And as he watched her carefully, he noted how from time to time she would break off abruptly in the middle of a sentence and listen anxiously to some distant sound in the house, while the smile died from her face, and her eyes widened with fear. She twisted her fingers nervously together as she talked, and her laugh was high and shrill. "She plays her part admirably," he muttered to himself, "but she should not show her eyes." "’Tis strange how falsely that base churl Rumour reports," he began, when Barbara paused once to listen anxiously to the movements of the searchers overhead. "Now concerning you, madame, methinks he hath totally misspoken." "Why, what saith Rumour concerning me?" questioned Barbara with interest. "In the first place," he continued, eyeing her steadily, "he reports that you are fearless both of men, mice, and devils." "And what then?" she asked, her eyes flashing proudly. "Why, I say he is a lying fellow, for I see you are as timid as—as a woman." "I, sir, timid!" she cried indignantly. "Aye, madame, you start and tremble at every sound." "Nay—I assure you—I—I do not so," she stammered, trembling with eagerness. "Why, wherefore should I tremble." "Nay, I know not, madame. Save as the poet saith—’A guilty conscience——’" "I thank you for the suggestion, sir," she answered with a faint smile. "I will consult my conscience." There was a pause, the silence broken only by the distant movements of the searchers. "Is there a ghost in the room, madame," asked Captain Protheroe suddenly. Barbara started violently. "A ghost, sir?" she exclaimed. "Aye, a ghost. I saw you staring at the wall behind me with so horrified an expression, methought you beheld an apparition at least, peeping over my shoulder." Barbara dropped her head and bit her lip. "’Twas but my own thoughts. There is nothing else." Captain Protheroe wheeled round in his chair, and stared thoughtfully at the full-length portrait of an old Winslow knight in armour which confronted him. "Now what is there in this same old gentleman (for I trust ’twas not my appearance that had such a horrifying effect upon you), what is there here to terrify you?" "Nothing, sir, I assure you," repeated Barbara faintly. "Yet there is certainly a strange look about this portrait," he mused. "There is a glint in his eye that mislikes me. One might almost believe," he continued, turning towards her, "that he hid some secret behind that fixed countenance." Barbara stared at him a moment with terrified face, then she rose abruptly from the table. "I—I wish you would leave me, sir," she answered curtly. "That is a hard saying, madame," he exclaimed in mock astonishment. "Did not yourself bid me to supper?" "Yes. But I am weary of you and now I bid you go." He laughed quietly. "That is easily said, madame, but not so easily answered. I may not——" He was interrupted by a hurried knock at the outer door.