fiance in the face of father
and husband, had swept from the room, closely followed by her mother,
another form moved away from the immediate vicinity of the most
accessible drawing-room window,--the form of Evan Lamotte. Crouching,
creeping, shivering, cursing, he made his way to the spot where he had
left Frank's horse, and led it toward the stables.

Anything but sober when he commenced his vigil underneath the
drawing-room windows, he had been shocked into sobriety by his sister's
violence, and his own rage against her tormentors. Growing more and more
sober, and more and more sullen, he stabled the ill-used thoroughbred
with his own hands, and then, avoiding alike both servants and family,
he crept into the house, and up to his own room.

In the morning he awoke betimes, and arose promptly; he had come to know
the habits of his father and John Burrill, and he had good reason for
knowing them, having of late made their movements his study.

Burrill would sleep until nine o'clock; he always did after a debauch,
and he, Evan, had recently formed a habit of appearing late at breakfast
also. From his room he kept up a surveillance over all the household
after a method invented by himself.

He knew when his stately mother swept down to the breakfast room,
followed soon after by his father.

The family all aimed to breakfast before the obnoxious Burrill had come
to his waking time, and so were rid of him for one meal, all but Evan.
He and his brother-in-law breakfasted together later, and in the most
amiable manner. After a time he heard Frank go down, and the ring of his
heels assured Evan that he was equipped for the saddle.

A little later, and, from his post at his front window, screened by the
flowing curtains, Evan saw the horses led around, saw Sybil come down
the steps in her trailing, dark cloth habit, saw her spring lightly to
the saddle, and heard a mocking laugh ring out, in response to some
sally from Frank, as they cantered away.

[Illustration: Evan saw Sybil and Frank canter away.]

"Act one in the insurrection," said Evan, as he turned away from the
window. "Now let _me_ prepare for action." His preparations were few and
simple; he removed his boots and coat, and crept out, and softly along
the hall until he reached Burrill's door. Here he paused, to assure
himself that he was not observed, and then softly tried the door; as he
had expected, it opened without resistance, for Burrill had been
esco