The revelation filled Carlos with utter dismay. It fell upon him like a thunderbolt.

Not that the idea then dawned upon him for the first time; he had surmised the truth before. Kate Heath’s demeanor had often suggested the secret of her love for him, although it had always been modest, and had never even verged upon impropriety. But he had scouted the idea in scorn, as evincing vanity and presumption on his part. He had not allowed himself to cherish it for an instant, much less to accept it as an actual fact. And he had treated her uniformly with all the coldness possible that was consistent with common courtesy.

But here she was, confessing her secret.

He was thrown completely off his guard, and was so filled with consternation and annoyance that he betrayed no surprise at being addressed by his true name.

“Miss Heath,” he said, “this is pure madness.”

“I know it,” she said, still keeping her face concealed.

“I am surprised, shocked, overwhelmed by what you have said.”

“I do not wonder at it,” she murmured. “You have a right to be shocked at my boldness; but it is true—oh, so true!”

“This is fearful!” muttered Carlos, moved to compassion. “Iam very sorry, unutterably sorry. Let me tell you at once——”

“Do not tell me,” she moaned. “You are disgusted with my presumption; you need not say the words.”

“I must say them,” said Carlos, firmly, yet gently. “Your wild dream must be dispelled at once. It is preposterous; it is unaccountable to me.”

“Oh, Carlos Conrad——”

At this second mention of his true name he recoiled, and realized the fact that his secret was known.

“Why do you call me by that name?” he demanded.

“Do not feign surprise,” she said, turning toward him. “Ihave known you for weeks. Isaid Icould never forget your face, and Inever have. Itried to contrive ways of meeting you, but failed. At last Ihit on the experiment of the music-lessons, and you know the result. You cannot deny your name. Yes, Iknow you, and love you.”

There were desperation and defiance in her air and tone.

“Well,” said Carlos, who saw that it would be useless to try to deceive her, “why did you do such a rash thing? Why did you disguise yourself as the detective, and effect my escape?”

“You have the reason in my confession,” she replied; “in my confession which you regard with such abhorrence. Ah, do not deny it. You despise me; you would send me away if you could. But did you not know that the aid must have come from some one who loved you?”

The last two words she uttered in a tone of dogged determination.

“I thought it came from my cousin,” he replied.

“Your cousin!” she repeated, scornfully. “But you were ready to accept it. You took advantage of the means offered, and escaped. You were grateful then to one whom you would spurn now. Yes, say it—say you hate me; kill me.”

“My dear girl——”

“His dear girl!” she echoed, but whether in irony or pleasure he was unable to determine.

“I beg your pardon,” he said. “Irecall the words. Miss Heath, for all that you have done for me you have my sincere gratitude. For your friendly acts Iam thankful; but as for the motive that prompted them, Ideeply regret its existence.”

“And yet I took pleasure in what Idid: The risk Iincurred was nothing. Ionly thought of you.”

Her tone was tender and pleading.

“It pains me to talk to you as Ihave to,” said Carlos. “Believe me, it pains me unspeakably. Iadmire your courage. Iwonder at your ingenuity in disguising yourself as the New York detective. How could you carry the part so successfully?”

“I told you once that I had had some experience on the stage.”

“True; and how did you come to abandon the profession?”

“My father got into trouble, and was helped out by Geoffrey Haywood. How they happened to meet Ido not know. Ithink it was purely accidental. At all events, Haywood persuaded him to leave New York and live on a farm just out of Dalton. He did well by him, for father has made money unaccountably fast. We were very poor when in New York.”

“And what do you think is the secret of your father’s good fortune?”

A thought which had struck Carlos impelled him to ask this question.

“I cannot tell. He is associated with Haywood in some business that is kept in the dark. There is much that goes on in the dead of night. Strange-looking men come, father goes off, and Idon’t know what all.”

“Do they ever go in the direction of Rocky Beach?”

The girl glanced at him sharply.

“I am doing wrong in talking about my father’s private affairs,” she said, coldly; “and Ihave made a fool of myself before you; Irealize it perfectly. Iam nothing to you. Iserved you well once, and for that you are grateful. How Ihate the word!” She spoke now with suppressed vehemence. “You have seen what a friend Kate Heath can be. But remember one thing—I know you, and you may realize what it is to have me for a foe.”

Her eyes dilated and shot forth the wrath of disappointment and desperation.

Carlos was alarmed. He saw that he was in her power. She might, in her chagrin and anger, expose him.

“Kate,” he said, “do not be hasty in your words or your conclusions. You must know that your revelations have come very suddenly upon me—that my mind is in a whirl of confusion. And Ibelieve Iam not quite well to-night, as you said when you first entered.”

She looked up, as if a faint hope dawned upon her.

“Won’t you leave me now?” he entreated. “Imust have time to think before Ican talk any more; and it is late—almost six o’clock. Iwill go to my room in the hotel and call a doctor, Ibelieve, for my head feels strangely. Go home now, and come again at your next lesson-time.”

“Remember—” she began.

“Ah, there is no need to enjoin remembrance on me. Ishall not forget anything.”

He took his hat in his hand and moved toward the door.

“Well, I will go,” she said. “Good-by.”

“Good-day.”

He took the hand she offered, and then watched her as she descended the stairs.

But, instead of following her, he paused on the landing, and presently returned to his room.

