"I trust madame was not offended," deprecatingly. "No, no," impatiently; "but I want to understand you." "Madame shall. Madame must know that my mistress is not always smooth in temper?" "Yes," laughing wickedly. "This morning she bade me admit the gentleman, tell him she was in the grounds, and then come to her. He came, and almost immediately saw you, madame, walking on the terrace." "Stop. How did he act when he saw me, Celine?" The girl looked at her in apparent hesitation. "Madame will not be angry with me?" "No, no." "He looked almost frightened, and took his hat, as if about to go." Cora uttered a low, triumphant, "Ah, did he?" "Then he called me back as I was leaving the room to summon my mistress, and asked me who you were. I told him. He looked relieved, said he had mistaken you for an old acquaintance, and bade me ask you to come to him, and say nothing to Miss Arthur until he desired it." "I see; but why did you follow her, when she came down? Did she know we were there?" "No, madame." "Then why--" "Pardon," with a sidelong glance at her face, "but madame is beautiful, and my mistress is jealous. I thought you might wish me to do as I did, and I desired to serve you, madame." Cora eyed her keenly. "But why serve me, Celine?" "Madame has ever been gracious to Celine," said the girl, lowering her eyes. "Even a servant appreciates kindness--my mistress never considers that." Cora's thoughts flew fast. If she could trust this girl, she might make her very useful. She had sought this interview to question her concerning the adventure of the morning, and now might she not be of still more service? A few more sharply-put questions were asked, and answered with corresponding shrewdness. Then Celine detailed, in her own way, her interview with her mistress on the subject of Mr. Percy's visit. Cora was at last fully satisfied that, for some reason, Miss Arthur had aroused a feeling of antagonism in the breast of her maid. She resolved to profit by this state of affairs. Accordingly, a few moments later, Celine Leroque flitted out from the house the bearer of two important messages. One, in writing, was a telegram to be sent to Lucian Davlin. The other was a verbal message to be delivered, in some way, to Mr. Percy before he quitted the grounds of Oakley. Pausing at a safe distance from the house, Celine produced from her pocket some waxen matches. She lighted one, having looked cautiously about her, and spreading open the telegram to Mr. Davlin, read these words: Come down to-morrow without fail. It is most important. C.