Silently I waited for, I should think, half-an-hour; then a woman came alone.  Evidently she was cold, for she stamped her feet against the wood floor with great vehemence.  Minute after minute passed by, and still there was no third party.  Then I heard a low “hist.”

“You’re late,” said the woman’s voice, which I recognized as Miss Staggles’.

“Yes; and we must not stay long.”

“Why?”

“Because I think we are watched.”

“But why should we be watched?  Surely no one perceives that we are suspicious parties?”

“I cannot say.  I only know I cannot stay long.”

“Why, again?”

“I have much to think about, much to do.”  “And I have much to tell you.”

“I can guess it, I think; but I must know.  Tell me quickly.”

He spoke peremptorily, as if he had a right to command, while she did not resent his dictatorial tones.

“They’ve been riding together again to-day.”

“I guessed it.  Bah! what a fool I’ve been!  But there, that may mean nothing.”

“But it does; it means a great deal.”

“What?”

“I believe that he’s asked her to be his wife.  In fact, I’m sure he has.”

“Darkness and death, he has!  And she?”

“I hardly know; but as sure as we are alive, she likes him.”

“How do you know this?”

“I saw them come in from their ride, and so I guessed that they had become friendly again.”

“Well?”

“Well, I met her in the hall.  She looked as happy as a girl could well look.  I am a woman, so I began to put two and two together.  I determined to listen.  I went up-stairs to my room, which, you know, is close to Miss Gray’s and Gertrude’s.  If you had known girls as long as I, you would know that they usually make friends and confidantes of each other.  I found this to be true in the present case.  Gertrude had not been in their room above five minutes before Miss Gray came to the door and asked to come in.  It was immediately opened, and she entered.”

“And what then?”

“I listened.”

“Just so; I expected that.  But what did you hear?”

“I could not catch all they said; but I gathered that they had a delightful ride, that Mr. Blake had made a declaration of love to Gertrude.”

“And her answer?”

“I could not catch that; she spoke too low.  But I should think it was favourable, for there was a great deal of whispering, and after a while I heard something about that dreadful man being Mr. Blake’s enemy.”

“Ah!  How did they know that?”

“I gathered that Mr. Blake told her.  Look here, Herod Voltaire; you are playing a losing game.”

“I playing a losing game?  Do not fear.  I’ll win, I’ll win, or—­or—­” Here he paused, as if a thought struck him.

“Why don’t you get an influence over her, as you did over Blake?  Then you could manage easily.”  “I cannot.  I’ve tried; her nature is not susceptible; besides, even if I got such a power, I could not use it.  You cannot force love, and the very nature of the case would make such a thing impossible.  Stay!  You know Miss Forrest well, don’t you, her education, and her disposition?”