“Meaning Captain Morford?”

“Yes.  He has been almost beside himself.  And since this last blow fell....  Oh, I had been so sure that it would not, that between us all we would manage to avert it; yet in spite of everything it did fall—­it did!—­and if I live to be a hundred I shall never forget it.”

“Calm yourself, Miss Lorne.  You are shaking like a leaf.  Try to tell me plainly what it is that has happened; what the danger is that threatens this—­er—­Captain Morford.”

“Oh, nothing threatens him, personally,” she replied.  “He says he could stand it better if it were only that; and I believe him—­I truly do.  The thing that nearly drives him out of his mind is the thought that one day she—­the girl he loves—­the girl he is to marry—­the girl for whose dear sake he stands ready to give up so much—­the thought that one day her turn will come, that one day she, too, will be stricken down as mother and brothers have been is almost driving him frantic.”

“Mother and brothers?—­brothers?” Cleek looked up sharply, and there was a curious break in his voice, a yet more curious brightening of his eyes.  “Miss Lorne, am I to understand that this Captain Morford is engaged to a girl who has brothers?”

“Yes.  That is—­no.  She has ‘brothers’ no longer.  There is only one left living now, Mr. Cleek, only one.  Ah, think of it! of that whole family of six persons, but three are left:  Miriam, Flora, and Ronald.”

“Miriam, Flora, and ...  Miss Lorne, will you tell me please the name of the lady to whom Captain Morford is engaged?”

“Why Miriam Comstock, of course—­did I forget to mention it?”

“I think so,” said Cleek; and shook out a little jerky laugh, and stood looking at her foolishly; not quite knowing what to do with his feet and hands.  But suddenly—­“Oh come, let’s have the case—­let’s have it at once,” he broke out impetuously.  “Tell me what it is, what I’m to do for this Captain Morford, and I’ll do it if mortal man can.”

“And no mortal man can if you cannot—­I’ve faith enough in you for that,” she began, then stopped short and sucked in her breath, and crept back to the extreme end of the lich-gate and stood shaking and very pale.  Someone had come suddenly round the angle of the church and was moving up the road that ran past the gate.

“Please—­no—­let me get away as quickly as possible,” she said in a swift whisper as Cleek, startled by the change in her, made an eager step forward.  “It is known that I have been with them—­the Comstocks—­and it is all so mysterious and awful. ...  Oh, who can tell whose hand it may be? who may be spying? or what?  It is best that I should give no hint that assistance has been asked for; best that nobody should see me talking with you—­Mr. Narkom says that it is.”

“Mr. Narkom?”

“Yes.  He was in the neighbourhood accidentally.  He called last night.  I told him and he was glad that I had sent for you.  He is over there, on the other side of the churchyard.  Oh, please will you go to him?  Captain Morford is within easy call and has agreed to come when he is wanted.  Do go, do go quickly, Mr. Cleek.  There’s someone coming up the road and I am horribly frightened.”