ed scarlet. This was carrying the war into the
enemy's camp with a vengeance.

"'Nobody axed me, sir, she said,'" she sang gaily.

"Ah, but whose fault is that?" asked Lord Barminster, pleased that she
had not refused to discuss the question.

"Please, Uncle Philip," she said, with a sudden quiver in her voice,
"I'd rather not talk about it--if you don't mind."

"Quite right, my dear," replied Lord Barminster, patting her hand
reassuringly.

For a few minutes there was silence. His lordship drank his coffee,
while his companion stared dreamily through the window at the
magnificent view of park and woods. The old man was the first to speak.

"We shall miss Lord Standon," he said, with a meaning glance at her.

Lady Constance looked up with a start; then, as she realised the
significance of this simple statement, she smiled. She knew she could
trust her uncle not to betray her woman's secret; and, though she had no
scruple in using Lord Standon as a means to spur on Adrien, she would
not allow the old man to be worried unnecessarily by doubts of her
fidelity to his beloved son.

"Yes," she answered, quietly. "But he only came down for the race; and I
daresay he was anxious to rejoin his fiancee."

It was her uncle's turn to start, and his intense surprise told Lady
Constance only too well that her speculations were correct. Adrien had
believed her in love with Lord Standon, and his father had undertaken to
find out the truth. She was not afraid of Adrien's being undeceived now;
for, even if Lord Barminster wrote--which was very unlikely--the spur
would have done its work.

"I did not know he was engaged," the old man exclaimed.

"No, the news has not been made public; but he told me in confidence,"
Lady Constance returned calmly, as she rose from the breakfast-table.
Then, having seen her companion installed with his newspaper, she passed
out to the terrace.

To the astonishment of every one in Barminster Castle, some few hours
later, Mr. Vermont reappeared.

In his turn he seemed quite as surprised when he learned that Leroy had
already returned to London.

"Gone," he echoed, "just a few hours ago? Dear! dear! I must have missed
him by telling my chauffeur to take the road across the moor."

He entered the Castle while he was speaking, and the servants hastened
to learn his commands; for, next to the sun, there is nothing better
than the moon--next to the Hon. Adrien came his friend and agent, Mr.
Jasp