The young Doctor was in, seated in his own room, reading a ponderous-looking volume.

He arose to greet his visitor, but stopped short at sight of his grave and anxious face.
"There is nothing wrong, I hope ?" he inquired; "nothing has happened at the Hall ?" The Captain looked around the little chamber with the same anxious glance.
"We are quite alone ?" he said.
"Quite," replied his brother-in-law, very much surprised.
"I have a story to tell you--a secret to confide to you.

Your services are required at the Hall; but before I can avail myself of these services, I have a sacred trust to confide to you--a trust I am certain you will never betray." "I shall never betray any trust you may repose in me, Captain Danton," the young man answered gravely.
Some dim inkling of the truth was in his mind as he spoke.

Captain Danton drew his chair closer, and in a low, hurried voice began his story.

The story he had once before told Reginald Stanford, the story of his unfortunate son.
Doctor Frank listened with a face of changeless calm.