She said neither a distinct yes nor no; and, descending the tower,
they threaded the firs and crossed the ploughed field. By an odd
coincidence he remarked, when they drew near the Great House--

'You may possibly be interested in knowing, Lady Constantine, that
that medium-sized star you see over there, low down in the south, is
precisely over Sir Blount Constantine's head in the middle of
Africa.'

'How very strange that you should have said so!' she answered. 'You
have broached for me the very subject I had come to speak of.'

'On a domestic matter?' he said, with surprise.

'Yes. What a small matter it seems now, after our astronomical
stupendousness! and yet on my way to you it so far transcended the
ordinary matters of my life as the subject you have led me up to
transcends this. But,' with a little laugh, 'I will endeavour to
sink down to such ephemeral trivialities as human tragedy, and
explain, since I have come. The point is, I want a helper: no
woman ever wanted one more. For days I have wanted a trusty friend
who could go on a secret errand for me. It is necessary that my
messenger should be educated, should be intelligent, should be
silent as the grave. Do you give me your solemn promise as to the
last point, if I confide in you?'

'Most emphatically, Lady Constantine.'

'Your right hand upon the compact.'