ng warmth of the morning. The roof of White Gables, a surly
patch of dull red against the dark trees, seemed to harmonize with
Trent's mood; he felt heavy, sinister, and troubled. If a blow must fall
that might strike down that creature radiant of beauty and life whom
he had seen that morning, he did not wish it to come from his hand. An
exaggerated chivalry had lived in Trent since the first teachings of his
mother; but at this moment the horror of bruising anything so lovely was
almost as much the artist's revulsion as the gentleman's. On the other
hand, was the hunt to end in nothing? The quality of the affair was such
that the thought of forbearance was an agony. There never was such a
case; and he alone, he was confident, held the truth of it under his
hand. At least, he determined, that day should show whether what he
believed was a delusion. He would trample his compunction underfoot
until he was quite sure that there was any call for it. That same
morning he would know.

As they entered at the gate of the drive they saw Marlowe and the
American standing in talk before the front door. In the shadow of the
porch was the lady in black.

She saw them, and came gravely forward over the lawn, moving as Trent
had known that she would move, erect and balanced, stepping lightly.
When she welcomed him on Mr Cupples's presentation her eyes of
golden-flecked brown observed him kindly. In her pale composure, worn as
the mask of distress, there was no trace of the emotion that had
seemed a halo about her head on the ledge of the cliff. She spoke the
appropriate commonplace in a low and even voice. After a few words to Mr
Cupples she turned her eyes on Trent again.

'I hope you will succeed,' she said earnestly. 'Do you think you will
succeed?'

He made his mind up as the words left her lips. He said, 'I believe I
shall do so, Mrs Manderson. When I have the case sufficiently complete
I shall ask you to let me see you and tell you about it. It may be
necessary to consult you before the facts are published.'

She looked puzzled, and distress showed for an instant in her eyes. 'If
it is necessary, of course you shall do so,' she said.

On the brink of his next speech Trent hesitated. He remembered that
the lady had not wished to repeat to him the story already given to the
inspector--or to be questioned at all. He was not unconscious that he
desired to hear her voice and watch her face a little longer, if it
might be; but