risky thing to do, but Venner immediately crossed over and took the seat
vacated so recently by Fenwick. Vera welcomed him shyly, but it was
palpable that she was ill at ease. She would have risen had not Venner
detained her.

"Don't you think you are very imprudent?" she said. "Suppose he should
change his mind and come back here again?"

"I don't think there is much chance of that," Venner said, grimly.
"Fenwick will only be too glad to be by himself for a bit. But tell me,
dear, what was it that gave him such a shock?"

"I don't understand it at all," Vera said. "It was something to do
with that dreadful mine and the vengeance connected with it. This is
the second time the same thing has happened within the last few days,
and I fear that it will culminate sooner or later in some fearful
tragedy. I have some hazy idea of the old legend, but I have almost
forgotten what it is."

"I don't think you need worry about that," Venner said. "Though it
will have to be spoken of again when the whole thing is cleared up;
but now I wish to talk to you on more personal matters. Did I not
understand Fenwick to say to-night that he was taking a large house
somewhere in Kent?"

"That is his intention, I believe," Vera replied. "I understand it is a
large, dull place in the heart of the country. Personally I am not
looking forward to it with the least pleasure. Things are bad enough here
in London, but there is always the comfortable feeling that one is
protected here, whereas in a lonely neighborhood the feeling of