“Ned!”

“Yass’m, Miss Jinny.”

“Where’s Mr. Clarence?”

“He done gone, Miss Tinny.”

“Gone?”

“Yass’m.  Fust I seed was a man plump out’n Willums’s, Miss Jinny.  He was a-gwine shufflin’ up de street when Marse Clarence put out after him, pos’ has’e.  Den he run.”

She stood for a moment on the pavement in thought, and paused on the stairs again, wondering whether it were best to tell her father.  Perhaps Clarence had seen—­she caught her breath at the thought and pushed open the door.

“Oh, Pa, do you think you are safe here?” she cried.  “Why, yes, honey, I reckon so,” he answered.  “Where’s Clarence?”

“Ned says he ran after a man who was hiding in an entrance.  Pa, I am afraid they are watching the place.”

“I don’t think so, Jinny.  I came here with Polk, in his buggy, after dark.”

Virginia, listening, heard footsteps on the stairs, and seized her father’s sleeve.

“Think of the risk you are running, Pa,” she whispered.  She would have dragged him to the closet.  But it was too late.  The door opened, and Mr. Brinsmade entered, and with him a lady veiled.

At sight of Mr. Carvel Mr. Brinsmade started back in surprise.  How long he stared at his old friend Virginia could not say.  It seemed to her an eternity.  But Mrs. Brice has often told since how straight the Colonel stood, his fine head thrown back, as he returned the glance.  Then Mr. Brinsmade came forward, with his hand outstretched.

“Comyn,” said he, his voice breaking a little, “I have known you these many years as a man of unstained honor.  You are safe with me.  I ask no questions.  God will judge whether I have done my duty.”

Mr. Carvel took his friend’s hand.  “Thank you, Calvin,” he said.  “I give you my word of honor as a gentleman that I came into this city for no other reason than to see my daughter.  And hearing that my old friend was dying, I could not resist the temptation, sir—­”

Mr. Brinsmade finished for him.  And his voice shook.

“To come to his bedside.  How many men do you think would risk their lives so, Mrs. Brice?”

“Not many, indeed, Mr. Brinsmade,” she answered.  “Thank God he will now die happy.  I know it has been much on his mind.”

The Colonel bowed over her hand.

“And in his name, madam,—­in the name of my oldest and best friend,—­I thank you for what you have done for him.  I trust that you will allow me to add that I have learned from my daughter to respect and admire you.  I hope that your son is doing well.”

“He is, thank you, Colonel Carvel.  If he but knew that the Judge were dying, I could not have kept him at home.  Dr. Polk says that he must not leave the house, or undergo any excitement.”

Just then the door of the inner room opened, and Dr. Polk came out.  He bowed gravely to Mrs. Brice and Mr. Brinsmade, and he patted Virginia.