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be carefully adjusting their pockets if they have been receiving
money； if they have been paying it in； their hands swing laxly。 The
steward had in all likelihood been taking moneypossibly on Miss
Aldclyffe's accountthat was continual with him。 And he might have
been removing his own； as a man would do who was intending to leave
the country。
3。 FROM FIVE TO EIGHT O'CLOCK P。M。
Anne reached home again in time to preside over preparations for
dinner。 Manston came in half…an…hour later。 The lamp was lighted；
the shutters were closed； and they sat down together。 He was pale
and wornalmost haggard。
The meal passed off in almost unbroken silence。 When preoccupation
withstands the influence of a social meal with one pleasant
companion； the mental scene must be surpassingly vivid。 Just as she
was rising a tap came to the door。
Before a maid could attend to the knock； Manston crossed the room
and answered it himself。 The visitor was Miss Aldclyffe。
Manston instantly came back and spoke to Anne in an undertone。 'I
should be glad if you could retire to your room for a short time。'
'It is a dry； starlight evening；' she replied。 'I will go for a
little walk if your object is merely a private conversation with
Miss Aldclyffe。'
'Very well； do； there's no accounting for tastes；' he said。 A few
commonplaces then passed between her and Miss Aldclyffe； and Anne
went upstairs to bonnet and cloak herself。 She came down； opened
the front door； and went out。
She looked around to realize the night。 It was dark； mournful； and
quiet。 Then she stood still。 From the moment that Manston had
requested her absence； a strong and burning desire had prevailed in
her to know the subject of Miss Aldclyffe's conversation with him。
Simple curiosity was not entirely what inspired her。 Her suspicions
had been thoroughly aroused by the discovery of the morning。 A
conviction that her future depended on her power to combat a man
who； in desperate circumstances； would be far from a friend to her；
prompted a strategic movement to acquire the important secret that
was in handling now。 The woman thought and thought； and regarded
the dull dark trees； anxiously debating how the thing could be done。
Stealthily re…opening the front door she entered the hall； and
advancing and pausing alternately； came close to the door of the
room in which Miss Aldclyffe and Manston conversed。 Nothing could
be heard through the keyhole or panels。 At a great risk she softly
turned the knob and opened the door to a width of about half…an…
inch； performing the act so delicately that three minutes； at least；
were occupied in completing it。 At that instant Miss Aldclyffe
said
'There's a draught somewhere。 The door is ajar； I think。'
Anne glided back under the staircase。 Manston came forward and
closed the door。 This chance was now cut off； and she considered
again。 The parlour； or sitting…room； in which the conference took
place； had the window…shutters fixed on the outside of the window；
as is usual in the back portions of old country…houses。 The
shutters were hinged one on each side of the opening； and met in the
middle； where they were fastened by a bolt passing continuously
through them and the wood mullion within； the bolt being secured on
the inside by a pin； which was seldom inserted till Manston and
herself were about to retire for the night； sometimes not at all。
If she returned to the door of the room she might be discovered at
any moment； but could she listen at the window； which overlooked a
part of the garden never visited after nightfall； she would be safe
from disturbance。 The idea was worth a trial。
She glided round to the window； took the head of the bolt between
her finger and thumb； and softly screwed it round until it was
entirely withdrawn from its position。 The shutters remained as
before； whilst； where the bolt had come out； was now a shining hole
three…quarters of an inch in diameter； through which one might see
into the middle of the room。 She applied her eye to the orifice。
Miss Aldclyffe and Manston were both standing； Manston with his back
to the window； his companion facing it。 The lady's demeanour was
severe； condemnatory； and haughty。 No more was to be seen； Anne
then turned sideways； leant with her shoulder against the shutters
and placed her ear upon the hole。
'You know where；' said Miss Aldclyffe。 'And how could you； a man；
act a double deceit like this？'
'Men do strange things sometimes。'
'What was your reasoncome？'
'A mere whim。'
'I might even believe that； if the woman were handsomer than
Cytherea； or if you had been married some time to Cytherea and had
grown tired of her。'
'And can't you believe it； too； under these conditions； that I
married Cytherea； gave her up because I heard that my wife was
alive； found that my wife would not come to live with me； and then；
not to let any woman I love so well as Cytherea run any risk of
being displaced and ruined in reputation； should my wife ever think
fit to return； induced this woman to come to me； as being better
than no companion at all？'
'I cannot believe it。 Your love for Cytherea was not of such a kind
as that excuse would imply。 It was Cytherea or nobody with you。 As
an object of passion； you did not desire the company of this Anne
Seaway at all； and certainly not so much as to madly risk your
reputation by bringing her here in the way you have done。 I am sure
you didn't； AEneas。'
'So am I；' he said bluntly。
Miss Aldclyffe uttered an exclamation of astonishment； the
confession was like a blow in its suddenness。 She began to reproach
him bitterly； and with tears。
'How could you overthrow my plans； disgrace the only girl I ever had
any respect for； by such inexplicable doings！。 。 。 That woman must
leave this placethe country perhaps。 Heavens！ the truth will leak
out in a day or two！'
'She must do no such thing； and the truth must be stifled somehow
nobody knows how。 If I stay here； or on any spot of the civilized
globe； as AEneas Manston； this woman must live with me as my wife；
or I am damned past redemption！'
'I will not countenance your keeping her； whatever your motive may
be。'
'You must do something；' he murmured。 'You must。 Yes； you must。'
'I never will；' she said。 'It is a criminal act。'
He looked at her earnestly。 'Will you not support me through this
deception if my very life depends upon it？ Will you not？'
'Nonsense！ Life！ It will be a scandal to you； but she must leave
this place。 It will out sooner or later； and the exposure had
better come now。'
Manston repeated gloomily the same words。 'My life depends upon
your supporting memy very life。'
He then came close to her； and spoke into her ear。 Whilst he spoke
he held her head to his mouth with both his hands。 Strange
expressions came over her face； the workings of her mouth were
painful to observe。 Still he held her and whispered on。
The only words that could be caught by Anne Seaway； confused as her
hearing frequently was by the moan of the wind and the waterfall in
her outer ear； were these of Miss Aldclyffe； in tones whi