His tone surprised White, who looked and saw at a distance of a hundred paces the figure of a woman leaning on the wicket-gate nearest the stables. She was motionless, and he had not looked many seconds before he caught the thought in Sir Robert’s mind. “He’s heard,” he reflected, “that her ladyship is in the neighbourhood, and it has alarmed him.” “I cannot see at this distance, sir,” he answered prudently, “who it is.” “Then go and ask her her business,” Sir Robert said, as indifferently as he could. “She has been there a long time.” White went, a little excited himself; but half-way to the woman, who continued to gaze at the house as if unconscious of his approach, he discovered that, whoever she was, she was not Lady Sybil. She was stout, middle-aged, plain; and he took a curt tone with her when he came within earshot. “What are you doing here?” he said. “That’s the way to the servants’ hall.” The woman looked at him. “You don’t know me, Mr. White?” she said. He looked hard in return. “No,” he answered bluntly, “I don’t.” “Ah, well, I know you,” she replied. “More by token——” He cut her short. “Have you any message?” he asked. “If I have, I’ll give it myself,” she retorted drily. “Truth is, I’m in two minds about it. What you have, you have, d’you see, Mr. White; but what you’ve given ain’t yours any more. Anyway——” “Anyway,” impatiently, “you can’t stay here!” “Very good,” she replied, “very good. As you are so kind, I’ll take a day to think of it.” And with a cool nod she turned her back on the puzzled White, and went off down the park towards the town. He went back to Sir Robert. “She’s a stranger, sir,” he said; “and, I think, a bit gone in the head. I could make nothing of her.” Sir Robert drew a deep breath. “You’re sure she was a stranger?” he said. “She’s no one I know, sir. After one of the men, perhaps.” Sir Robert straightened himself. He had spent a bad ten minutes gazing at the distant figure. “Just so,” he said. “Very likely. And now what is it, White?” “I’ve bad news, sir, I’m afraid,” the agent said, in an altered tone. “What is it?” “It’s that d——d Pybus, sir! I’m afraid that, after all——” “They’re going to fight?” “I’m afraid, Sir Robert, they are.” The old gentleman’s eyes gleamed. “Afraid, sir, afraid?” he cried. “On the contrary, so much the better. It will cost me some money, but I can spare it; and it will cost them more, and nothing for it. Afraid? I don’t understand you.” The agent, standing on the step below him, coughed dubiously. “Well, sir,” he said, “what you say is reasonable. But——” “But! But what?” “There is so much excitement in the country at this time——”