" about wanting her to come.

At this point Knight reflected for a minute, while everyone hung upon his
silence; and at last he had an inspiration:

"I'll tell you what we can do!" he exclaimed. "My wife and I--you're
willing, aren't you, Anita?--can ask her to stay over this week-end with
us. I think she'll come if she isn't engaged; and we can invite you to
meet her at dinner."

"Oh, you must invite us _all_!" pleaded a pretty woman sitting next to
Knight.

"All of you who care to come, certainly," he agreed. "Won't we, Anita?"

"Oh, of course. It will be splendid if everybody will dine with us!"
Annesley backed him up with one of the girlish blushes that made her seem
so young and ingenuously attractive. "We can--send a telegram to the
Countess."

She did her best to speak enthusiastically, and succeeded. No one save
Knight and Constance guessed it was an effort.

Knight saw, and was grateful. Constance saw also, and smiled to herself
at what she fancied was the girl's jealousy of an old friend of the new
husband--an old friend who was "one of the most beautiful women" the girl
had seen. Annesley's hesitation inclined Constance to be more interested
than ever in the Countess de Santiago.

CHAPTER XII

THE CRYSTAL

Motoring back from Valley House to the Knowle Hotel, Annesley was asking
herself whether she might dare refer to the _Monarchic_, and mention the
story she had read In the _Morning Post_. She burned to do so, yet
stopped each time a question pressed to her lips, remembering Knight's
eyes as he had looked at the Countess in the Savoy restaurant the day
before the wedding.

Perhaps the wish would have conquered if some imp had not whispered,
"What about that purple envelope, addressed in a woman's handwriting?
Maybe it was from _her_, hinting to see him again, and that is what has
put this plan into his head. Perhaps he brought up the subject of the
Countess on purpose to make them invite her here!"

This thought caused the Countess de Santiago to seem a powerful person,
with an influence over Knight, though he had appeared not to care for
her. Could it be that he wanted an excuse to have her near him? The
suggestion closed Annesley's mouth by making her afraid that she was
turning into a suspicious creature, like jealous brides she had read
about. She determined to be silent as a self-punishment, and firmly
steered the _Monarchic_ into a backwater of her thoughts, while Knight
talked