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the servant's return from the village。 He brought news； and more than
news； he brought a letter from Launce。
Natalie read these lines：
〃I shall be with you； dearest； almost as soon as you receive this。 The
bearer will tell you what has happened in the village your note throws a
new light on it all。 I only remain behind to go to the vicar （who is also the
magistrate here）； and declare myself your husband。 All disguise must be at
an end now。 My place is with you and yours。 It is even worse than your
worst fears。 Turlington was at the bottom of the attack on your father。
Judge if you have not need of your husband's protection after that！L。〃
Natalie handed the letter to her aunt； and pointed to the sentence
which asserted Turlington's guilty knowledge of the attempt on Sir
Joseph's life。 In silent horror the two women looked at each other；
recalling what had happened earlier in the evening； and understanding it
now。 The servant roused them to a sense of present things； by entering on
the narrative of his discoveries in the village。
The place was all astir when he reached it。 An old mana stranger in
Baxdalehad been found lying in the road； close to the church； in a fit；
and the person who had discovered him had been no other than Launce
himself。 He had； literally； stumbled over the body of Thomas Wildfang in
the dark； on his way back to his lodgings in the village。
〃The gentleman gave the alarm； miss；〃 said the servant； describing the
event； as it had been related to him； 〃and the mana huge； big old man
was carried to the inn。 The landlord identified him； he had taken lodgings
at the inn that day； and the constable found valuable property on hima
purse of money and a gold watch and chain。 There was nothing to show
who the money and the watch belonged to。 It was only when my master
and the doctor got to the inn that it was known whom he had robbed and
tried to murder。 All he let out in his wanderings before they came was that
some person had set him on to do it。 He called the person 'Captain；' and
sometimes 'Captain Goward。' It was thoughtif you could trust the ravings
of a madmanthat the fit took him while he was putting his hand on Sir
Joseph's heart to feel if it had stopped beating。 A sort of vision （as I
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understand it） must have overpowered him at the moment。 They tell me he
raved about the sea bursting into the church yard； and a drowning sailor
floating by on a hen…coop； a sailor who dragged him down to hell by the
hair of his head； and such like horrible nonsense； miss。 He was still
screeching； at the worst of the fit； when my master and the doctor came
into the room。 At sight of one or other of themit is thought of Mr。
Turlington； seeing that he came firsthe held his peace on a sudden； and
then fell back in convulsions in the arms of the men who were holding him。
The doctor gave it a learned name； signifying drink…madness； and said the
case was hopeless。 However； he ordered the room to be cleared of the
crowd to see what be could do。 My master was reported to be still with the
doctor； waiting to see whether the man lived or died； when I left the
village； miss； with the gentleman's answer to your note。 I didn't dare stay
to hear how it ended； for fear of Mr。 Turlington's finding me out。〃
Having reached the end of his narrative； the man looked round
restlessly toward the window。 It was impossible to say when his master
might not return； and it might be as much as his life was worth to be
caught in the house after he had been locked out of it。 He begged
permission to open the window； and make his escape back to the stables
while there was still time。 As he unbarred the shutter they were startled by
a voice hailing them from below。 It was Launce's voice calling to Natalie。
The servant disappeared； and Natalie was in Launce's arms before she
could breathe again。
For one delicious moment she let her head lie on his breast； then she
suddenly pushed him away from her。 〃Why do you come here？ He will
kill you if he finds you in the house。 Where is he？〃
Launce knew even less of Turlington's movements than the servant。
〃Wherever he is； thank God； I am here before him！〃 That was all the
answer he could give。
Natalie and her aunt heard him in silent dismay。 Sir Joseph woke； and
recognized Launce before a word more could be said。 〃Ah； my dear boy！〃
he murmured； faintly。 〃It's pleasant to see you again。 How do you come
here？〃 He was quite satisfied with the first excuse that suggested itself。
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〃We'll talk about it to… morrow；〃 he said； and composed himself to rest
again。
Natalie made a second attempt to persuade Launce to leave the house。
〃We don't know what may have happened；〃 she said。 〃He may have
followed you on your way here。 He may have purposely let you enter his
house。 Leave us while you have the chance。〃
Miss Lavinia added her persuasions。 They were useless。 Launce
quietly closed the heavy window…shutters； lined with iron； and put up the
bar。 Natalie wrung her hands in despair。
〃Have you been to the magistrate？〃 she asked。 〃Tell us； at least； are
you here by his advice？ Is he coming to help us？〃
Launce hesitated。 If he had told the truth； he must have acknowledged
that he was there in direct opposition to the magistrate's advice。 He
answered evasively； 〃If the vicar doesn't come； the doctor will。 I have told
him Sir Joseph must he moved。 Cheer up； Natalie！ The doctor will be here
as soon as Turlington。〃
As the name passed his lipswithout a sound outside to prepare them
for what was comingthe voice of Turlington himself suddenly penetrated
into the room； speaking close behind the window； on the outer side。
〃You have broken into my house in the night；〃 said the voice。 〃And
you don't escape _this_ way。〃
Miss Lavinia sank on her knees。 Natalie flew to her father。 His eyes
were wide open in