Blake arose like a boy on Christmas morning. He thrilled to an
extravagant gladness. At breakfast the truth came to him--he was young!
For the first time he realized that he had let himself grow up and lose
his illusions; that he had become cynical, tired, prosaic, while all
the time the flame of youth was merely smouldering. Old he was, but
only as a stripling soldier is aged by battle; as for the real, rare
joys of living and loving, he had never felt them. Myra Nell had
appealed to his affection like a dear and clever child, and helped to
keep some warmth in his heart. But this was magic. The sun had never
been so bright, the air so sweet to his nostrils, the strength so
vigorous in his limbs.
He had become so accustomed to the mysterious letters by this time that
he had grown to look for them as a matter of course, and he was not
disturbed when, on arriving at his office, he found one in his mail.
Heretofore the writer had been positive in his statements, but now came
the first hint of uncertainty.
"I cannot find Belisario Cardi," he wrote. "His hand is over all, and
yet he is more intangible than mist. I am hedged about with
difficulties and dangers which multiply as the days pass. I can do no
more, hence the task devolves upon you. Be careful, for he is more
desperate than ever. It is your life or his.
"ONE WHO KNOWS."
It was as daunting a message as he could have received--the withdrawal
of assistance, the authoritative confirmation of his fears--yet Blake's
spirit rose to meet the exigency with a new courage. It occurred to him
that if Maruffi, or whoever the author was, had exhausted his
usefulness, perhaps Vittoria could help. She had spent much time in her
search for this very Cardi, and might have learned something of value
concerning him. Oliveta, too, could be of assistance. He felt sure that
the knowledge of his own peril would be enough to enlist their aid, and
he gladly seized upon the thought that a common interest would draw him
closer to the woman he loved.
He arrived at the La Branche house early that afternoon, and found
young Rilleau sitting on a box beneath Myra Nell's window, with the
girl herself embowered as before in a frame of roses.
"Any symptoms yet?" Norvin inquired, agreeably.
"Thousands! I'm slowly dying."