But she had drawn herself up in the saddle. Then, before he could
reply, a flash of thought seemed to cross her face with a quick
single motion of her eyebrows, and it was instantly altered and
thoughtful. She seemed to have suddenly perceived some cause for
taking a mild interest in his communication.
"But it cannot be, Malcolm," she said, in quite a changed tone. "You
must have taken some one else for her. She never left the studio
all the time I was there."
"It was immediately after her arrival, my lady. She went in about
two minutes after your ladyship, and could not have had much more
than time to go upstairs when I saw her come to the window. I felt
bound to tell your ladyship."
"Thank you, Malcolm," returned Florimel kindly. "You did right to
tell me,--but--it's of no consequence. Mr Lenorme's housekeeper
and she must have been talking about something."
But her eyebrows were now thoughtfully contracted over her eyes.
"There had been no time for that, I think, my lady," said Malcolm.
Florimel turned again and rode on, saying no more about the
handkerchief. Malcolm saw that he had succeeded in warning her,
and was glad. But had he foreseen to what it would lead, he would
hardly have done it.
Florimel was indeed very uneasy. She could not help strongly suspecting
that she had betrayed herself to one who, if not an intentional
spy, would yet be ready enough to make a spy's use of anything she
might have picked up.
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