you harnessed the horse yourself, to spare that
lazy husband of yours the trouble of doing it," he added.

The woman muttered something between her teeth which he did not quite
catch; nor did he take the trouble to listen.

Vaulting quickly into the saddle, his mettlesome horse was off quite as
soon as he could grasp the reins, and in an instant he was lost to sight
in the dense gloom which precedes the dawn.

It was quite light when Victor Lamont reached the spot by the
brook-side--the spot where he had met the lovely young stranger but a
short time before.

What a strange fate it was that caused him to discover a flask of brandy
in the pocket of the saddle!

That was his failing--drink! He had always guarded against taking even a
single draught when he had an important duty to perform; but on this
occasion he told himself he must make an exception.

"I will drink to the health of my beautiful bride to be," he muttered,
raising the flask to his lips; and he drank long and deep, the brandy
leaping like fire through his veins.

He had not long to wait in his place of concealment ere he heard the
sound of footsteps.

Looking through the heavy branches, he saw the figure of a woman--a
familiar figure, it seemed to him--moving rapidly to and fro among the
blooms.

He called to her, believing this time he was face to face with young
Mrs. Gardiner, when he found to his keen disappointment it was only
Antoinette, the clever French maid.

She should take a message to her mistress, he determined; and tearing a
leaf from his memorandum-book, he hastily penciled a note to Sally
Gardiner, which he felt sure would bring her with all possible haste to
the place at which he awaited her.

"Give this to your mistress with dispatch, Antoinette," he said.

He knew the golden key that would be apt to unlock this French maid's
interest to do his bidding. As he spoke, he took from his pocket-book a
crisp bank-note, which he told the girl she was to spend for bon-bons or
ribbons for herself.

He had always made it a point to fee the French maid well, that he might
have a powerful ally in the home of his intended victim.

The money, together with a little judicious flattery now and then, had
won Antoinette completely over.

As Victor Lamont sat on the mossy bowlder by the brook-side, watching
and waiting, he observed, early as the hour was, that the servants of
the mansion had begun to bestir themselves. One hour passed aft