He wrenched at and broke the riband, and then drew it from her neck. As he did so a gold ring fell on the floor. He stooped, picked it up, and put it on his little finger. ‘Look,’ said he with a laugh, ‘my hand is so small, my fingers so slim—I can wear this ring.’ ‘Give it me back! Let me have it! You must not take it!’ Eve was greatly agitated and alarmed. ‘I may not part with it. It was my mother’s.’ Then, with the same daring insolence with which he had taken the ring, he caught the girl to him, and kissed her. CHAPTER V. THE LIMPING HORSE. EVE drew herself away with a cry of anger and alarm, and with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks. At that moment her sister returned with Jane, and immediately Martin reassumed his hat with broad brim. Barbara did not notice the excitement of Eve; she had not observed the incident, because she entered a moment too late to do so, and no suspicion that the stranger would presume to take such a liberty crossed her mind. Eve stood back behind the door, with hands on her bosom to control its furious beating, and with head depressed to conceal the heightened colour. Barbara and the maid stooped over the unconscious man, and whilst Martin held a light, they dressed and bandaged his head. Presently his eyes opened, a flicker of intelligence passed through them, they rested on Martin; a smile for a moment kindled the face, and the lips moved. ‘He wants to speak to you,’ said Barbara, noticing the direction of the eyes, and the expression that came into them. ‘What do you want, Jasper?’ asked Martin, putting his hand on that of the other. The candlelight fell on the two hands, and Barbara noticed the contrast. That of Martin was delicate as the hand of a woman, narrow, with taper fingers, and white; that of Jasper was strong, darkened by exposure. ‘Will you be so good as to undress him,’ said Barbara, ‘and put him to bed? My sister will assist me in the kitchen. Jane, if you desire help, is at your service.’ ‘Yes, go,’ said Martin, ‘but return speedily, as I cannot stay many minutes.’ Then the girls left the room. ‘I do not want you,’ he said roughly to the serving woman. ‘Take yourself off; when I need you I will call. No prying at the door.’ He went after her, thrust Jane forth and shut the door behind her. Then he returned to Jasper, removed his clothes, somewhat ungently, with hasty hands. When his waistcoat was off, Martin felt in the inner breast-pocket, and drew from it a pocket-book. He opened it, and transferred the contents to his own purse, then replaced the book and proceeded with the undressing. When Jasper was divested of his clothes, and laid at his ease in the bed, his head propped on pillows, Martin went to the door and called the girls. He was greatly agitated, Barbara observed it. His lower lip trembled. Eve hung back in the kitchen, she could not return. Martin said in eager tones, ‘I have done for him all I can, now I am in haste to be off.’