h air which I had allowed myself all the
morning, though the dazzling sunlight and the soft west wind had tempted
me all the time. And now, as ill luck would have it, I had walked
straight into the presence of the one person in the world whom I wished
most earnestly to avoid. She was standing on the edge of the cliff, her
hands behind her, gazing seawards, and though I stopped short at the
sight of her, and for a moment entertained wild thoughts of flight, it
was not possible for me to carry them out. A dry twig snapped beneath
my feet, and, turning quickly round, she had seen me. She came forward
at once, and for some reason or other I knew that she was glad. She
smiled upon me almost gaily.

"So this sunshine has even tempted you out, Sir Hermit," she exclaimed.
"Is it not good to feel the Spring coming?"

"Delightful," I answered.

She looked at me curiously.

"How pale you are!" she said. "You are working too hard, Mr. Ducaine."

"I came down from London by the mail last night," I said. "I saw
Colonel Ray--had dinner with him, in fact."

She nodded, but asked me no questions.

"I think," she said abruptly, "that they are all coming down here in a
few days. I heard from my father this morning."

I sighed.

"I have been very unfortunate, Lady Angela," I said. "Your father is
displeased with me. I think that but for Colonel Ray I should have been
dismissed yesterday."

"Is it about--the Prince of Malors?" she asked in a low tone.

"Partly. I was forced to tell what I knew." She hesitated for a moment,
then she turned impulsively toward me.

"You were right to tell them, Mr. Ducaine," she said. "I have hated
myself ever since the other night when I seemed to side against you.
There are things going on about us which I cannot fathom, and sometimes
I have fears, terrible fears. But your course at least is a clear one.
Don't let yourself be turned aside by any one. My father has prejudices
which might lead him into grievous errors. Trust Colonel Ray--no one
else. Yours is a dangerous position, but it is a splendid one. It
means a career and independence. If there should come a time even--"

She broke off abruptly in her speech. I could see that she was
agitated, and I thought that I knew the cause.

"Lady Angela," I said slowly, "would it not be possible for you and
Colonel Ray to persuade Lord Blenavon to go abroad?"

She swayed for a moment as though she would have fallen, and her eyes
looked at me ful