mortification； a policeman emerged from some mysterious corner； and
the figure instantly vanished in another。 Hugh did not pursue him；
because it would be to set all on a single chance； and that a poor
one； for if the count； should it be he； succeeded in escaping； he
would not return to a spot which he knew to be watched。 Hugh；
therefore； withdrew once more under a porch； and waited。 But；
whatever might be the cause； the man made his appearance no more。
Hugh contrived to keep watch for two hours； in spite of suspicious
policemen。 He slept late into the following morning。
Calling at Mrs。 Elton's； he learned that the count had not been
there； that Miss Cameron had been very ill all night； but that she
was rather better since the morning。
That night； as the preceding； Margaret had awaked suddenly。 Euphra
was not in the bed beside her。 She started up in an agony of
terror； but it was soon allayed； though not removed。 She saw Euphra
on her knees at the foot of the bed； an old…fashioned four…post one。
She had her arms twined round one of the bed…posts； and her head
thrown back； as if some one were pulling her backwards by her hair；
which fell over her night…dress to the floor in thick； black masses。
Her eyes were closed； her face was death…like； almost livid； and
the cold dews of torture were rolling down from brow to chin。 Her
lips were moving convulsively； with now and then the appearance of
an attempt at articulation； as if they were set in motion by an
agony of inward prayer。 Margaret； unable to move； watched her with
anxious sympathy and fearful expectation。 How long this lasted she
could not tell； but it seemed a long time。 At length Margaret rose；
and longing to have some share in the struggle； however small； went
softly； and stood behind her； shadowing her from a feeble ray of
moonlight which； through a wind…rent cloud； had stolen into the
room； and lay upon her upturned face。 There she lifted up her heart
in prayer。 In a moment after the tension of Euphra's countenance
relaxed a little； composure slowly followed； her head gradually
rose； so that Margaret could see her face no longer； then； as
gradually； drooped forward。 Next her arms untwined themselves from
the bed…post； and her hands clasped themselves together。 She looked
like one praying in the intense silence of absorbing devotion。
Margaret stood still as a statue。
In speaking about it afterwards to Hugh； Margaret told him that she
distinctly remembered hearing； while she stood； the measured steps
of a policeman pass the house on the pavement below。
In a few minutes Euphra bowed her head yet lower； and then rose to
her feet。 She turned round towards Margaret； as if she knew she was
there。 To Margaret's astonishment； her eyes were wide open。 She
smiled a most child…like； peaceful； happy smile； and said：
〃It is over； Margaret； all over at last。 Thank you； with my whole
heart。 God has helped me。〃
At that moment； the moon shone out full； and her face appeared in
its light like the face of an angel。 Margaret looked on her with
awe。 Fear； distress； and doubt had vanished； and she was already
beautiful like the blessed。 Margaret got a handkerchief； and wiped
the cold damps from her face。 Then she helped her into bed； where
she fell asleep almost instantly； and slept like a child。 Now and
then she moaned； but when Margaret looked at her； she saw the smile
still upon her countenance。
She woke weak and worn； but happy。
〃I shall not trouble you to…day； Margaret； dear；〃 said she。 〃I shall
not get up yet； but you will not need to watch me。 A great change
has passed upon me。 I am free。 I have overcome him。 He may do as
he pleases now。 I do not care。 I defy him。 I got up last night in
my sleep； but I remember all about it； and； although I was asleep；
and felt powerless like a corpse； I resisted him； even when I
thought he was dragging me away by bodily force。 And I resisted
him； till he left me alone。 Thank God！〃
It had been a terrible struggle； but she had overcome。 Nor was this
all： she would no more lead two lives； the waking and the sleeping。
Her waking will and conscience had asserted themselves in her
sleeping acts； and the memory of the somnambulist lived still in the
waking woman。 Hence her two lives were blended into one life； and
she was no more two； but one。 This indicated a mighty growth of
individual being。
〃I woke without terror；〃 she went on to say。 〃I always used to wake
from such a sleep in an agony of unknown fear。 I do not think I
shall ever walk in my sleep again。〃
Is not salvation the uniting of all our nature into one harmonious
wholeGod first in us； ourselves last； and all in due order
between？ Something very much analogous to the change in Euphra
takes place in a man when he first learns that his beliefs must
become acts； that his religious life and his human life are one；
that he must do the thing that he admires。 The Ideal is the only
absolute Real； and it must become the Real in the individual life as
well； however impossible they may count it who never try it； or who
