gar glowing like a
fierce planet. Roy sat forward, tense and purposeful: hating what he had
to say; yet goaded by the knowledge that he could have no peace of mind
till it was said.

He was silent a few moments, pulling at his cigar: then, "Look here,
Lance," he said. "I've got a question to ask. You won't like it. I don't
either. But the truth is ... I'm bothered to know what is ... or has
been ... between you and...."

"Drop it, Roy." There was pain and impatience in Desmond's tone. "I'm
not going to talk about _that_."

Flat opposition gave Roy precisely the spur he needed.

"I'm afraid _I_'ve got to, though." The statement was placable but
decisive. "I can't go on this way. It's getting on my nerves----"

"Devil take your nerves," said Lance politely. Then--with an obvious
effort--"Has she--said anything?"

"No."

"Then why the hell can't you let be!"

"I _shall_ let be--altogether, if this goes on;--this infernal
awkwardness between us; and the things she says--the way she looks ...
almost as if she cares."

"Well, I give you my oath--she doesn't. I suppose I ought to know?"

"That depends how things were before I came up. She's twice let your
name slip out, unawares. And at Anarkalli she was extraordinarily upset.
And to-day--about your hand. Then, riding home, I met Mrs Ranyard. And
she started talking ... hinting at a private engagement----"

"Mrs Ranyard deserves to have her tongue removed. She'd tell any lie
about another woman."

"Quito so. But is it a lie? It fits in too neatly with--the other
things----"

Lance gave him a sidelong look. Their faces were just visible in the
moonlight.

"Jealous--are you?"--His tone was almost tender.--"You damned lucky
devil--you've no cause to be."

That natural inference startlingly revealed to Roy that jealousy had
little or nothing to do with his trouble; and so great was the relief
of open speech between them, that instinctively he told truth.

"N-no. I'm bothered about _you_."

"Good God!" Desmond's abrupt laugh had no mirth in it. "_Me?_"

"Yes--naturally. If it amounted to ... an engagement, and I charged in
and upset everything ... I can't forgive myself ... or her----"

At that Desmond sat forward, obstructive no longer. "If you're going so
badly off the rails, you must have it straight. And ... confound you!...
it hurts----"

"I can see that. And it's more or less my doing----"

"On the contrary ... it was primarily _my_ doing ... as yo