We were standing in a deep window-bay and I drew the curtain an inch or two.  The air without was filled with the trampling of hoofbeats on greensward.  A light-horse troop was surrounding the manor house.

I drew her arm in mine and led her back to the ball-room; ’twas now come to this, that open publicity was our best safeguard.  “We must find Dick,” said I.  “Have you seen him?”

“No.”

Together we made the slow circuit of the dancing-room, but Jennifer was not to be found.  Out of the tail of my eye I saw a soldier slipping in here and there to stand statue-like against the wall.  This brought it to a matter of minutes, of seconds, mayhap, and still we looked in vain for Dick.

“Oh, why did you bring him here?  He will surely be taken!” Her voice was tremulous with fear, and I answered as I could, being sore at heart, in spite of all, that her chief concern should be for Richard.

But by now my purpose was well taken, and though it appeared that Richard Jennifer was more than ever my successful rival, I pledge you, my dears, I had no thought of leaving him behind.  So we made another slow round of the rooms, and whilst we were looking for Dick I spoke in guarded whispers to warn my lady of Falconnet’s return.  But the warning was not needed.

Her shudder of loathing shook the hand on my arm.  “That man!  Oh, Monsieur John!  I fear him day and night!  If I could but run away; but we are not finding Dick—­we must find him quickly!”

There was no other place to look save in the entrance hall, and at the door one of the statue-like soldiers took two steps aside and barred the way.  I faced about and we plunged once again into the throng, but not before I had had a glimpse of Richard in the hall beyond.  When the chance offered, I bent to whisper.

“Dick is in the hall, looking for me, go you to him and warn him.  I may not pass the door, as you have seen.”

“He will not escape without you,” she demurred.

“Tell him he must.  Tell him I say he must!”

She glanced over her shoulder with a look in her eyes that made me think of a wounded bird fluttering in the net of the fowler.

“Oh, ’tis hard, hard!” she murmured.

I snatched the word from her lips.  “To choose between love and wifely duty?  Then I make it a command.  Go, quickly!”

She went at that, and I made my way slowly to the far side of the ball-room, taking post in a deep-recessed window giving upon the lawn.  Though it was January and the night was chill and raw, the rooms were summer warm with the breath of the crush, and some one had swung the casement.

Without, I could hear the horses of the waiting troop champing restlessly at their bits, and now and again the low gentling words of the riders.  Why the colonel did not spring his trap at once I could not guess; though I learned later that he had magnified our two-man spying venture into a patriot foray meant to capture the whole houseful of British officers at a swoop, and was taking his measures accordingly.