has become of your plan of alliance
between the De Stancys and the Powers now? The man is gone upstairs who
can overthrow it all.'

'If the man had not gone upstairs, you wouldn't have complained of my
nature or my plans,' said Dare drily. 'If I mistake not, he will come
down again with the flea in his ear. However, I have done; my play is
played out. All the rest remains with you. But, captain, grant me this!
If when I am gone this difficulty should vanish, and things should go
well with you, and your suit should prosper, will you think of him, bad
as he is, who first put you on the track of such happiness, and let him
know it was not done in vain?'

'I will,' said De Stancy. 'Promise me that you will be a better boy?'

'Very well--as soon as ever I can afford it. Now I am up and away, when
I have explained to them that I shall not require my room.'

Dare fetched his bag, touched his hat with his umbrella to the captain
and went out of the hotel archway. De Stancy sat down in the stuffy
drawing-room, and wondered what other ironies time had in store for him.

A waiter in the interim had announced Somerset to the group upstairs.
Paula started as much as Charlotte at hearing the name, and Abner Power
stared at them both.

'If Mr. Somerset wishes to see me ON BUSINESS, show him in,' said Paula.

In a few seconds the door was thrown open for Somerset. On receipt of
the pointed message he guessed that a change had come. Time, absence,
ambition, her uncle's influence, and a new wooer, seemed to account
sufficiently well for that change, and he accepted his fate. But a
stoical instinct to show her that he could regard vicissitudes with the
equanimity that became a man; a desire to ease her mind of any fear
she might entertain that his connection with her past would render him
troublesome in future, induced him to accept her permission, and see the
act to the end.

'How do you do, Mr. Somerset?' said Abner Power, with sardonic
geniality: he had been far enough about the world not to be greatly
concerned at Somerset's apparent failing, particularly when it helped to
reduce him from the rank of lover to his niece to that of professional
adviser.

Miss De Stancy faltered a welcome as weak as that of the Maid of
Neidpath, and Paula said coldly, 'We are rather surprised to see you.
Perhaps there is something urgent at the castle which makes it necessary
for you to call?'

'There is something a little urgent,' said Somer