nd took place
beside her.

"Up," she said.

"Give way," he ordered, and the eight oars that had been raised high in
salute dropped as one, and they shot out into the stream.

The Lady Mary settled herself among the cushions, one arm thrown
carelessly around the awning post.

"What nonsense it is," she remarked presently.

De Lacy nodded. "Doubtless--but what?"

"This foolish dissimulation we all play at; . . . this assumed
indifference which deceives no one. Here are we, barging together on
the Thames, when you would rather have the Countess . . . and I would
rather have Ware."

"But would they rather have us?"

"I am quite sure she would, and" . . . holding up a hand and slowly
flashing the rings . . . "I think he would, too."

"If you happen to know which way they went," De Lacy laughed, "we might
follow and suggest an exchange."

She sat up smartly. "Come," said she, "come; if you will venture it
with the Countess, I will with Ware."

He smiled. "I thought you gave me a year wherein to prove my
stupidity."

"But would it be stupidity--might it not be rare brilliancy--a master
stroke?" She flashed the rings again. "Lord Darby would risk it were
he in like case."

"Nay, Darby is no fool."

"True enough--yet, neither is he afraid to brave the hazard; he is a
hard fighter, in love as well as war."

"I find no fault with him for that," De Lacy answered, "so long as he
fight fair."

She gave him a quick glance of interrogation.

"Would you trust him to fight fair?" she asked.

"I usually trust every man of noble birth until experience prove him
undeserving."

"And you have had no experience with Darby?"

"No--not yet."

A sly smile crossed her lips and she was about to comment further, when
Lord Ware's barge suddenly swung out from behind a large vessel and met
them.

"We are going to the Tower," the Countess called. "Will you not meet
us there?"

The rowers backed water instantly, and the two boats drifted slowly
past each other.

"We will join you very shortly," Lady Mary answered--then smiled at De
Lacy.

The Earl of Ware looked curiously at the Countess.

"Now why this sudden notion for the Tower?" he asked, when the barges
had drawn apart. "But a moment since and you declined to stop there
and preferred to stay afloat."

"A moment since is far aback with a woman," the Countess laughed--"nor
had I then seen the Lady Mary."

"Nor the Knight with her," said Ware sententio