He felt himself baffled for a moment--then he went on to say that he retraced his footsteps, and when near the clump of trees paused, with the intent of catching, if possible, some of the words which passed between the two persons who were engaged in such deep and earnest conversation. Not, he added, hastily, as he saw the eye of Helen glitter with scorn, to play the part of a paltry eaves-dropper, but to ascertain whether he had unconsciously encountered a couple of enamoured servants deep in a love-passage--with what withering emphasis he used those words!--or had detected a brace of thieves in the act of concerting measures to rob the house of Mr. Grahame.
While standing irresolute as to the steps he should take, a female emerged from the thicket, and fled past him towards the house.
“Towards my house!” cried Mr. Grahame, elevating his eyebrows with astonishment.
“Surely she did not enter it?” he cried, his eyes sparkling with fury; “no shameless person world dare”----
“My impression is,” said Lester, observing how intently, and with what remarkable self-possession Helen regarded him, “that she disappeared in the shrubbery in front of the house. I cannot be positive, for the next moment I was in contact with her companion.”
Still Helen’s face was rigid, her features composed, and her eye steadily fixed upon his. But there was no expression of wonder upon her countenance, as upon that of all the rest. What more needed Lester to tell him that it was she whom he had seen flitting from the grove of trees across the garden to the house, and that she held secret meetings with some person unknown to her family?
“And this wretch--this insolent scoundrel,” cried Mr. Grahame, “you fastened upon him, I presume, and thus was most murderously assaulted?”
“No,” said Lester Vane, speaking slowly, and with distinctness, “the moonlight fell upon his face--that I saw clearly and well defined.”
“You would know it again?” exclaimed Mr. Grahame, with eagerness.
“Amid a million faces,” he answered, between his teeth, and then added: “He was a common-looking person, and I should have let him pass, but he made a desperate blow at me, although he did not utter a word. I avoided his first attack, and collared him, determined to punish him for his cowardly and dastardly conduct. I called for assistance, as I had no intention of entering into a personal conflict with a low ruffian about whom I knew nothing, but he inflicted upon my forehead a blow with some weapon which rendered me insensible. And so ends my history.”