It needs reflection." Behind them the door opened noiselessly, and her ladyship appeared in cloak and wimple.

She paused there, unperceived by either, arrested by the words she had caught, and waiting in the hope of hearing more.
"I must sleep on't, at least," his lordship was continuing.

"'Tis too grave a matter to be determined thus in haste." A faint sound caught the keen ears of Mr.Caryll.He turned with a leisureliness that bore witness to his miraculous self-control.
Perceiving the countess, he bowed, and casually put his lordship on his guard.
"Ah!" said he.

"Here is her ladyship returned." Lord Ostermore gasped audibly and swung round in an alarm than which nothing could have betrayed him more effectively.

"My--my love!" he cried, stammering, and by his wild haste to conceal the letter that he held, drew her attention to it.
Mr.Caryll stepped between them, his back to his lordship, that he might act as a screen under cover of which to dispose safely of that dangerous document.