and opened her door. The passage was all dark. She would go to Lady Horace's room. A window in the passage was open and a gust blew out the candle. She gave a faint cry. At that moment the door of Trant's room opened and a man came out—a man in riding dress, with a black sort of poncho covering his coat. He drew back as he saw her and heard her exclamation. He had no candle, but at that moment the moon came out from under a cloud and shone through the uncurtained window. She saw that it was Blake.
He came towards her. "Miss Valliant, I'm afraid I frightened you. I did not know that you were so near."
"I am in the next room. I heard you."
"You heard me!" His eyes were full upon her. How bright they looked! They had an odd intent expression. There was something wild in their gaze. "Then you must have preternaturally keen ears, for I spoke in a whisper."
"I heard you say that one must follow one's star. What is your star? Where is it taking you?"
He continued looking at her in that strange rapt manner.
"Where it has always led me—to danger and to misfortune."
"To misfortune!" she repeated. "Oh, no, no. Why do you say that?"
"Because fate has been against me, and because I'm in a reckless mood to-night. Does the full moon affect you, Miss Valliant? Does it make you feel that you could do any sort of dare-devil thing? I've got the music of Berlioz's 'Faust' in my head. Do you know it?"
"No. How should I know it?"
"True. They haven't performed it in Australia, I fancy. Well, if you ever hear it, note the description of Faust's wild ride with Mephistopheles. I think Mephistopheles is always abroad when the moon is at the full. That's how I feel."
"You are not going to ride to-night?"
