t the
change in him. The hue of his face had changed from its ordinary
sallow complexion to a kind of grizzly pallor. His hands shook with
nervous tremulousness, his brow was contracted through pain, his eyes
had a wistful eagerness, and he seemed twenty years older.

"You do not look like a bearer of good news," said she, after shaking
hands with him in silence.

Gualtier shook his head mournfully.

"Have you found out nothing?"

He sighed.

"I'm afraid I've found out too much by far."

"What do you mean?"

"I hardly know. I only know this, that my searches have shown me that
the mystery is deeper than ever."

"You seem to me to be very quickly discouraged," said Hilda, in a
disappointed tone.

"That which I have found out and seen," said Gualtier, solemnly, "is
something which might discourage the most persevering, and appall the
boldest. My lady," he added, mournfully, "there is a power at work
which stands between you and the accomplishment of your purpose, and
dashes us back when that purpose seems nearest to its attainment."

"I do not understand you," said Hilda, slowly, while a dark
foreboding arose in her mind, and a fearful suspicion of Gualtier's
meaning. "Tell me what you mean, and what you have been doing since I
saw you last. You certainly must have had a very unusual experience."

It was with an evident effort that Gualtier was able to speak. His
words came painfully and slowly, and in this way he told his story.

He began by narrating the steps which he had taken to secure himself
from discovery by the use of a disguise, and his first tracking of
Lord Chetwynde to the gates of the villa. He described the situation
to her very clearly, and told her all that he had learned from the
peasants. He then told her how, by long watching, he had discovered
Lord Chetwynde's periodical visits, alternately made at the great and
the small gate, and had resolved to find out the reason of such very
singular journeys.

To all this Hilda listened with breathless interest and intense
emotion, which increased, if possible, up to that time when he was
noticed and pursued by Lord Chetwynde. Then followed the story of his
journey through the woods and the paths till he found himself face to
face with Obed Chute.

At the mention of this name she interrupted him with an exclamation
of wonder and despair, followed by many questions. She herself felt
all that perplexity at this discovery of his friendship with L