an open door on the lobby. Rachel Lake was, indeed, a very constant guest
at the Hall, and the servants paid her much respect, which I look upon as
a sign that the young heiress liked her and treated her with
consideration; and indeed there was an insubordinate and fiery spirit in
that young lady which would have brooked nothing less and dreamed of
nothing but equality.




CHAPTER X.

THE ACE OF HEARTS.


Who should I find in the drawing-room, talking fluently and smiling,
after his wont, to old Lady Chelford, who seemed to receive him very
graciously, for her at least, but Captain Stanley Lake!

I can't quite describe to you the odd and unpleasant sort of surprise
which that very gentlemanlike figure, standing among the Brandon
household gods at this moment, communicated to me. I thought of the few
odd words and looks that had dropped from Wylder about him with an
ominous pang as I looked, and I felt somehow as if there were some occult
relation between that confused prelude of Wylder's and the
Mephistophelean image that had risen up almost upon the spot where it was
spoken. I glanced round for Wylder, but he was not there.

'You know Captain Lake?' said Lord Chelford, addressing me.