"So he was cleared, you see--without using the document which I had
written. That was in his pocket; was of no further use; and as it might
become dangerous I entered his house that night, broke open the desk in
which he kept his private papers, and took this one out, reading and
making sure that it was the genuine document, by the light of the moon
which streamed in at the window.
"I was still looking at the paper, when a noise behind me attracted my
attention, and turning round I saw--Mr. Davenant. He had heard the
noise I made in breaking open the secretary; put on his dressing-gown;
and coming down, pistol in hand, was on me before I knew it. The few
minutes that followed were rather angry, and noisy. Unexpectedly, Mr.
Davenant did not fire on me. After an interchange of compliments, I put
the paper in my pocket, passed out through the window, and mounting my
horse, rode away.
"After that I went far, and saw many persons. Among the rest you,
madam; and our matrimonial life has been chequered!
"A word to you, now," he added, turning toward Swartz. "I shut you up
here to starve you to death because you were trusted and have betrayed
me. Listen, and I will tell you how. You are greedy for gold, and this
greed has tempted you to an act which will be your destruction.
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