"Your woman, John."

"And yet—for aught I know——" the Major clenched his fists and pressed them on his eyes as if to shut out some hateful vision—"ah God, for aught I can be sure——"

"What, John?"

"He—he hath kissed you too, this night——"

"But he hath not, John—nor ever shall."

"Yet I saw you in his arms——" My lady sighed and bowed her head.

"The beast is always and ever the beast!" she said.

"How came you with him in a wood—after midnight?"

"For sufficient reasons, John."

"There never was reason sufficient—nay, not even your brother——"