As they rounded a bastion near the keep they encountered Lord Darby.

"Ah, Beatrix, well met," he said, offering his arm and nodding
carelessly to De Lacy. "Her Grace desires you."

"Did she send you for me?" the Countess asked, ignoring his arm and
hurrying on--and De Lacy noting it, kept beside her.

Lord Darby forced a smile. "Not exactly; I volunteered to go for you."

"You are very kind," she said rather tartly; "a moment longer and you
would have been saved the trouble."

Darby's smile failed completely and he made no answer.

In the doorway the Countess halted--and gave De Lacy her hand.

"I thank you for the walk," she said, as he bowed over it; then a merry
gleam came in her eyes--"Good night, Sir . . . Aymer."




IV

TRAILING CHAINS

"Women are queer creatures," De Wilton remarked, as he turned away from
the window and sat down beside De Lacy, who having just completed his