rye. And why should the raclan go free-footed
when she drew her rom to be slaughtered like a pig?"

"I did nothing of the sort," cried Agnes, with an angry look.

"Duvel, it is true." Chaldea still addressed Lambert, and took no notice
of Agnes. "I swear it on your Bible-book. I found the letter in my
brother's tent, the day after he perished. Hearne, for Hearne he was,
and a gentle Romany also, read the letter, saying that the raclan, his
own romi, was running away with you."

"Who wrote the letter?" demanded Agnes indignantly.

This time Chaldea answered her fiercely. "You did, my Gorgious rani, and
lie as you may, it's the truth I tell."

Ill as he was, Lambert could not endure seeing the girl insult Agnes.
With unexpected strength he rose from his chair and took her by the
shoulders to turn her out of the room. Chaldea laughed wildly, but did
not resist. It was Agnes who intervened. "Let her stay until we learn
the meaning of these things, Noel," she said rapidly in French.

"She insults you," he replied, in the same tongue, but released the
girl.

"Never mind; never mind." Agnes turned to Chaldea and reverted to
English. "Girl, you are playing a dangerous game. I wrote no letter to
the man you call Hearne, and who was my husband--Sir Hubert Pine."

Chaldea laughed contemptuously. "Avali, that is true. The letter was
written by you to my precious rye here, and Hearne's dukkerin brought it
his way."

"How did he get it?"

"Those who know, know," retorted Chaldea indifferently. "Hearne's breath
was out of him before I could ask."

"Why do you say that I wrote the letter?"

"The tiny rye swore by his God that you did."

"It is absolutely false!"

"Oh, my mother, there are liars about," jeered the gypsy sceptically.
"Catch you blabbing your doings on the crook, my rani, Chore mandy--"

"Speak English," interrupted Agnes, who was quivering with rage.

"You can't cheat me," translated Chaldea sulkily. "You write my rye,
here, the letter swearing to run world-wide with him, and let it fall
into your rom's hands, so as to fetch him to the big house. Then did
you, my cunning gentleman," she whirled round on the astounded Lambert
viciously, "hide so quietly in the bushes to shoot. Hai! it is so, and I
love you for the boldness, my Gorgious one."

"It is absolutely false," cried Lambert, echoing Agnes.

"True! true! and twice times true. May I go crazy, Meg, if it isn't. You
wanted the raclan as your rom