g to drag you into the mesh with us. Don't let him! You have
nothing to do with us, thank Heaven!"

She stopped suddenly, and snatched the pistol from my father's nerveless
grasp. Then her hand flashed out. Ray was covered, and her white
fingers never quivered. Even Ray took a quick step backwards.

"Give him back those papers," she commanded.

I intervened, stepping into the line of fire.

"I gave them to him willingly," I told her. "I do not wish to have them
back. He is one of my employers, and he has a right to claim them."

I spoke firmly, and she saw that I was at any rate in earnest. Yet the
look which she threw upon me was a strange one. I felt that she was
disappointed, that a certain measure of contempt too was mingled with
her disappointment. She threw the pistol on to the sofa and shrugged
her shoulders.

"After all," she said, "I suppose you are right. The whole affair is
not worth these heroics. I am ready to go with you to the Duke, Guy,
unless Colonel Ray has any contrary orders for us."

Ray turned to me.

"You must come with me at once to my rooms," he said coldly. "This
person can find the Duke by herself, if indeed the Duke has sent for
her."

I understood then why people hated Ray. There was a vein of positive
brutality somewhere in the man's nature.

"I am sorry," I answered him, "but I cannot come to your rooms at
present. The Duke is my present employer, and I am here to take Mrs.
Smith-Lessing to him. As long as she is willing to accept my escort I
shall certainly carry out my instructions."

"Don't be a fool, boy," Ray exclaimed sharply. "I want to give you a
last chance before I go to Lord Chelsford."

"I do not think," I answered, "that I care about accepting any favours
from you just now, Colonel Ray. Nor am I at all sure that I need them,"
I added.

He turned on his heel, but at the door he hesitated again.

"Guy," he said in a low tone, "will you speak to me for a moment
outside?"

I stood on the landing with him. He closed the door leading into the
sitting-room.

"Guy," he said, "you know that if I leave you behind, you link your lot
with--them. You will be an outcast and a fugitive all your days. You
will have to avoid every place where the English language is spoken.
You will never be able to recover your honour, you will be the scorn of
all Englishmen and English--women. I speak to you for your mother's
sake, boy. You have started life with a cursed heritage. I wan