d. Then she, too, held out one
hand and looked at it curiously, looked curiously at all the ringless
fingers, looked at the one finger that held Lord Farquhart's betrothal
ring.

The Lady Barbara had been seriously considering the new aspect of the
situation. Indeed, the situation looked serious, and yet Lady Barbara
doubted if it could in reality be as serious as it seemed. Was it
possible, she asked herself, that Lord Farquhart had been only jesting
the night before, when he had declared himself to be the highwayman of
whom all London stood in dread? But jesting had hitherto held no place
in her intercourse with Lord Farquhart. If he were indeed this
highwayman, why had he jeopardized his life and honor by revealing the
secret to her? It was absurd for him to say that he desired to test
her loyalty before he gave her his name and title. Did he suppose for
a moment that she would betray him? And yet by betraying him she could
escape this hateful marriage! But--was he trying to frighten her so
that she would refuse to marry him--so that she alone would incur old
Gordon's wrath--so that he would still be free to love and have his
Sylvia?

Here she clinched her small fists and declared that, highwayman or
not, she'd marry him! She would show him that he could not disdain her
for any Sylvia. And then a tiny imp with immature horns and a budding
tail whispered something in her ear, and she laughed again, and again
there was no melody in the sound.

"Ay, I'll show him," she said aloud. "It will not be so hard to marry
him now. I fancy he will find it difficult to make objections to my
comings and goings."

All this, perhaps, will prove that the Lady Barbara knew more of
London life than its gossip. Also it might prove that there were other
ingredients in the Lady Barbara's character than dutiful submission to
her father's commands. Undoubtedly, it shows that the devil's children
are as subtle as the devil himself.

And yet, when the Lady Barbara called for her maid and while she
waited for her, she looked at the hand the highwayman had kissed so
often the night before. She blushed faintly and smiled slightly. But
that only shows that every lover has a chance to win, that Lord
Farquhart, offering love, might have wooed successfully. But to the
maid, the lady said only:

"When Mr. Ashley comes, I will see him. To anyone else say that I
desire to be left to myself."

* * * * *

Lord Fa