“’Do you remember the night I came ashore?  You had caught a shark that day, and you told me of it.  The great lilac shadow which rises from the depths and circles about the bait, and sinks again and rises again and takes—­how long?—­two years maybe before he snaps it.’

“‘But he does not carry it away,’ said I, taking his meaning.

“’Sometimes—­sometimes,” he snarled.

“’That depends on how quick we are with the gaff.”

“‘You!’ he laughed, and taking me by the elbows, he shook me till I was giddy.

“‘I owe Mrs. Lovyes everything,’ I said.  At that he let me go.  The ferocity of his manner, however, confirmed me in my fears, and, with a boy’s extravagance, I carried from that day a big knife in my belt.

“‘The gaff, I suppose,’ said Mr. Grudge with a polite smile when first he remarked it.  During the next week, however, he showed more contentment with his lot, and once I caught him rubbing his hands and chuckling, like a man well pleased; so that by New Year’s Eve I was wellnigh relieved of my anxiety on Mrs. Lovyes’ account.

“On that night, however, I went down to Grudge’s cottage, and peeping through the window on my way to the door, I saw a strange man in the room.  His face was clean-shaven, his hair tied back and powdered; he was in his shirt-sleeves, with a satin waistcoat, a sword at his side, and shining buckles to his shoes.  Then I saw that the big chest stood open.  I opened the door and entered.

“‘Come in!’ said the man, and from his voice I knew him to be Mr. Crudge.  He took a candle in his hand and held it above his head.

“‘Tell me my name,’ he said.  His face, shaved of its beard and no longer hidden by his hair, stood out distinct, unmistakable.

“‘Lovyes,’ I answered.

“‘Good boy,’ said he.  ‘Robert Lovyes, brother to John.’

“‘Yet he did not know you,’ said I, though, indeed, I could not wonder.

“‘But she did,’ he cried, with a savage exultation.  ’At the first glance, at the first word, she knew me.’  Then, quietly, ’My coat is on the chair beside you.’

“I took it up.  ‘What do you mean to do?’ I asked.

“‘It is New Year’s Eve,’ he said grimly.  ’The season of good wishes.  It is only meet that I should wish my brother, who stole my wife, much happiness for the next twelve months.’

“He took the coat from my hands.

“‘You admire the coat?  Ah! true, the colour is lilac.’  He held it out at arm’s length.  Doubtless I had been staring at the coat, but I had not even given it a thought.  ‘The lilac shadow!’ he went on, with a sneer.  ‘Believe me, it is the purest coincidence.’  And as he prepared to slip his arm into the sleeve I flashed the knife out of my belt.  He was too quick for me, however.  He flung the coat over my head.  I felt the knife twisted out of my hand; he stumbled over the chair; we both fell to the ground, and the next thing I know I was running over the bracken towards Merchant’s Point with Robert Lovyes hot upon my heels.  He was of a heavy build, and forty years of age.  I had the double advantage, and I ran till my chest cracked and the stars danced above me.  I clanged at the bell and stumbled into the hall.