“Good morning, Mrs. Appleditch,” said Hugh; and walked out with his books under his arm, leaving her with the money in her hand.

He had to knock his feet on the pavement in front of the house, to keep them from freezing, for half-an-hour, before the carriage arrived to take him away.  As soon as it came up, he jumped into it, and was carried off in triumph by Harry.

Mrs. Elton received him kindly.  Euphra held out her hand with a slight blush, and the quiet familiarity of an old friend.  Hugh could almost have fallen in love with her again, from compassion for her pale, worn face, and subdued expression.

Mrs. Elton went out in the carriage almost directly, and Euphra begged Harry to leave them alone, as she had something to talk to Mr. Sutherland about.

“Have you found any trace of Count Halkar, Hugh?” she said, the moment they were by themselves.

“I am very sorry to say I have not.  I have done my best.”

“I am quite sure of that. —­ I just wanted to tell you, that, from certain indications which no one could understand so well as myself, I think you will have more chance of finding him now.”

“I am delighted to hear it,” responded Hugh.  “If I only had him!”

Euphra sighed, paused, and then said: 

“But I am not sure of it.  I think he is in London; but he may be in Bohemia, for anything I know.  I shall, however, in all probability, know more about him within a few days.”

Hugh resolved to go at once to Falconer, and communicate to him what Euphra had told him.  But he said nothing to her as to the means by which he had tried to discover the count; for although he felt sure that he had done right in telling Falconer all about it, he was afraid lest Euphra, not knowing what sort of a man he was, might not like it.  Euphra, on her part, did not mention Margaret’s name; for she had begged her not to do so.

“You will tell me when you know yourself?”

“Perhaps. —­ I will, if I can.  I do wish you could get the ring.  I have a painful feeling that it gives him power over me.”

“That can only be a nervous fancy, surely,” Hugh ventured to say.

“Perhaps it is.  I don’t know.  But, still, without that, there are plenty of reasons for wishing to recover it.  He will put it to a bad use, if he can.  But for your sake, especially, I wish we could get it.”

“Thank you.  You were always kind.”

“No,” she replied, without lifting her eyes; “I brought it all upon you.”

“But you could not help it.”

“Not at the moment.  But all that led to it was my fault.”

She paused; then suddenly resumed: 

“I will confess. —­ Do you know what gave rise to the reports of the house being haunted?”

“No.”

“It was me wandering about it at night, looking for that very ring, to give to the count.  It was shameful.  But I did.  Those reports prevented me from being found out.  But I hope not many ghosts are so miserable as I was. —­ You remember my speaking to you of Mr. Arnold’s jewels?”