with excitement. "But Lord
Farquhart's not a common highwayman, as you call him. You know well
enough that this Black Devil has never once stolen aught for himself.
My Lord Farquhart, if he is, in reality, this gentleman highwayman,
doubtless loves the excitement of the chase. 'Tis merely a new
divertisement--a hunt, as it were, for men instead of beasts. In
truth, it almost makes me love Lord Farquhart to find he has such
courage, such audacity, such wit and spirit!"

"But what if he is caught?" demanded Ashley. "Think of the disgrace if
he is caught."

"Ah, but he won't be caught," she answered, gayly. "'Tis only your
laggards and cowards that are caught, and Lord Farquhart has proved
himself no coward. What can you ask of fortune if you'll not trust the
jade? How can you look for luck when you're blind to everything save
ill luck? Trust fortune! Trust to luck! And trust to me, to Lady
Barbara Farquhart that'll be in less than a fortnight!" She swept him
a low curtsey and lifted laughing lips to his, but he still held back.
"Trust me because I love you," she cried, still daring him on. "Though
I think you'll make me a willing bride to Farquhart if you show the
white feather now."

"But you can see, can you not, that it's because I love you that I
fear for you?" Ashley's tone was still grave.

"Well, but then there are two loves to back luck in the game," she
cried. Then she echoed the gravity in his voice. "What else can we do,
Hal? Have you aught else to offer? Can you marry me? Can I marry you?
There's naught to fear, anyway. Lord Farquhart'll tire of the game.
What has he ever pursued for any length of time? And he's been at this
for six months or more. Nay, we can stop him, if we will. Is he not
absolutely in our power?"

For a lady to win a lover to her way of thinking is easy, even though
her way be diametrically opposed to his. Love blinds the eyes and
dulls the ears; it lulls the conscience to all save its words. And
Ashley yielded slowly, with little grace at first, wholly and
absolutely at last, accepting his reward from the Lady Barbara's
pomegranate lips.

XI.

To the Lady Barbara, the game that she had planned seemed easy, and
yet, in her first interview with her fiance, certain difficulties
appeared. Lord Farquhart presented himself, as in duty bound, late
that first afternoon. Lady Barbara received him with chilly finger
tips, offering him her oval cheek instead of her lips. He, ignoring
t