nt?" Burr promptly
rose and followed his queenly hostess into the adjoining apartment.

The couple left together in the drawing-room verified the homely
adage, "Two is company." Arlington might have said, "My blood speaks
to you in my veins," but he could not consistently quote Bassanio's
other words, "Madam, you have bereft me of all speech." From the
presence of Evaleen he received access of eloquence; the two were
conscious of a silent interchange of sentiments more meaningful than
any spoken word. While Evaleen sat listening with responsive interest
to some frank personal disclosures of the young man's hopes and
ambitions, her attention was diverted by a slight sound on the porch.
She glanced up, and saw, or thought she saw, an ugly face staring at
her through a window-pane. Her sudden pallor and dilated eye were
observed by Arlington, who asked in a tone of gentle solicitude:

"What is it?"

"I saw a face at the window--a man staring in."

Arlington immediately left the room and, softly opening the door,
stepped out upon the piazza and looked searchingly in every direction.
Not a sign could be discovered of the prowling eavesdropper whose
shadowy features had frightened Miss Hale.

"I may have been mistaken," she said, when Arlington came back, "but I
am almost certain that I saw a hideous face at the window."

The effect of the incident was to give the conversation of the two a
somewhat more intimate character, and the gentleman's manner assumed
an air of protective regard which the New England beauty did not
repulse. Her resiliant spirit soon regained its wonted gaiety.

Meanwhile, what had Aaron Burr found to interest him so long in the
_sanctum sanctorum_ of the lord of the island?

Blennerhassett's study was both library and laboratory, containing
philosophical apparatus, musical instruments and books. The shelves
were piled with scientific works and standard editions of the ancient
classics. On the wall hung a large oil portrait of a man with an
amiable, meditative face, not wanting in agreeable features, yet not
indicative of force. Burr scanned the indecisive mouth, the handsome,
trustful eyes, the low forehead, at the middle of which was parted the
slightly curling mass of brown hair. While her visitor was studying
the picture, the lady stood at his side, perusing him.

"Well, what is your verdict?"

"A noble face! A noble face!" he repeated, turning to her with an
expression subtly suggestive