," said her ladyship, and threw him into
confusion, hopeless dissembler that he was.

"Nay, nay! I beg that you will not."

Her ladyship's brows went up; her eyes narrowed again, and a frown came
between them. "You are mighty mysterious," said she, looking from one to
the other of the men, and bethinking her that it was not the first time
she had found them so; bethinking her, too--jumping, woman-like, to rash
conclusions--that in this mystery that linked them might lie the true
secret of her husband's aversion to his son and of his oath a month ago
to see that same son hang if Mr. Caryll succumbed to the wound he had
taken. With some women, to suspect a thing is to believe that thing. Her
ladyship was of these. She set too high value upon her acumen, upon the
keenness of her instincts.

And if aught were needed to cement her present suspicions, Mr. Caryll
himself afforded that cement, by seeming to betray the same eagerness to
be alone with his lordship that his lordship was betraying to be alone
with him; though, in truth, he no more than desired to lend assistance
to the earl out of curiosity to learn what it was his lordship might
have to say.

"Indeed," said he, "if you could give his lordship leave, ma'am, for a
few moments, I should myself be glad on't."

"Come, Hortensia," said her ladyship shortly, and swept out, Mistress
Winthrop following.

In silence they crossed the lawn together. Once only ere they reached
the house, her ladyship looked back. "I would I knew what they are
plotting," she said through her teeth.

"Plotting?" echoed Hortensia.

"Ay--plotting, simpleton. I said plotting. I mind me 'tis not the first
time I have seen them so mysterious together. It began on the day that
first Mr. Caryll set foot at Stretton House. There's a deal of mystery
about that man--too much for honesty. And then these letters touching
which he is so close--one a day--and his French lackey always at hand to
pounce upon them the moment they arrive. I wonder what's at bottom on't!
I wonder! And I'd give these ears to know," she snapped in conclusion as
they went indoors.

In the arbor, meanwhile, his lordship had taken the rustic seat her
ladyship had vacated. He sat down heavily, like a man who is weary in
body and in mind, like a man who is bearing a load too heavy for his
shoulders. Mr. Caryll, watching him, observed all this.

"A glass of Hock?" he suggested, waving his hand towards the flask. "Let
me play