The Knave of Diamonds

scattered even Anne's sedateness to the winds. Something of youth, something of girlishness, y

re, and which she did not greatly appreciate on this occasion. For when they killed in a chalky hollow, after half-an-hour's furiou

little and found her fumb

," he began. Then, seeing her f

k," Anne sa

ough. They found themselves alone, separated fro

ou have never seen a

rters," murmured An

I'm sorry you didn't like being in at the dea

e said, and s

said Nap, "I

ce expres

my nature." A red gleam shone suddenly in his fiery eyes. He looke

shall hunt any

fax! That's being ultra

you know. It's

said. "I never realised

said Nap. "But then so i

e. We were created to

r his words hurt her inexplica

d Nap, in the tone of on

y you do too!" she said, and there wa

ather brutally. "There is nothing spiritual about me. I live for what I can get. When I get th

ension. "P'r'aps you don't care for animals," he suggested cynically.

reluctantly. "I suppose

esty decrees

ease. She could not fail to note that his horsemanship was magnificent. The mare stood royally as

n to lead the

emed to her as if for those few moments he had imposed his will upon hers, had without effort over

was so far successful that for the next hour she saw nothing of him beyond casual glim

bly stretch of ground bordering Baronmead, a large estate that the eldest Errol had just bought. The fo

ne her headlong through the scampering crowd. To his indignation, instead of pursuing the chase in the valley, she headed him up the hill.

ter. From here she saw the last of the horsemen below her sweep round the curve towards Baronmead, and the hubbub growing fainter in the distance told her that the hounds were already plu

. The watch on her wrist said two o'clock, and she determined to t

ad increased so much in the few minutes they had taken over the ascent that she could discern nothing. Her horse was winded after the climb, however, and she remained motionless to give him time to recover. The hubbub was dying away, and she surmis

ere came sounds-the sounds of hoofs that struggled upwards, of an animal's

owner thereof three times she had come to know it rather well. Why had he elected to

before he reached her. She did not feel inclined

up through the fog as from the mouth of an invisible pit, and drove the grey horse clean out of his senses. He reared bolt upright in furious resistance to his rider's will, pawed the air wildly, and being brought down again by a sharp cut over the e

tempted to check his progress. She was taken by surprise and

all. Like shadows they fled through the rising mist. It struck chill upon her face

so furiously hurled. She was clinging to the saddle, but she made a desperate effort to drag the animal round. It was quite fruitless. No woman

ad ever before experienced-the ground fell suddenly away from the racing feet. A confusion of m