o, and the
place was totally dark.

"Wait till the moon comes out, and we shall see what it is," whispered
George, and, as he spoke, there came from the direction of the figure
a rustling sound as of falling garments.

"What can it be?" whispered Philip.

They were not left long in doubt, for at that instant a vivid flash
from the thunder-cloud turned the darkness into the most brilliant
day, and revealed a woman standing up to her knees in the water, with
her arms lifted, knotting her long hair. It was Angela. For one moment
the fierce light shone upon the stately form that gleamed whiter than
ivory--white as snow against the dense background of the brushwood,
and, as it passed, they heard her sink into the water softly as a
swan, and strike out with steady strokes towards the centre of the
lake.

"It is only Angela," said Philip, when the sound of the strokes grew
faint. "Phew! what a state she gave me."

"Is she safe?" asked George, in a husky voice. "Hadn't I better get a
boat?"

"She needs no help from you, she is quite capable of looking after
herself, especially in the water, I can tell you," Philip answered,
sharply.

Nothing more was said till they reached the house, when, on entering
the lighted study, Philip noticed that his cousin's face was flushed,
and his hands shaking like aspen leaves.

"Why, what is the matter with you, man?" he asked.

"Nothing--nothing. I am only rather cold. Give me some brandy."

"Cold on such a night as this? That's curious," said Philip, as he got
the spirit from a cupboard.

George drank about a wine-glassful neat, and seemed to recover
himself.

"I accept your offer for the land, Philip," he said, presently.

His cousin looked at him curiously, and a brilliant idea struck him.

"You agree, then, to take _fifty_ thousand pounds for the Isleworth
estates in the event of your marrying my daughter, the sale to be
completed before the marriage takes place?"

"Fifty thousand! No, a hundred thousand--you said a hundred thousand
just now."

"You must have misunderstood me, or I must have made a mistake; what I
meant is _fifty thousand_, and you to put a thousand down as earnest
money--to be forfeited whether the affair comes off or not."

George ground his teeth and clutched at his red hair, proceedings that
his cousin watched with a great deal of quiet enjoyment. When at
length he spoke, it was in a low, hoarse voice; quite unlike his usual
hard tones:

"Damn