fighting man there was no trace whatsoever in his speech or
appearance. The politicians who were likely to be present she knew.
What was there left? An explorer, perhaps, or a colonial. Her
curiosity became imperious.

"You have not told me your name," she reminded him.

"My name is Maraton," he replied, a little grimly.

"You--Maraton!"

There was a brief silence--not without a certain dramatic significance
to the girl who stood there with slightly parted lips. The smooth
serenity of her forehead was broken by a frown; her beautiful blue eyes
were troubled. She seemed somehow to have dilated, to have drawn
herself up. Her air of politeness, half gracious, half condescending,
had vanished. It was as though in spirit she were preparing for battle.

"You seem to have heard of me," he remarked drily.

"Who has not heard of you!" she answered in a low tone. "I am sorry.
You have made me break my word."

"I?"

She was recovering herself now. A certain icy aloofness seemed to have
crept into her manner. Her head was held at a different angle. Even
the words seemed to leave her lips differently. Her tone was one of
measured indignation.

"Yes, you! When Mr. Foley told me that he had asked you to come here
to-night, I vowed that I would not speak to you."

"A perfectly reasonable decision," he agreed, without the slightest
change of expression, "but am I really to be blamed for this unfortunate
incident? You cannot say that I thrust myself upon your notice."

His eyebrows were ever so slightly uplifted. She was not absolutely
sure that there was not something very suggestive of amusement in his
deep-set eyes. She bit her lip. Naturally he was not a gentleman!

"I thought that you were a neglected guest," she explained coldly. "I
do not understand how it is that you have managed to remain
undiscovered."

He shook his head doubtfully.

"I made my entrance with the others. I saw a very charming lady at the
head of the stairs--your mother, I believe--who gave me her fingers and
called me Mr. Martin. Your uncle shook hands with me, looking over my
head to welcome some one behind. I passed on with the rest. The fault
remains, beyond a doubt, with your majordomo and my uncommon name."

"Since I have discovered you, then," she declared, "you had better let
me take you to my uncle. He has been looking everywhere for you for the
last hour. We will go this way."

She laid the extreme tips of her fingers upon his coat s