e shape which Jenny used.

"The letter you were so good as to send me this afternoon," he said,
holding it up in his hand.

"Yes."

"I read it with very great pleasure." He tore it into four pieces and
flung them on the table before him. They lay there between him and
Jenny. He looked at her with a smile. "You're not like Eleanor Lacey for
nothing," he said.

She smiled, too, and raised a hand to restrain me, for at his bitter
taunt I had made a step forward, meaning to interpose.

"Probably not!" she answered. Then she turned to me. "You'll look after
Powers for me, won't you, Austin? It's only a matter of money with him,
as we all know--and Mr. Cartmell has plenty."

"I'll do all I can to prevent your being troubled at all."

"I shan't be troubled--but I shall be grateful to you. Lord Fillingford,
in return for your compliment, may I beg a favor of you?" She had given
a quick glance at the clock.

"Anything that it's in my power to grant," he answered with a little
bow.

"It's nothing great--only the loan of your carriage. I came here on
foot--and I'm tired."

"It's quite at your disposal."

"It's not inconvenient? You're not hurried?"

"I can walk, Miss Driver."

"Please don't do that. I'll send it back for you as quickly as
possible."

"As you please," he said courteously.

"Good-night, Austin," she said to me, holding out her hand. "Don't come
with me. I'd rather find my own way to the carriage, if you and Lord
Fillingford will let me."

I took her hand. She gave mine a quick light squeeze. "God bless you,
Austin," she said. Then, with a last slight salutation to Fillingford,
she walked out of the room--and we heard the hall door shut behind her.
Fillingford stood where he was for a moment, then slowly sat down. I
went to the table and collected the fragments of Jenny's letter. I made
a gesture toward the fire. He nodded. I flung the pieces into the
flames.

Powers slowly raised his head, leaning on his elbow. "Where am I?" he
muttered.

"Not where you ought to be," I said. He laid his head down again,
grumbling inarticulately.

"We want no publicity about this, Mr. Austin," said Fillingford--he
spoke quite in his usual reserved and measured way. "I shall be willing
to second your efforts in that direction. This man had better be got out
of the town quietly--that can probably be managed by using the
appropriate means. For the rest, no public announcement having been
made, nothing need be