“Nonsense, Angela; it is some other horse.”

But, as he spoke, the sound of a powerful animal trotting very rapidly became distinctly audible.

“It has come—­the evil news—­and she has brought it.”

“Rubbish, dear; somebody to see your father, no doubt.”

A minute elapsed, and then Mrs. Jakes, now the only servant in the house, was heard shuffling along the passage, followed by a firm, light step.

“Don’t leave me,” said Angela to Mr. Fraser.  “God give me strength to bear it,” she went on, beneath her breath.  She was still standing staring vacantly towards the door, pale, and her bosom heaving.  The intensity of her anxiety had to some extent communicated itself to Mr. Fraser, for there are few things so catching as anxiety, except enthusiasm; he, too, had risen, and was standing in an attitude of expectancy.

“Lady Bellamy to see yer,” said Mrs. Jakes, pushing her head through the half-opened door.

Next second she had entered.

“I must apologize for disturbing you at dinner, Angela,” she began hurriedly, and then stopped and also stood still.  There was something very curious about her reception, she thought; both Mr. Fraser and Angela might have been cut out of stone, for neither moved.

Standing thus in the silence of expectancy, the three made a strange picture.  On Lady Bellamy’s face there was a look of stern determination and suppressed excitement such as became one about to commit a crime.

At last she broke the silence.

“I come to bring you bad news, Angela,” she said.

“What have you to say? tell me, quick!  No, stop, hear me before you speak.  If you have come here with any evil in your heart, or with the intention to deceive or betray, pause before you answer.  I am a lonely and almost friendless woman, and have no claim except upon your compassion; but it is not always well to deal ill with such as I, since we have at last a friend whose vengeance you too must fear.  So, by the love of Christ and by the presence of the God who made you, speak to me only such truth as you will utter at his judgment.  Now, answer, I am ready.”

At her words, spoken with an earnestness and in a voice which made them almost awful, a momentary expression of fear swept across Lady Bellamy’s face, but it went as quickly as it came, and the hard, determined look returned.  The mysterious eyes grew cold and glittered, the head erected itself.  At that moment Lady Bellamy distinctly reminded Mr. Fraser of a hooded cobra about to strike.

“Am I to speak before Mr. Fraser?”

“Speak!”

“What is the good of this high-flown talk, Angela?  You seem to know my news before I give it, and believe me it pains me very much to have to give it. He is dead, Angela.”

The cobra had struck, but as yet the poison had scarcely begun to work.  There was only numbness.  Mr. Fraser gave a gasp and half dropped, half fell, into his chair.  The noise attracted Angela’s attention, and pressing her hand to her forehead she turned towards him with a ghost of a laugh.