moral repugnance to his companionship on account of
the grisly deed he had committed, considering that powerful nobleman to
have a right to do what he chose on his own lands. The Duke rode
steadily on beneath his ancestral trees, the hoofs of his horse sending
up a smart sound now that he had reached the hard road of the drive, and
soon drew near the front door of his house, surmounted by parapets with
square-cut battlements that cast a notched shade upon the gravelled
terrace. These outlines were quite familiar to little Bill Mills, though
nothing within their boundary had ever been seen by him.

When the rider approached the mansion a small turret door was quickly
opened and a woman came out. As soon as she saw the horseman's outlines
she ran forward into the moonlight to meet him.

'Ah dear--and are you come?' she said. 'I heard Hero's tread just when
you rode over the hill, and I knew it in a moment. I would have come
further if I had been aware--'

'Glad to see me, eh?'

'How can you ask that?'

'Well; it is a lovely night for meetings.'

'Yes, it is a lovely night.'

The Duke dismounted and stood by her side. 'Why should you have been
listening at this time of night, and yet not expecting me?' he asked.

'Why, indeed! There is a strange story attached to that, which I must
tell you at once. But why did you come a night sooner than you said you
would come? I am rather sorry--I really am!' (shaking her head
playfully) 'for as a surprise to you I had ordered a bonfire to be built,
which was to be lighted on your arrival to-morrow; and now it is wasted.
You can see the outline of it just out there.'

The Duke looked across to a spot of rising glade, and saw the faggots in
a heap. He then bent his eyes with a bland and puzzled air on the
ground, 'What is this strange story you have to tell me that kept you
awake?' he murmured.

'It is this--and it is really rather serious. My cousin Fred
Ogbourne--Captain Ogbourne as he is now--was in his boyhood a great
admirer of mine, as I think I have told you, though I was six years his
senior. In strict truth, he was absurdly fond of me.'

'You have never told me of that before.'

'Then it was your sister I told--yes, it was. Well, you know I have not
seen him for many years, and naturally I had quite forgotten his
admiration of me in old times. But guess my surprise when the day before
yesterday, I received a mysterious note bearing no address, and fo