevcridge to himself. "Ah, and a card." On the card was written, *' From a friend, if you will accept it. A." He was standing under the wall, in the secluded walk, holding a little lady's purse in his hand, and listening to two different footsteps. One little pair of feet were hurrying away on the farther side of the high wall, another and larger were approaching him at a run. •• Wot's he bin up to now, I wonder," Mogg- ridge panted to himself — for the second pair of feet belonged to him. "Shamming nose-bleed and sending me in for an andkerchief, and then sneaking off here by 'isself!" •' What a time you've been," said Mr Beve- ridge, slipping the purse with its contents into THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. 6t his pocket. " I was so infernally cold I had to take a little walk. Got the handkerchief ? " In silence and with a suspicious solemnity Moo^gridge handed him the handkerchief, and they turned back for the house. ** Now for a balloon," Mr Bevepdge reflected. Certainly it was cold. The frost nipped sharp that night, and next morni?\g there were ice gardens on the windows, and the park lay white all through the winter sunshine. By evening the private lake was reported to be bearing, and the next day it hammed under the first skaters. Hardly necessary to say Mr Beveridge was among the earliest of them, or that he was at once the object of general admiration and envy. He traced " vines " and " Q's," and performed wonderful feats on one leg all morning. At lunch he was in the best of spirits, and was off again at once to the ice* When he reached the lake in the afternoon the first person he spied was Lady Alicia, and five minutes afterwards they were sailing off together hand in hand. '* I knew you would come to-day," he re- marked. I: §$ THE LUNATIC AT LARGE. " How cou/d you have known ? It was by the merest chance I happened to come." "It has always been by the merest chance that any of them have ever come." "Who have ever come ?" she inquired, with a vagva feelin