"It is a lie," retorted Frank, fiercely. "You have frightened her and tortured her into this. But you shall not succeed. It is easy for you to frighten a woman, as easily as it is to entrap her; but you will sing a different tune before a man. Stella, come with me. You must, you _shall_ come. We will go to Lord Leycester." "It is unnecessary," cried Jasper, quietly. "His lordship will be here in a few minutes." Stella started. "No, no," she said, and moved to the door. Frank, staring at Jasper, caught and held her. "Is that a lie, too?" he demanded. "If not--if it be true--then we will wait. We shall see how much longer you will be able to crow, Mr. Adelstone!" "Let us go, Frank," implored Stella. "You will let me go now?" And she turned to Jasper. Frank was almost driven to madness by her tone. "What has he said and done to change you like this?" he said. "You speak to him as if you were his slave!" She looked at him sadly. Jasper shook his head. "Wait," he said--"it will be better that you wait. Trust me. I will spare you as much as possible; but it will be better that he should learn all that he has to learn from your lips, here and now." She bowed her head, and still holding Frank's arm sank into a chair. The boy was about to burst out again, but she stopped him. "Hush!" she said, "do not speak, every word cuts me to the heart. Not a word, dear--not another word. Let us wait." They had not long to wait. There was a sound of footsteps, hurried and noisy, on the stairs--an impatient, resolute voice uttering a question--then the door was thrown open, and Lord Leycester burst in! CHAPTER XXX. Leycester looked round for a moment eagerly, then, utterly disregarding Jasper, he hurried across to Stella, who at his entrance had made an involuntary movement towards him, but had then recoiled, and stood with white face and tightly-clasped hands. "Stella!" he exclaimed, "why are you here? Why did you not come to Waterloo? Why did you send for me?" She put her hand in his, and looked him in the face--a look so full of anguish and sorrow that he stared at her in amazement. "It was I who sent for you, my lord," said Jasper, coldly. Leycester just glanced at him, then returned to the study of Stella's face. "Why are you here, Stella?" She did not speak, but drew her hand away and glanced at Jasper. That glance would have melted a heart of stone, but his was one of fire and consumed all pity. "Will you not speak? Great Heaven, what is the matter with you?" demanded Leycester. Jasper made a step nearer. Leycester turned upon him, not fiercely, but with contempt and amazement, then turned again to Stella. "Has anything happened at home--to your uncle?" "Mr. Etheridge is well," said Jasper. Then Leycester turned and looked at him. "Why does this man answer for you?" he said. "I did not put any question to you, sir."