Here, then, was the solution of the whole chaos of mystery; here the full explanation of what had puzzled my aching brain for many a night long.

These were the very letters I had myself delivered into Hammersley's hands; this the picture he had trodden to dust beneath his heel the morning of our meeting.
I now felt the reason of his taunting allusion to my "success," his cutting sarcasm, his intemperate passion.

A flood of light poured at once across all the dark passages of my history; and Lucy, too,--dare I think of her! A rapid thought shot through my brain.

What if she had really cared for me! What if for me she had rejected another's love! What if, trusting to my faith, my pledged and sworn faith, she had given me her heart! Oh, the bitter agony of that thought! To think that all my hopes were shipwrecked with the very land in sight.
I sprang to my feet with some sudden impulse, but as I did so the blood rushed madly to my face and temples, which beat violently; a parched and swollen feeling came about my throat; I endeavored to open my collar and undo my stock, but my disabled arm prevented me.

I tried to call my servant, but my utterance was thick and my words would not come; a frightful suspicion crossed me that my reason was tottering.