ul, and it troubles me above all else: While Maria was getting my
cardinal I heard voices on the other side of the dressing-room door. The
supper-room is next, you know. I listened, and recognized the rector's
deep tones: 'He has gone to the Coffee House,' he was saying; Collinson
declares that his Lordship is our man, if we can but contrive it. He is
the best foil in the service, and was taught by--there! I have forgot
the name."

"Angelo!" I cried.

"Yes, yes, Angelo it was. How did you know?" she demanded, rising in her
excitement.

"Angelo is the great fencing-master of London," I replied.

"When I heard that," she said, "I had no doubt of your innocence. I ran
out into the assembly room as I was, in my hood, and tried to find Tom.
But he--" She paused, ashamed.

"Yes, I know," I said hurriedly; "you could not find him."

She glanced at me in gratitude.

"How everybody stared at me! But little I cared! 'Twas that gave rise to
Mr. Green's report. I thought of Percy Singleton, and stopped him in the
midst of a dance to bid him run as fast as his legs would carry him to
the Coffee House, and to see that no harm befell you. 'I shall hold you
responsible for Richard,' I whispered. 'You must get him away from Mr.
Claude's, or I shall never speak to you again.' He did not wait to ask
questions, but went at once, like the good fellow he is. Then I rode
home with Maria. I would not have Mr. Carroll come with me, though he
begged hard. Father was in here, writing his brief. But I was all in
pieces, Richard, and so shaken with sobbing that I could tell him no
more than that you had gone to the Coffee House, where they meant to
draw you into a duel. He took me up to my own room, and I heard him
going out to wake Limbo to harness, and at last heard him driving away
in our coach. I hope I may never in my life spend such another hour as I
passed then."

The light in the sky had gone out. I looked up at the girl before me as
she stood gazing into the flame, her features in strong relief, her
lips parted, her hair red-gold, and the rounded outlines of her figure
softened. I wondered why I had never before known her beauty. Perchance
it was because, until that night, I had never seen her heart.

I leaped to my feet and seized her hands. For a second she looked at me,
startled. Then she tore them away and ran behind the dipping chair in
the corner.

"Richard, Richard!" she exclaimed. "Did Dorothy but know!"

"Dorothy is