just
now, but later on. Of course, I don't want it to get about."

I assured him of my secrecy.

"If it comes off, I want you to write for me. You understand the public.
We will talk it over."

He passed onward with stealthy tread.

I found Hodgson in the front of the house.

"Two stalls not sold and six seats in the upper circle," he informed me;
"not bad for a Thursday night."

I expressed my gratification.

"I knew you could do it," said Hodgson, "I felt sure of it merely from
seeing that comedietta of yours at the Queen's. I never make a mistake."

Correction under the circumstances would have been unkind. Promising to
see him again in the morning, I left him with his customary good conceit
of himself unimpaired, and went on to the Square. I rang twice, but
there was no response. I was about to sound a third and final summons,
when Norah joined me on the step. She had been out shopping and was
laden with parcels.

"We must wait to shake hands," she laughed, as she opened the door. "I
hope you have not been kept long. Poor Annette grows deafer every day."

"Have you nobody in the house with you but Annette?" I asked.

"No one. You know it was a whim of his. I used to get quite cross with
him at times. But I should not like to go against his wishes--now."

"Was there any reason for it?" I asked.

"No," she answered; "if there had been I could have argued him out of
it." She paused at the door of the studio. "I'll just get rid of these,"
she said, "and then I will be with you."

A wood fire was burning on the open hearth, flashing alternate beams of
light and shadow down the long bare room. The high oak stool stood
in its usual place beside the engraving desk, upon which lay old
Deleglise's last unfinished plate, emitting a dull red glow. I paced the
creaking boards with halting steps, as through some ghostly gallery
hung with dim portraits of the dead and living. In a little while Norah
entered and came to me with outstretched hand.

"We will not light the lamp," she said, "the firelight is so pleasant."

"But I want to see you," I replied.

She had seated herself upon the broad stone kerb. With her hand she
stirred the logs; they shot into a clear white flame. Thus, the light
upon her face, she raised it gravely towards mine. It spoke to me with
fuller voice. The clear grey eyes were frank and steadfast as ever, but
shadow had passed into them, deepening them, illuminating them.

For a space we