But nothing of the kind happened; and, when the great day came, he had only to consider how he should prepare Arthur for the surprise awaiting him, and finally decided not to prepare him at all, but simply to state at the proper moment, and in the face of the whole court-room, that his sister had recovered and would soon take her place upon the stand.

The restraint of the place would thus act as a guard between them, and Carmel's immediate entrance put an end to the reproaches of whose bitterness he could well judge from his former experience of them.
With all these anxieties and his deeply planned _coup d'etat_ awaiting the moment of action, Ella's simple outburst and even Ranelagh's unexpected and somewhat startling suggestion lost much of their significance.

All his mind and heart were on his next move.

It was to be made with the queen, and must threaten checkmate.

Yet he did not forget the two pawns, silent in their places--but guarding certain squares which the queen, for all her royal prerogatives, might not be able to reach..