"Yes; but I am going with Mr. Sutherland," answered Euphra, in a defensive tone. "It is to please him, and not to obey the count.""Are you sure it is all to please Mr. Sutherland? If it were, Idon't think you would be able to guide him right. Is it not to get rid of your suffering by yielding to temptation, Euphra? At all events, if you go, even should Mr. Sutherland be successful with him, you will never feel that you have overcome him, or he, that he has lost you. He will still hold you fast. Don't go. I am sure you are deceiving yourself."Euphra stood for a moment and pouted like a naughty child. Then suddenly throwing her arms about Margaret's neck, she kissed her, and said:
"I won't go, Margaret. Here, take my things up stairs for me."She threw off her bonnet and cloak, and rejoined Hugh in the drawing-room.
"I can't go," she said. "I must not go. I should be yielding to him, and it would make a slave of me all my life.""It is our only chance for the ring," said Hugh.
Again Euphra hesitated and wavered; but again she conquered.
"I cannot help it," she said. "I would rather not have the ring than go--if you will forgive me.""Oh, Euphra!" replied Hugh. "You know it is not for myself.""I do know it. You won't mind then if I don't go?""Certainly not, if you have made up your mind. You must have a good reason for it.""Indeed I have." And even already she felt that resistance brought its own reward.
Hugh went almost immediately, in order to make his report to Falconer, with whom he had an appointment for the purpose.
"She is quite right," said Falconer. "I do not think, in the relation in which she stands to him, that she could safely do otherwise. But it seems to me very likely that this will turn out well for our plans, too. Let her persist, and in all probability he will not only have to resign her perforce, but will so far make himself subject to her in turn, as to seek her who will not go to him. He will pull upon his own rope till he is drawn to the spot where he has fixed it. What remains for you and me to do, is to keep a close watch on the house and neighbourhood. Most likely we shall find the villain before long.""Do you really think so?"
"The whole affair is mysterious, and has to do with laws with which we are most imperfectly acquainted; but this seems to me a presumption worth acting upon. Is there no one in the house on whom you could depend for assistance--for information, at least?""Yes. There is the same old servant that Mrs. Elton had with her at Arnstead. He is a steady old fellow, and has been very friendly with me.""Well, what I would advise is, that you should find yourself quarters as near the spot as possible; and, besides keeping as much of a personal guard upon the house as you can, engage the servant you mention to let you know, the moment the count makes his appearance. It will probably be towards night when he calls, for such a man may have reasons as well as instincts to make him love the darkness rather than the light. You had better go at once; and when you have found a place, leave or send the address here to me, and towards night-fall I will join you. But we may have to watch for several days. We must not be too sanguine."Almost without a word, Hugh went to do as Falconer said. The only place he could find suitable, was a public-house at the corner of a back street, where the men-servants of the neighbourhood used to resort. He succeeded in securing a private room in it, for a week, and immediately sent Falconer word of his locality. He then called a second time at Mrs. Elton's, and asked to see the butler. When he came:
"Irwan," said he, "has Herr von Funkelstein called here to-day?""No, sir, he has not."
"You would know him, would you not?"
"Yes, sir; perfectly."