even on such a night as
this, I always see Fontenoy bathed in summer weather!"

"Yes, yes," she answered "I, too. Oh, home!"

He held out his hand "You'll give my compliments to Mr. Rand?"

"Yes," she said. "He is busy to-night with a client from the country. He
works too hard."

"Take him soon to Roselands and tie him there. Sing him To Althea and
make him forget." He bent and kissed her hand. "Good-night--good-night!"

"Good-night," she answered, and moved with him to the door. Standing
there, she watched him through the hail and out of the house, then
turned and, going to the window, pressed her brow against the pane and
watched him down the street. The night had cleared; there was a high
wind and many stars.

In Rand's dining-room the three men sat late over the wine and the
questions that had brought them together, but at last the conference was
somewhat stormily over. Burr and Adam Gaudylock left the house together,
the hunter volunteering to guide the stranger to his inn. It was
midnight, and Colonel Burr did not see his hostess. He sent her courtly
messages, and he pressed Rand's hand somewhat too closely, then with his
most admirable military air and frankest smile, thrust his arm through
Gaudylock's and marched away. Rand closed the door, put down the candle
that he held, and turned into the drawing-room.

Before the dying fire he found Jacqueline in her white gown, the
amethysts about her throat, and her scarf of silver gauze fallen from
her hand upon the floor. In her young face and form there should have
been no hint, no fleeting breath of tragedy, but to-night there was that
hint and that breath. The fire over which she bent and brooded seemed to
leave her cold. The room was no longer brightly lighted, and she
appeared mournfully a part of the hovering shadows. Her spirit had power
to step forth and clothe the flesh. Almost always she looked the thing
she felt. Now, in the half light, bent above the fading coals, she
looked old. Her husband, with his hand upon the mantel-shelf, gazed down
upon her. "It was wise of you to send me that note. Burr and I might
have walked in here, or we might have spoken loudly. I heard Cary when
he went out. How did you manage?"

"He asked for you. I told him that you were engaged with a client from
the country. Oh, Lewis!"

Rand stooped and kissed her. "It was the best thing you could say. I
would not have had him guess our visitor to-night. You are trembling
like