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achieved by the weaker vessel。
When Lally got up； and looked about him ruefully； great was the delight of the younger gentlemen。
When he walked in…doors； they chaffed him through an open window； and none of them noticed that the man was paler than even the rough usage he had received could account for。
This jocund spirit； however； was doomed to be short…lived。
Lally came into the room； looking pale and troubled； and whispered a word in his master's ear； then retired； but left his master as pale as himself。
Coventry； seated at a distance from the window； had not seen the scrimmage outside； and Lally's whispered information fell on him like a thunderbolt。
Mr。 Beresford saw at once that something was wrong； and hinted as much to his neighbor。 It went like magic round the table； and there was an uneasy silence。
In the midst of this silence； mysterious sounds began to be heard in the bride's chamber： a faint scream； feet rushing across the floor； a sound as of some one sinking heavily on to a chair or couch。
Presently came a swift stamping that told a tale of female passion； and after that confused sounds that could not be interpreted through the ceiling； yet somehow the listeners felt they were unusual。 One or two attempted conversation； out of politeness； but it died away curiosity and uneasiness prevailed。
Lally put his head in at the door； and asked if the carriage was to be packed。
〃Of course；〃 said Coventry； and soon the servants； male and female； were seen taking boxes out from the hall to the carriage。
Jael Dence walked into the room； and went to Mr。 Raby。
〃The bride desires to see you immediately； sir。〃
Raby rose； and followed Jael out。
The next minute a lady's maid came； with a similar message to Dr。 Amboyne。
He rose with great alacrity； and followed her。
There was nothing remarkable in the bride's taking private leave of these two valued friends。 But somehow the mysterious things that had preceded made the guests look with half…suspicious eyes into every thing； and Coventry's manifest discomfiture； when Dr。 Amboyne was sent for； justified this vague sense that there was something strange going on beneath the surface。
Neither Raby nor Amboyne came down again； and Mr。 Beresford remarked aloud that the bride's room was like the lion's den in the fable； 〃'Vestigia nulla retrorsum。'〃
At last the situation became intolerable to Coventry。 He rose； in desperation； and said； with a ghastly attempt at a smile； that he must； nevertheless； face the dangers of the place himself； as the carriage was now packed； and Mrs。 Coventry and he； though loath to leave their kind friends； had a longish journey before them。 〃Do not move； I pray； I shall be back directly。〃
As soon as he had got out of the room； he held a whispered consultation with Lally； and then； collecting all his courage； and summoning all his presence of mind； he went slowly up the stairs； determined to disown Lally's acts （Lally himself had suggested this）； and pacify Grace's friends； if he could； but； failing that； to turn round； and stand haughtily on his legal rights； ay； and enforce them too。
But； meantime； what had passed in the bride's chamber？
Raby found Grace Carden； with her head buried on her toilet…table； and her hair all streaming down her back。
The floor was strewn with pearls and broken ornaments； and fragments of the bridal veil。 On the table lay Henry Little's letter。
Jael took it without a word； and gave it to Raby。
He took it； and； after a loud ejaculation of surprise； began to read it。
He had not quite finished it when Dr。 Amboyne tapped at the door； and Jael let him in。
The crushed figure with disheveled hair； and Raby's eye gleaming over the letter in his hand； told him at once what was going on。
He ceased to doubt； or vacillate； directly； he whispered Jael Dence to stand near Grace； and watch her closely。
He had seen a woman start up and throw herself； in one moment； out of a window； for less than thisa woman crushed apparently； and more dead than alive； as Grace Carden was。
Then he took out his own letter； and read it in a low voice to Mr。 Raby； but it afterward appeared the bride heard every word。
〃MY BEST FRIEND；Forgive me for neglecting you so long； and writing only to her I love with all my soul。 Forgive me； for I smart for it。 I have written fifteen letters to my darling Grace； and received no reply。 I wrote her one yesterday； but have now no hope she will ever get it。 This is terrible； but there is worse behind。 This very day I have learned that my premises were blown up within a few hours of my leaving； and poor； faithful Jael Dence nearly killed； and then a report of my own death was raised； and some remains found in the ruins that fools said were mine。 I suppose the letters I left in the box were all destroyed by the fire。
〃Now； mark my words； one and the same villain has put that dead man's hand and arm in the river； and has stopped my letters to Grace； I am sure of it。 So what I want you to do is； first of all； to see my darling； and tell her I am alive and well； and then put her on her guard against deceivers。
〃I suspect the postman has been tampered with。 I write to Mr。 Ransome to look into that。 But what you might learn for me is； whether any body lately has had any opportunity to stop letters addressed to 'Woodbine Villa。' That seems to point to Mr。 Carden； and he was never a friend of mine。 But； somehow； I don't think he would do it。
〃You see； I ask myself two questions。 Is there any man in the world who has a motive strong enough to set him tampering with my letters？ and； again； is there any man base enough to do such an act？ And the answer to both questions is the same。 I have a rival； and he is base enough for any thing。 Judge for yourself。 I as good as saved that Coventry's life one snowy night； and all I asked in return was that he wouldn't blow me to the Trades； and so put my life in jeopardy。 He gave his word of honor he wouldn't。 But he broke his word。 One day； when Grotait and I were fast friends； and never thought to differ again； Grotait told me this Coventry was the very man that came to him and told him where I was working。 Such a lump of human dirt as thatfor you can't call him a manmust be capable of any thing。〃
Here the reading of the letter was interrupted by an incident。
There was on the toilet…table a stiletto； with a pearl handle。 It was a small thing； but the steel rather long； and very bright and pointed。
The unfortunate bride； without lifting her head from the table； had reached out her hand； and was fingering this stiletto。 Jael Dence went and took it gently away； and put it out of reach。 The bride went on fingering； as if she had still got hold of it。
Amboyne exchanged an approving glance with Jael； and Raby concluded the letter。
〃I shall be home in a few days after this； and； if I find my darling well and happy； there's no great harm done。 I don't mind my own trouble and anxiety； great as they are； but if any scoundrel has made her unhappy； or made her believe I am dead； or false to my darling； by God； I'll kill him； though I hang for it next day！〃
Crushed； ben