This he did during the whole of the time they remained outside. What he gathered from his observations was not much. At another time he would have paid little attention to their walking together for an hour or two; but that at this very time, when she was supposed to be considering whether she would become the Count’s wife, she should be strolling about at night with one who was evidently on very intimate terms with her—this awakened the Count’s suspicions and wrath. But the more he watched, the more he was puzzled. They did not bear the demeanour of lovers; yet what they said was evidently of deep interest to them both. There was no self-satisfied joy in their faces—rather an anxious and tender sadness; and yet they seemed to find satisfaction in this converse, and were evidently in no hurry to return to the house. Once Miss Brunel had returned to the house, the Count relinquished further watch. He therefore did not witness Will’s recall. But he had seen enough greatly to disquiet him; and as he went homeward, he resolved to have a clear understanding with Miss Brunel on the following morning. He believed he had granted her sufficient time to make up her mind; and, undoubtedly, when he came to put the question point-blank, he found that her mind was made up. Briefly, she gave him to understand that she never could, and that she never would, be his wife. Perhaps she announced her determination all the more curtly, in that her sorrow for the loss of Mrs. Christmas seemed to render the Count’s demand at such a moment an insult. The poor Count was in a dreadful way. In this crisis he quite forgot all about the reasons which had first induced him to cultivate Annie Brunel’s society, and honestly felt that if her present decision were persevered in, life was of no further use or good to him. "I am sorry," she said, "I have given you pain. But you asked me to speak plainly, and I have done so." "You have so astonished me—your tone when we last saw each other at least gave me the right to anticipate——" "There I have to beg for your forgiveness. I was very wrong. I did not know my own mind—I could come to no decision." "May I venture to ask what enabled you to come to a decision?" "I would rather not answer the question," she replied, coldly. "Will you tell me if your mind was made up yesterday morning?" he asked, insidiously. "It was not. But pray, Count Schönstein, don’t say anything more about this at present. Consider the position I am in just now——" "I only wish to have a few words from you for my further guidance, Miss Brunel," he said. "You came to this decision last night. Last night you saw Mr. Anerley. Have I not a right to ask you if he had anything to do with it?" "You have no such right," she said, indignantly. "Then I take your refusal to mean that he had. Are you aware that he is engaged to be married? Do you know that he is a beggar, and his father also? Do you know——?"