t sight of Trefusis looking back at him with a grin which
seemed, under the circumstances, so Satanic, that he stopped as if
petrified in the midst of his gesticulations, and stood with his arm out
like a semaphore.

The drive home restored him somewhat, but he wee still full of
his surprise when he rejoined Agatha, his wife, and Erskine in the
drawing-room at the Beeches. The moment he entered, he said without
preface, "She has gone off with Trefusis."

Erskine, who had been reading, started up, clutching his book as if
about to hurl it at someone, and cried, "Was he at the train?"

"Yes, and has gone to town by it."

"Then," said Erskine, flinging the book violently on the floor, "he is a
scoundrel and a liar."

"What is the matter?" said Agatha rising, whilst Jane stared
open-mouthed at him.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Wylie, I forgot you. He pledged me his honor
that he would not go by that train. I will." He hurried from the room.
Sir Charles rushed after him, and overtook him at the foot of the
stairs.

"Where are you going? What do you want to do?"

"I will follow the train and catch it at the next station. I can do it
on my bicycle."

"Nonsense! you're mad. They have thirty-five minutes start; and the
train travels forty-five miles an hour."

Erskine sat down on the stairs and gazed blankly at the opposite wall.

"You must have mistaken him," said Sir Charles. "He told me to tell you
that he had not forgotten his promise, and that you may rely on him."

"What is the matter?" said Agatha, coming down, followed by Lady
Brandon.

"Miss Wylie," said Erskine, springing up, "he gave me his word that he
would not go by that train when I told him Miss Lindsay was going by
it. He has broken his word and seized the opportunity I was mad and
credulous enough to tell him of. If I had been in your place, Brandon, I
would have strangled him or thrown him under the wheels sooner than let
him go. He has shown himself in this as in everything else, a cheat, a
conspirator, a man of crooked ways, shifts, tricks, lying sophistries,
heartless selfishness, cruel cynicism--" He stopped to catch his breath,
and Sir Charles interposed a remonstrance.

"You are exciting yourself about nothing, Chester. They are in a
Pullman, with her maid and plenty of people; and she expressly gave him
leave to go with her. He asked her the question flatly before my face,
and I must say I thought it a strange thing for her to consent to.