"No--yes," she replied, uncertain how to answer him. "Could I ask you to do me a very great favour?" "Most certainly." "But it's something you won't like to do." "Lady Isabelle," he said quietly, "we've been very good friends, and I may tell you that I've a suspicion of what you intend to do this morning. Won't you trust me, and allow me to help you in any way in my power?" "Yes," she said, after a moment's hesitation. "I will, because I'm sure you mean what you say, and I'm in desperate straits. You remember the answer I gave to a question of yours last evening?" "That you did not care for me--yes." "I might have added," she said shyly, casting down her eyes, "that I cared for someone else." "Lieutenant Kingsland?" "Yes." "Are you sure you're making a wise choice, Lady Isabelle?" he asked, feeling that he ought not to allow this state of affairs to continue when he was almost certain that the young officer was practically a criminal, whom it might be his duty to have arrested any day, yet prevented by his instructions from preferring any charges against him to Lady Isabelle. "Don't, please," she said. "You misjudge him." "I hope I do." "You do not understand. How should you? Have you ever seen him in his uniform? He is a picture, and you know," sinking her voice, "his family dates from the Conquest." The Secretary shrugged his shoulders. He'd had enough of warning people for their own good, so he contented himself with remarking that a disregard for the Decalogue seemed compatible with an unbroken descent from the Norman robber. "Now you're cynical," she cried, "but I shan't argue with you, for I love him, and we're to be married this morning in the chapel. Everything has been arranged, and in fifteen minutes I shall be his wife." "That's very interesting," said Stanley. "But where do I come in?" "I need your help." "Oh, I see. I suppose that if I'd any real interest in your welfare, I ought to refuse, but as you'd do as you please in any event, I'm quite at your service." "Thanks. Mamma will be here presently. She's announced her intention of attending early service, and if she does----" "She might interrupt another, and that would be awkward." "Dreadfully. She does not wish me to marry Lieutenant Kingsland--I think she would rather I married you." "Is she so bitter? Well, make your own mind easy, I won't ask her." "But you must." "What!!!" "Nothing short of a proposal would deter her from going to service." "But, I thought you----!" "Oh, I'll promise to be unavailable by the time you've finished,-- Sh! she's coming. Remember your promise to help me, and wish me luck." "With all my heart," he cried, as she vanished through the door, and the Dowager entered the hall.