She hailed, with a sentiment of release that partook of rapture, Susan's abrupt announcement one morning that she had accepted an invitation from some relations of her father to spend some time with them at their villa near Hampstead; she was to go the end of the week.
Lucretia hailed it, though she saw the cause,--Susan shrank from the name of Mainwaring on Lucretia's lips; shrank from the familiar intercourse so ruthlessly forced on her! With a bright eye, that day, Lucretia met her lover; yet she would not tell him of Susan's intended departure, she had not the courage.
Dalibard was foiled.

This contradiction in Lucretia's temper, so suspicious, so determined, puzzled even his penetration.

He saw that bolder tactics were required.

He waylaid Mainwaring on the young man's way to his lodgings, and after talking to him on indifferent matters, asked him carelessly whether he did not think Susan far gone in a decline.

Affecting not to notice the convulsive start with which the question was received, he went on,-- "There is evidently something on her mind; I observe that her eyes are often red, as with weeping, poor girl.