w a shadow fall over his face.
"There is nothing really in them, I suppose, Lady Lisle?"

"Nothing," she said, "but the cry of a woman's breaking heart! Enough to
ruin me, should my husband ever come to know it."

"That he never shall; they shall be destroyed. If I die for it, they
shall be destroyed."

"Ah, me," she said; "had ever liege lady so true a knight? Basil, how
shall I thank you?"

"The pleasure of serving you will be thanks enough," he replied.

"Ah, generous knight, noble knight, who shall say true chivalry is
dead?" And she praised him, she flattered him, she thanked him until the
slight doubt that had occurred to him died away and he was ashamed of
it.

He thought of nothing but obeying her. It was sadly against his high
English spirit to steal into a man's room and take from it; he would
have preferred fighting until one or the other lay dead. But she had
said nay, and it could not be. That very evening he called and was told
the count was not in; the day following he repeated the call, and the
servant, as he had said at the trial, was suspicious, not recognizing
him as one of his master's friends.

He called another evening, and, owing to the fact of there being a new
servant, he was admitted into the count's room. It was empty, although
the gas was burning. He saw the little ivory casket, and with one stroke
of his strong, young hand, opened it.

There lay the letters, underneath a watch and ring. He obeyed her; he
did not lose one instant. He emptied the casket, carried the letters to
the lighted gas, and burned them! Just as he had raised the watch and
ring in his hand to replace them, the door opened and the count, with
his servant, entered the room.

CHAPTER XIV.

The Trap Closed.

The count did not utter one word. He saw at one glance what had been
done. He recognized the young gentleman whom he had sneered at as Lady
Amelie's victim. He understood at once what had been done.

"She had asked him to destroy the letters, and he has done it," he said
to himself. In one moment he had formed his scheme of revenge. He would
give the young man in charge for stealing his watch and ring. If he
cleared himself at all, he must tell the truth. He must tell that he had
not come there to steal a watch, but to destroy Lady Lisle's letters.

"If he confesses that," said the quick-witted count to himself, "she
will be doubly disgraced; if he declines to confess, I am at least
revenged upon