a little. I'll be along to-morrow, Sir Everard, to take
those views. Much obliged to you for your kindness. Good-day."

He glanced furtively at the stately woman by the window, standing still
as if turning to stone. But she neither looked nor moved nor spoke.

CHAPTER XVIII.

IN THE PICTURE-GALLERY.

Mr. Parmalee, true to his promise, presented himself at the earliest
admissible hour next day with all the apparatus of his art.

So early was it, indeed, that Sybilla was just pouring out the baronet's
first cup of tea, while he leisurely opened the letters the morning mail
had brought.

Lady Kingsland complained of a bad headache, her husband said, and would
not leave her room until dinner.

Sir Everard made this announcement, quietly opening his letters.
Sybilla looked at him with gleaming eyes. The time had come for her to
begin to lay her train.

My lady had ascended to her room immediately upon the departure of the
American, the preceding day, and had been invisible ever since. That
convenient feminine excuse, headache, had accounted for it, but Sybilla
Silver knew better. She had expected her to breakfast this morning, and
she began to think Mr. Parmalee's little mystery was more of a mystery
than even she had dreamed. The man's arrival gave her her cue.

"Our American friend is a devotee of art, it seems," she said, with a
light laugh. "He lets no grass grow under his feet. I had no easy task
to restrain his artistic ardor during your absence. I never knew such
an inquisitive person, either; he did nothing but ask questions."

"A national trait," Sir Everard responded, with a shrug. "Americans are
all inquisitive, which accounts for their go-aheadativeness, I dare say."

"Mr. Parmalee's questions took a very narrow range; they only comprised
one subject--you and my lady."

The young baronet looked up in haughty amaze.

"His curiosity on this subject was insatiable; your most minute
biography would not have satisfied him. About Lady Kingsland
particularly--in point of fact, I thought he must have known her in New
York, his questions were so pointed, and I asked him so directly."

"And what did he say?"

"Oh, he said no," replied Sybilla, lightly, "but in such a manner as led
me to infer yes. However, it was evident, yesterday, that my lady had
never set eyes on him before; but I did fancy, for an instant, she
somehow recognized that picture."

"What picture?" asked the baronet,