"Sh!" she said, "he is coming," and disappeared so silently into the bushes that she seemed to fade away from his sight. A moment later, the dry leaves crackled under a man's foot, and Colonel Darcy stood before him. "We have not had our little meeting yet, Mr. Stanley," he said abruptly. "When do you leave this vicinity, Colonel Darcy?" asked the Secretary, ignoring the other's remark. "When you do. Till then I remain here to guard my honour." "You surely are not trying to live up to that absurd fable!" "Why not, when my wife has this moment left you?" "You have sharp eyes, Colonel," replied the Secretary, turning on his heel, and walking towards the house. "I need to have, Mr. Stanley," remarked the other, as he watched him go. * * * * * "Kent-Lauriston," said the Secretary, when they were alone after lunch, "affairs have taken a startling turn since I last saw you." "I think so myself." "Have you been making discoveries?" "I don't know that they can be dignified by that name; but tell me of yours." "Madame Darcy assures me that the letters which she holds, and on which she bases her case against her husband, are in the same handwriting as the name of Lady Isabelle, in the parish register." "Lady Isabelle!" "Yes. It's absurd, isn't it?" "Perfectly so--you may take my word for it. But do you assure me that she said 'Lady Isabelle'?" "We mentioned no names, of course. She said that the bride's signature corresponded--it's the same thing." "Ah, I see. I think you've made a little mistake about this affair, my boy. I've seen the register myself." "Good Heavens! You don't mean--you can't----!" exclaimed Stanley, a sickening suspicion dominating his mind. "I mean," replied Kent-Lauriston, "that the maiden name of the bride, as written there, is not Isabelle McLane, but Isabelle Fitzgerald." CHAPTER XXVIII TWO QUESTIONS Kent-Lauriston fully realised that the strong hold which he possessed over the Secretary rested, more than anything else, on the fact that his opinions were entirely reliable; and it was most important that Stanley's confidence in his friend's _dicta_ should remain unimpaired, if that friend hoped to be able to guide him. Therefore, much as the Englishman would have liked to voice his suspicions for the Secretary's benefit, he determined to keep silence till he had full verification of his conjectures, and for this purpose he sought out Madame Darcy. He found her at home, and she welcomed him courteously. "Will you think me very presuming," he said, "to have called on you in the interests of a mutual friend of ours, Mr. Stanley?" "Any friend of Mr. Stanley's can claim and receive friendship of me," she replied, a beautiful light coming over her expressive face, "for he has done me kindnesses that I can never forget or repay."