from the sideboard towards Philippa. She, for her part,
was watching Captain Griffiths.

"So many thanks, Lady Cranston," Lessingham murmured, "for your
hospitality."

"And what about that secret?" she asked.

"You see, there are two," he answered, looking down at her. "One I shall
most surely tell you before I leave here, because it is the one secret
which no man has ever succeeded in keeping to himself. As for the
other--"

He hesitated. There was something almost like pain in his face. She
broke in hastily.

"I did not call you away to ask about either. I happened to notice
Captain Griffiths just now. Do you know that he is watching you very
closely?"

"I had an idea of it," Lessingham admitted indifferently. "He is rather
a clumsy person, is he not?"

"You will be careful?" she begged earnestly. "Remember, won't you, that
Helen and I are really in a most disgraceful position if anything should
come out."

"Nothing shall," he promised her. "I think you know, do you not, that,
whatever might happen to me, I should find some means to protect you."

For the second time she felt a curious lack of will to fittingly reprove
his boldness. She had even to struggle to keep her tone as careless as
her words.

"You really are a delightful person!" she exclaimed. "How long is it
since you descended from the clouds?"

"Sometimes I think that I am there still," he answered, "but I have
known you about seventy-six hours."

"What precision?" she laughed. "It's a national characteristic, isn't
it? Captain Griffiths," she continued, as she observed his approach, "if
you really must go, please take Mr. Lessingham with you. He is making
fun of me. I don't allow even Dick's friends to do that."

Lessingham's disclaimer was in quite the correct vein.

"You must both come again very soon," their hostess concluded, as she
shook hands. "I enjoyed our bridge immensely."

The two men were already on their way to the door when a sudden idea
seemed to occur to Captain Griffiths. He turned back.

"By-the-by, Lady Cranston," he asked, "have you heard anything from your
brother?"

Philippa shook her head sadly. Helen, who, unlike her friend, had not
had the advantage of a distinguished career upon the amateur dramatic
stage, turned away and held a handkerchief to her eyes.

"Not a word," was Philippa's sorrowful reply.

Captain Griffiths offered a clumsy expression of his sympathy.

"Bad luck!" he said. "I'm so sorry, La