eresting in the
conservatory instead."

"Romantic spot occupied already!" The laugh which accompanied the
sound of retreating footsteps and the rustle of drapery, was
unmistakably that of Julius Savine.

Geoffrey, who fumed inwardly at the reflection that his attitude was
distinctly liable to misconception, straightened himself with perhaps
too great a suddenness, while the faint amusement in his companion's
face heightened his displeasure. Millicent had managed to obtain a
survey of the intruders, and when sure that they had moved away, she
rose, saying, "So that is the beautiful Miss Savine! No doubt you have
seen her, and, like all the rest, admire her?"

"Yes," confessed Geoffrey. "I can honestly say I do." Millicent
regarded him curiously.

"You have heard that we women seldom praise one another, and therefore,
while admitting that she is coldly handsome, I should imagine Miss
Savine to be a trying person," she commented. "Now we must return to
our social duties--in my case, at least, no one could call them
pleasures."

Some little time later Helen, whose eyes had kindled for a moment when
her gray-haired escort led her towards the balcony, heard the bluff
Canadian answer the question that had been in her mind.

"Who was the lady? Can't exactly say. Her husband's Leslie, the
Britisher, who started the land-agency offices, you will remember there
was trouble about, and is now, I believe, secretary to the Industrial
Enterprise. Frankly, I don't like the man--strikes me as a smart
adventurer, and my wife does not take to Mrs. Leslie. The man on the
balcony was Thurston, Savine's assistant, and a good fellow. He
generally follows humbly in Miss Savine's train, and, considering
Leslie's connection with the rival company, I don't quite see what he
could be doing in that gallery."

Helen was piqued. She was too proud to admit to herself that she was
jealous, but she had not risen superior to all the characteristics of
her sex; and, knowing something of her father's business affairs, she
was also puzzled. Thurston's attitude towards his companion had not
been that of a casual acquaintance, to say the least, and Helen could
not help wondering what could be his connection with the wife of one
whose interests, she gathered, must be diametrically opposed to her
father's. Then, though endeavoring to decide that it did not matter,
she determined to put Thurston to the test at the first opportunity.

Mean