Her eyes rested on his face for a moment in perplexity, as though she
were debating within herself as to the wisdom of continuing. Suddenly
she seemed to make up her mind.

"Perhaps you have never heard of the murder at The Pines."

"The murder at The Pines! Good heavens! the name brings back memories.
The murder at The Pines! Gracious, child, what do you know of that?"

"Don't ask me--I beg of you--don't ask me;" she cried in sudden panic.
"They--they might think I--I had told you!"

"Who might think so?" Crichton demanded sternly. The pocket-book which
held his papers, contained precious documents, and if-- He checked
himself with an effort to banish the ridiculous idea. What could this
unknown know of his affairs, of his interests?

But she was speaking again, the words flowing from her lips in a torrent
of agitation.

"Oh, you must not see me--you must forget me. You are in great danger.
They--they will think you know, if they see us together.""I beg your pardon."
"Why should you beg my pardon?" she asked looking at him suspiciously.
"I really don't know," he acknowledged.
"I know that I am behaving like a hysterical schoolgirl. What must you think of me! But,--but I am just recovering from an illness and am still very nervous, and the mere mention of lunatics always upsets me. I have the greatest horror of them."
"Poor child, she must have been through some terrible experience with one," thought Crichton.
"I trust you may never meet any," he said aloud.
"I don't intend to." She spoke with unexpected vehemence.
"Well, there is not much chance of your doing so. Certified lunatics find it pretty difficult to mingle in general society."
"I know--oh, I know--" Her voice sounded almost regretful.
What an extraordinary girl! Could it be--was it possible that she herself--but no, her behaviour was certainly strange and she seemed hysterical, but mad--no, and yet that would explain everything.
"I am sure it was the horrid crossing which upset you--as much as anything else," he said.
"I didn't cross, I--" She stopped abruptly, and bit her lip.
It was quite obvious that for some reason or other, she had not wished him to know that she had got in at Newhaven. He knew that politeness demanded he 

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