BEYOND PASSION'S BOUND.
A human face was gazing down on them from where the body beneath crouched, as though kneeling against the rails of the veranda--a face from which more than one in that band thought they could see the eyes glistening. Yet, from it no sound issued, only--only--still the white face grew more perceptible and stood out more clearly in the blackness, as the others continued to stare at it, and the eyes seemed to glitter with a greater intensity.
"Come down," cried up the officer now, directing his voice toward where it lurked, "come down and let us in. We have important business with Mr. Ritherdon."
But still no reply nor sound was heard.
"Come down," the other said again, "and at once, or we shall force an entrance; we shall lose no time."
Then from that dark, indistinct mass there did come some whispered words; words clear enough, however, to be heard by those below.
"Who are you?" that voice demanded, "and what do you want?"
"We want," the officer replied, "Mr. Ritherdon. And also, Madame Carmaux, his housekeeper, and the Englishman who has been staying here."
"The Englishman has gone away, back to England, and Mr. Ritherdon is at Belize----"
"Liar!" all heard another voice murmur in their midst, while looking around, they saw that Zara was still there, standing beside the horses and gazing up toward the balcony. "Liar! Both are in the house."