“I care not what construction you put upon it,” cried Lord Roos, losing patience.  “You and Lady Roos may think what you please, and act as you please.  Enough for me, you can prove nothing.”

“Why, this is more like yourself, my lord,” retorted Lady Lake, derisively.  “Having thrown aside the mask, you will be spared the necessity of further subterfuge.  The Countess, doubtless, will imitate your example, lay aside her feigned insensibility, and defy us.  She need be under no apprehension; since she has your own warrant that we can prove nothing.”

“Your purpose, I perceive, is to irritate me, Madam,” cried Lord Roos, fiercely; “and so far you are likely to succeed, though you fail in all else.  I have no mask to throw off; but if you will have me declare myself your enemy, I am ready to do so.  Henceforth, let there be no terms kept between us—­let it be open warfare.”

“Be it so, my lord.  And you will soon find who will be worsted in the struggle.”

“Oh, do not proceed to these fearful extremities, dear mother, and dearest husband!” cried Lady Roos, turning from one to the other imploringly.  “Cease these provocations, I pray of you.  Be friends, and not enemies.”

“As you please—­peace or war; it is the same to me,” said Lord Roos.  “Meantime, I am wearied of this scene, and must put an end to it.  Diego!” And beckoning his servant to him, he whispered some directions in his ear.

“My lord shall be obeyed,” said Diego, as he received his commission.  “Gillian shall be conveyed with all care to her chamber.”

“We must have some proof that she has been here,” thought Lady Lake.  But how to obtain it?  I have it.  “Take these,” she added in a whisper to her daughter, and giving a pair of scissors; “and contrive, if possible, to sever a lock of her hair before she be removed.”

By a look Lady Roos promised compliance.

While this was passing, Diego had approached the couch; and fastening the kerchief securely round the Countess’s face, he raised her in his arms, and moved towards the secret staircase, the tapestried covering of which was held aside by Lord Roos to give him passage.

Rapidly as the Spaniard moved, he did not outstrip Lady Roos, whose design being favoured by the escape from its confinement of one of the Countess’s long dark tresses, she had no difficulty of possessing, herself of it in the manner prescribed by her mother.  Lady Exeter was aware of the loss she had sustained, and uttered a stifled cry; but this was attributed to the fright natural to the occasion by Lord Roos, who had not noticed what had taken place, and only caused him to hurry Diego’s departure.  But before the latter had wholly disappeared with his burthen, the perfumed and silken tress of hair was delivered to Lady Lake, who muttered triumphantly as she received it—­“This will convict her.  She cannot escape us now.”

The prize was scarcely concealed when Lord Roos, sheathing the sword which he had hitherto held drawn, advanced towards his mother-in-law.