They were silent for some time after he had brought his narrative to a conclusion, then Mrs.Cunningham said: "What a merciful release for Mr.Bastow that he should have died before this terrible thing came out! For after what you have told us I can hardly doubt that you are right, and that it is this wicked man who is guilty." "Yes, it was indeed providential," Mark said, "though I think that, feeble as he has been for some months, it might have been kept from him.
Still, a word from a chance visitor, who did not associate Bastow the murderer with our dear old friend, might have enlightened him, and the blow would have been a terrible one indeed.

It is true that, as it was, he died from the shock, but he did not know the hand that struck the blow." "Now that you have told me this," Millicent said, "I cannot blame you, Mark, for determining to hunt the man down.

It seems even worse than it did before; it is awful to think that anyone could cherish revenge like that.

Now tell me how you are going to set about it." "I have promised the chief officer that I will tell absolutely no one," he said.

"I have a plan, and I believe that in time it must be successful.