pe Lady Tristram--the
new one--is well?"

There was the sound of a whispered consultation outside the door; it
drew Mina's eyes in that direction.

"That's all right," he smiled. "It's only my wife scolding the butler
for having let you in. This is my time for rest."

"Rest!" exclaimed Mina rather scornfully. "You wrote to Cecily as if you
could do something."

"That was rash of me. What do you want done? I've heard about you from
Iver, you know."

"Oh, the Ivers have nothing to do with this. It's just between Cecily
and Mr. Tristram."

"And you and me, apparently."

"What was your idea when you wrote? I made Cecily let me come and see
you because it sounded as if you had an idea." If he had no idea, it was
clear that contempt awaited him.

"I wanted to be friendly. But as for doing anything--well, that hardly
depends on me."

"But things can't go on as they are, you know," she said brusquely.

"Unhappily, as I understand the law----"

"Oh, I understand the law too--and very silly it is. I suppose it can't
be changed?"

"Good gracious, my dear Madame Zabriska! Changed!" And on this point
too! _Nolumus leges Angliae_---- He just stopped himself from the
quotation.

"What are Acts of Parliament for?" Mina demanded.

"Absolutely out of the question," he laughed. "Even if everybody
consented, absolutely."

"And Harry Tristram wouldn't consent, you mean?"

"Well, could any man?"

Mina looked round the room with a discontented air; there is such a
lamentable gulf between feeling that something must be done and
discovering what it is.

"I don't say positively that nothing can be done," he resumed after a
moment, dangling his glass and looking at her covertly. "Are you at
leisure this afternoon?"

"If you've got anything to suggest." Mina had grown distrustful of his
intelligence, and her tone showed it.

"I thought you might like to come and see a friend of mine, who is kind
enough to be interested in Harry Tristram." He added, with the
consciousness of naming an important person, "I mean Lady Evenswood."

"Who's she?" asked the Imp curtly.

To do them justice, Englishmen seldom forget that allowances must be
made for foreigners. Lord Southend explained gravely and patiently.

"Well, let's go," said Mina indifferently. "Not that it seems much use,"
her manner added.

"Excuse me a moment," said he, and he went out to soothe his wife's
alarm and assure her that he was not tired.

As they drove