Lebeau reappeared in answer to her warning of danger. Too late! Some one was mounting the stairs, advancing with rapid step, and when at last the flare of the conflagration fell upon his features through the open doorway Esther and Lebeau recognized Lord Mowbray. The first thought that presented itself to the girl's mind was that she had been betrayed. "Oh!" she cried, bending upon Lebeau a glance of despair and hatred, "you have ruined me!" This fresh shock proved too much for her endurance. Exhausted with emotion, she fell, striking her head upon the foot of the bed, and lay there motionless upon the floor. Lebeau sprang to her, raised her in his arms, and placed her gently upon the bed; then he bent above her pallid face. "Swooned!" he murmured, as if speaking to himself. With folded arms Lord Mowbray watched him, following every movement with an ironical smile. "Master Lebeau!" he said, breaking the silence. "My lord?" answered Lebeau, turning and facing him, pale but resolute. "Do you still deny that you have played me false?" "More than ever do I affirm that I have served your lordship faithfully." "By thwarting my plans and robbing me of this girl?" "By robbing you of this girl, yes. It was my duty." "Your duty? That is the first time I have ever heard the word upon your lips." "That was my fault. After all, my lord, perhaps there is a God." "You should have sooner told me so. If you are converted, go join the hypocrites of your ilk, and leave me. This deserted place, this night of conflagration and slaughter, this unconscious girl,--all suits me well. I have a fancy for adventure which has no vulgar tang about it." Standing between the bed where Esther lay and young Mowbray, Lebeau did not move. "Excuse me, my lord," he said steadily, "it is you who are to leave. You will not lay a finger upon this child." "Why not?" "Because I forbid you." "And pray why do you forbid me?" "_Because she is my daughter and your sister!_" For an instant Mowbray stood transfixed with amazement; then he burst into a laugh. "By my soul!" he exclaimed, "my father was right: you are the most amusing rascal in the world! Long live Lebeau! No human being but you could have conceived such an idea. The day that my father awoke in the bottom of that monster pie, the surprise was good, but it cannot hold a candle to this one! After this night's affair no one can ever say that you are degenerating; for your imagination, my dear man, was never so brilliant. Ask me a hundred pounds, or twice that amount; I will refuse you nothing. But go away now and let the farce end. I have enough of it." "I shall not go, and this is no farce. I repeat, Esther Woodville is your sister." The young man smiled disdainfully. "Would you have me believe that Lady Mowbray--" "Lady Mowbray was a saint! May she hear and pardon me!" "Amen!"