"I shall be pleased to go in and see her. You
do not mind, Maurice?"

"Not at all," he answered. "If I may be allowed, I will come with
you."

There was a moment's silence. Then Saton spoke--quietly, regretfully.

"I am so sorry," he said, "but the Comtesse de Vestinges--my adopted
mother," he explained, with a little bow--"receives no one. She is
old, and her health is not of the best. A visit from Miss Champneyes
always does her good."

Lois looked up at her companion.

"Perhaps," she said, "you will have a cigarette in the lane."

"I am sorry to seem inhospitable," Saton said smoothly. "If Captain
Vandermere will come up to the house, my study is at his service, and
I can give him some cigarettes which I think he would find passable."

"Thank you," Vandermere answered, a little gruffly, "I'll wait out
here. Remember, Lois," he added, turning towards her, "that we are
expected home to play bridge directly after tea."

"I will not be long," she answered.

She moved off with Saton, turning round with a little farewell nod to
Vandermere as they passed through the gate. He took a quick step
towards her. Was it his fancy, or was there indeed appeal in the quick
glance which she had thrown him? Then directly afterwards, while he
hesitated, he heard her laugh. Reluctantly he gave up the idea of
following them, and swinging himself onto a gate, sat watching the two
figures climbing the field toward the house.

CHAPTER XXV

A LAST WARNING

The laugh which checked Vandermere in his first intention of following
Lois and Saton up the field, was scarcely a mirthful effort. Saton had
bent toward his companion, and his tone had been almost threatening.

"You must not look at anyone like that while I am with you," he said.
"You must not look as though you were frightened of me. You must seem
amused. You must laugh."

She obeyed. It was a poor effort, but it sounded natural enough in the
distance.

"Come," Saton continued, "you are not very kind to me, Lois. You are
not very kind to the man whom you are going to marry, whom you have
said that you love. It has been very lonely these last few days, Lois.
You have not come to me. I have watched for you often."

"I could not come," she answered. "Lady Mary has been with me all the
time. I think that she suspects."

"Surely you are clever enough," he answered, "to outwit a little
simpleton like that. Has Rochester been interfering?"

"If he knew that I even