d. I never realized I had fighting blood in me until tonight. Mrs.
Spencer's ugly insinuation, topping their attempted abduction of the
evening, has done it. I'm angry all through. Don't I look angry, Mr.
Harleston?"

"You're quite justified in looking so, dear lady; as well as in being
so," Harleston replied. "Only you don't look it now."

"You're a sad flatterer, sir!" she smiled. "Believe me, had you seen me
in the room to which they decoyed me with a false message from you, you
would believe that I can look it--very well look it."

"So that was the way of it!" Harleston exclaimed "Tell me about it, Mrs.
Clephane. I was sure that you were a prisoner somewhere in this hotel;
to find you every room was being inspected."

"Why did you think I was a prisoner in the midst of all this gaiety?"
she asked.

"Because I was lured by a message purporting to be from you to the ninth
floor and garroted. I escaped. However, that is another story; yours
first, my lady."

"You too!" she marvelled.

He nodded. "And now we are sitting together at dinner, looking at the
crowd, and you're about to tell me your story."

"Thanks to you for having escaped and rescued me!" Mrs. Clephane
exclaimed.

"The management devised the way."

"But _you_ prompted it--you are the one I have to thank."

"If you insist, far be it from me to decline! It's well worth anything I
can do to--have you look at me as you're looking now."

"I hope I'm looking half that I feel," she replied instantly.

"A modest man would be more than repaid by half the look," he returned.

"Are you a modest man?" she smiled.

"I trust so. At least, I am with some people."

"You're giving every instance of it with me, though it may be a part of
the game; even the rescue may be a part of the game. You may be playing
me against Mrs. Spencer, and taking advantage of my inexperience to
accomplish your purposes--"

"You don't think so!" he said, with a shake of his head.

"No, I don't. And maybe that only proves my inexperience and unfitness."

For a moment he did not reply. Was _she_ playing _him_? Was it a ruse of
a clever woman; or was it the evidence of sincerity and innocence? It
had the ring of candour and the appearance of truth. No one could look
into those alluring eyes and that fascinatingly beautiful face and
harbour a doubt of her absolute guilelessness. Yet was it guilelessness?
He had never met guilelessness in the diplomatic game, save as a mask
f