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hearing frequently was by the moan of the wind and the waterfall in
her outer ear； were these of Miss Aldclyffe； in tones which
absolutely quivered： 'They have no money。 What can they prove？'
The listener tasked herself to the utmost to catch his answer； but
it was in vain。 Of the remainder of the colloquy one fact alone was
plain to Anne； and that only inductivelythat Miss Aldclyffe； from
what he had revealed to her； was going to scheme body and soul on
Manston's behalf。
Miss Aldclyffe seemed now to have no further reason for remaining；
yet she lingered awhile as if loth to leave him。 When； finally； the
crestfallen and agitated lady made preparations for departure； Anne
quickly inserted the bolt； ran round to the entrance archway； and
down the steps into the park。 Here she stood close to the trunk of
a huge lime…tree； which absorbed her dark outline into its own。
In a few minutes she saw Manston； with Miss Aldclyffe leaning on his
arm； cross the glade before her and proceed in the direction of the
house。 She watched them ascend the rise and advance； as two black
spots； towards the mansion。 The appearance of an oblong space of
light in the dark mass of walls denoted that the door was opened。
Miss Aldclyffe's outline became visible upon it； the door shut her
in； and all was darkness again。 The form of Manston returning alone
arose from the gloom； and passed by Anne in her hiding…place。
Waiting outside a quarter of an hour longer； that no suspicion of
any kind might be excited； Anne returned to the old manor…house。
4。 FROM EIGHT TO ELEVEN O'CLOCK P。M。
Manston was very friendly that evening。 It was evident to her； now
that she was behind the scenes； that he was making desperate efforts
to disguise the real state of his mind。
Her terror of him did not decrease。 They sat down to supper；
Manston still talking cheerfully。 But what is keener than the eye
of a mistrustful woman？ A man's cunning is to it as was the armour
of Sisera to the thin tent…nail。 She found； in spite of his
adroitness； that he was attempting something more than a disguise of
his feeling。 He was trying to distract her attention； that he might
be unobserved in some special movement of his hands。
What a moment it was for her then！ The whole surface of her body
became attentive。 She allowed him no chance whatever。 We know the
duplicated condition at such timeswhen the existence divides
itself into two； and the ostensibly innocent chatterer stands in
front； like another person； to hide the timorous spy。
Manston played the same game； but more palpably。 The meal was
nearly over when he seemed possessed of a new idea of how his object
might be accomplished。 He tilted back his chair with a reflective
air； and looked steadily at the clock standing against the wall
opposite to him。 He said sententiously； 'Few faces are capable of
expressing more by dumb show than the face of a clock。 You may see
in it every variety of incentivefrom the softest seductions to
negligence to the strongest hints for action。'
'Well； in what way？' she inquired。 His drift was； as yet； quite
unintelligible to her。
'Why； for instance： look at the cold； methodical； unromantic；
business…like air of all the right…angled positions of the hands。
They make a man set about work in spite of himself。 Then look at
the piquant shyness of its face when the two hands are over each
other。 Several attitudes imply 〃Make ready。〃 The 〃make ready〃 of
ten minutes to one differs from the 〃make ready〃 of ten minutes to
twelve； as youth differs from age。 〃Upward and onward〃 says twenty…
five minutes to eleven。 Mid…day or midnight expresses distinctly
〃It is done。〃 You surely have noticed that？'
'Yes； I have。'
He continued with affected quaintness：
'The easy dash of ten minutes past seven； the rakish recklessness of
a quarter past； the drooping weariness of twenty…five minutes past；
must have been observed by everybody。'
'Whatever amount of truth there may be； there is a good deal of
imagination in your fancy；' she said。
He still contemplated the clock。
'Then； again； the general finish of the face has a great effect upon
the eye。 This old…fashioned brass…faced one we have here； with its
arched top； half…moon slit for the day of the month； and ship
rocking at the upper part； impresses me with the notion of its being
an old cynic； elevating his brows； whose thoughts can be seen
wavering between good and evil。'
A thought now enlightened her： the clock was behind her； and he
wanted to get her back turned。 She dreaded turning； yet； not to
excite his suspicion； she was on her guard； she quickly looked
behind her at the clock as he spoke； recovering her old position
again instantly。 The time had not been long enough for any action
whatever on his part。
'Ah；' he casually remarked； and at the same minute began to pour her
out a glass of wine。 'Speaking of the clock has reminded me that it
must nearly want winding up。 Remember that it is wound to…night。
Suppose you do it at once； my dear。'
There was no possible way of evading the act。 She resolutely turned
to perform the operation： anything was better than that he should
suspect her。 It was an old…fashioned eight…day clock； of
workmanship suited to the rest of the antique furniture that Manston
had collected there； and ground heavily during winding。
Anne had given up all idea of being able to watch him during the
interval； and the noise of the wheels prevented her learning
anything by her ears。 But； as she wound； she caught sight of his
shadow on the wall at her right hand。
What was he doing？ He was in the very act of pouring something into
her glass of wine。
He had completed the manoeuvre before she had done winding。 She
methodically closed the clock…case and turned round again。 When she
faced him he was sitting in his chair as before she had risen。
In a familiar scene which has hitherto been pleasant it is difficult
to realize that an added condition； which does not alter its aspect；
can have made it terrible。 The woman thought that his action must
have been prompted by no other intent than that of poisoning her；
and yet she could not instantly put on a fear of her position。
And before she had grasped these consequences； another supposition
served to make her regard the first as unlikely； if not absurd。 It
was the act of a madman to take her life in a manner so easy of
discovery； unless there were far more reason for the crime than any
that Manston could possibly have。
Was it not merely his intention； in tampering with her wine； to make
her sleep soundly that night？ This was in harmony with her original
suspicion； that he intended secretly to abscond。 At any rate； he
was going to set about some stealthy proceeding； as to which she was
to be kept in utter darkness。 The difficulty now was to avoid
drinking the wine。
By means of one pretext and another she put off taking her glass for
nearly five minutes； but he eyed her too frequently to allow her to
throw the potion under the grate。 It became necessary to take one
sip。 This she did； and found an opportunity of absorbing