, tie him to a tree, and
leave him bound and gagged alone in the waste. There was a glitter in
Terry's eyes, belying the lips which smiled in keeping with the character
he presented. A look of harshness was stamped on his face, and the
outlines of the temples were as sharp as the chin was set and the voice
slow and penetrating.

Molly Mackinder's eyes were riveted on him. She sat very still, her hands
clasped in her lap, watching his every move. Instinct told her that Terry
was holding himself in; that some latent fierceness and iron force in him
had emerged into life; and that he meant to have revenge on Constantine
Jopp one way or another, and that soon; for she had heard the rumor flying
through the hall that her cousin was the cause of the practical joke just
played. From hints she had had from Constantine that very day she knew
that the rumor was the truth; and she recalled now with shrinking dislike
the grimace accompanying the suggestion. She had not resented it then,
being herself angry with Terry because of the little widow at Jansen.

Presently the silence in the hall became acute; the senses of the audience
were strained to the utmost. The acting before them was more realistic
than anything they had ever seen, or were ever likely to see again in La
Touche. All three conspirators, Fergus, Holden, and Jopp, realized that
O'Ryan's acting had behind it an animal anger which transformed him. When
he looked into their eyes it was with a steely directness harder and
fiercer than was observed by the audience. Once there was an occasion for
O'Ryan to catch Fergus by the arm, and Fergus winced from the grip. When
standing in the wings with Terry he ventured to apologize playfully for
the joke, but Terry made no answer; and once again he had whispered
good-naturedly as they stood together on the stage; but the reply had been
a low, scornful laugh. Fergus realized that a critical moment was at hand.
The play provided for some dialogue between Jopp and Terry, and he
observed with anxiety that Terry now interpolated certain phrases meant to
warn Constantine, and to excite him to anger also.

The moment came upon them sooner than the text of the play warranted.
O'Ryan deliberately left out several sentences, and gave a later cue, and
the struggle for his capture was precipitated. Terry meant to make the
struggle real. So thrilling had been the scene that to an extent the
audience was prepared for what followed; but they di