sincere?" she said.

"Only when they are angry," said Hunt-Goring, taking out his
cigarette-case. "Now join me, won't you? Sincerity is such a heating
quality. I shouldn't cultivate it if I were you."

But Daisy declined somewhat curtly. It was quite evident that her
patience was wearing very thin.

Hunt-Goring did not press her. He smiled and subsided with obvious
indifference. Perhaps he deemed it wiser not to try her too far, or
perhaps he lacked the energy to pursue the matter.

He had taken to spending most of his time on the verandah, smoking his
endless cigarettes and dreamily watching the world go by. He seemed
almost to have forgotten that he was a guest, and, her exasperation
notwithstanding, Daisy could not bring herself to remind him of the
fact. For the man was changed. Day after day she realized it more and
more clearly. Day after day it seemed to her that he dropped a little
deeper into his sea of lethargy. His interest flagged so quickly where
once it had been keen. He grew daily older while she watched. And a
curious pity for him kept her from actively disliking him, although his
power to attract her was wholly gone. She found herself bearing with him
simply because he cared so little.

It was quite otherwise with Noel, who was frankly disgusted to find
himself confronted with him on the following morning when, true to his
promise, he made his appearance with Peggy's mount. Hunt-Goring was just
preparing to establish himself on the verandah when Noel came striding
along it in search of his small playmate. They so nearly collided in
fact that it was impossible for either to overlook the other's presence.

Noel drew back sharply with his quick scowl. They had not met since the
evening on which he had so furiously challenged him to battle on Olga's
behalf. For Olga's sake, and perhaps a little in deference to Max's
warning, he had refrained from following up the challenge, but he was
more than ready to do so even yet; and his attitude said as much as he
stood aside in glowering silence for the other man to pass.

Hunt-Goring however was plainly in a genial mood. He paused to bestow
his smiling scrutiny upon the young officer. "Let me see! Surely we have
met before?"

"We have," said Noel bluntly.

"I fear the occasion has slipped my memory," said Hunt-Goring.

A wiser man would have passed on. But Noel had not yet attained to years
of discretion. He stood his ground and explained.

"We met at