Madeline having left the morning-room, accompanied by the too observant Professor, Lucian saw at once his opportunity for a few words with Cora. Without too great an appearance of haste, he moved across the room, pausing before the fire, in front of which Miss Arthur was seated, and addressing to her a few careless words. Then he glanced at Percy, who sat at the most remote corner of the room, assuming to be much interested in some geological specimens in a little cabinet. Cora divined his intention. She knew, too, that this was the very best place for an interview, which she desired to make a brief one, being somewhat afraid of committing herself if she allowed him to ask too many questions. So she moved over to the window, and seated herself in a low chair. She had decided upon her own present course of action. She would play her part well while she remained at Oakley, and she would escape from it as soon as she had succeeded in blinding the eyes of her jailers, for she mentally acknowledged them as such. When Davlin at length crossed the room, and dropped carelessly down in the chair at her side, she lifted her eyes to his, and said, inquiringly: "Well?" He looked at her keenly for a moment. Then, not to lose any time by useless words, came straight at the point. "Time's precious, Co. We can't attract attention by a long dialogue, and yet we must talk things over. When can I find you alone?" "Not at all for a day or two." "Why not?" elevating his eyebrows. Cora rested her head upon her hand in such a way as to conceal from those at the opposite end of the room, the expression of her face, and said: "Because I want to be sure that we can talk without being observed. Miss Payne seems very friendly, and has given me her maid because, she says, an invalid needs waiting on, and she sleeps in my dressing-room. I don't want to excite suspicion by sending her away, in order to admit you, and--I don't see that there is much to be said." Lucian seemed weighing her words for a moment. Then he asked: "What do you make of Miss Payne?" "What do you make of her?" she retorted, quickly. "Nothing, as yet." "No more do I." Another brief silence, and then he asked: "Do you think there is any immediate danger--for us?" "As how?" "From him: Arthur." Now came Cora's grand coup. She felt pretty sure that Lucian knew of her interview with Madeline, and believed that she would be telling him no news when she said: