end. As he put down the glass Vincent came in.

'I was looking for you,' the latter began hurriedly, when he had
satisfied himself that they were not likely to be overheard. 'I have
seen Caffyn!'

'Well?' said Mark, listlessly.

'It is worse than I thought,' was the answer; 'he has got hold of some
papers--Heaven knows how, but he can prove his case. He half
threatened to destroy them, but if I know him he won't; he will use
them to keep his hold over you--we must get the start of him!'

'Yes,' agreed Mark, 'I can disappoint him there, at all events. I'll
go to Fladgate to-morrow, and tell him everything--it's all I can do
now, and the sooner it is over the better!'

'You must do nothing without me!' said Vincent.

Despair made Mark obstinate. 'I wish to God I had spoken out last
Easter! You stopped me then--you shall not stop me this time! I'll
keep that book no longer, whatever the consequences may be.'

'Listen to me,' said Vincent. 'I will take back the book--I see no
other course now; but I claim the right to tell the story myself, and
in my own way. You will not be madman enough to contradict me?'

Mark laughed bitterly. 'If you can tell that story so as to make it
look any better, or any worse, than it is, _I_ won't contradict you,'
he said: 'that is a safe promise!'

'Remember it, then,' said Vincent. 'I will tell you more when I have
thought things out a little. In the meantime, the less we see of that
scoundrel the better. Can't you take Mabel home now?'

'Yes,' said Mark, 'we will go home, and--and you will come to-morrow?'

'To-morrow,' said Vincent. 'Tell her nothing till you have seen me!'

They were returning to the music-room when Mrs. Featherstone passed.

'Have you seen Mr. Caffyn?' she asked Mark. 'I want to talk to him
about the alterations in the fourth act.'

'He went to sit out one of the dances with Mabel, Gilda said, but I
sent her to look for them, and she hasn't come back yet. I think they
must have gone through the Gold Room, and out on the balcony--it's
cooler there.'

When she had passed on out of hearing, Mark turned to Vincent. 'Did
you hear that?' he said. 'Mabel is out there ... with _him_--we are
saved the trouble of telling her anything now ... that devil means to
tell her himself! I can't stay here!'

'Tell me where you are going--for God's sake don't do anything rash!'
cried Vincent. 'You may be wrong!' He caught him by the arm as he
spoke.

'Let me go!' said M