returned from his ride."

I saw him as soon as she did. He came towards us, slashing viciously
at the flowers with his riding-whip. When he was near enough to see my
face he stopped, struck at his boot with the whip, and burst out
laughing, so harshly and so violently that the birds flew away,
startled, from the tree by which he stood.

"Well, Mrs. Michelson," he said, "you have found it out at last, have
you?"

I made no reply. He turned to Mrs. Rubelle.

"When did you show yourself in the garden?"

"I showed myself about half an hour ago, sir. You said I might take my
liberty again as soon as Lady Glyde had gone away to London."

"Quite right. I don't blame you--I only asked the question." He waited
a moment, and then addressed himself once more to me. "You can't
believe it, can you?" he said mockingly. "Here! come along and see for
yourself."

He led the way round to the front of the house. I followed him, and
Mrs. Rubelle followed me. After passing through the iron gates he
stopped, and pointed with his whip to the disused middle wing of the
building.

"There!" he said. "Look up at the first floor. You know the old
Elizabethan bedrooms? Miss Halcombe is snug and safe in one of the best
of them at this moment. Take her in, Mrs. Rubelle (you have got your
key?); take Mrs. Michelson in, and let her own eyes satisfy her that
there is no deception this time."

The tone in which he spoke to me, and the minute or two that had passed
since we left the garden, helped me to recover my spirits a little.
What I might have done at this critical moment, if all my life had been
passed in service, I cannot say. As it was, possessing the feelings,
the principles, and the bringing up of a lady, I could not hesitate
about the right course to pursue. My duty to myself, and my duty to
Lady Glyde, alike forbade me to remain in the employment of a man who
had shamefully deceived us both by a series of atrocious falsehoods.

"I must beg permission, Sir Percival, to speak a few words to you in
private," I said. "Having done so, I shall be ready to proceed with
this person to Miss Halcombe's room."

Mrs. Rubelle, whom I had indicated by a slight turn of my head,
insolently sniffed at her nosegay and walked away, with great
deliberation, towards the house door.

"Well," said Sir Percival sharply, "what is it now?"

"I wish to mention, sir, that I am desirous of resigning the situation
I now hold at Blackwater P