"Good day, Mr. Capella," she said pleasantly. "Why on earth did you run so fast?" "Because I wished to be here before you, Miss Layton," replied the man, his voice tremulous with excitement. "Then I wish I had known, because I could have beaten you easily if you meant to race me." "That was not my object." "Well, now you have attained it, whatever it may have been, please allow me to get over the stile. I will be late for luncheon. My father wished me to ascertain how Farmer Burton is progressing after his spill. He was thrown from his dog-cart whilst coming from the Bury St. Edmund's fair." It was easy for the listeners behind the hedge to gather that the girl's affable manner was affected. She was really somewhat alarmed. Her eyes wandered to the high road to see if anyone was approaching, and she kept at some distance from the Italian. "Do not play with me, Nellie," said Capella, in agonised accents. "I am consumed with love of you. Can you not, at least, give me your pity?" "Mr. Capella," she cried, and none but one blind to all save his own passionate desires could fail to note her lofty disdain, "how can you be so base as to use such language to me?" "Base! To love you!" "Again I say it--base and unmanly. What have I done that you should venture to so insult your charming wife, not to speak of the insult to myself? When you so far forgot yourself a fortnight ago as to hint at your outrageous ideas regarding me, I forced myself to remember that you were not an Englishman, that perhaps in your country there may be a social code which permits a man to dishonour his home and to annoy a defenceless woman. I cannot forgive you a second time. Let me pass! Let me pass, I tell you, or I will strike you!" Brett, in his admiration for the spirited girl who, notwithstanding her protestations, seemed to be anything but "defenceless," momentarily forgot his companion. A convulsive tightening of Hume's muscles, preparatory to a leap through the hedge, warned him in time. "Idiot!" he whispered, as he clutched him again. Were not the others so taken up with the throbbing influences of the moment they must have heard the rustling of the leaves. But they paid little heed to external affairs. The Italian was speaking. "Nellie," he said, "you will drive me mad. But listen, carissima. If I may not love you, I can at least defend you. David Hume-Frazer, the man who murdered my wife's brother, has returned, and openly boasts that you are waiting to marry him." "Boasts! To whom, pray?" "To me. I heard him say this not fifteen minutes since." "Where? You do not know him. He could not be here without my knowledge." "Then it is true. You do intend to marry this unconvicted felon?" "Mr. Capella, I really think you are what English people call 'cracked.'" "But you believe me--that this man has come to Beechcroft?" "It may be so. He has good reasons, doubtless, for keeping his presence here a secret. Whatever they may be, I shall soon know them."