Lord Arleigh stared at the packet which his wife had given him, and again and again read the words that were inscribed on it: "A wedding present from Philippa, Duchess of Hazlewood to Lord Arleigh.

To be read alone on his wedding-day." What could it mean?
Philippa at times took strange caprices into her head.

This seemed to be one of the strangest.
He held the letter in his hand, a strange presentiment of evil creeping over him which he could not account for.

From the envelope came a sweet scent, which the duchess always used.

It was so familiar to him that for a few minutes it brought her vividly before him--he could have fancied her standing near him.