-and I was beginning to fear that this was as poor a place to look
for information as was the pothouse, when a thing befell to set me
a-quiver with all the thrillings the human heart-strings can thrum to in
one and the same instant of time.

I had shouldered my way out of the ball-room medley and into the less
crowded room at the back. This proved to be a rear withdrawing-room
serving for the nonce as a refectory. There were little groups and knots
of chatterers standing about; fair maids, each with her ring of
redcoated courtiers, laughing and jesting or picking daintily at the
viands on the great oaken table in the midst.

Rounding the promontory of the table's-end to come to anchor in some
quiet eddy where I could listen unnoticed for the word I was thirsting
for, I must needs entangle the button of my coat-cuff in the delicate
lace of a lady's sleeve in passing.

The wearer of the sleeve had her back to me, and I saw the white
shoulders go up in a little shrug of petulance whilst I sought to
disentangle the button. Then she turned to face me and the words of
apology froze on my lips. 'Twas Mistress Margery, standing at ease
with--good heavens! with Richard Jennifer and Colonel Banastre Tarleton
for her company!

Here was a halter, with a double snaffle at the end of it, was the
thought that flashed upon me; and I was gathering my wits to brazen it
out in some such manner as to leave Jennifer unattainted, when my lady
give a little start and a shriek.

"La, Mr. Septimus; how you startled me!" she cried. Then, without a
tremor of the lip or a pause for breath-taking, she presented me:
"Colonel Tarleton; Mr. Septimus Ireton, of Iretondene in Virginia." And
next to Dick: "Mr. Richard; my very good friend, Mr. Ireton."

'Twas done so cleverly and with such an air that even Dick, who had
known her from childhood, was struck dumb with admiration, as his face
sufficiently advertised. And, indeed, I had much ado to play my own part
with any decent self-possession, though I did make shift to bow stiffly,
and to say: "I see I should have brought the Iretondene title deeds with
me to make you sure that I am not my rebel cousin John, Mistress
Margery. Your servant, Colonel Tarleton; and yours, Mr. Richard."

Dick's bow was an elaborate hiding of his tell-tale face; but the
colonel's was the slightest of nods, and I could feel the sloe-black
eyes of him boring into my very soul.

Had my lady given him but a moment's time