"There lacks one thing--the bride." "What do you mean ?" He put out his arm across the door.
"I regret that I must bar my door to you.

But you must take my word, as coming from my daughter, that you are not to come here to-night." I looked at him, my eyes staring wide.

I could not believe what he said.
"Why," I began; "how utterly monstrous!" A step sounded in the hall behind him, and he turned back.

We were joined by the tall clerical figure of the Reverend Doctor Halford, who had, it seemed, been at least one to keep his appointment as made.

He raised his hand as if to silence me, and held out to me a certain object.