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well； however impossible they may count it who never try it； or who
do not trust in God to effect it； when they find themselves baffled
in the attempt。
In the afternoon； Euphra fell asleep； and when she woke； seemed
better。 She said to Margaret：
〃Can it be that it was all a dream； Margaret？ I mean my association
with that dreadful man。 I feel as if it were only some horrid
dream； and that I could never have had anything to do with him。 I
may have been out of my mind； you know； and have told you things
which I believed firmly enough then； but which never really took
place。 It could not have been me； Margaret； could it？〃
〃Not your real； true； best self； dear。〃
〃I have been a dreadful creature； Margaret。 But I feel that all
that has melted away from me； and gone behind the sunset； which will
for ever stand； in all its glory and loveliness； between me and it；
an impassable rampart of defence。〃
Her words sounded strange and excited； but her eye and her pulse
were calm。
〃How could he ever have had that hateful power over me？〃
〃Don't think any more about him； dear； but enjoy the rest God has
given you。〃
〃I will； I will。〃
At that moment； a maid came to the door； with Funkelstein's card for
Miss Cameron。
〃Very well；〃 said Margaret； 〃ask him to wait。 I will tell Miss
Cameron。 She may wish to send him a message。 You may go。〃
She told Euphra that the count was in the house。 Euphra showed no
surprise； no fear； no annoyance。
〃Will you see him for me； Margaret； if you don't mind； and tell him
from me； that I defy him； that I do not hate him； only because I
despise and forget him； that I challenge him to do his worst。〃
She had forgotten all about the ring。 But Margaret had not。
〃I will；〃 said she； and left the room。
On her way down； she went into the drawing…room； and rang the bell。
〃Send Mr。 Irwan to me here； please。 It is for Miss Cameron。〃
The man went； but presently returned； saying that the butler had
just stepped out。
〃Very well。 You will do just as well。 When the gentleman leaves
who is calling now； you must follow him。 Take a cab； if necessary；
and follow him everywhere； till you find where he stops for the
night。 Watch the place； and send me word where you are。 But don't
let him know。 Put on plain clothes； please； as fast as you can。〃
〃Yes； Miss； directly。〃
The servants all called Margaret； Miss。
She lingered yet a little； to give the man time。 She was not at all
satisfied with her plan； but she could think of nothing better。
Happily； it was not necessary。 Irwan had run as fast as his old
legs would carry him to the Golden Staff。 Hugh received the news
with delight。 His heart seemed to leap into his throat； and he felt
just as he did； when； deer…stalking for the first time； he tried to
take aim at a great red stag。
〃I shall wait for him outside the door。 We must have no noise in
the house。 He is a thief； or worse； Irwan。〃
〃Good gracious！ And there's the plate all laid out for dinner on
the sideboard！〃 exclaimed Irwan； and hurried off faster than he had
come。
But Hugh was standing at the door long before Irwan got up to it。
Had Margaret known who was watching outside； it would have been a
wonderful relief to her。
She entered the dining…room； where the count stood impatient。 He
advanced quickly； acting on his expectation of Euphra； but seeing
his mistake； stopped； and bowed politely。 Margaret told him that
Miss Cameron was ill； and gave him her message； word for word。 The
count turned pale with mortification and rage。 He bit his lip； made
no reply； and walked out into the hall； where Irwan stood with the
handle of the door in his hand； impatient to open it。 No sooner was
he out of the house； than Hugh sprang upon him； but the count； who
had been perfectly upon his guard； eluded him； and darted off down
the street。 Hugh pursued at full speed； mortified at his escape。
He had no fear at first of overtaking him； for he had found few men
his equals in speed and endurance； but he soon saw； to his dismay；
that the count was increasing the distance between them； and feared
that； by a sudden turn into some labyrinth； he might escape him
altogether。 They passed the Golden Staff at full speed； and at the
next corner Hugh discovered what gave the count the advantage： it
was his agility and recklessness in turning corners。 But； like the
sorcerer's impunity； they failed him at last； for； at the next turn；
he ran full upon Falconer； who staggered back； while the count
reeled and fell。 Hugh was upon him in a moment。 〃Help！〃 roared the
