“Yes,” she said, calmly, “afoot. Since when, sir, have beggars ridden to a tryst except in pretty fables?”

“Had I known it, I would have taken horse and gone for you and brought you here riding pillion behind me.”

“Had I desired you to come for me, Mr. Loskiel, I should not have troubled you here.”

She loosened the shabby scarlet cloak so that it dropped from below her eyes and left the features exposed. Enough of lantern light from the other shed fell on her face for me to see her smooth, cool cheeks all dewy with the rain, as I had seen them once before in the gloom of the coming storm.

She turned her head, glancing back at the other shed where men and horses stood in