But her humor had veered again, and she answered with such a bewitching smile he was utterly bewildered, and for a time Selim went whither and how he listed. "May I ask what is the promise?" said Lord Darby. The Countess raised her eyebrows in annoyed surprise. "I promised to ride with him this morning." "The promise is cancelled now." "And why, my lord?" "He was a sluggard at the start." She bent forward and put aright a bit of Wilda's mane. "Nay, sir, why should you wish him punished," said she lightly, "since it gives you a little of my society?" He leaned suddenly over and laid his hand upon her arm. "Will you not give it to me until the end of life?" he asked earnestly. She gazed at him a moment in startled surprise--then laughed merrily. "You said that with delightful promptness, my lord," she exclaimed. "Practice makes one proficient, surely." A cold light settled in Darby's eyes, and he straightened in the saddle and faced to the front. "If a man be a gallant once, need that condemn his words to disbelief forever?" he asked. . . "May not even the most confirmed trifler have, some time, an honest passion?" "Doubtless, yes," she said, with a shrug of the shapely shoulders. . . "Only . . ." "Only . . . only what?" "Only that it is very rare and its proof requires strong demonstration and long service." "And I am ready to do both," he said eagerly. "Then, one day, my lord, you will bring great joy to some loving heart," she replied, looking him calmly in the eyes. An awkward silence followed--that was not broken until Sir Aymer came galloping back. With a familiarly courteous salute he swung Selim around; and Lord Darby, seizing the opportunity, bowed low to the Countess, and with a menacing glare at De Lacy--who met it with a careless smile--he spurred away. The Countess had observed Darby's look and she followed him with a frown . . . and De Lacy wisely kept silent. "I am glad you came," she said presently--then pulled Wilda to a walk. "Let us loiter; since we are late it is small matter when we reach the rendezvous." "Why reach it at all?" he asked. She hesitated. "Why not ride?" he persisted. She looked at the horses thoughtfully . . . then shook her head. "I would far rather ride," she said, "but the Queen expects me; duty calls." "St. Denis! I had quite forgot--duty calls me, too." But they did not take the horses from their walk, and it was far after time when they reached the wide open space in the forest, where the party had assembled.