culprit, till everything was in a
whirl. But all the time she was suffering from the belief that she was
seeing more and more clearly as the cruel moments glided on.

"Yes, I see it all now," she cried passionately; "poor, weak, deluded,
loving fool that I have been! Vile, treacherous wretch! Horrible
creature! Yes, of course. A woman who is said to have refused offer
after offer since her poor husband's death. La Sylphide--of course, as
if I had not heard that she bought a portion of Hilton's stud when his
horses were sold, and one was this Sylphide, whose name she dares to
assume in her clandestine communications to him. Oh, how kind to me
Fate has been! To think of it! I might have been a trusting victim for
years--hoodwinked--blinded to their infamy. Ah! he shall find out what
the weak, loving, confiding woman whom he has deceived can be."

There was a very peculiar smile upon Lady Lisle's handsome face as she
crossed to the fireplace, to be met by Khan, the Persian cat, who
descended from his ottoman, stretched himself, and made ready to give
himself a comforting electric rub against his mistress's silk dress, but
to his astonishment was--not kicked, but thrust violently aside by a
boot, to stand staring, while her ladyship continued her march.

She did not rush, but went to the bell deliberately.

"Yes, I will be firm and calm," she said, half-aloud, and the smile grew
more strained and peculiar. It was such a look as Medea of old might
have worn when a certain trouble of classic fame had arisen with a
gentleman named Jason; but she dragged at the bell-handle in a way which
brought Jane in a hurry to the room.

"I will not seek him in his study," muttered the poor woman, tragically.
"I will have him fetched to me here."

"Your ladyship rang?" said Jane, looking at her mistress wonderingly.

"Yes. Go and--no, stop. Where is Master Sydney?"

"I think he has gone fishing, my lady. I saw him with his rod and
basket. Oh, yes, my lady, I remember, he asked me to cut him some
sandwiches."

Jane's tongue wanted to say a few words about the flask and sherry, but
she had a sort of sneaking liking for the saucy young rascal, and she
suppressed that.

"To be sure, I remember," said Lady Lisle, quite cold and calm now--upon
the surface. "Go and ask Sir Hilton to join me here."

"Sir Hilton, my lady?"

"Yes. Did I not speak plainly?" said her ladyship, cuttingly.

"Yes, my lady, but I thought yo