"
"Then I stipulate for supper and bed as soon as possible."
"Very well, Anthony--though I ought to draw up some sort of a will
first, oughtn't I?"
"Yes, it is customary, dear fellow."
"There's my Wildfire, I'll leave him to you--if you'll have him."
"Of course--and thank you, Perry."
"You'll soon grow to love the rascal in spite of his mischievous
tricks--"
"I hope to heaven I never have the chance--oh, curse and confound
it--don't be so devilish calm and assured. You--you talk as if you
were going out to your execution!"
"No, no, Anthony," I answered, slipping my hand within his arm, "let
us rather say--to my triumph."
CHAPTER X
TELLS HOW A MYSTERY WAS RESOLVED
I opened my eyes on a bleak dawn full of a pallid, stealthy mist, to
find myself cramped in my chair before the open lattice and with
Anthony bending over me, his comely features haggard in the sickly
light.
"Ha, you didn't go to bed then?"
"Evidently not!" I answered, shivering. "But I slept--"
"Well, I did--and never a wink, confound it! And here's you basking
before an open window--and on such a perfectly damned morning--have
you ill again!" and, shivering in his turn, he proceeded to close the
lattice and light the candles.
"Pray what o'clock is it, Anthony?"
"A quarter to four. I have ordered a chaise to be ready in half an
hour; seems this 'Anchor' Inn is some eight miles away--and better be
a little early than late.
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