The Shadow of Tyburn Tree

harmless effect it had had, and finding her husband in a fit on the floor when she came to, she had obviously thought that to have been the result of her own act.

Roger sighed with relief. The Russian had told the story, almost word for word as he had briefed Droopy to give it to him.

The judge then instructed the jury that they should return a verdict of 'Not Guilty.'

A quarter of an hour later Georgina, Roger, Droopy Ned and Colonel Thursby were in the latter's coach heading westward. Georgina was holding Roger's hand and she squeezed it tenderly as she said:

'My dear, my sweet, my perfect knight. I can scarce yet believe it true. But tell us, I beg, how you worked this wondrous miracle?'

He laughed. 'Did you not see Droopy hand Vorontzoff a piece of yellowed parchment as they left the court? Twas the Russian's fee for bearing false witness.'

'I saw him do so,' said the Colonel. 'What was it, Roger?'

' 'Twas a letter that I stole whilst in Russia, Sir; the only evidence in the world that the Czarina Catherine murdered her hus­band. The Prime Minister said that it was useless to him as it could never be published, so last night I got it back from him to use as a bargaining-counter with Vorontzoff. Thank God he considered it his duty to buy it; for I was damnably afraid that he would be of the same mind as Mr. Pitt. And, had he been so, Georgina and I would have danced our last dance together on empty air.'

'May it please God to spare you both for many years of joyous dancing yet, said the Colonel, with tears in his eyes.

'Or years of married bliss, for that matter,' added Droopy Ned.

'Natalia!' exclaimed Roger, recalling for the first time in many hours that he had a wife.

Droopy shook his head. 'Vorontzoff asked me to break it to you. As a result of her fall your wife died of an internal haemorrhage in the early hours of the morning. He said, too, that since she lived as a Russian, and died as a Russian, he hoped you would agree to his send­ing her body back to Russia for burial.'

'So you were married, Roger,' Georgina whispered. 'That was the wedding-ring that I saw in the glass. Then the whole of my prophecy came true.'

'But he is married no longer,' persisted Droopy mischievously.

Roger and Georgina looked at one another; then they both smiled and slowly shook their heads.

'Nay,' she said with a little sob, and she squeezed Roger's hand until it hurt. 'We'll not risk marriage; but in this life, and in all our lives to come, we will remain for ever friends.'

THE END