"It is very stupid!" he said apologetically.

"There may be an opening to the terrace," said Nell nervously; "once we

are outside----"

"Here we are, out in the open air."

Nell drew a long breath, and pushed the hair from her forehead.

"We must go down these steps, and then to the right. I remember----"

They crossed the terrace, when two or three persons came out through a

window behind them. They were talking, and Nell heard a voice which made

her wince, and her hand grip Falconer's arm convulsively; for the voice

was Drake's.

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"They have a fine night to go home in," he was saying. "Not much of a

moon, but better than none."

Nell stopped and looked despairingly at the patch of light which the

window threw right across their path to the steps.

"Come quickly," said Falconer, in a low voice.

"No, no; we shall be seen!" she implored, in an agitated whisper.

But Falconer deemed it best to go on, and did so.

As they moved, Drake saw them, but indistinctly.

"Good-night, once more!" he called out, in the tone of a host speeding

parting guests.

Falconer raised his soft felt hat.

"Good-night, my lord," he responded. At the same moment they stepped

into the stream of light. Drake had been on the point of turning away,

but as he recognized Falconer's voice and figure, he stopped and took a

step toward them. Then, as suddenly, he stopped again, gazing after them

as a man who gazes at a vision of the fancy.

"Who--who is that?" he demanded, almost fiercely.

Lady Luce was just behind him.

"That was the man who played the violin," she said. "Didn't you

recognize him? How romantic he looks! Quite the idea of a musician."

Drake put his hand to his brow and stood still, looking after the two

figures, now disappearing in the darkness, made more intense by the

contrasting streaks of light from the windows.

"My God! How like!" he muttered, taking a step or two forward

unconsciously.

But Lady Luce's voice aroused him from the half stupor into which he had

fallen, and he turned back to her.

"I must be mad or dreaming!" he muttered. "What folly! And yet how

like--how like!"

"Why, what is the matter, Drake?" asked Lady Luce, laying her hand on

his arm, and looking up at him anxiously. "You are quite pale. You

look"--she laughed--"as if you had seen a ghost!"




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