judgment and give her the benefit of the doubt. "Probably,"
he heard her remark to Holliday, "you've got me confused with someone
else. I've only been a very short time in Cannes."

A door opened: they all looked around to discover Lady Clifford,
attired for the evening. The vision took Esther's breath. She was
reminded of what the spinster from Chester had said about the fair
Therese being "like something on the films." The Frenchwoman was
wrapped in a chinchilla cloak, caught about her with a grace Esther
felt she could never emulate, even granting the chinchilla cloak.
There was a revelation of apple-green and silver beneath, of white
skin, pearls, and the flash of an immense diamond brooch. Held high
gleamed the impeccable golden head, one of those flawless marvels of
our time. Therese looked radiant, younger than Esther had yet seen
her. Her grey eyes, rayed round with black lashes, shone like stars.
There was a sort of cold purity about her that dazzled.

"Ready?"

Holliday's voice sounded as nonchalant as ever. Glancing at him,
Esther felt amazement that he could accept all this supreme feast of a
woman's beauty without so much as the flicker of an eyelash. Roger,
too, appeared unimpressed. What were the two men made of?

"Have I kept you long?"

Something slightly sharp in the tone caused Esther to turn back towards
Lady Clifford. She was astonished to see that the grey eyes had
narrowed a little and were searching her own face, even while the
question was addressed to her escort.

"No, I've been having a chat with Miss Rowe," replied the young man
negligently, and as he spoke, he turned to Esther and smiled, a
sophisticated smile, holding the hint of conspiracy.

She wished he had not done that. It called up an expression on Lady
Clifford's face which there was now no mistaking. Heavens! Could it
be possible that this transcendently lovely creature was able to feel
even the tiniest bit jealous of her? It was incredible--and yet her
instinct assured her it was so. She felt all at once that she had a
good deal to learn. Days later, looking back, she thought that Lady
Clifford's manner towards her altered from this exact moment.

Roger, too, saw that glance, momentary though it was. It struck him
that Arthur was very clever; he never let any woman be too sure of his
affections. As this thought came to him, Therese turned in his
direction with a little wistful, appealing manner that she