count； for a last chance from the sympathies of a gathering crowd。
〃I've got him！〃 cried Hugh。
〃Let the man alone；〃 growled a burly fellow in the crowd； with his
fists clenched in his trowser…pockets。
〃Let me have a look at him；〃 said Falconer； stooping over him。 〃Ah！
I don't know him。 That's as well for him。 Let him up；
Sutherland。〃
The bystanders took Falconer for a detective； and did not seem
inclined to interfere； all except the carman before mentioned。 He
came up； pushing the crowd right and left。
〃Let the man alone；〃 said he； in a very offensive tone。
〃I assure you；〃 said Falconer； 〃he's not worth your trouble； for〃
〃None o' your cursed jaw！〃 said the fellow； in a louder and deeper
growl； approaching Falconer with a threatening mien。
〃Well； I can't help it；〃 said Falconer； as if to himself。
〃Sutherland； look after the count。〃
〃That I will；〃 said Hugh； confidently。
Falconer turned on the carman； who was just on the point of closing
with him； preferring that mode of fighting； and saying only： 〃Defend
yourself；〃 retreated a step。 The man was good at his fists too；
and； having failed in his first attempt； made the best use of them
he could。 But he had no chance with Falconer； whose coolness
equalled his skill。
Meantime； the Bohemian had been watching his chance； and although
the contest certainly did not last longer than one minute； found
opportunity； in the middle of it； to wrench himself free from Hugh；
trip him up； and dart off。 The crowd gave way before him。 He
vanished so suddenly and completely； that it was evident he must
have studied the neighbourhood from the retreat side of the
question。 With rat…like instinct； he had consulted the holes and
corners in anticipation of the necessity of applying to them。 Hugh
got up； and； directed； or possibly misdirected by the bystanders；
sped away in pursuit； but he could hear or see nothing of the
fugitive。
At the end of the minute； the carman lay in the road。
〃Look after him； somebody；〃 said Falconer。
〃No fear of him； sir； he's used to it；〃 answered one of the
bystanders； with the respect which Falconer's prowess claimed。
Falconer walked after Hugh； who soon returned； looking excessively
mortified； and feeling very small indeed。
〃Never mind； Sutherland；〃 said he。 〃The fellow is up to a trick or
two； but we shall catch him yet。 If it hadn't been for that big
fool therebut he's punished enough。〃
〃But what can we do next？ He will not come here again。〃
〃Very likely not。 Still he may not give up his attempts upon Miss
Cameron。 I almost wonder； seeing she is so impressible； that she
can give no account of his whereabouts。 But I presume clairvoyance
depends on the presence of other qualifications as well。 I should
like to mesmerize her myself； and see whether she could not help us
then。〃
〃Well； why not； if you have the power？〃
〃Because I have made up my mind not to superinduce any condition of
whose laws I am so very partially informed。 Besides； I consider it
a condition of disease in which； as by sleeplessness for instance；
the senses of the soul； if you will allow the expression； are； for
its present state； rendered unnaturally acute。 To induce such a
condition； I dare not exercise a power which itself I do not
understand。〃
CHAPTER XIX。
MARGARET。
For though that ever virtuous was she；
She was increased in such excellence；
Of thewes good； yset in high bount？
And so discreet and fair of eloquence；
So benign； and so digne of reverence；
And couth？so the poeple's hert embrace；
That each her loveth that looketh in her face。
CHAUCER。The Clerk's Tale。
Hugh returned to Mrs。 Elton's； and； in the dining…room； wrote a note
to Euphra； to express his disappointment； and shame that； after all；
the count had foiled him； but； at the same time； his determination
not to abandon the quest； till there was no room for hope left。 He
sent this up to her； and waited； thinking that she might be on the
sofa； and might send for him。 A little weary from the reaction of
the excitement he had just gone through； he sat down in the corner
farthest from the door。 The large room was dimly lighted by one
untrimmed lamp。
He sat for some time； thinking that Euphra was writing him a note；
or perhaps preparing herself to see him in her room。 Involuntarily
he looked up； and a sudden pang； as at the vision of the
disembodied； shot through his heart。 A dim form stood in the middle
of the room； gazing earnestly at him。 He saw the same face which he
had seen for a moment in the library at Arnsteadthe glo