was he in Rouen to keep it. To meet him while indulging in this vagary
with Lord Mountclere--which, now that the mood it had been engendered by
was passing off, she somewhat regretted--would be the height of
imprudence.

'I should like to go round to the other side of the parapet for a few
moments,' she said, with decisive quickness. 'Come with me, Lord
Mountclere.'

They went round to the other side. Here she kept the viscount and their
suisse until she deemed it probable that Neigh had passed by, when she
returned with her companions and descended to the bottom. They emerged
into the Rue Saint-Romain, whereupon a woman called from the opposite
side of the way to their guide, stating that she had told the other
English gentleman that the English lady had gone into the fleche.

Ethelberta turned and looked up. She could just discern Neigh's form
upon the steps of the fleche above, ascending toilsomely in search of
her.

'What English gentleman could that have been?' said Lord Mountclere,
after paying the man. He spoke in a way which showed he had not
overlooked her confusion. 'It seems that he must have been searching for
us, or rather for you?'

'Only Mr. Neigh,' said Ethelberta. 'He told me he was coming here. I
believe he is waiting for an interview with me.'

'H'm,' said Lord Mountclere.

'Business--only business,' said she.

'Shall I leave you? Perhaps the business is important--most important.'

'Unfortunately it is.'

'You must forgive me this once: I cannot help--will you give me
permission to make a difficult remark?' said Lord Mountclere, in an
impatient voice.

'With pleasure.'

'Well, then, the business I meant was--an engagement to be married.'

Had it been possible for a woman to be perpetually on the alert she might
now have supposed that Lord Mountclere knew all about her; a mechanical
deference must have restrained such an illusion had he seen her in any
other light than that of a distracting slave. But she answered quietly,
'So did I.'

'But how does he know--dear me, dear me! I beg pardon,' said the
viscount.

She looked at him curiously, as if to imply that he was seriously out of
his reckoning in respect of her if he supposed that he would be allowed
to continue this little play at love-making as long as he chose, when she
was offered the position of wife by a man so good as Neigh.

They stood in silence side by side till, much to her ease, Cornelia
appeared at th