for him to be fascinated by opposition. Helm had profited by this
trait as much as others had suffered by it; but, in the case of Alice,
Hamilton's mingled resentment and admiration were but a powerful
irritant to the coarsest and most dangerous side of his nature.

After some fumbling and delay he fitted the key with a steady hand and
moved the wooden bolt creaking and jolting from its slot. Then flinging
the clumsy door wide open, he stepped in.

Alice started when she recognized the midnight intruder, and a second
deeper look into his countenance made her brave heart recoil, while
with a sinking sensation her breath almost stopped. It was but a
momentary weakness, however, followed by vigorous reaction.

"What are you here for, sir?" she demanded. "What do you want?"

"I am neither a burglar nor a murderer, Mademoiselle," he responded,
lifting his hat and bowing, with a smile not in the least reassuring.

"You look like both. Stop where you are!"

"Not so loud, my dear Miss Roussillon; I am not deaf. And besides the
garrison needs to sleep."

"Stop, sir; not another step."

She poised herself, leaning slightly backward, and held the iron ball
in her right hand ready to throw it at him.

He halted, still smiling villainously.

"Mademoiselle, I assure you that your excitement is quite unnecessary.
I am not here to harm you."

"You cannot harm me, you cowardly wretch!"

"Humph! Pride goes before a fall, wench," he retorted, taking a
half-step backward. Then a thought arose in his mind which added a new
shade to the repellent darkness of his countenance.

"Miss Roussillon," he said in English and with a changed voice, which
seemed to grow harder, each word deliberately emphasized, "I have come
to break some bad news to you."

"You would scarcely bring me good news, sir, and I am not curious to
hear the bad."

He was silent for a little while, gazing at her with the sort of
admiration from which a true woman draws away appalled. He saw how she
loathed him, saw how impossible it was for him to get a line nearer to
her by any turn of force or fortune. Brave, high-headed, strong as a
young leopard, pure and sweet as a rose, she stood before him fearless,
even aggressive, showing him by every line of her face and form that
she felt her infinite superiority and meant to maintain it. Her whole
personal expression told him he was defeated; therefore he quickly
seized upon a suggestion caught from a transaction