at the architect, and answered for him that Mr
Westray had not seen it. Then he explained with a composure that shed a
calm through the room:

"It was turned to the wall. It is a pity to show it unhung, and without
a frame. We must get it framed at once, and decide on a position for
it. I think we shall have to shift several paintings in the gallery."

He talked of Snyders and Wouverman, and Westray made some show of
attention, but could only think of the unframed picture standing on the
ground, which had helped to measure the passing of time in the terrible
interview of yesterday. He guessed now that Lord Blandamer had himself
turned the picture with its face to the wall, and in doing so had
deliberately abandoned a weapon that might have served him well in the
struggle. Lord Blandamer must have deliberately foregone the aid of
recollections such as Anastasia's portrait would have called up in his
antagonist's mind. "Non tali auxilio nec defensoribus istis."

Westray's haggard air had not escaped his host's notice. The architect
looked as if he had spent the night in a haunted room, and Lord
Blandamer was not surprised, knowing that the other's scruples had died
hard, and were not likely to lie quiet in their graves. He thought it
better that the short time which remained before Westray's departure
should be spent out of the house, and proposed a stroll in the grounds.
The gardener reported, he said, that last night's gale had done
considerable damage to the trees. The top of the cedar on the south
lawn had been broken short off. Lady Blandamer begged that she might
accompany them, and as they walked down the terrace steps into the
garden a nurse brought to her the baby heir.

"The gale must have been a cyclone," Lord Blandamer said. "It has
passed away as suddenly as it arose."

The morning was indeed still and sunshiny, and seemed more beautiful by
contrast with the turmoil of the previous night. The air was clear and
cold after the rain, but paths and lawns were strewn with broken sticks
and boughs, and carpeted with prematurely fallen leaves.

Lord Blandamer described the improvements that he was making or
projecting, and pointed out the old fishponds which were to be
restocked, the bowling-green and the ladies' garden arranged on an
old-world plan by his grandmother, and maintained unchanged since her
death. He had received an immense service from Westray, and he would
not accept it ungracious