Page:Lippincotts Monthly Magazine-39.djvu/84

74 Mr. John Mainwaring took Tom, the groom, aside, and told him of the scheme to capture the burglars. Tom had not known of it before. The three other servants were not told. We had our supper, and then the two gentlemen and Tom saddled their horses and rode off. It was a dark night, though it did not threaten rain. After they had gone, Mrs. Mainwaring and I sat for a while in front of the door of the cabin, looking out across the lake. By and by she became sleepy, and proposed that we should go to bed. The servants were already asleep. I helped her to bed, and then lay down myself. I don't know what time it was: it was dark. When I felt sure that Mrs. Mainwaring was asleep, I got up and put on my riding-habit and went out to the stable. I took out my gray horse and saddled him. I understand the management of horses. I took with me a small pistol, a derringer."

At this there was a murmur among the listeners, which the judge silenced.

"Where is the derringer you speak of?" demanded the lawyer.

"I gave it to Mr. Faxon last night," she replied. "It is in the same condition as it was the morning after the murder."

Mr. Faxon here advanced, and handed up the weapon, which was passed round between the judge and the lawyers. Sinfire continued her story:

"I rode towards Cedarcliffe through the woods, and I rode fast. I had been to the lake on horseback before, and I am fond of the woods, and never miss my way. I remembered a deserted shed or barn, a mile or two from Cedarcliffe, and aside from the path on which I was riding, and I decided to lead my horse there and go the rest of my way on foot. I found the barn without any difficulty, and unsaddled my gray and made him comfortable; then I walked towards the Cedarcliffe woods."

"Will you state," interposed the lawyer, "whether your object in this escapade was to assist in the proposed capture of the burglars?"

"No: I took no interest in that at all. I wished to see Henry Mainwaring."

"For what purpose?"

"I had been waiting, ever since he returned home from abroad, to speak to him on a subject of importance to us both," replied Sinfire, her cheeks and eyes glowing, while her voice augmented in volume and richness. "I had never found the opportunity that suited me. He did not suspect my intention; indeed, he misinterpreted it; and at one time I thought of taking advantage of his mistake to accomplish what I wanted. But that course proved to be too difficult,—I mean, too revolting,—and I