‘In the first place,’ Lucrece began without further preamble, ‘I like my situation; and as to my new mistress, to know her is to love her. You have no idea how gentle and thoughtful she is. Now, to begin with her. The dear Hector has a rival, and a powerful one; his name is Frederick Maxwell, and he is an artist. From what I can see, they are engaged.—Isodore, this Maxwell has joined the League, and will be introduced by Salvarini.’ ‘Frederick Maxwell! Carlo’s old friend! Poor fool! Le Gautier has tools enough.’ ‘He is a fine handsome Englishman; honour and honesty stamped in every line of his face; just the sort of man to be made useful.—But to continue. Le Gautier is _l’ami de la famille_. He has a wonderful influence over Sir Geoffrey, and has succeeded in fascinating Enid—and she hates him notwithstanding. Isodore, Le Gautier is at his old spiritualistic tricks again.’ ‘Ah!—Tell me something of Sir Geoffrey.’ ‘I am coming to that. Last night, my mistress was out very late, not getting home till past one. It has been my habit to wait for her in the back dining-room, and last night I was sitting there in the dark, dozing. I was awakened by the entrance of Sir Geoffrey. I could see his face was ghastly pale, and he kept muttering to himself, and some words at intervals I caught. “I wonder if it was jugglery,” I heard him say—“if it was some trick of Le Gautier’s?—No; it could not be; and yet, if I am to have any peace, I must fulfil the compact—I must join this Brotherhood. And Enid, what will she say, when she knows? What will Maxwell think of me?—But perhaps Le Gautier is already married.” I could not catch any more. What do you think of it?’ Isodore was following the speaker so intently, and so engrossed in her thoughts, that she did not reply for a moment. ‘You can help us here, Valerie. Tell us what you think.’ ‘Lucrece is perfectly right,’ Valerie replied. ‘I have hitherto told you that my husband used to dabble in such things; nay, more, as a conjurer he was probably without a rival. He made a great reputation at Rome before the thing exploded; and indeed, to a weak mind, some of the séances were awe-inspiring.’ ‘It seems to me,’ Isodore put in reflectively, ‘that Le Gautier has worked upon Sir Geoffrey’s superstitious fears till he has him bound fast enough. And you say he is to join the Brotherhood. Really, I begin to feel an admiration for the man I am pledged to destroy. It is clear that he has promised his daughter to Le Gautier. Is she weak?’ ‘On the contrary, though she is gentle and tractable, there is much determination of purpose underlying her gentleness.’ ‘You have done wonders in this short time, my sister. But do not relax your vigilance now; let nothing escape you that may be of use to us.’ ‘I must return,’ Lucrece explained, looking at her watch, ‘or I shall be missed. I will not fail to bring you such information as falls in my way from time to time.’