nd, seemed like
a strong antidote to my fears of Father Adrian. It was quite evident
that nothing unexpected had happened during the last twenty-four
hours. Father Adrian's threat had been an empty one. In the presence
of Lady de Vaux, the fears which had been consuming me departed. She
was so unmoved, so indifferent. How could a little Jesuit priest hurt
such a one as she?

The thoughts chased one another quickly through my mind; but still my
hesitation was apparent. After waiting in vain for me to speak, the
servant who was conducting me answered Lady de Vaux's question.

"The young lady asked for Mr. Paul, your ladyship. It was doubtful
whether I might disturb him."

"For Mr. Paul?" Lady de Vaux looked at me, leaning forward on
her stick, and with her eyebrows a little uplifted. "My son is
particularly engaged, and has left word that he does not wish to be
disturbed for several hours," she said. "If you have anything to say
to him, you can say it to me. I am Lady de Vaux!"

"Thank you! I must wait and see your son," I answered.

She moved away with a slight and distinctly haughty inclination of her
head. "You can show this young lady into the waiting-room, Richards,"
she directed. "Take her name in to Mr. Paul when he rings. By the
bye," she added, pausing in her slow progress over the hall, and
looking me once more steadily in the face, "what is your name?"

"You would not know it," I answered. "I have come from the
Hermitage--near here."

She did not speak to me for a moment, but I saw the colour rising into
her cheeks, and her fingers were trembling. It was foolish of me to
have told her. A glance into her face showed me that she had heard
something, she knew something of me. She was looking at me as at some
object almost beneath her contempt. Yet she spoke quite calmly.

"You are Adrea Kiros, the dancing girl!"

I answered her quite coolly--I believe respectfully. She was Paul's
mother. Yet I could see that she was going to be very rude to me.

"You can have nothing to say to my son," she declared. "It is infamous
that you should have followed him here--to his own house. Be so good
as to quit it at once. Mr. de Vaux shall be informed later of the
honour of your visit, and if he has anything to say to you, he can
find other means save an interview under this roof. Richards!"

She pointed across the hall towards the entrance. I stood quite still,
struggling with my passion. If she had been any other wo