"I hope so, Sir Seymour."

"If by chance a man called Arabian should come here, while I am
upstairs, get rid of him, will you? I am speaking on Miss Van Tuyn's
behalf and with her authority."

"I won't let the gentleman up, Sir Seymour."

"Has he called to-day?"

"Yes, Sir Seymour. He called early this afternoon. I had orders to say
Miss Van Tuyn and Miss Cronin were both out. He wrote a note downstairs
which was sent up."

"He may call again at any time. Get rid of him."

"Yes, Sir Seymour."

"Thanks. I rely on your discretion."

And Sir Seymour went towards the lift, where the page-boy was waiting.

Miss Van Tuyn met him at the threshold of her sitting-room. She was very
pale. She greeted him eagerly.

"How good of you to call again! Do come in. I haven't stirred. I haven't
been out all day."

She shut the sitting-room door.

"_He_ has been here!"

"So I heard."

"How? Who has--"

"I ventured to speak to Henriques, the young man at the bureau, before
coming up. I know him quite well. I took it on myself to give an order
on your behalf."

"That he wasn't to be allowed to come up?"

"Yes. I told Henriques to get rid of him."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you! I've been in misery all day thinking at every
moment that he might open my door and walk in."

"They won't let him up."

"But they mightn't happen to see him. If there were many people in the
hall he might pass by unnoticed and--"

"In a hotel of this type people don't pass by unnoticed. You need not be
afraid."

"But I am horribly afraid. I can't help it. And it's so dreadful not
daring to move. It's--it's like living in a nightmare!"

"Come, Miss Van Tuyn!" said Sir Seymour, and in his voice and manner
there was just a hint of the old disciplinarian, "pull yourself
together. You're not helpless, and you've got friends."

"Oh, do forgive me! I know I have. But there's something so absolutely
hideous in feeling like this about a man who--whom I--"

She broke off, and sat down on a sofa abruptly, almost as if her limbs
had given way under her.

"I quite understand that. I've just been with the fellow."

Miss Van Tuyn started up.

"You've seen him?"

"Yes."

"Where? Here?"

"I went to Mr. Garstin's studio to have a look at the portrait and say a
word to him. While I was there Arabian called. I stayed on and sat with
him for some time. Afterwards I walked with him to the building where he
is living temporarily and went in."

"We