do not trust in God to effect it； when they find themselves baffled
in the attempt。
In the afternoon； Euphra fell asleep； and when she woke； seemed
better。 She said to Margaret：
〃Can it be that it was all a dream； Margaret？ I mean my association
with that dreadful man。 I feel as if it were only some horrid
dream； and that I could never have had anything to do with him。 I
may have been out of my mind； you know； and have told you things
which I believed firmly enough then； but which never really took
place。 It could not have been me； Margaret； could it？〃
〃Not your real； true； best self； dear。〃
〃I have been a dreadful creature； Margaret。 But I feel that all
that has melted away from me； and gone behind the sunset； which will
for ever stand； in all its glory and loveliness； between me and it；
an impassable rampart of defence。〃
Her words sounded strange and excited； but her eye and her pulse
were calm。
〃How could he ever have had that hateful power over me？〃
〃Don't think any more about him； dear； but enjoy the rest God has
given you。〃
〃I will； I will。〃
At that moment； a maid came to the door； with Funkelstein's card for
Miss Cameron。
〃Very well；〃 said Margaret； 〃ask him to wait。 I will tell Miss
Cameron。 She may wish to send him a message。 You may go。〃
She told Euphra that the count was in the house。 Euphra showed no
surprise； no fear； no annoyance。
〃Will you see him for me； Margaret； if you don't mind； and tell him
from me； that I defy him； that I do not hate him； only because I
despise and forget him； that I challenge him to do his worst。〃
She had forgotten all about the ring。 But Margaret had not。
〃I will；〃 said she； and left the room。
On her way down； she went into the drawing…room； and rang the bell。
〃Send Mr。 Irwan to me here； please。 It is for Miss Cameron。〃
The man went； but presently returned； saying that the butler had
just stepped out。
〃Very well。 You will do just as well。 When the gentleman leaves
who is calling now； you must follow him。 Take a cab； if necessary；
and follow him everywhere； till you find where he stops for the
night。 Watch the place； and send me word where you are。 But don't
let him know。 Put on plain clothes； please； as fast as you can。〃
〃Yes； Miss； directly。〃
The servants all called Margaret； Miss。
She lingered yet a little； to give the man time。 She was not at all
satisfied with her plan； but she could think of nothing better。
Happily； it was not necessary。 Irwan had run as fast as his old
legs would carry him to the Golden Staff。 Hugh received the news
with delight。 His heart seemed to leap into his throat； and he felt
just as he did； when； deer…stalking for the first time； he tried to
take aim at a great red stag。
〃I shall wait for him outside the door。 We must have no noise in
the house。 He is a thief； or worse； Irwan。〃
〃Good gracious！ And there's the plate all laid out for dinner on
the sideboard！〃 exclaimed Irwan； and hurried off faster than he had
come。
But Hugh was standing at the door long before Irwan got up to it。
Had Margaret known who was watching outside； it would have been a
wonderful relief to her。
She entered the dining…room； where the count stood impatient。 He
advanced quickly； acting on his expectation of Euphra； but seeing
his mistake； stopped； and bowed politely。 Margaret told him that
Miss Cameron was ill； and gave him her message； word for word。 The
count turned pale with mortification and rage。 He bit his lip； made
no reply； and walked out into the hall； where Irwan stood with the
handle of the door in his hand； impatient to open it。 No sooner was
he out of the house； than Hugh sprang upon him； but the count； who
had been perfectly upon his guard； eluded him； and darted off down
the street。 Hugh pursued at full speed； mortified at his escape。
He had no fear at first of overtaking him； for he had found few men
his equals in speed and endurance； but he soon saw； to his dismay；
that the count was increasing the distance between them； and feared
that； by a sudden turn into some labyrinth； he might escape him
altogether。 They passed the Golden Staff at full speed； and at the
next corner Hugh discovered what gave the count the advantage： it
was his agility and recklessness in turning corners。 But； like the
sorcerer's impunity； they failed him at last； for； at the next turn；
he ran full upon Falconer； who staggered back； while the count
reeled and fell。 Hugh was upon him in a moment。 〃Help！〃 roared the
count； for a last chance from the sympathies of a gathering crowd。
〃I've got him！〃 cried Hugh。
〃Let the man alone；〃 growled a burly fellow in the crowd； with his
fists clenched in his trowser…pockets。
〃Let me have a look at him；〃 said Falconer； stooping over him。 〃Ah！
I don't know him。 That's as well for him。 Let him up；
Sutherland。〃
The bystanders took Falconer for a detective； and did not seem
inclined to interfere； all except the carman before mentioned。 He
came up； pushing the crowd right and left。
〃Let the man alone；〃 said he； in a very offens