Here was a wonderful piece of luck; the very keys he was in search of, delivered into his hands without any difficulty whatsoever. Beaumont did not believe in astrology, but surely at that moment he must have thought his lucky star was in the ascendant. With his habitual craftiness, however, he suppressed all outward manifestations of joy, and took the keys from Nestley with an assenting smile.
"I won't forget," he said calmly, slipping them into his pocket, "and you will take my advice about leaving the village."
"Why are you so anxious for me to go?" asked Nestley suspiciously.
"For your own good."
"And for your own ends too, I've no doubt," retorted the doctor bitterly. "You never did anything in your life without a motive."
"Very well," said Beaumont, strolling to the door, "if you don't choose to take my advice, stay here and drink yourself to death, as you will surely do--please yourself, my friend."
"Please myself," echoed Nestley, when the door closed on Beaumont. "I intend to, Basil Beaumont--you've got some plan to carry out, or you would not remain so placidly in this dull village--so I'll stay and see the game out; and, if I can thwart you I will, if it's only to punish you for the evil you have done to me."
[CHAPTER XXVI.]
UNA MAKES A CONFESSION.
He may be poor, and quite unknown,