In turning the sharp corner of the covered walk they came in contact with Captain Levison, who appeared to be either standing or sauntering there, his hands underneath his coat-tails.  Again Barbara felt vexed, wondering how much he had heard, and beginning in her heart to dislike the man.  He accosted them familiarly, and appeared as if he would have turned with them; but none could put down presumption more effectually than Mr. Carlyle, calm and gentlemanly though he always was.

“I will join you presently, Captain Levison,” he said with a wave of the hand.  And he turned back with Barbara toward the open parts of the park.

“Do you like that Captain Levison?” she abruptly inquired, when they were beyond hearing.

“I cannot say I do,” was Mr. Carlyle’s reply.  “He is one who does not improve upon acquaintance.”

“To me it looks as though he had placed himself in our way to hear what we were saying.”

“No, no, Barbara.  What interest could it bear for him?”

Barbara did not contest the point; she turned to the one nearer at heart.  “What must be our course with regard to Thorn?”

“It is more than I can tell you,” replied Mr. Carlyle.  “I cannot go up to the man and unceremoniously accuse him of being Hallijohn’s murderer.”

They took their way to the house, for there was nothing further to discuss.  Captain Levison entered it before them, and saw Lady Isabel standing at the hall window.  Yes, she was standing and looking still, brooding over her fancied wrongs.

“Who is that Miss Hare?” he demanded in a cynical tone.  “They appear to have a pretty good understanding together.  Twice this evening I have met them enjoying a private walk and a private confab.”

“What did you say?” sharply and haughtily returned Lady Isabel.

“Nay, I did not mean to offend you,” was the answer, for he knew that she heard his words distinctly in spite of her question.  “I spoke of Monsieur votre mari.”

CHAPTER XXIII.

CAPTAIN THORN IN TROUBLE ABOUT “A BILL.”

In talking over a bygone misfortune, we sometimes make the remark, or hear it made to us, “Circumstances worked against it.”  Such and such a thing might have turned out differently, we say, had the surrounding circumstances been more favorable, but they were in opposition; they were dead against it.  Now, if ever attendant circumstances can be said to have borne a baneful influence upon any person in this world, they most assuredly did at this present time against Lady Isabel Carlyle.