"One of your silly women had a narrow escape from being torn to pieces," he said, sourly, changing the subject. "Yes," retorted Margaret, "I hear you keep a dangerous dog--the sooner you _stab him_ the safer we shall feel." His hand dropped from his bosom as if an adder had bitten him; her meaning was unmistakable. "Tell the woman not to venture upon dangerous ground," he growled from beneath his closed teeth. "Argus is a fierce brute, and hates a spy." "Do not apologize for your dog's ferocity. I can well afford the loss of a cloak for the tableau I had the pleasure of witnessing." Her pallid, daring face pointed her meaning. Colonel Brand bowed to hide his livid face as if he had received a fine compliment; those Satanic white spots were slowly disappearing when he ventured to speak again. "Since it was my lovely hostess, and not an inquisitive kitchen-wench, who was frightened," sneered he, "Argus shall be consigned to the bottom of the mere." "Argus knew his master Ulysses after they had been parted twenty years. Would your dog recognize you by the name of St. Udo Brand, do you suppose?" "Sweet lady, would that my understanding could keep pace with your wit! But your prolific imagination suggested a riddle--which I have yet to find the meaning of, the word _conquered_!" "Do not cry 'hallo' until you are out of the woods. But come with me--I have a riddle which waits your solving." Margaret entered the reception-room with Colonel Brand, and preceding him swiftly to Lady Juliana, stood aside and waited meaningly for the result. There was a moment of disconcerted silence, then my lady, dropping a deep courtesy, cried: "Good gracious, Captain Brand, I did not recognize you!" and coquettishly gave her hand. The man's face would have made a study for a demon-painter in its first blank stare at the blushing lady, and its instant blaze of fury at the merciless Margaret. Intuitively he read her insulting intention to snare him before these witnesses. For a time blind rage threatened to choke him and help him into the pitfall. But the filmy vail hooded his eyes, and he gazed with a transfixed smile at Lady Juliana, still holding her hand. "Must I introduce Colonel Brand? Is his memory so short?" jibed Margaret, with goading scorn. The colonel returned to present things; made a desperate effort to appear natural, and carried Lady Juliana's hand to his lips. "Fair as ever," he muttered, so absorbed as to appear heedless of aught else. "Ah, Lady Juliana Ducie, what an impossible task it is to forget you." He led her to a distant sofa, and seating her, bent over her in an attitude of devotion. Margaret stood like a statue, and pale as marble, accepted her defeat.