sing
just without the room. They did not see the set face which looked down
from the stairway. Through the open door Mary Connynge could see the
young man as he stepped out of the door, could see the conduct of the
girl now left alone in the drawing-room. She saw the Lady Catharine sink
down upon the seat, her head drooped in thought, her hand lying
languidly out before her. Pale now and distraught, the Lady Catharine
Knollys wist little of what went on before her. She had full concern
with the tumult which waged riot in her soul.

Mary Connynge turned, and started back up the stair unseen. She paused,
her yellow eyes gone narrow, her little hand clutched tight upon the
rail.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER IX

IN SEARCH OF THE QUARREL

As Law turned away from the door of the Knollys mansion, he walked with
head bent forward, not looking upon the one hand or the other. He raised
his eyes only when a passing horseman had called thrice to him.

"What!" cried Sir Arthur Pembroke. "I little looked to see you here, Mr.
Law. I thought it more likely you were engaged in other business--"

"Meaning by that--?"

"What should I mean, except that I supposed you preparing for your
little affair with Wilson?"

"My little affair?"

"Certainly, with Wilson, as I said. I saw our friend Castleton but now,
and he advised me of your promptness. He had searched for you for days,
he being chosen by Wilson for his friend--and said he had at last found
you in your lodgings. Egad! I have mistook your kidney completely. Never
in London was a duel brought on so swift. 'Fight? This afternoon!' said
you. Jove! but the young bloods laughed when they heard of it. 'Bloody
Scotland' is what they have christened you at the Green Lion. 'He said
to me,' said Charlie, 'that he was slow to find a quarrel, but since
this quarrel was brought home to him, 'twere meet 'twere soon finished.
He thought, forsooth, that four o'clock of the afternoon were late
enough.' Gad! But you might have given Wilson time at least for one more
dinner."

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Law, mystified still.

"Mean! Why, I mean that I've been scouring London to find you. My faith,
man, but thou'rt a sudden actor! Where caught you this unseemly haste?"

"Sir Arthur," said the other, slowly, "you do me too much justice. I
have made no arrangement to meet Mr. Wilson, nor have I any wish to do
so."

"Pish, man! You must not jest with me in such a case as this. 'Tis