the hour, she compelled herself to
outward tranquillity--while she strove for inward calm. And succeeding
wonderfully well--so well, indeed, that none would ever have suspected
the agitation seething under the cold placidity. Its only evidence was
in the gentle swing of her narrow foot, and the nervous play of her
slender fingers. And even these indications disappeared at the knock on
the corridor door; and she went almost blithely and flung it back--to
Harleston bowing on the threshold.

"Punctual as usual!" she greeted.

"Because I came to one who is always punctual," he replied, taking her
hand, nor dropping it until they were well inside the reception room.

"Sit down, old enemy," said she, sinking into a chair and pointing to
another--which she had been careful to place just within reach. "You've
nothing much to do for a short while, have you?"

"I've nothing much to do any time except to keep an eye on you!" he
laughed.

"Am I so difficult?" she asked.

"You keep me fairly occupied at all times--and sometimes rather more."

"At least I endeavour not to offend your eye!" she smiled, her head on
her hand, her eyes on him.

"The only difficulty is that you are too alluring," he returned. "One is
prone to forget that his business is not to admire but to observe
dispassionately and to block your plans. You're much too beautiful,
Madeline; you usually make monkeys of all of us, and while we're held
fascinated by your loveliness you scoop the prize. It's not fair, my
lady; you play with--loaded dice."

"Flatterer!" she said, melting into another pose.

"Flatterer!" he exclaimed. "If you could but see yourself now, you would
confess the truth of the indictment. You're the loveliest thing, and you
grow lovelier every day and younger. Positively, Madeline, you're a--"
he paused for words and raised his hands helplessly.

"I'm a what?" she murmured, leaning a bit toward him.

"I haven't the word; there isn't one adequate to the--subject."

"You actually mean that?" she asked, gliding into another posture, even
more alluring.

"You know I mean it," he declared. "Haven't we agreed to be honest with
each other?"

"I've been honest!" she answered.

"Meaning that I've not been?"

"Have you?" she inflected, "I wonder, Guy."

She might just as well have asked direct his feeling for Mrs.
Clephane--and he understood perfectly the question.

He nodded, slowly but none-the-less definitely.

She took a cigaret