ism within
the box and carried up to the kite. Edgar was in a state of tumultuous
excitement, shouting and yelling at the top of his voice and dancing
about like a lunatic.

This was more than Lady Arabella's curious dual nature could stand--the
ghoulish element in her rose triumphant, and she abandoned all idea of
marriage with Edgar Caswall, gloating fiendishly over the thought of
revenge.

She must lure him to the White Worm's hole--but how? She glanced around
and quickly made up her mind. The man's whole thoughts were absorbed by
his wonderful kite, which he was showing off, in order to fascinate her
imaginary rival, Mimi.

On the instant she glided through the darkness to the wheel whereon the
string of the kite was wound. With deft fingers she unshipped this, took
it with her, reeling out the wire as she went, thus keeping, in a way, in
touch with the kite. Then she glided swiftly to the wicket, through
which she passed, locking the gate behind her as she went.

Down the turret stair she ran quickly, letting the wire run from the
wheel which she carried carefully, and, passing out of the hall door,
hurried down the avenue with all her speed. She soon reached her own
gate, ran down the avenue, and with her key opened the iron door leading
to the well-hole.

She felt well satisfied with herself. All her plans were maturing, or
had already matured. The Master of Castra Regis was within her grasp.
The woman whose interference she had feared, Lilla Watford, was dead.
Truly, all was well, and she felt that she might pause a while and rest.
She tore off her clothes, with feverish fingers, and in full enjoyment of
her natural freedom, stretched her slim figure in animal delight. Then
she lay down on the sofa--to await her victim! Edgar Caswall's life
blood would more than satisfy her for some time to come.

CHAPTER XXVIII--THE BREAKING OF THE STORM

When Lady Arabella had crept away in her usual noiseless fashion, the two
others remained for a while in their places on the turret roof: Caswall
because he had nothing to say, Mimi because she had much to say and
wished to put her thoughts in order. For quite a while--which seemed
interminable--silence reigned between them. At last Mimi made a
beginning--she had made up her mind how to act.

"Mr. Caswall," she said loudly, so as to make sure of being heard through
the blustering of the wind and the perpetual cracking of the electricity.

Caswall