innate truth of Leone's disposition came uppermost.
With the most dignified manner she returned the bow that Lord Chandos
made.

"I have had the pleasure of meeting Lord Chandos before," she said.

And Lady Marion looked at her husband in reproachful wonder.

"And you never told me," she said. "Knowing my great admiration for
Madame Vanira, you did not tell me."

"Where was it, madame?" he asked, looking at her with an air of
helpless, hopeless entreaty.

Then she bethought herself that perhaps those few words might cause
unpleasantness between husband and wife, and she tried to make little of
them.

"I was at the French Embassy here in London, Lord Chandos, at the same
time you were," she said.

And Lady Marion was quite satisfied with the explanation, which was
perfectly true.

Then they talked for a few minutes, at the end of which Lady Chandos was
claimed by her hostess for a series of introductions.

Lord Chandos and Leone were left alone.

She spoke to him quickly and in an undertone of voice.

"Lord Chandos," she said, "I wish to speak to you; take me into the
conservatory where we shall not be interrupted."

He obeyed in silence; they walked through the brilliant throng of
guests, through the crowded, brilliant room, until they reached the
quiet conservatory at the end.

The lamps were lighted and shone like huge pearls among the blossoms.
There were few people and those few desired no attention from the
new-comers. He led her to a pretty chair, placed among the hyacinths;
the fragrance was very strong.

"I am afraid you will find this odor too much, beautiful as it is," he
said.

"I do not notice," she said; "my heart and soul are full of one thing.
Oh, Lord Chandos, your wife likes me, likes me," she repeated, eagerly.

"I am not surprised at it; indeed, I should have been surprised if she
had not liked you," he said.

The dark, beautiful eyes had a wistful look in them as they were raised
to his face.

"How beautiful she is, how fair and stately!" she said.

"Yes, beautiful; but compared to you, Leone, as I said before, she is
like moonlight to sunlight, like water to wine."

"I have done no wrong," continued Leone, with a thrill of subdued
passion in her voice; "on the contrary, a cruel wrong was done to me.
But when I am with her, I feel in some vague way that I are guilty. Does
she know anything of your story and mine?"

His dark face burned.

"No," he replied; "she knows noth