red again almost at once, I should have had to tell the
driver to follow, though I hated the thought of going again into the
street where Maxine de Renzie lived. But she did come, and in her hand
was a pretty little brocade bag embroidered with gold or silver that
sparkled even in the faint light.

"I saw this lying in the street, and ran to pick it up," she exclaimed.

"You might better have left it," I said stiffly. "Perhaps Mademoiselle
de Renzie dropped it."

"No, I don't think so. It wasn't in front of her house."

"It may belong to that man who was watching, then."

"It doesn't look much like a thing that a man would carry about with
him, does it?"

"No," I admitted, indifferently. "Now we will go home."

"Don't you want to wait and see how long Ivor Dundas stops?"

"Indeed I don't!" I cried. "I don't want to know any more about him."
And for the moment I almost believed that what I said was true.

"Very well," said Lisa, "perhaps we do know enough to prove to us both
that I haven't anything to reproach myself with. And the less you think
about him after this, the better."

"I shan't think about him at all," I said. But I knew that was a boast I
should never be able to keep, try as I might. I felt now that I could
understand how people must feel when they are very old and weary of
life. I don't believe that I shall feel older and more tired if I live
to be eighty than I felt then. It was a slight comfort to know that we
were on our way back to the hotel, and that soon I should be in my room
alone, with the door shut and locked between Lisa and me; but it was
only very slight. I couldn't imagine ever being really pleased about
anything again.

"You will marry Lord Robert now, I suppose," chirped Lisa, "and show
Ivor Dundas that he hasn't spoiled your life."

As she asked this question she was tugging away at a knot in the ribbons
that tied the bag she had found.

"Perhaps I shall," I answered. "I might do worse."

"I should think you might!" exclaimed Lisa. "Oh, do accept him soon. I
don't want Ivor Dundas to say to himself that you're broken-hearted for
him. Lord Bob is sure to propose to you to-morrow--even if he hasn't
already: and if he has, he'll do it again. I saw it in his eye all
to-day. He was dying to speak at any minute, if only he'd got a chance
with you alone. You _will_ say 'yes' when he does, won't you, and have
the engagement announced at once?"

"I'll see how I feel at the time, i