“But I shall be with you.  I will take care of you.  Don’t you think I am able, Euphra?”

“Oh, yes! quite able.  But I must not go anywhere at that man’s bidding.”

“But it won’t be at his bidding:  it will be at mine.”

“Ah! that alters the case rather, does it not?  I wonder what Margaret would say.”

“Margaret!  What Margaret?” said Hugh.

“Oh! my new maid,” answered Euphra, recollecting herself.

“Not being well at present, she is my nurse.”

“We shall take a cab as soon as we get to the corner.”

“I don’t think the count would be able to guide the horse,” said Euphra, with a smile.  “I must walk.  But I should like to go.  I will.  It would be such a victory to catch him in his own toils.”

She rose and ran up stairs.  In a few minutes she came down again, cloaked and veiled.  But Margaret met her as she descended, and leading her into the back drawing-room, said: 

“Are you going, Euphra?”

“Yes; but I am going with Mr. Sutherland,” answered Euphra, in a defensive tone.  “It is to please him, and not to obey the count.”

“Are you sure it is all to please Mr. Sutherland?  If it were, I don’t think you would be able to guide him right.  Is it not to get rid of your suffering by yielding to temptation, Euphra?  At all events, if you go, even should Mr. Sutherland be successful with him, you will never feel that you have overcome him, or he, that he has lost you.  He will still hold you fast.  Don’t go.  I am sure you are deceiving yourself.”

Euphra stood for a moment and pouted like a naughty child.  Then suddenly throwing her arms about Margaret’s neck, she kissed her, and said: 

“I won’t go, Margaret.  Here, take my things up stairs for me.”

She threw off her bonnet and cloak, and rejoined Hugh in the drawing-room.

“I can’t go,” she said.  “I must not go.  I should be yielding to him, and it would make a slave of me all my life.”

“It is our only chance for the ring,” said Hugh.

Again Euphra hesitated and wavered; but again she conquered.

“I cannot help it,” she said.  “I would rather not have the ring than go —­ if you will forgive me.”

“Oh, Euphra!” replied Hugh.  “You know it is not for myself.”

“I do know it.  You won’t mind then if I don’t go?”

“Certainly not, if you have made up your mind.  You must have a good reason for it.”

“Indeed I have.”  And even already she felt that resistance brought its own reward.

Hugh went almost immediately, in order to make his report to Falconer, with whom he had an appointment for the purpose.

“She is quite right,” said Falconer.  “I do not think, in the relation in which she stands to him, that she could safely do otherwise.  But it seems to me very likely that this will turn out well for our plans, too.  Let her persist, and in all probability he will not only have to resign her perforce, but will so far make himself subject to her in turn, as to seek her who will not go to him.  He will pull upon his own rope till he is drawn to the spot where he has fixed it.  What remains for you and me to do, is to keep a close watch on the house and neighbourhood.  Most likely we shall find the villain before long.”