"Sweet lady, would that my understanding could keep pace with your wit! But your prolific imagination suggested a riddle—which I have yet to find the meaning of, the word conquered!"
"Do not cry 'hallo' until you are out of the woods. But come with me—I have a riddle which waits your solving."
Margaret entered the reception-room with Colonel Brand, and preceding him swiftly to Lady Juliana, stood aside and waited meaningly for the result.
There was a moment of disconcerted silence, then my lady, dropping a deep courtesy, cried:
"Good gracious, Captain Brand, I did not recognize you!" and coquettishly gave her hand.
The man's face would have made a study for a demon-painter in its first blank stare at the blushing lady, and its instant blaze of fury at the merciless Margaret.
Intuitively he read her insulting intention to snare him before these witnesses. For a time blind rage threatened to choke him and help him into the pitfall.
But the filmy vail hooded his eyes, and he gazed with a transfixed smile at Lady Juliana, still holding her hand.
"Must I introduce Colonel Brand? Is his memory so short?" jibed Margaret, with goading scorn.
The colonel returned to present things; made a desperate effort to appear natural, and carried Lady Juliana's hand to his lips.