the
world alone. You must see that for yourself, Mr. Tavernake."

"She seems a very sensible young lady," he declared slowly. "I should
have thought that she would have been old enough to know for herself
what she wanted and what was best for her."

The woman at his side wrung her hands with a little gesture of despair.

"Oh, why can't I make you understand!" she exclaimed, the emotion once
more quivering in her tone. "How can I--how can I possibly make you
believe me? Listen. Something has happened of which she does not
know--something terrible. It is absolutely necessary, in her own
interests as well as mine, that I see her, and that very shortly."

"I shall tell her exactly what you say," Tavernake answered apparently
unmoved. "Perhaps it would be as well now if we went on to view the
sleeping apartments."

"Never mind about the sleeping apartments!" she cried quickly. "You must
do more than tell her. You can't believe that I want to bring harm upon
any one. Do I look like it? Have I the appearance of a person of evil
disposition? You can be that young lady's best friend, Mr. Tavernake, if
you will. Take me to her now, this minute. Believe me, if you do that,
you will never regret it as long as you live."

Tavernake studied the pattern of the parquet floor for several moments.
It was a difficult problem, this. Putting his own extraordinary
sensations into the background, he was face to face with something which
he did not comprehend, and he disliked the position intensely. After
all, delay seemed safest.

"Madam," he protested, "a few hours more or less can make but little
difference."

"That is for me to judge!" she exclaimed. "You say that because you do
not understand. A few hours may make all the difference in the world."

He shook his head.

"I will tell you exactly what is in my mind," he said, deliberately.
"The young lady was terrified when she saw you that night accidentally
in the chemist's shop. She almost dragged me away, and although she
was almost fainting when we reached the taxicab, her greatest and chief
anxiety was that we should get away before you could follow us. I
cannot forget this. Until I have received her permission, therefore,
to disclose her whereabouts, we will, if you please, speak of something
else."

He rose to his feet and glancing around was just in time to see the
change in the face of his companion. That eloquently pleading smile
had died away from her lips, her teet