of what all this concealed.

"You trust me with so much," I ventured, when she continued silent, "it
would seem as if you might tell me even more."

"I cannot perceive whereby any further confession would serve you. Yet I
have not refused to answer any question, surely. It is hardly safe for us
to remain here so long, and yet if there be something you wish to ask--"

"You could scarcely expect me to be entirely without curiosity. I have
been captured on the highway, brought here a prisoner, and held under
guard all night. I supposed myself in British hands, only to discover
that you have again intervened to save me. Surely there must be a key to
all this mystery. If, as I suspect, it was your brother, Eric, who led
the attack on me, having mistaken me for another, then what was his
purpose? And what has become of Eric?"

She wrinkled her brows in perplexity, her hands nervously clasping the
back of a chair.

"It is like being cross-examined by a lawyer. Perhaps if the secret was
all my own I might freely confide it to you. I do not promise I would,
but I might. As it is, I do not yet know you quite well enough. I believe
you to be Major Lawrence, that you are all you represent yourself, but I
am pledged to silence, and the lives of others depend upon my keeping
faith. You cannot urge me to do what I deem wrong?"

"No; I shall always believe in you."

"I thank you for that," and her hand was extended frankly. "I would
reveal one of the mysteries of last night if I was not fearful it might
cost me your respect."

"How could that be possible?"

"Because it might appear to you that I had been unwomanly. My own
conscience is clear, for my purpose exonerates me, but this you might
fail to understand unless I made fuller explanation than is now possible.
I have a duty which cannot be betrayed."

I gazed into her eyes, her hand still in mine, conscious that her cheeks
were flushing. It was impossible for me to conceive of her performing an
unwomanly action.

"I prefer to ask nothing," I said frankly, "although I should never
misconstrue anything you might care to say."

"I think you suspect already, and I should far rather tell you the truth
myself than have you learn it in some other way. The lieutenant of Light
Dragoons who attacked you last night was not my brother."

"Was not Eric? And yet you knew him?"

"Very well, indeed," her eyes falling, "because it was myself."

CHAPTER XVII

ENTOMBED

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