"And how is it that you are once more fortune hunting? Five years ago you inherited wealth sufficient for your every need."
The elegant Mr. Percy went through the pantomime of shuffling and dealing cards, then looked at her with a grimace.
"All?" she inquired, as if the action had been words.
"Every ducat," solemnly. "So what is to be my fate, fair destiny?"
Cora mused, then laughed again. "After all, you may prove a friend in need," she said. "I shan't interfere between you and Miss Arthur; be sure of that."
Then they fell to settling the preliminaries of a siege upon the heart of Miss Arthur, together with other little trifles that occurred as they talked. They had both thrown off their air of hostility, and were seated opposite each other, conversing quite comfortably, when the door swung open, and Miss Arthur stood before them; Miss Arthur, in the full glory of snowy cashmere, with cherry satin facings; Miss Arthur, with curls waving, and in all her war-paint.
The two plotters arose, and saluted her with much empressement.
Miss Arthur advanced a step and stood beside the high-backed chair, one hand still resting upon the door. Percy came toward her with outstretched hands.
"Ah-h-h!" screeched the spinster, "what was that?"
Turning quickly she encountered nothing more formidable than her French maid, who had evidently hurried to the spot, for she breathed rapidly, and said, in an anxious manner: