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come down from the tower； was looking on while a man searched
for old foundations under the sod with a crowbar。 He was glad
to see her at last； and noticed that she looked serene and
relieved； but could not for the moment divine the cause。
Paula came nearer； returned his salutation； and regarded the
man's operations in silence awhile till his work led him to a
distance from them。
'Do you still wish to consult me？' asked Somerset。
'About the building perhaps；' said she。 'Not about the play。'
'But you said so？'
'Yes； but it will be unnecessary。'
Somerset thought this meant skittishness； and merely bowed。
'You mistake me as usual；' she said； in a low tone。 'I am not
going to consult you on that matter； because I have done all
you could have asked for without consulting you。 I take no
part in the play to…night。'
'Forgive my momentary doubt！'
'Somebody else will play for mean actress from London。 But
on no account must the substitution be known beforehand or the
performance to…night will never come off： and that I should
much regret。'
'Captain De Stancy will not play his part if he knows you will
not play yoursthat's what you mean？'
'You may suppose it is；' she said； smiling。 'And to guard
against this you must help me to keep the secret by being my
confederate。'
To be Paula's confederate； to…day； indeed； time had brought
him something worth waiting for。 'In anything！' cried
Somerset。
'Only in this！' said she； with soft severity。 'And you know
what you have promised； George！ And you remember there is to
be nowhat we talked about！ Now will you go in the one…horse
brougham to Markton Station this afternoon； and meet the four
o'clock train？ Inquire for a lady for Stancy Castlea Miss
Bell； see her safely into the carriage； and send her straight
on here。 I am particularly anxious that she should not enter
the town； for I think she once came to Markton in a starring
company； and she might be recognized； and my plan be
defeated。'
Thus she instructed her lover and devoted friend； and when he
could stay no longer he left her in the garden to return to
his studio。 As Somerset went in by the garden door he met a
strange…looking personage coming out by the same passagea
stranger； with the manner of a Dutchman； the face of a
smelter； and the clothes of an inhabitant of Guiana。 The
stranger； whom we have already seen sitting at the back of the
theatre the night before； looked hard from Somerset to Paula；
and from Paula again to Somerset； as he stepped out。 Somerset
had an unpleasant conviction that this queer gentleman had
been standing for some time in the doorway unnoticed； quizzing
him and his mistress as they talked together。 If so he might
have learnt a secret。
When he arrived upstairs； Somerset went to a window commanding
a view of the garden。 Paula still stood in her place； and the
stranger was earnestly conversing with her。 Soon they passed
round the corner and disappeared。
It was now time for him to see about starting for Markton； an
intelligible zest for circumventing the ardent and coercive
captain of artillery saving him from any unnecessary delay in
the journey。 He was at the station ten minutes before the
train was due； and when it drew up to the platform the first
person to jump out was Captain De Stancy in sportsman's attire
and with a gun in his hand。 Somerset nodded； and De Stancy
spoke； informing the architect that he had been ten miles up
the line shooting waterfowl。 'That's Miss Power's carriage； I
think；' he added。
'Yes；' said Somerset carelessly。 'She expects a friend； I
believe。 We shall see you at the castle again to…night？'
De Stancy assured him that they would； and the two men parted；
Captain De Stancy； when he had glanced to see that the
carriage was empty； going on to where a porter stood with a
couple of spaniels。
Somerset now looked again to the train。 While his back had
been turned to converse with the captain； a lady of five…and…
thirty had alighted from the identical compartment occupied by
De Stancy。 She made an inquiry about getting to Stancy
Castle； upon which Somerset； who had not till now observed
her； went forward； and introducing himself assisted her to the
carriage and saw her safely off。
De Stancy had by this time disappeared； and Somerset walked on
to his rooms at the Lord…Quantock…Arms； where he remained till
he had dined； picturing the discomfiture of his alert rival
when there should enter to him as Princess； not Paula Power；
but Miss Bell of the Regent's Theatre； London。 Thus the hour
passed； till he found that if he meant to see the issue of the
plot it was time to be off。
On arriving at the castle； Somerset entered by the public door
from the hall as before； a natural delicacy leading him to
feel that though he might be welcomed as an ally at the stage…
doorin other words； the door from the corridorit was
advisable not to take too ready an advantage of a privilege
which； in the existing secrecy of his understanding with
Paula； might lead to an overthrow of her plans on that point。
Not intending to sit out the whole performance； Somerset
contented himself with standing in a window recess near the
proscenium； whence he could observe both the stage and the
front rows of spectators。 He was quite uncertain whether
Paula would appear among the audience to…night； and resolved
to wait events。 Just before the rise of the curtain the young
lady in question entered and sat down。 When the scenery was
disclosed and the King of Navarre appeared； what was
Somerset's surprise to find that； though the part was the part
taken by De Stancy on the previous night； the voice was that
of Mr。 Mild； to him； at the appointed season； entered the
Princess； namely； Miss Barbara Bell。
Before Somerset had recovered from his crestfallen sensation
at De Stancy's elusiveness； that officer himself emerged in
evening dress from behind a curtain forming a wing to the
proscenium； and Somerset remarked that the minor part
originally allotted to him was filled by the subaltern who had
enacted it the night before。 De Stancy glanced across；
whether by accident or otherwise Somerset could not determine；
and his glance seemed to say he quite recognized there had
been a trial of wits between them； and that； thanks to his
chance meeting with Miss Bell in the train； his had proved the
stronger。
The house being less crowded to…night there were one or two
vacant chairs in the best part。 De Stancy； advancing from
where he had stood for a few moments； seated himself
comfortably beside Miss Power。
On the other side of her he now perceived the same queer
elderly foreigner （as he appeared） who had come to her in the
garden that morning。 Somerset was surprised to perceive also
that Paula with very little hesitation introduced him and De
Stancy to each other。 A conversation ensued between the
three； none the less animated for being carried on in a
whisper； in which Paula seemed on strangely intimate terms
with the stranger； and the stranger to show feelings of great
friendship for De Stancy； considering that they must be new
acquaintances。
The p