with evil eyes, and he also knew that Pierre was watching Villiers
with all the insatiable desire of a wild beast for blood. The moon
rose, a great shield of silver, and all the ground was strewn with
the aerial shadows of the trees. The wind sighed through the
branches of the wattles, and made their golden blossoms tremble in
the moonlight, while hand in hand the lovers strolled down the path
or over the short dry grass. Far away in the distance they heard a
woman singing, and the high sweet voice floated softly towards them
through the clear air.

Suddenly they heard the noise of a chair being pushed back inside
the house, and knew that Madame was getting ready to go. They moved
simultaneously towards the door, but in the porch Gaston paused for
a moment, and caught Kitty by the arm.

'Bebe,' he whispered softly, 'when Madame is gone I am going down
the hill to Ballarat, so you will walk with me a little way, will
you not?'

Of course, Kitty was only too delighted at being asked to do so, and
readily consented, then ran quickly into the house, followed by
Vandeloup.

'You here?' cried Madame, in surprise, pausing for a moment in the
act of putting on her bonnet. 'Why are you not at the theatre?'

'I am going, Madame,' replied Gaston, calmly, 'but I thought I would
come up in order to assist you to put the nugget in the trap.'

'Oh, Mr Marchurst would have done that,' said Madame, much gratified