his shoulder. "Please, Nick!" she
whispered.

He nodded wisely. "Yes, that hurts, doesn't it? But you're not the only
one to suffer. Ever think of that?"

She did not answer him. With a quiver in her voice she changed the
subject. "When do you think we shall go Home then, Nick?"

"Soon," said Nick. "Very soon. They say I can't be spared much longer.
Awfully sweet of 'em, isn't it? As for this immoral little State, it
ought to be put under martial law for a spell. It won't be, of course;
but old Reggie will understand. He'll take measures, and relieve me of
my stewardship as soon as may be. I'm sorry in a way, but I only
bargained for six months. And I want to get back to Muriel." He turned
to her again, with his elastic smile. "But you've been a dear little
pal. You've kept me from pining," he said. "Wish your affairs might have
ended more cheerily; but we won't discuss that. Let's see; you don't
know Sir Reginald Bassett, do you?"

"No, dear."

"Nor Lady Bassett his wife. Good for you. Pray that you never may, and
the odds are in favour of the prayer being granted. She has decided not
to come after all."

"Not to come, Nick! Why, I thought it was all settled!"

Nick grinned. "Her heart has failed her at the last moment. She doesn't
like immoral States." He waved a letter jubilantly in the air. "No
matter, my dear. We shall get on excellently without her. She isn't your
sort at all." He broke into a laugh. "She's the only woman of my
acquaintance I don't love, and the only one--literally--who doesn't love
me."

"How horrid of her, Nick! I'm sure I should hate her."

"I'm sure you would, dear. So it's just as well--all things
considered--that you are not going to meet. Well, I must go and get
respectable." He rose with a quick, lithe movement, but paused, looking
down at her quizzically to ask: "What did you think of my friend the
moonstone-seller? Pretty, isn't he?"

She smiled for the first time. "I'm sure he's quite disreputable. He
disappeared in the most mysterious fashion. I wonder if he's lurking
about anywhere still, waiting to murder us in our beds."

"I wonder," said Nick.

But he did not trouble himself to look round for the mysterious one, nor
did the possibility of being murdered seem to disturb him greatly. He
went away to his room, humming a love-song below his breath. And Olga
knew that his thoughts were far away in England, where Muriel was
waiting to welcome him Home.

CHAPTER XX