d stuffed
away a small fortune. As he wandered out through the deserted rooms,
he noted, bent over the table, her head in her hand, the woman who, in
spite of his sincere absorption in Mary Falconer, had, like a
temptation, crossed his mind when he first came into the Casino. No
one disturbed her, and she had remained in this dejected posture for
some time. This one amongst the many women in Trouville, Bulstrode and
his friends had remarked for several days. She had first appeared
alone; made a discreet _debut_ on the beach, passed through the Rue de
Paris and kept away from the more public parts of the town. Later she
had been joined by a man well known in the world, the Prince Pollona,
who was travelling incognito. The woman's beauty and manner were such
that her actual standing was a mooted question; it had even been
remarked that she was the princess herself incognita, but that they all
knew to be impossible.

Before the official who waited to see the last players leave the
_salle_ could speak to her, she rose of her own accord, gathering her
silken cloak about her, and went quickly from the gambling room. Once
on the stairway, however, her footsteps halted and she went slowly down
as if reluctant to leave the shelter of the brightly lighted
apartments. Bulstrode following her, observed her closely; tall, very
slender, with a fine carriage and a lovely blonde head set on the most
graceful of necks, older than Molly and younger than Mrs. Falconer, she
was quite as _comme il faut_. All along she had worn a collar and rope
of pearls which had excited Molly's enthusiasm. To-night she was
denuded of her jewels; her neck was bare. Bulstrode remarked this as
he walked behind in full view of the soft adorable _nuque_ below the
curls of the girl's fair hair. She trailed her dress slowly through
the garden walks, her white figure in the darkness escaping from him a
little as the trees made an avenue for her. But Bulstrode distinctly
felt that he was expected to follow. Whether or not he might intrude
he did not ask, as he came along, surprised however to see her actually
stop short within a few feet of him. Under the full light of one of
the big lamps, she stood motionless, her arms by her side, her chin
raised. Now that he was quite near her he found her more lovely than
he had even imagined.

He went up directly to her and, without asking how she might take his
interference, said: "You cannot remain here a