Gradually he had become conscious of a dim feeling of thankfulness to the woman who always seemed able to soothe his invalid wife.

Then, scarcely more than a year or so ago, he had found himself watching her at unexpected moments, admiring the soft grace of her movements, the pleasant cadence of her voice, the turn of her head, the colour of her hair, the elegance of her clothes, her thin, fashionable figure.

Gradually he had begun to look for her, to welcome her at his table--and from that, the rest.
Finally the birth of this last scheme of his.

He had very nearly made a fatal mistake at the very commencement, had pulled himself right again only with a supreme effort.

His heart beat quicker even now as he thought of that moment.