" ‘Us both!’ "

“Oh, it can’t be!” cried the poor Baroness.

“It is absolutely certain,” said her mother in a terrible voice—­” ’It was so large that it was sufficient for us both!’ "

“There is no doubt about it,” corroborated Sir
Justin sternly.  “The unfortunate young man has
inadvertently confessed his deception.”

“It cannot be!” murmured the Baroness.  “He said at the beginning that he travelled quite alone.”

“That is precisely what condemns him,” said her mother.

“Precisely,” reiterated Sir Justin.

The Baroness audibly sobbed, while the two patchers of her peace of mind gazed at her commiserately.

“What am I to do?” she asked at length.  “I can’t believe he really——­ But how am I to find out?”

“I shall make further investigations,” promptly replied Sir Justin.

“And I also,” added the Countess.

“Meanwhile,” said Sir Justin, “we shall be exceedingly interested to learn what further particulars of his wanderings the Baron supplies you with.”

“Yes,” observed the Countess, “he can fortunately be trusted to betray himself.  You will inform me, Alicia, as soon as you hear from him again.”

Her daughter made no reply.

Sir Justin rose and bade them a grave farewell.

“In my daughter’s name I thank you cordially,” said the Countess, as she pressed his hand.

“Anything I have done has been a pleasure to me,” he assured them with a sincerity there was no mistaking.

CHAPTER XV

In an ancient and delightful garden, where glimpses of the loch below gleamed through a mass of summer foliage, and the gray castle walls looked down on smooth, green glades, the Baron slowly paced the shaven turf.  But he did not pace it quite alone, for by his side moved a graceful figure in a wide, sun-shading hat and a frock entirely irresistible.  Beneath the hat, by bending a little down, you could have seen the dark liquid eyes and tender lips of Eva Gallosh.  And the Baron frequently bent down.

“I am proud of everyzing zat I find in my home,” said the Baron gallantly.

The lady’s color rose, but not apparently in anger.

“Ach, here is a pretty leetle seat!” he exclaimed in a tone of pleased discovery, just as though he had not been leading her insidiously towards it ever since they, came into the garden.

It was, indeed, a most shady and secluded bench, an ideal seat for any gallant young Baron who had left his Baroness sufficiently far away.  He glanced down complacently upon his brawny knees, displayed (he could not but think) to great advantage beneath his kilt and sporran, and then with a tenderer complacency, turned his gaze upon his fair companion.

“You say you like me in ze tartan?” he murmured.

“I adore everything Highland!  Oh, Lord Tulliwuddle, how fortunate you are!”