There were beads of perspiration on his forehead, but the night was
warm. He held himself erect as one defying Fate. So had he held himself
throughout his trial; Field recognised the attitude.

The song upstairs had ended. They heard the buzz of appreciation that
succeeded it. Field turned with the air of a man who had said his say.

"I don't believe in long engagements myself," he said. "They must be
a weariness to the flesh."

He began to mount the stairs again, and Wentworth followed him in
silence.

At the drawing-room door Field paused and they entered together. It was
almost Wentworth's first appearance since his trial. There was a moment
or two of dead silence as he sauntered forward with Field. Then, with a
little laugh to cover an instant's embarrassment, Lady Culverleigh came
forward. She shook hands with Wentworth and asked where he had been in
retreat.

Violet came forward from the piano very pale but quite composed, and
shook hands also. Several people present followed suit, and soon there
was a little crowd gathered round him, and Burleigh Wentworth was again
the popular centre of attraction.

Percival Field kept in the background; it was not his way to assert
himself in society. But he remained until Wentworth and the last guest
had departed. And then very quietly but with indisputable insistence he
drew Lady Violet away into the conservatory.

She was looking white and tired, but she held herself with a proud
aloofness in his presence. While admitting his claim upon her, she yet
did not voluntarily yield him an inch.

"Did you wish to speak to me?" she asked.

He stood a moment or two in silence before replying; then:

"Only to give you this," he said, and held out to her a small packet
wrapped in tissue paper on the palm of his hand.

She took it unwillingly.

"The badge of servitude?" she said.

"I should like to know if it fits," said Field quietly, as if she had not
spoken.

She opened the packet and disclosed not the orthodox diamond ring she had
expected, but a ring containing a single sapphire very deep in hue,
exquisitely cut. She looked at him over it, her look a question.

"Will you put it on?" he said.

She hesitated an instant, then with a tightening of the lips she slipped
it on to her left hand.

"Is it too easy?" he said.

She looked at him again.

"No; it is not easy at all."

He took her hand and looked at it. His touch was cool and strong. He
slipped the ring