rld,
where the finest ore is not without its considerable alloy.

Two days later, as he sat upon his wonted seat, in lazy enjoyment of
the midday sun, a _vetturino_, heralded far down the road by the
jingle of his horse's bells, deposited a couple at the door whose
faces were familiar. At _table d'hote_, though he was separated from
the new-comers by half a dozen covers, he had leisure to identify
them as the Dollonds; and by-and-by the roving, impartial gaze of
the Academician's wife encountering him, he could assure himself
that the recognition was mutual. They came together at the end of
_dejeuner_, and presently, at Mrs. Dollond's instigation, started for
a stroll through the olives towards the old town.

"Are you wintering here?" he asked after a moment, feeling that an
affirmative answer would hardly be to his taste.

But Mrs. Dollond, with an upward inclination of her vivacious
shoulders, repudiated the notion. A whim of her own, she explained
to Rainham confidentially, as they came abreast in the narrowing
path, while Mr. Dollond strolled a little behind, cutting down
vagrant weeds absently with his heavy oak stick.

"Hugh wanted a month's holiday; and I wanted"--she dropped her
voice, glancing over her shoulder with an air of mock mystery--"yes,
Mr. Rainham, you must not be shocked, but I wanted a fortnight at
Monte Carlo; and so I may as well tell you that our destination is
there. We came from San Remo this morning, meaning to drive over
right away; but this place was so pretty that Hugh insisted on
staying."

Rainham helped her up a difficult terrace, and remarked urbanely
that he was in fortune's way.

She threw him a brilliant smile.

"Ah, Mr. Rainham, if we had only known that you were here! then we
might have arranged differently; we could have stayed here
pastorally, and driven up to that delightful little place on the
hill. Tell me, how is it called?"

She pointed with her scarlet parasol--they had emerged now on to the
main road--at a little, turreted town perched far above them on the
brow of an olive-crested hill.

"It is Sasso," said Rainham. "I should have been delighted to come
with you, but I am afraid it is out of the reach of carriages, and
of invalids. You might go there on a mule."

"Oh no!" she laughed; "I think on the whole we shall be more
comfortable at the Hotel de Paris. Can't we induce you to come with
us now?"

Rainham lifted his eyebrows, smiling a little and groping