ness and I am sure he has something to say to me."

She dismissed them all pleasantly. As soon as the door was closed she
turned to Tavernake. Her manner seemed to become a shade less gracious.

"Well?"

"I don't know why I came," Tavernake confessed bluntly. "I was restless
and I wanted to see you."

She looked at him for a moment and then she laughed. Tavernake felt a
sense of relief; at least she was not angry.

"Oh, you strangest of mortals!" she exclaimed, holding out her hands.
"Well, you see me--in one of my most becoming gowns, too. What do you
think of the fit?"

She swept round and faced him again with an expectant look. Tavernake,
who knew nothing of women's fashions, still realized the superbness of
that one unbroken line.

"I can't think how you can move a step in it," he said, "but you look--"

He paused. It was as though he had lost his breath. Then he set his
teeth and finished.

"You look beautiful," he declared. "I suppose you know that. I suppose
they've all been telling you so."

She shook her head.

"They haven't all your courage, dear Briton," she remarked, "and if they
did tell me so, I am not sure that I should be convinced. You see, most
of my friends have lived so long and lived so quickly that they have
learned to play with words until one never knows whether the things they
speak come from their hearts. With you it is different."

"Yes," Tavernake admitted, "with me it is different!"

She glanced at the clock.

"Well," she said, "you have seen me and I am glad to have seen you, and
you may kiss my fingers if you like, and then you must run away. I am
engaged to have supper with my friends downstairs."

He raised her fingers clumsily enough to his lips and kept them there
for a moment. When he let them go, she wrung them as though in pain,
and looked at him. She turned abruptly away. In a sense she was
disappointed. After all, he was an easy victim!

"Elise," she called out, "my cloak."

Her maid came hurrying from the next room. Elizabeth turned towards her,
holding out her shoulders. She nodded to Tavernake.

"You know the way down, Mr. Tavernake? I shall see you again soon,
sha'n't I? Good-night!"

She scarcely glanced at him as she sent him away, yet Tavernake walked
on air.

CHAPTER XIV. A WARNING FROM Mr. PRITCHARD

Tavernake hesitated for a moment under the portico of the Milan Court,
looking out at the rain which had suddenly commenced to descend. He