rgotten that Davilof is playing here to-night."

"Antoine?" Gillian stared at her incredulously. "But you can't ask him
to play for you! You'd hate asking him a favour after--after his refusal
to accompany you any more."

Magda smiled at her reassuringly.

"My dear," she said, and there was an unaffected kindliness in her voice
which few people ever heard. "My dear, I'm not going to let a little bit
of cheap pride keep you away from Coppertop."

She bent suddenly and kissed Gillian's white, miserable face just as
Virginie reappeared in the doorway to announce that the car was waiting.

"There, run along. Look, would you like to take Virginie with you?"

"No, no." Gillian shook her head decidedly. "I shall be quite all right.
Oh, Magda!"--impulsively drawing the slender figure close into her arms
a moment. "You are _good_!"

Magda laughed a trifle bitterly.

"That would be news to the world at large!" she replied. Then
cheerfully: "Now, don't worry, Gillyflower. Remember they've got a
doctor there. And 'phone me presently about Coppertop. If he's worse,
I'll come home as early as I can get away. Send the car straight back
here."

As soon as Gillian had gone, Magda flung a loose wrap over her
diaphanous draperies and turned to Virginie.

"Where is Monsieur Davilof? Do you know?"

"_Mais oui, mademoiselle_! I saw him through the doorway as I came from
ordering the car. He is in the library."

"Alone?"

"_Oui, mademoiselle_!" Virginie nodded eloquently. "He smokes a
cigarette--to steady the nerves, I suppose."

Magda went swiftly out of the room. She reached the hall by way of
an unfrequented passage and slipped into the library closing the door
behind her.

"Antoine!"

At the sound of her voice Davilof, who had been standing by the fire,
wheeled round.

"You!" he exclaimed violently. "You!" And then remained silent, staring
at her.

"You knew I was dancing here to-night," she said chidingly. "Why are you
so startled? We were bound to meet, weren't we?"

"No, we were not. I proposed leaving the house the moment my solo was
over."

Magda laughed a little.

"So afraid of me, Antoine?" she mocked gently.

He made no answer, but his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched
suddenly.

Magda advanced a few steps towards him and paused.

"Davilof," she said quietly. "Will you play for me to-night?"

He looked at her, puzzled.

"Play for you?" he repeated. "But you have Mrs. Grey."

"No. She can't