"It is she!" cried Fisher. "I recognize the brown domino and the blue ribbons! I can swear that it was I who furnished that mask!" "Madam," said Mowbray with renewed demonstrations of respect, "are you here of your own free will?" The masked woman gave an affirmative sign. "Has any one molested or offended you in any way?" She answered by a negative gesture. "Esther," cried Reuben, "can it be that you have forgotten--" Mowbray quickly interrupted him. "Come, come, sir! Is it in so numerous a company as this that one proceeds to indulge in a family explanation, or gives a curtain lecture to a young girl? Be good enough to come up here. You will find my house open to you, but to you alone. I give you my word that if, after some moments of conversation, you still persist in claiming this young lady, she shall follow you. On the other hand you must swear to me--" "I never swear," said Reuben rudely. "There you are wrong," retorted Mowbray courteously; "an oath frequently eases matters." "It is written, 'Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.'" "Very well. But promise me at least that, during the time, your men shall not move or commit any folly." "So be it." And turning to his companions Reuben added, "If in the space of a quarter of an hour I do not come out of this house, enter and cut down with your swords whomsoever you may meet!" "An admirable plan," concluded Mowbray, always ironical. When Reuben, having been introduced into the enemy's camp under a flag of truce, had at last reached the apartment upon the second floor, Mowbray remarked:-- "Now, madam, you may unmask." The young woman loosened the strings of her mask, and Reuben found himself in the presence of Bella, Lady Vereker, whose black eyes regarded him with a singular expression of mingled curiosity and amusement. "You are surprised, sir," resumed Lord Mowbray, "as I was myself an hour ago. Heaven is my witness that it was not her ladyship whom I supposed I had carried off; but after all, as the French proverb has it, _Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire_, and an old sweetheart, like old wine, is best." "Insolent fellow!" murmured Lady Vereker, toying with her fan. Still Reuben remained sombre and defiant. "What assurance have I," he demanded, "that this lady is not your accomplice?" Then her ladyship with feigned anger mingled with raillery, exclaimed:-- "I! when I have wished my reputation to protect that of my young friend!" Without pausing to consider this important sacrifice, Marsham continued:-- "And what assurance have I that my cousin is not concealed in some corner of this accursed house, for it is certain that she has disappeared?" "If she has been carried off, it must have been by the devil," said Mowbray, "and unfortunately I cannot be held responsible. I freely consent to your searching the house. I can refuse nothing to so amiable a man."