’You go and keep watch by the further lodge:  there are poachers about.  Where is Strongway?’

‘Just below, my lord.’

’Tell him and his brother to go to the west gate, and walk up and down.  Let them search round it, among the trees inside.  Anybody there who cannot give a good account of himself to be brought before me to-morrow morning.  I am living at the cottage at present.  That’s all I have to say to you.’  And, turning round to Ethelberta:  ’Now, dearest, we will walk a little further if you are able.  I have provided that your friends shall be taken care of.’  He tried to pull her hand towards him, gently, like a cat opening a door.

They walked a little onward, and Lord Mountclere spoke again, with imperturbable good-humour: 

’I will tell you a story, to pass the time away.  I have learnt the art from you—­your mantle has fallen upon me, and all your inspiration with it.  Listen, dearest.  I saw a young man come to the house to-day.  Afterwards I saw him cross a passage in your company.  You entered the ball-room with him.  That room is a treacherous place.  It is panelled with wood, and between the panels and the walls are passages for the servants, opening from the room by doors hidden in the woodwork.  Lady Mountclere knew of one of these, and made use of it to let out her conspirator; Lord Mountclere knew of another, and made use of it to let in himself.  His sight is not good, but his ears are unimpaired.  A meeting was arranged to take place at the west gate at half-past seven, unless a note handed from the balcony mentioned another time and place.  He heard it all—­hee-hee!

’When Lady Mountclere’s confederate came for the note, I was in waiting above, and handed one down a few minutes before the hour struck, confirming the time, but changing the place.  When Lady Mountclere handed down her note, just as the clock was striking, her confederate had gone, and I was standing beneath the balcony to receive it.  She dropped it into her husband’s hands—­ho-ho-ho-ho!

’Lord Mountclere ordered a brougham to be at the west lodge, as fixed by Lady Mountclere’s note.  Probably Lady Mountclere’s friend ordered a brougham to be at the north gate, as fixed by my note, written in imitation of Lady Mountclere’s hand.  Lady Mountclere came to the spot she had mentioned, and like a good wife rushed into the arms of her husband—­hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!’

As if by an ungovernable impulse, Ethelberta broke into laughter also—­laughter which had a wild unnatural sound; it was hysterical.  She sank down upon the leaves, and there continued the fearful laugh just as before.

Lord Mountclere became greatly frightened.  The spot they had reached was a green space within a girdle of hollies, and in front of them rose an ornamental cottage.  This was the building which Ethelberta had visited earlier in the day:  it was the Petit Trianon of Enckworth Court.