for Psyche to resist lighting
the lantern for a peep at her mysterious husband in his sleep.

For instance, there was the Countess de Santiago's reference to their
association on board the _Monarchic_, which Knight had refrained from
mentioning. He had spoken of it after the Countess had gone, to be sure;
but briefly, and because it would have seemed odd if he had not done so.
It had struck Annesley that his annoyance with the lady was connected
with that sharp little "dig" of hers, and she could not sweep her mind
clean of curiosity.

The moment the _Monarchic's_ name was brought up she remembered reading
a newspaper paragraph about the last voyage of that great ship from New
York to Liverpool. Fortunately or unfortunately, her recollection of the
paragraph was nebulous, for when she read news aloud to her mistress she
permitted her mind to wander, unless the subject happened to be
interesting. She tried to keep up a vaguely intelligent knowledge of
world politics, but small events and blatant sensations, such as murders,
burglaries, and "society" divorces, she quickly erased from her brain.

Something dramatic had occurred on the _Monarchic_. Her subconscious self
recalled that. But it was less than a month ago that she had read the
paragraph, therefore the sensation, whatever it was, must have happened
when Knight and the Countess de Santiago were on board, coming to
England, and she could easily learn what it was by inquiring.

Not for the world, however, would she question her lover, to whom the
subject of the trip was evidently distasteful. Still less would she ask
the Countess behind his back.

There was another way in which she could find out a sly voice seemed to
whisper in Annesley's ear. She could get old numbers of the _Morning
Post_, the only newspaper that entered Mrs. Ellsworth's house, and search
for the paragraph. But she was ashamed of herself for letting such a
thought enter her head. Of course she would not be guilty of a trick so
mean. She would not try to unearth one fact concerning her Knight--his
name, his past, or any circumstances surrounding him, even though by
stretching out her hand she could reach the key to his secret.

He talked of things which at another time would have palpitated with
interest: their wedding, their honeymoon, their homecoming, and Annesley
responded without betraying absent-mindedness. It was the best she could
do, until the effect of the "biggest favour" and the