His utter silence answered her; she turned about in a strange and desperate manner.

“Is not your wife here?”

“Do not push me, mistress,” he answered thickly. “My affairs will bear no meddling.”

Delia cried out passionately:

“Poor coward—so she could not be loyal to the last—she knew perhaps what I am come to tell you—that to-night the mob are coming here.”

“What you came to tell me?” he exclaimed.

She crushed her hands together in a helpless manner.

“They mean to kill you I think—Johnstone is setting them on—O God in Heaven!”

She turned to the mantelpiece and pressed her forehead against the marble slab; her hood had fallen back, and the candle-light flickered over the soft hazel curls.

Lord Stair was watching her.