"Ah! you have come!" he eagerly called out. "It is well for you that you did," he continued, "for I had just made up my mind to go to the house and ask for you."
In the dim light he saw her recoil. Although she made no answer, he fancied he could almost hear the wild throbbing of her heart.
"Yes," she answered hoarsely; "but before I give it to you, I shall exact a solemn promise that you will never come near me again!"
"Certainly you shall have the promise--a dozen of them if you like," he cried, forcing back an insolent laugh.
"You must solemnly promise that you will never come near me again if I give this money to you," she said.
"No," he answered; "I will never come near you. I will go abroad. Does that satisfy you?"
"Yes," she answered. "Only go so far away that I shall never see your face again."
He closed his hand eagerly over the money, saying to himself that it was a veritable gold mine that he had found.
"Let me go!" she panted, as he put out his hand to touch her.
With the swiftness of a startled deer, she fled past him into the darkness of the grounds.
"This money will last me for a few weeks, my lady," he muttered, "and then--Ah! we shall see!"
When Ida re-entered the house, the guests were still assembled in the drawing-room.
Eugene Mallard was standing a little apart from the rest, looking thoughtfully into vacancy.
As she entered the room, he started, and, to her surprise, he crossed over to her.
"Ida," he said, "will you come out on the porch with me for a few moments? I wish to speak with you."
She looked at him in terror. Had he learned of the return of Royal Ainsley?
A great darkness seemed to suddenly envelop her, and it was by the greatest effort that she kept herself from swooning. But the fresh air revived her.
Eugene placed a chair for her, and as she was trembling violently, she was glad to sink into it. There was a seat near. Eugene did not take it, but, instead, stood leaning against one of the fluted columns of the porch. For a few moments he was silent, and those few moments seemed like long years to Ida.
"I have brought you out here to have an earnest talk with you," he said, huskily. "The time has now come when we should try to understand each other. Don't you think so?"