sion gave him some excuse.

Jenny rang the bell. "Mr. Powers is coming back to dinner. You'll come,
of course? We shall have a pleasant little party of four!"

"I'm sorry, but I'm engaged to dinner to-night."

Jenny gave me a quick look, Chat gave me a long one. Loft appeared. "_Au
revoir_, Mr. Powers!" With a pronounced bow over his hat Powers was out
of the room. I made no effort to follow. Jenny's face told me that the
battle was to be fought where we were.

She poured out a cup of tea and gave it to me. Then, as she sat down,
she said, "I'm sorry you can't come to-night. Where are you going?"

I did not want Chat there--but I remembered what happened to Cartmell
when he did not want me there.

"I'm not going anywhere," I said.

Her pallid face flushed a little, but she smiled. Chat looked at her and
got up; no, Chat was not altogether a fool! "Yes, please, Chat," said
Jenny very quietly. Chat left us. I finished my tea--it was cold, and
easy to gulp down--and waited for the storm.

"You've nothing to add to your polite excuses?" she inquired.

"Does that gentleman come from Cheltenham?"

"Yes, from Cheltenham, Mr. Austin. But how did you come to know that?
Did my father mention him?" She was not embarrassed--only very angry.

"No."

"It was Mr. Cartmell?"

"Yes. He had no right, I daresay, but I'm glad he did--and so will he
be."

"If both my solicitor and my secretary are glad--!" She broke off with a
scornful laugh. "I'm not going to discuss the matter with you, but I
like people who are about me to receive my invitations with politeness."

"This isn't easy for me, Miss Driver, but--that man oughtn't to come to
this house. He oughtn't to be allowed to see you."

She rose from her chair, her eyes set unmovingly on my face. Her voice
was low. "How dare you say that? How dare you? Am I to take orders from
you--my secretary--my servant?"

"You called me your friend the other day."

"I seem to have been hasty. A kind friend indeed to listen to stories
against me!"

"The story is against the man--not against you."

"Are you dining with any other friends to-night?"

"I've told you that I'm not."

"Then I request--I desire--that you will make it convenient to give me
the pleasure of your company--to meet my friend, Mr. Powers."

My temper went suddenly. "I won't sit at meat with the blackguard--above
all, not in your company."

I saw her fist clench itself by her side. "I repeat my request,"