ad he followed the
line of conduct he had adopted at first; but he stood thoughtfully silent
instead, which did not by any means please his companion as well. He had a
vague notion that this was a mistake; but the anger he did not show was
too strong for him. Then, he fancied he heard a footstep on the stairway,
and laughed in a somewhat strained fashion.

"Well, we needn't worry about that; and I guess if I stay here any longer,
Mr. Torrance will be wondering where I have gone," he said.

He went out by one door, and a few moments later Miss Schuyler came in by
another. She swept a hasty glance round the hall, most of which was in the
shadow, and her eyes caught the faint sparkle at the maid's neck. The next
moment the girl moved back out of the light; but Miss Schuyler saw her
hand go up, and fancied there was something in it when it came down again.
She had also heard a man's footstep, and could put two and two together.

"Miss Torrance wants the silk. It was here, but I don't see it," she said.
"Who went out a moment or two ago?"

The girl opened a bureau. "Mr. Clavering. He left his cigar-case when he
first came in."

She took out a piece of folded silk, and Miss Schuyler noticed the fashion
in which she held it.

"It is the lighter shade we want; but the other piece is very like it.
Unroll it so I can see it," she said.

The maid seemed to find this somewhat difficult; but Miss Schuyler had
seen a strip of red leather between the fingers of one hand, and
understanding why it was so, went out thoughtfully. She knew the
appearance of a jewel-case tolerably well, and had more than a suspicion
as to whom the girl had obtained it from. Miss Schuyler, who would not
have believed Clavering's assertion about the trinket had she heard it,
wondered what he expected in exchange for it, which perhaps accounted for
the fact that she contrived to overtake him in the corridor at the head of
the stairs.

"When you left Hetty and me alone we understood it was because Mr.
Torrance was waiting for you," she said.

"Yes," said Clavering, smiling. "It is scarcely necessary to explain that
if he hadn't been I would not have gone. I fancied he was in the hall."

Flora Schuyler nodded as though she believed him, but she determined to
leave no room for doubt. "He is in his office," she said. "Have you the
deerskin cigar-case you showed us with you? You will remember I was
interested in the Indian embroidery."

"I'm sorry I ha