,

"Nay, say 'Not yet,' madame."

They were silent again, he seeming to regard her intently. Suddenly she
covered her face with her hands; yet, dropping her hands almost
immediately, she set her eyes on his; I saw him shake his head.

"For to-night, then, good-night, fairest lady," said he. He took her
hand and kissed it lightly, bowing very low and respectfully, she
looking down at him as he stooped. Then he drew away from her, bowing
again and repeating again,

"For to-night, good-night."

With this he turned towards the stairs, crossing the hall with the same
brisk, confident tread that had marked his entry. He left her, but it
looked as though she were indulged, not he defeated. At the lowest step
he paused, turned, bowed low again. This time she answered with a deep
and sweeping curtsey. Then he was gone, and she was leaning by the wall
again, her face buried in her hands. I heard her sob, and her broken
words reached me:

"What shall I do? Oh, what shall I do?"

At once I stepped out from the hiding-place that had shown me such
strange things, and, crossing to her, hat in hand, answered her sad
desolate question.

"Why, trust in your friends, Mistress Barbara," said I cheerily. "What
else can any lady do?"

"Simon!" she cried eagerly, and as I thought gladly; for her hand flew
out to mine. "You, here?"

"And at your service always," said I.

"But have you been here? Where did you come from?"

"Why, from across the hall, behind the chair there," I answered. "I've
been there a long while back. His Grace told me to wait in the hall, and
in the hall I waited, though the Duke, having other things to think of,
forgot both his order and his servant."

"Then you heard?" she asked in a whisper.

"All, I think, that the Duke said. Lord Carford said nothing. I was
about to interrupt his Grace when the task was better performed for me.
I think, madame, you owe some thanks to M. de Perrencourt."

"You heard what he said?"

"The last few words only," I answered regretfully.

She looked at me for an instant, and then said with a dreary little
smile,

"I'm to be grateful to M. de Perrencourt?"

"I know no other man who could or would have rid you of the Duke so
finely. Besides, he appeared to treat you with much courtesy."

"Courtesy, yes!" she cried, but seemed to check herself. She was still
in great agitation, and a moment later she covered her face and I heard
her sob again.

"Come, take heart," s