'And I snap my fingers at you both, and meet you with _defiance_;' and
Stanley's singular eyes glared upon her for a few seconds.

Dorcas turned in her grand way, and walked slowly toward the door.

'Stay a moment, I'm going,' said Stanley, overtaking and confronting her
near the door. 'I've only one word. I don't think you quite know me. It
will be an evil day for you, Dorkie, when you quarrel with me.'

He looked steadily on her, smiling for a second or two more, and then
glided from the conservatory.

It was the first time Dorcas had seen Stanley Lake's features in that
translated state which indicated the action of his evil nature, and the
apparition haunted her for many a day and night.




CHAPTER LVII.

CONCERNING A NEW DANGER WHICH THREATENED CAPTAIN STANLEY LAKE.


The ambitious captain walked out, sniffing, white, and incensed. There
was an air of immovable resolution in the few words which Dorcas had
spoken which rather took him by surprise. The captain was a terrorist. He
acted instinctively on the theory that any good that was to be got from
human beings was to be extracted from their fears. He had so operated on
Mark Wylder; and so sought to coerce his sister Rachel. He had hopes,