'You complained that the gardeners saw me kissing you in the rosery yesterday, Olive,' said Allan. 'Now, little woman, who should I kiss if I don't kiss you? Well, only the crows overhead can see us up here, at all events.' But now as he toyed with her hands, marvelling as he did so at their whiteness and beauty, and anon played with the bangles that encircled her rounded arms, he bethought of the one worn--yes, actually worn--by Holcroft, and silently he resolved to possess himself of it without delay; so, ere the bell rang for luncheon, he made an excuse, conducted his cousin, with many a pause and long delay which were not idly spent, down the dark and winding staircase from the head of the tower. In his new-found happiness until now he had forgotten all about the bangle, which--perhaps for some ulterior purpose of his own--Holcroft seemed to have quietly appropriated, and by whom he wished it returned without any fuss or explanation. To this end he sought that personage after luncheon was over, and was sure he would find him either practising strokes in the billiard-room, in the smoking-room, or stables, watching the horses and catching hints from the grooms. He found him in the first-named place, cue in hand. 'Ready for a game?' said he. 'No, thanks.' 'Sorry; Cameron, and everyone is gone. I'm reduced to playing the right hand against the left.' 'And while playing I perceive that you have a gold bangle of Miss Raymond's on your left wrist?' 'Yes,' replied Holcroft, leisurely--Allan thought impertinently. 'Did she give it to you?' 'Why do you ask?' '_Did_ she give it to you?' repeated Allan, with a dangerous gleam in his dark eyes. 'No.' 'How comes it to be there, then?' 'Don't take to high falutin. I slipped it on in mere fun, and it will not come off again. 'Indeed! allow me.' And Allan, in a moment, by twisting the ductile Indian gold, wrenched it off, and Holcroft's eyes had a malevolent flash in them as he stooped to strike a ball. 'Thanks,' said Allan, pocketing the bangle. 'Now we shall have a cigar.' For a moment he felt a little ashamed of his sudden irritation, and proffered his cigar-case to Holcroft, who smiled his thanks and accepted a Havana. The Master was younger and handsomer than he; the heir to an ancient title and estate; he had the envied prestige of having borne himself bravely when under fire with the Black Watch, and had a goodly crop of medals--not so many as my Lord Wolseley, of course--but still, when in uniform, a goodly display. He had all the advantages over Hawke Holcroft that one man could have over another; and in his heart of hearts the other hated--yea, with a bitter and deadly hate--Allan Graham--a hate beyond his love, real or supposed, for Olive Raymond, natheless all Olive's beauty and her money--his chief lure and incentive.