Her hood, close drawn, served but to enhance the proud beauty of her
face, pale under the moon, and her cloak, caught close in one white
hand, fell about her ripe loveliness in subtly revealing folds. Now
in her other hand she carried a silver-mounted riding-whip. And
because of the wonder of her beauty, Barnabas sighed again, and
because of the place wherein they stood, he frowned; yet, when he
spoke, his voice was gentle:
"Don't be afraid, madam, he is gone."
"Gone!" she echoed, faintly.
"Yes, we are quite alone; consequently you have no more reason to be
afraid."
"Afraid, sir? I thought--why, 'twas you who startled me."
"Ay," nodded Barnabas, "you expected--him!"
"Where is he? When did he go?"
"Some half-hour since."
"Yet he expected me; he knew I should come; why did he go?"
Now hereupon Barnabas lifted a hand to his throat, and loosened his
neckcloth.
"Why then," said he slowly, "you have--perhaps--met him
hereabouts--before to-night?"
"Sir," she retorted, "you haven't answered me; why did he go so soon?"
"He was--forced to, madam."
"Forced to go,--without seeing me,--without one word! Oh, impossible!"
"I walked with him to the cross-roads, and saw him out of sight.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177