He was brought back to himself, however, by a sudden little
ripple of quick feminine laughter. Aghast, he dropped the
manuscript among the chessmen and stared in bewilderment round
the room. It was as empty and as still as ever. Again he
stretched his hand out to the romance, and again came that
roguish burst of merriment. He looked up at the ceiling, back at
the closed door, and round at the stiff folds of motionless
tapestry. Of a sudden, however, he caught a quick shimmer from
the corner of a high-backed bancal in front of him, and, shifting
a pace or two to the side, saw a white slender hand, which held a
mirror of polished silver in such a way that the concealed
observer could see without being seen. He stood irresolute,
uncertain whether to advance or to take no notice; but, even as
he hesitated, the mirror was whipped in, and a tall and stately
young lady swept out from behind the oaken screen, with a dancing
light of mischief in her eyes. Alleyne started with astonishment
as he recognized the very maiden who had suffered from his
brother's violence in the forest.
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