him and of his
locks and bolts. There's a big curtain wall, twenty feet high, all round
the Keep, but I know where there's a hole in it, behind some bushes, and
we'll get in there. Come along!"

She led him up the same path through the woods along which Bassett Oliver
had gone, according to Ewbank's account. It wound through groves of fir
and pine until it came out on a plateau, in the midst of which,
surrounded by a high irregular wall, towered at the angles and buttressed
all along its length, stood Scarhaven Keep. And there, at the head of a
path which evidently led up from the big house, stood Chatfield, angry
and threatening. Beyond him, distributed at intervals about the other
paths which converged on the plateau were other men, obviously estate
labourers, who appeared to be mounting guard over the forbidden spot.

"Now there's going to be a row!--between me and Chatfield," murmured
Audrey. "You play spectator--don't say a word. Leave it to me. We are on
our rights along this path--take no notice of Peter."

But Chatfield was already bearing down on them, his solemn-featured face
dark with displeasure. He raised his voice while he was yet a dozen
yards away.

"I thought I'd told you as you wasn't to come near these here ruins!" he
said, addressing Audrey in a fashion which made Copplestone's fingers
itch to snatch the oak staff from the agent and lay it freely about his
person. "My orders was to that there effect! And when I give orders I
mean 'em to be obeyed. You'll turn straight back where you came from,
miss, and in future do as I instruct--d'ye hear that, now?"

"If you expect me to keep quiet or dumb under that sort of thing,"
whispered Copplestone, bending towards Audrey, "you're very much mistaken
in me! I shall give this fellow a lesson in another minute if--"

"Well, wait another minute, then," said Audrey, who had continued to walk
forward, steadily regarding the agent's threatening figure. "Let me talk
a little, first--I'm enjoying it. Are you addressing me, Mr. Chatfield?"
she went on in her sweetest accents. "I hear you speaking, but I don't
know if you are speaking to me. If so, you needn't shout."

"You know very well who I'm a-speaking to," growled Chatfield. "I told
you you wasn't to come near these ruins--it's forbidden, by order. You'll
take yourself off, and that there young man with you--we want no paid
spies hereabouts!"

"If you speak to me like that again I'll knock you down!" exc