"What does this mean?" she asked.
"You were walking," I told her, "directly into Graden Floe."
"You do not belong to these parts," she said again. "You speak
like an educated man."
"I believe I have right to that name," said I, "although in this
disguise."
But her woman's eye had already detected the sash. "Oh!" she said;
"your sash betrays you."
"You have said the word BETRAY," I resumed. "May I ask you not to
betray me? I was obliged to disclose myself in your interest; but
if Northmour learned my presence it might be worse than
disagreeable for me."
"Do you know," she asked, "to whom you are speaking?"
"Not to Mr. Northmour's wife?" I asked, by way of answer.
She shook her head. All this while she was studying my face with
an embarrassing intentness. Then she broke out -
"You have an honest face. Be honest like your face, sir, and tell
me what you want and what you are afraid of. Do you think I could
hurt you? I believe you have far more power to injure me! And yet
you do not look unkind. What do you mean - you, a gentleman - by
skulking like a spy about this desolate place? Tell me," she said,
"who is it you hate?"
"I hate no one," I answered; "and I fear no one face to face. My
name is Cassilis - Frank Cassilis. I lead the life of a vagabond
for my own good pleasure. I am one of Northmour's oldest friends;
and three nights ago, when I addressed him on these links, he
stabbed me in the shoulder with a knife.
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