s, were already collected, in
anticipation of the boar-hunt arranged to take place on that day. The
sky had cleared, but the tsa raged and howled after its perennial custom
about the Castle.

Madame de Sagan, entering later, cast a nervous glance at the grim red
face and bull-neck, and then fell into a laughing conversation with the
people round her, although her heart felt cold. She was far from being a
brave woman, although she joined so gaily in the merry talk passing from
side to side; but her marvellous self-control was no more than the
self-control common to women of her social standing. It is secondary
strength, not innate but acquired, of which the finest instance is a
matter of history, and was witnessed within the walls of the
Conciergerie during the Reign of Terror, where men and women
unflinchingly carried on a hollow semblance of the joyous comedy of life
till they mounted laughing into the tumbrils.

Although nothing was known about the events of the previous night except
by those who took part in them, a sense of excitement pervaded the
party. The strained relations existing between the Duke and his possible
successor gave rise to an amount of vague expectation and conjecture.
Anything might happen with such dangerous elements present in the
atmosphere.

Therefore when Rallywood, booted and spurred, passed up the hall, his
entrance attracted every eye. He walked straight up to the Count at his
distant window and saluting, spoke for perhaps a minute in a low voice.

At the first sentence Sagan swung round, his lowering face growing
darker as he listened. Then, advancing to the head of the table prepared
for the entertainment of the Duke, he called the attention of all
present by striking it loudly with the riding-whip he carried.

An instant hush settled upon the room. Sagan glared round with waiting
eyes, and in the pause the tsa broke in a crash upon the Castle front
with the pebble-shifting sound of a breaker.

'I have to beg the favour of your attention for a moment,' the Count's
words rang out. 'Captain Rallywood reports that an officer of his
Highness's Guard is missing--Captain Colendorp. Inquiries have been made
but he cannot be found. It seems that he was last seen leaving the
billiard-room. If anyone in the hall can give us further information,
will they be good enough to do so?'

Valerie raised her eyes to Rallywood, who stood behind the Count. As he
met them the young man's stern face s