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face of his betrothed。
〃My own Edgardo！and you still love me？ You still would marry me
in spite of this dark mystery which surrounds me？ In spite of the fatal
history of my race？ In spite of the ominous predictions of my aged nurse？〃
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〃I would； Selina〃； and the young man passed his arm around her
yielding waist。 The two lovers gazed at each other's faces in unspeakable
bliss。 Suddenly Selina started。
〃Leave me； Edgardo！ leave me！ A mysterious somethinga fatal
misgivinga dark ambiguityan equivocal mistrust oppresses me。 I would
be alone！〃
The young man arose； and cast a loving glance on the lady。 〃Then we
will be married on the seventeenth。〃
〃The seventeenth；〃 repeated Selina； with a mysterious shudder。
They embraced and parted。 As the clatter of hoofs in the court… yard
died away； the Lady Selina sank into the chair she had just quitted。
〃The seventeenth；〃 she repeated slowly； with the same fateful shudder。
〃Ah！what if he should know that I have another husband living？ Dare I
reveal to him that I have two legitimate and three natural children？ Dare I
repeat to him the history of my youth？ Dare I confess that at the age of
seven I poisoned my sister； by putting verdigris in her cream…tarts；that I
threw my cousin from a swing at the age of twelve？ That the lady's…maid
who incurred the displeasure of my girlhood now lies at the bottom of the
horse… pond？ No！ no！ he is too pure；too good；too innocent； to hear such
improper conversation！〃 and her whole body writhed as she rocked to and
fro in a paroxysm of grief。
But she was soon calm。 Rising to her feet； she opened a secret panel in
the wall； and revealed a slow…match ready for lighting。
〃This match；〃 said the Lady Selina； 〃is connected with a mine beneath
the western tower； where my three children are confined； another branch
of it lies under the parish church； where the record of my first marriage is
kept。 I have only to light this match and the whole of my past life is swept
away！〃 she approached the match with a lighted candle。
But a hand was laid upon her arm； and with a shriek the Lady Selina
fell on her knees before the spectre of Sir Guy。
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CHAPTER II。
〃Forbear； Selina；〃 said the phantom in a hollow voice。
〃Why should I forbear？〃 responded Selina haughtily； as she recovered
her courage。 〃You know the secret of our race？〃
〃I do。 Understand me；I do not object to the eccentricities of your
youth。 I know the fearful destiny which； pursuing you； led you to poison
your sister and drown your lady's…maid。 I know the awful doom which I
have brought upon this house！ But if you make way with these children〃
〃Well；〃 said the Lady Selina； hastily。
〃They will haunt you！〃
〃Well； I fear them not；〃 said Selina； drawing her superb figure to its
full height。
〃Yes； but； my dear child； what place are they to haunt？ The ruin is
sacred to your uncle's spirit。 Your aunt monopolizes the park； and； I must
be allowed to state； not unfrequently trespasses upon the grounds of others。
The horse…pond is frequented by the spirit of your maid； and your
murdered sister walks these corridors。 To be plain； there is no room at
Sloperton Grange for another ghost。 I cannot have them in my room；for
you know I don't like children。 Think of this； rash girl； and forbear！ Would
you； Selina；〃 said the phantom； mournfully；〃would you force your great…
grandfather's spirit to take lodgings elsewhere？〃
Lady Selina's hand trembled； the lighted candle fell from her nerveless
fingers。
〃No；〃 she cried passionately； 〃never！〃 and fell fainting to the floor。
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CHAPTER III
Edgardo galloped rapidly towards Sloperton。 When the outline of the
Grange had faded away in the darkness； he reined his magnificent steed
beside the ruins of Guy's Keep。
〃It wants but a few minutes of the hour；〃 he said； consulting his watch
by the light of the moon。 〃He dare not break his word。 He will come。〃 He
paused； and peered anxiously into the darkness。 〃But come what may； she
is mine；〃 he continued； as his thoughts reverted fondly to the fair lady he
had quitted。 〃Yet if she knew all。 If she knew that I were a disgraced and
ruined man；a felon and an outcast。 If she knew that at the age of fourteen
I murdered my Latin tutor and forged my uncle's will。 If she knew that I
had three wives already； and that the fourth victim of misplaced
confidence and my unfortunate peculiarity is expected to be at Sloperton
by to…night's train with her baby。 But no； she must not know it。 Constance
must not arrive。 Burke the Slogger must attend to that。
〃Ha！ here he is！ Well？〃
These words were addressed to a ruffian in a slouched hat； who
suddenly appeared from Guy's Keep。
〃I be's here； measter；〃 said the villain； with a disgracefully low accent
and complete disregard of grammatical rules。
〃It is well。 Listen： I'm in possession of facts that will send you to the
gallows。 I know of the murder of Bill Smithers； the robbery of the tollgate…
keeper； and the making away of the youngest daughter of Sir Reginald de
Walton。 A word from me； and the officers of justice are on your track。〃
Burke the Slogger trembled。
〃Hark ye！ serve my purpose； and I may yet save you。 The 5。30 train
from Clapham will be due at Sloperton at 9。25。 IT MUST NOT ARRIVE！〃
The villain's eyes sparkled as he nodded at Edgardo。
〃Enough；you understand； leave me！〃
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CHAPTER IV。
About half a mile from Sloperton Station the South Clapham and
Medway line crossed a bridge over Sloperton…on…Trent。 As the shades of
evening were closing； a man in a slouched hat might have been seen
carrying a saw and axe under his arm； hanging about the bridge。 From
time to time he disappeared in the shadow of its abutments； but the sound
of a saw and axe still betrayed his vicinity。 At exactly nine o'clock he
reappeared； and； crossing to the Sloperton side； rested his shoulder against
the abutment and gave a shove