written."

I shrugged. Impolite I may have been, but there was no use mincing
matters. My preposterous embassy had failed. As we neared the house
she left me on the lawn and turned to where Jerry and the others were
moving toward the tennis courts.

"You'll find Miss Gore upon the veranda," she smiled over her shoulder
with careless gayety. She was extraordinary. But I'm sure that never
before had I hated the girl as at that moment. Thoughtfully I made my
way to the veranda and Miss Gore.

"Well," she said cheerfully as I sank into a chair, "you are friends
again?"

"No."

"It's really too bad. I think you take life too seriously, Mr. Canby."

"Perhaps." I remained silent. She worked at her embroidery frame for a
moment as though to attune herself to my mood and then:

"Briar Hills can't hope for a visit which hasn't an ulterior purpose.
What is it?"

As usual she wasted no words and smiled benignly, a comfortable
motherly smile at once quizzical and forgiving.

"I _did_ want to see you," I put in awkwardly. "It has been a long
time--"

"I'll spare you the necessity for explanations. You're here to tell me
that Jerry is drinking and to find out why. Isn't that so?"

I could only stare at her in wonder at her intuitions, and made some
remark which she chose to disregard.

"As I predicted, the disease is passing," she said quietly, "but it's
leaving Marcia first. Three weeks ago Jerry was a god to Marcia. Last
week she showed signs of disenchantment. This week she is plainly
bored."

"I guessed as much. But why?"

She shrugged her shoulders expressively, but having gone so far I was
not there to waste words.

"I know. Her idol fell in Madison Square Garden, a bone-and-muscle
idol, Miss Gore."

She remained silent, examining her embroidery with a critical eye.

"You know that that is true," I asserted.

"Idols are as easily made as shattered for Marcia. She may adore him
again next week."

"I hope not. It would be a pity."

"I agree with you," she said quietly. "It would be a pity."

I said nothing for a moment, watching her slim fingers weaving to and
fro.

"I have just warned her," I said.

The fingers moved slowly, then stopped and lowered the embroidery
frame to her lap. Her wide gaze was full upon me.

"You--what?"

"I warned her."

"Against what?"

"Against Jerry."

She straightened and a sound came from her throat.

"You--"

She gave a short laugh. "You'll pardon me, Mr. C