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〃When a man has lost his wife；〃 she said； 〃there's some difference of opinion in Parliament； as I hear； whether he does right or wrong； if he marries his wife's sister。 Wait a bit！ I'm coming to the point。 My master is one who has a long head on his shoulders； he sees consequences which escape the notice of peopl e like me。 In his way of thinking； if one man may marry his wife's sister； and no harm done； where's the objection if another man pays a compliment to the family； and marries his brother's widow？ My master； if you please； is that other man。 Take the widow away before she marries him。〃
This was beyond endurance。
〃You insult Mrs。 Zant；〃 Mr。 Rayburn answered； 〃if you suppose that such a thing is possible！〃
〃Oh！ I insult her； do I？ Listen to me。 One of three things will happen。 She will be entrapped into consenting to itor frightened into consenting to itor drugged into consenting to it〃
Mr。 Rayburn was too indignant to let her go on。
〃You are talking nonsense；〃 he said。 〃There can be no marriage； the law forbids it。〃
〃Are you one of the people who see no further than their noses？〃 she asked insolently。 〃Won't the law take his money？ Is he obliged to mention that he is related to her by marriage； when he buys the license？〃 She paused； her humor changed； she stamped furiously on the floor。 The true motive that animated her showed itself in her next words； and warned Mr。 Rayburn to grant a more favorable hearing than he had accorded to her yet。 〃If you won't stop it；〃 she burst out； 〃I will！ If he marries anybody； he is bound to marry ME。 Will you take her away？ I ask you； for the last time_will_ you take her away？〃
The tone in which she made that final appeal to him had its effect。
〃I will go back with you to John Zant's house；〃 he said； 〃and judge for myself。〃
She laid her hand on his arm：
〃I must go firstor you may not be let in。 Follow me in five minutes； and don't knock at the street door。〃
On the point of leaving him； she abruptly returned。
〃We have forgotten something；〃 she said。 〃Suppose my master refuses to see you。 His temper might get the better of him； he might make it so unpleasant for you that you would be obliged to go。〃
〃_My_ temper might get the better of _me_；〃 Mr。 Rayburn replied； 〃andif I thought it was in Mrs。 Zant's interestsI might refuse to leave the house unless she accompanied me。〃
〃That will never do； sir。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃Because I should be the person to suffer。〃
〃In what way？〃
〃In this way。 If you picked a quarrel with my master； I should be blamed for it because I showed you upstairs。 Besides； think of the lady。 You might frighten her out of her senses； if it came to a struggle between you two men。〃
The language was exaggerated； but there was a force in this last objection which Mr。 Rayburn was obliged to acknowledge。
〃And； after all；〃 the housekeeper continued； 〃he has more right over her than you have。 He is related to her； and you are only her friend。〃
Mr。 Rayburn declined to let himself be influenced by this consideration； 〃Mr。 John Zant is only related to her by marriage；〃 he said。 〃If she prefers trusting in mecome what may of it； I will be worthy of her confidence。〃
The housekeeper shook her head。
〃That only means another quarrel；〃 she answered。 〃The wise way； with a man like my master； is the peaceable way。 We must manage to deceive him。〃
〃I don't like deceit。〃
〃In that case； sir； I'll wish you good…by。 We will leave Mrs。 Zant to do the best she can for herself。〃
Mr。 Rayburn was unreasonable。 He positively refused to adopt this alternative。
〃Will you hear what I have got to say？〃 the housekeeper asked。
〃There can be no harm in that；〃 he admitted。 〃Go on。〃
She took him at his word。
〃When you called at our house；〃 she began； 〃did you notice the doors in the passage； on the first floor？ Very well。 One of them is the door of the drawing…room； and the other is the door of the library。 Do you remember the drawing…room； sir？〃
〃I thought it a large well…lighted room；〃 Mr。 Rayburn answered。 〃And I noticed a doorway in the wall； with a handsome curtain hanging over it。〃
〃That's enough for our purpose；〃 the housekeeper resumed。 〃On the other side of the curtain； if you had looked in； you would have found the library。 Suppose my master is as polite as usual； and begs to be excused for not receiving you； because it is an inconvenient time。 And suppose you are polite on your side and take yourself off by the drawing…room door。 You will find me waiting downstairs； on the first landing。 Do you see it now？〃
〃I can't say I do。〃
〃You surprise me； sir。 What is to prevent us from getting back softly into the library； by the door in the passage？ And why shouldn't we use that second way into the library as a means of discovering what may be going on in the drawing…room？ Safe behind the curtain； you will see him if he behaves uncivilly to Mrs。 Zant； or you will hear her if she calls for help。 In either case； you may be as rough and ready with my master as you find needful； it will be he who has frightened her； and not you。 And who can blame the poor housekeeper because Mr。 Rayburn did his duty； and protected a helpless woman？ There is my plan； sir。 Is it worth trying？〃
He answered； sharply enough： 〃I don't like it。〃
The housekeeper opened the door again； and wished him good…by。
If Mr。 Rayburn had felt no more than an ordinary interest in Mrs。 Zant； he would have let the woman go。 As it was； he stopped her； and； after some further protest （which proved to be useless）； he ended in giving way。
〃You promise to follow my directions？〃 she stipulated。
He gave the promise。 She smiled； nodded； and left him。 True to his instructions； Mr。 Rayburn reckoned five minutes by his watch； before he followed her。
XII。
THE housekeeper was waiting for him； with the street…door ajar。
〃They are both in the drawing…room；〃 she whispered； leading the way upstairs。 〃Step softly； and take him by surprise。〃
A table of oblong shape stood midway between the drawing…room walls。 At the end of it which was nearest to the window； Mrs。 Zant was pacing to and fro across the breadth of the room。 At the opposite end of the table； John Zant was seated。 Taken completely by surprise； he showed himself in his true character。 He started to his feet； and protested with an oath against the intrusion which had been committed on him。
Heedless of his action and his language； Mr。 Rayburn could look at nothing； could think of nothing； but Mrs。 Zant。 She was still walking slowly to and fro； unconscious of the words of sympathy which he addressed to her； insensible even as it seemed to the presence of other persons in the room。
John Zant's voice broke the silence。 His temper was under control again： he had his reasons for still remaining on friendly terms with Mr。 Rayburn。
〃I am sorry I forgot myself just now；〃 he said。
Mr。 Rayburn's interest was concentrated on Mrs。 Zant； he took no notice of the apology。
〃When did this happen？〃 he asked。
〃About a quarter of an hour ago。 I was fortunately at home。 Without speaking to me； without noticing me； she walked upstairs like a person in a dream。〃
Mr。 Rayburn suddenly pointed to