"Let me understand what this means!"
The girl was too frightened to speak.
"This is why you would not come to the ball, is it?" he cried, excitedly, dragging her toward the spot where her lover stood. "Come, you and I will confront the lover whom you stayed away from the ball to meet here!"
Royal Ainsley took in the situation at once. He recognized Eugene's voice.
"He has discovered Ida Mallard's appointment with me in some way," he thought. And the knowledge terrified him, coward as he was.
He turned and beat a hasty retreat, dodging directly into the arms of old Joe.
"Ha! I've caught you this time!" cried the old servitor.
With an oath, Royal Ainsley flung Joe from him.
"Out of my way!" he cried, fiercely, "or I'll kill you!"
The voice, as well as the words, startled old Joe, and threw him entirely off his guard for an instant. In that instant a heavy blow was dealt him which caused him to loosen his hold on the intruder.