Hersham brought his boat under the wall with a sweep, but before disembarking he looked up to Anne with an anxious expression on his face.
"Did you get my telegram?" he demanded hastily.
"Telegram!" she repeated. "I have received no telegram from you."
"I thought so," said the journalist, and laughed in a savage sort of manner.
"What do you mean?" demanded Anne, noting how haggard he looked. "Is anything wrong?"
"More than I like to say," was his answer.
At that moment it seemed to Anne that her presentiments were about to become true, and she waited with vague terror for his next speech. Ted did not open his mouth for some minutes, being fully occupied in making fast his boat prior to landing. In spite of the importance of the interview, and his desire to prepare Anne for the immediate coming of Fanks, he did not hurry himself, but executed his task with the utmost deliberation. On her part the girl held her peace, and not until her lover had taken her in his arms to kiss her passionately did she speak. Then she led him to the summerhouse--out of sight of Mrs. Colmer at the window--and broached the subject which was uppermost in her mind.
"Ted," she asked in a low voice, "is there any danger?"
"There is a great deal of danger."
"From what quarter?"