Roy laughed. "Oh, if it came to embracing----"

"Even an Olympian might be a shade less catholic?" she queried with one
of her looks, that stirred in Roy sensations far removed from Olympian.
Random talk did not flourish in Miss Arden's company: delicately,
insistently she steered it back to the focal point of interest--herself
and the man of the moment.

From the circular drive they wandered on, unheeding; and when they
re-entered the Hall a fresh dance had begun. Under the arch they paused.
Miss Arden's glance scanned the room and reverted to Roy. The last ten
minutes had appreciably advanced their intimacy.

"Shall we?" he asked, returning her look with interest. "Is the luck in
again?"

Her eyes assented. He slipped an arm round her--and once more they
danced....

Roy had been Olympian indeed had he not perceived the delicate flattery
implied in his apparent luck. Lance had not given his message. Yet two
dances were available. The inference was not without its insidious
effect on a man temperamentally incapable of conceit.

The valse was nearly half over, when the least little drag on his arm so
surprised him that he stopped almost opposite the main archway;--and
caught sight of Lance, evidently looking for some one.

"Oh--there he is!" Miss Arden's low tone was almost flurried--for her.

"D'you want him?"

"Well--I suppose he wants me. This was his dance."

"Good Lord! What a mean shame," Roy flashed out. "Why on earth didn't
you tell me? Wouldn't for the world...."

Her colour rose under his heated protest. "I never hang about for
unpunctual partners. If they don't turn up in time--it's their loss."

Roy, intent on Lance, was scarcely listening. "He's seen us now. Come
along. Let's explain."

It was Miss Arden who did the explaining in a manner all her own.

"Well--what became of you?" she asked, smiling in response to Desmond's
look of interrogation. "As you didn't appear, I concluded you'd either
forgotten or been caught in a rubber."

"Bad shots,--both," Desmond retorted with a direct look.

"I'm awfully sorry ... I hadn't a notion----" Roy began--and checked
himself, perceiving that he could not say much without implicating his
partner.

This time Desmond's smile had quite another quality. "You're very
welcome. Carry on. Don't mind me. It's half over."

"A model of generosity!" Miss Arden applauded him. "I'm free for the
next--if you'd care to have it instead."

"Thanks very much; but I