He looked as if he could not believe the evidence of his senses. The perspiration broke out on his forehead, and his lips trembled, but he made an effort to control himself, and succeeded. "Is what this man says true, Stella?" "I--I cannot go with you," she trembled, with downcast eyes. Leycester looked round the room as if he suspected he must be dreaming. "What does it mean?" he murmured. "Stella;" and now he addressed her as if he were oblivious of the presence of others. "Stella, I implore, I command you to tell me. Consider what my position is. I--who have been expecting you as--as you know well--find you here, and here you, with your own lips, tell me that all is altered between us; so suddenly, so unreasonably." "It must be so," she breathed. "If you would only go and leave me!" He put his hand on the back of a chair to steady himself, and the chair shook. Jasper stood gloating over his emotion. "Great Heaven!" he exclaimed, "can I believe my ears? Is this you, Stella--speaking to me in these words and in this fashion? Why!--why!--why!" And the questions burst forth from him passionately. She clasped her hands, and looked up at him. "Do not ask me--I cannot tell. Spare me!" Leycester turned to Frank. "Will you--will you leave us, my dear Frank?" he said, hoarsely. Frank went out slowly, then Leycester turned to Jasper. "Hear me," he said. "You have given me to understand that the key of this enigma is in your possession; you will be good enough to furnish me with it. There must be no more mystery. Understand once for all, and at once, that I will have no trifling." "Leycester!" He put up his hand to her, gently, reassuringly, "Do not fear; this gentleman has no need to tremble. This matter lies between us three--at present, rather, it lies between you two. I want to be placed on an equality, that is all." And he smiled a fiercely-bitter smile. "Now, sir!" Jasper bit his lips. "I have few words to add to what I have already said. I will say them, and I leave it to Miss Etheridge to corroborate them. You wish to know the reason why she did not meet you as you expected, and why she is here instead, and under my protection?" Leycester moved his hand impatiently. "The question is easily answered. It is because she is my affianced wife!" said Jasper quietly. Leycester looked at him steadily, but did not show by a sign that he had been smitten as his adversary had hoped to smite him. Instead, he seemed to recover coolness. "I have been told," he said, quietly and incisively, "that you are a clever man, Mr. Adelstone. I did not doubt it until this moment. I feel that you must be a fool to hope that I should accept that statement." Jasper's face grew red under the bitter scorn; he raised his hand and pointed tremblingly to Stella. "Ask her," he said, hoarsely. Leycester turned to her with a start. "For form's sake," he said, almost apologetically, "I will ask you, Stella. Is this true?" She raised her eyes.