She closed the fan sharply and lifted her eyes to mine.
"But there isn't any fortune! It's all a myth, a joke,"
I declared.
"Mr. Pickering doesn't seem to think so. He had
every reason for believing that Mr. Glenarm was a very
rich man. The property can't be found in the usual
places,-banks, safety vaults, and the like. Then where
do you think it is,-or better, where do you think
Mr. Pickering thinks it is?"
"But assuming that it's buried up there by the lake
like a pirate's treasure, it isn't Pickering's if he finds
it. There are laws to protect even the dead from robbery!"
I concluded hotly.
"How difficult you are! Suppose you should fall
from a boat, or be shot-accidentally-then I might
have to take the fortune after all; and Mr. Pickering
might think of an easier way of getting it than by-"
"Stealing it! Yes, but you wouldn't-!"
Half-past twelve struck on the stairway and I started
to my feet.
"You wouldn't-" I repeated.
"I might, you know!"
"I must go,-but not with that, not with any hint of
that,-please!"
"If you let him defeat you, if you fail to spend your
year there,-we'll overlook this one lapse,"-she looked
me steadily in the eyes, wholly guiltless of coquetry but
infinitely kind,-"then,-"
She paused, opened the fan, held it up to the light
and studied the golden butterflies.
"Yes-"
"Then-let me see-oh, I shall never chase another
rabbit as long as I live! Now go-quickly-quickly!"
"But you haven't told me when and where it was we
met the first time. Please!"
She laughed, but urged me away with her eyes.
"I shan't do it! It isn't proper for me to remember,
if your memory is so poor. I wonder how it would seem
for us to meet just once-and be introduced! Good
night! You really came. You are a gentleman of your
word, Squire Glenarm!"
She gave me the tips of her fingers without looking
at me.
A servant came in hurriedly.
"Miss Devereux, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Pickering
are in the drawing-room."
"Yes; very well; I will come at once."
Then to me: "They must not see you-there, that way!" and she
stood in the door, facing me, her hands lightly touching
the frame as though to secure my way.
I turned for a last look and saw her waiting-her
eyes bent gravely upon me, her arms still half-raised,
barring the door; then she turned swiftly away into the
hall.
Outside I found my hat and coat, and wakened my
sleeping driver. He drove like mad into the city, and
I swung upon the north-bound sleeper just as it was
drawing out of the station.