and
over each eye. Then she turned toward him triumphantly. "There!" she
exclaimed, "now I shall draw the curtains," suiting the action to the
word, "and then, when I lie on this couch, my face will be entirely in
the shadow, while from the further window there will come enough light
to enable him to recognize you."

At this moment a rap was heard at the door. Cora threw herself upon
the invalid's couch, and lay back among the pillows. When she had
settled herself to her satisfaction, Mr. Davlin opened the door,
admitting Celine Leroque.

"Monsieur Percy is below, madame," said the girl, glancing sharply at
the form in the darkened corner.

"Come and draw these coverings over me, Celine, and then go and bring
him up," replied Cora.

Then she glanced at Lucian, who said, carelessly: "Well, my dear, I
will go down to the library."

Celine adjusted the wraps and pillows and then went out, closely
followed by Lucian. She was not aware that Mr. Percy was expected, the
message having been sent by Henry. And she was not a little anxious to
know the nature of the interview that was about to be held.

Mr. Percy, conducted to Cora's door by Celine, entered the room with
his usual lazy grace, and approached the recumbent figure in the
darkened corner, saying, in a tone of hypocritical solicitude:

"Madame, I trust you are not overtaxing your strength in thus kindly
granting me an interview."

He knew so well how to assume the manner best calculated to throw her
off her guard and into a rage.

But Cora, understanding his tactics, and her own failing, was prepared
for him. In tones as smooth as his own she answered:

"You are very good, and I find my strength returning quite rapidly. In
fact," and here a double meaning was apparent, as she intended it
should be, "I think I shall soon be _stronger_ than before my
illness."

There was silence for a moment. Evidently Mr. Percy was not inclined
to help her to put into words whatever she had in her mind.

"I sent for you," she continued, "because I have something to say
before you meet with a person who, as you are likely to remain one of
this pleasant family, you must of necessity, and for policy's sake,
meet with the outward forms of politeness." Here she paused as if from
exhaustion, and he, lifting his fine eyebrows slightly, kept silence
still.

Cora, beginning to find her part irksome, hurried to its conclusion.
"You have heard, no doubt, of the presence of my br