young
photographer.

Dare declared that it would be not impossible: whereupon De Stancy said
that it was only a passing thought of his; and in a few minutes the two
parties again separated, going their several ways.

'That was awkward,' said De Stancy, trembling with excitement. 'I would
advise you to keep further off in future.'

Dare said thoughtfully that he would be careful, adding, 'She is a prize
for any man, indeed, leaving alone the substantial possessions behind
her! Now was I too enthusiastic? Was I a fool for urging you on?'

'Wait till success justifies the undertaking. In case of failure it will
have been anything but wise. It is no light matter to have a carefully
preserved repose broken in upon for nothing--a repose that could never
be restored!'

They walked down the Carl-Friedrichs-Strasse to the Margrave's Pyramid,
and back to the hotel, where Dare also decided to take up his stay. De
Stancy left him with the book-keeper at the desk, and went upstairs to
see if the ladies had returned.

IV.

He found them in their sitting-room with their bonnets on, as if they
had just come in. Mr. Power was also present, reading a newspaper, but
Mrs. Goodman had gone out to a neighbouring shop, in the windows of
which she had seen something which attracted her fancy.

When De Stancy entered, Paula's thoughts seemed to revert to Dare, for
almost at once she asked him in what direction the youth was travelling.
With some hesitation De Stancy replied that he believed Mr. Dare was
returning to England after a spring trip for the improvement of his
mind.

'A very praiseworthy thing to do,' said Paula. 'What places has he
visited?'

'Those which afford opportunities for the study of the old masters, I
believe,' said De Stancy blandly. 'He has also been to Turin, Genoa,
Marseilles, and so on.' The captain spoke the more readily to her
questioning in that he divined her words to be dictated, not by any
suspicions of his relations with Dare, but by her knowledge of Dare as
the draughtsman employed by Somerset.

'Has he been to Nice?' she next demanded. 'Did he go there in company
with my architect?'

'I think not.'

'Has he seen anything of him? My architect Somerset once employed him.
They know each other.'

'I think he saw Somerset for a short time.'

Paula was silent. 'Do you know where this young man Dare is at the
present moment?' she asked quickly.

De Stancy said that Dare was staying at the