ght be the
position of Zillah. How did she happen to be living with Obed Chute?
In what way was she living? How did it happen that Lord Chetwynde was
carrying on a series of clandestine visits to a woman who was his own
wife? Hilda's story of that passionate interview in the kiosk at the
Villa Rinalci was now intelligible in one sense. It was no phantom
that had terrified her, but the actual form of the living Zillah
herself. Yet, making allowance for this, it became more
unintelligible than ever. For what could have been the meaning of
that scene? If Zillah were alive and his wife, why should Lord
Chetwynde arrange so elaborately this interview in the kiosk? why
should he be at once so passionate and so despairing? why should he
vow his vows of eternal love, and at the same time bid her an eternal
farewell? What was the meaning of his information about that "other I
whom he hated worse than death," which Hilda had felt like a stroke
of death? And why should Lord Chetwynde remain with his false wife,
whom he hated, while his true wife, whom he loved, was so near? Why,
in the name of Heaven, should he treat the one with even civility,
and only visit the other by means of clandestine meetings and stolen
interviews? Could such questions be answered at all? Were they not
all mad together, or were he and Hilda madder than these? What could
be the solution of these insoluble problems?

Such were the questions which filled Gualtier's mind as he drove
along--questions which bewildered his brain, and to which he could
not find an answer. At one time he tried to think that all
these--Zillah. Lord Chetwynde, and Obed Chute--were in alliance; that
they understood one another perfectly, and Hilda also; and that they
were weaving together some deep plot which was to be her ruin. But
this also seemed absurd. For, if they understood her, and knew who
she was, why should they take any trouble to weave plots for her?
That trouble they could spare themselves, and could arrest her at
once whenever they chose. Why did Lord Chetwynde spare her if he knew
all? Was it out of gratitude because she had saved him from death?
Impossible; for he habitually neglected her now, and gave up all his
thoughts and his time to Zillah. Was it possible that Zillah could
have been saved, found out her husband, and was now inciting him to
this strange course from some desire to get fresh proof against
Hilda? No; that was impossible, for she must already have