I make no doubt he would have
come instantly at the truth and the little farce would have been turned
into a tragedy on the spot. But she gave him no time. The spinet in the
ball-room alcove was tinkling out the overture to a minuet, and she laid
the tips of her dainty fingers on the colonel's arm.

"This will be ours to walk through, will it not, Colonel Tarleton?" she
said, playing the sprightly minx to the very climax of perfection. Then
she dipped us a curtsy. "_Au revoir_, gentlemen. 'Tis a thousand pities
you had not joined sooner and so had the red coat and small-sword to
grace you here."

When they were gone, Dick laughed sardonically.

"Saw you ever such a cool-blood little jade in all your life? 'Twas with
me as it was with you; I, too, stumbled upon them, and the colonel
bustled me and set his heel on my foot. I daresay I should have had
myself in irons in another moment but for Madge. She slipped in between
and introduced us as sweetly as you please."

"Nevertheless," said I, "the colonel recognized us both."

"No! Think you so?"

"'Tis certain enough to play upon. What we do now must be done quickly
or not at all. What have you overheard?"

He swore softly. "Never a cursed word; less than nothing of any interest
to Dan Morgan."

"We must try again. 'Twill surely be talked of here if the army is about
to move. Do you take a turn in the anteroom and meet me in a quarter of
an hour at the outer door."

At the word, Dick promptly lost himself in the throng whilst I made a
slow circuit of the refreshment table. Once I thought I had the clue
when a girl hanging on the arm of an infantry lieutenant said: "Will it
be true that you will presently go out to hunt the rebels down, Mr.
Thornicroft?" But the prudent lieutenant smiled and put her off
cleverly, leaving his fair questioner--and me--none the wiser.

I went on, drifting aimlessly from group to group and dallying of set
purpose. If I had read Colonel Tarleton's glance aright, the moments
were growing diamond-precious; but as yet neither half of my errand was
done. Come what might, I must see Margery again and have her tell me
where and how to find the priest; and 'twas borne in upon me that she
would come back to seek me as soon as she could be free of her partner
in the dance.

The forecast as to my lady had its fulfilment while yet the spinetter
was striking out the final chords of the minuet. A lady dropped her
kerchief, and I was before her