In her own room Sybilla Silver stood before the glass, and she smiled
back at her own image.

"So, my lady," she said, "you walk into the trap with your eyes open,
too--you who are old enough to know better? My handsome face and black
eyes and smooth tongue stand me in their usual good stead. And I saved
Sir Everard Kingsland's life! Poor fools! A thousand times better for
you all if I had let that midnight assassin shoot him down like a dog!"




CHAPTER X.

A SHAFT FROM CUPID'S QUIVER.

It was fully ten o'clock, and the hunting-party were ready to start,
when Sir Everard Kingsland joined them, looking handsome and happy as a
young prince in his very becoming hunting costume.

Of course the young baronet's first look was for Lady Louise--he
scarcely glanced at the rest. She was just being assisted into the
saddle by the devoted George Grosvenor, but she turned to Sir Everard
and graciously held out her gauntleted hand.

"Once more," she said, "almost late. Laggard! I shall quarrel with
you one of these days if you do not learn to be more punctual."

"You will never have to reproach me again," he said. "Had I known you
would have honored my absence by a thought, you should not have had to