“Shall I take advantage of this declaration she has made,” he thought, “and pretend to humor it? In that way Imight lead her on and find out something about Haywood, for she says he has secret dealings with her father. And, besides, if Ispurn her she will expose me. There was danger in her eyes when she made the threat, and she is just of that passionate nature to carry it out. But what a mean, contemptible deception it would be to profess love for her. No, Iwill not be guilty of it. Let the worst come before Iso degrade myself. Oh, what a situation! It compels immediate action, and strengthens my determination to begin investigations without delay. I’ll no longer be a lay-figure; I’ll ACT!”

He quitted his teaching-room, and went across the street to his hotel. But he could eat no supper, the feeling of languor, pain, and feverishness increased.

In some concern he went up stairs, threw off his coat and boots, and laid himself on the bed. In two hours he felt decidedly worse, and sent a messenger for Doctor Davison. It will be remembered that this was the physician that had offered him the timely advice on the morning of his arrest, and had subsequently attended him in the jail. Carlos naturally sent for him, having had previous evidence of his skill, as well as a kindly feeling toward him.

Doctor Davison shortly arrived and examined the patient. His manner was cheerful, but an unmistakably graver look quickly came upon his face.

“You must undress and go to bed, young man,” he said.

“Vat for?” asked Carlos, resuming the German accent.

“Because you are going to be sick.”

At a look of distress and alarm from Carlos, the physician quickly added:

“Oh, you will come out right, but you must take the right means to do it. It won’t do to ignore the fact that there can be no trifling with your case.”

“Vell, I do as you say.”

After some further conversation and directions Doctor Davison departed.

Early the next morning he called and found his patient in a raging fever.

Giving vent to a low whistle, and casting on him a sharp look of concern, he quickly prepared some new medicines. Calling one of the attendants of the hotel, he said:

“Give these powders every half hour, without fail. Iwill call again at noon.”

At noon he was again by the side of Carlos. The paroxysm had subsided, and the patient looked at him with intelligent eyes.

“Wie geht’s?” said Doctor Davison. “That’s all the German Iknow. How do you feel?”

“Better, I think,” said Carlos.

“Yes, we’ve checked the fever for the present, but you have had a severe turn, and are weak.”

“Vat ails me?” asked Carlos.

“I can scarcely tell yet. The fever has taken an intermittent form, and will probably come on again to-night. If it isn’t attended to, it may run into typhoid.”

“I cannot afford to be sick,” muttered Carlos.

“No? Well, all of us feel that way. By the way!” exclaimed the doctor, starting as if something had suddenly caught his attention, “what has become of that scar?”

“Vat scar?”

“The scar on your forehead. It was very plain last night, but can scarcely be seen now.”

Here was another disaster. Carlos had neglected, in his sickness, to put on the bandage which he was accustomed to wear nightly for the purpose of leaving the imprint of a scar. It was part of the routine imposed upon him by Mr.Stark, and was a most important aid in concealing his identity.

A sense of what was likely to follow rushed upon him.

“It comes and goes,” he replied.

“Oh! It’s a very singular scar, to come and go! What caused it?”

“The point of a sword in a duel.”

Doctor Davison was running his hand over his patient’s forehead and inspecting the scar.

“Yes,” continued the doctor, “it’s a very singular scar. In fact, it’s no scar at all. What does this mean?”

“Doctor,” said Carlos, partly rising and resting on his elbow, and speaking solemnly, “Iam about to put great trust in you. Imust make a confession. You are right—it is not a scar. Inever received a sword wound.”

“Then what in the world is your object——”

“Wait. I will tell you. I have been practicing a great deception. Don’t you know who Iam?”

“No, I can’t say that Ido, unless you are Carl Zikoff, music-teacher. But you are talking pretty good English now, Imust say.”

“Yes, there is no use in trying to play my part before you. Look at me well. Have you no suspicion?”

“Your face does not look entirely unfamiliar, but upon my word Icannot place you. However, Mr.Zikoff, or whoever you are, you are talking too much. Iam a fool to sit here and allow you to do it. You must be quiet.”

“No, not until I have told you all. It will be better that way, than for the whole town to find it out, and have everybody after me.”

“Wait, young man. It will be better for you to keep still. Ihave no curiosity on the subject. Idon’t want you to excite yourself.”

“If you do not allow me to speak Ishall die of excitement.”

“Well, go on, then.”

“You did me a kindness once. You attended me in a brief illness. Don’t you recollect?”

“No.”

“It was in August last.”

“August last! Let me see—that was the time Colonel Conrad was murdered.”

“Yes, but not by me! not by me! You spoke to me when a rabble was hounding me, and you came to see me in jail.”

“Good heavens!” exclaimed the doctor, springing to his feet. “You are Carlos Conrad!”

“Yes.”

“And you have been here these several months past under the name of Karl Zikoff.”

“I have. You will not betray me? At least not as long as Iam lying here sick?”

“Betray you? No. That’s not my trade. My business is to cure you.”

“Thank you, thank you,” said Carlos, in a weak whisper, as he sank back on his pillow.

With the coolness which physicians must at all times be prepared to simulate, Dr.Davison said:

“Now, my dear sir, don’t let this worry you another minute. You can trust me to keep your secret, and see you through all right. But it is absolutely necessary——Hallo!”

The doctor’s words had fallen upon unheeding ears, for his patient had fainted.

Doctor Davison set about restoring him, muttering the while:

“Strange! mighty strange! What on earth could have tempted the fellow to be so rash? Confound him! he doesn’t look like a murderer. Ishall not expose him, at all events. But he will be apt to rave, and betray himself. This should be guarded against, for Iwant to talk to him more when he is able to endure it. Let me see! Ihave it! I’ll telegraph for my brother, who is studying medicine at Skimmerton College. He’s an excellent nurse, and the experience will be a good one for him.”