unknown rival to the dream of whose approval Richard Calmady had
consecrated these splendid furnishings--witness the multiplicity of
looking-glasses!--And then the prospect of this _tete-a-tete_ dinner,
the interest of her host's powerful and enigmatic personality, provoked
her interest to the point not only of obliterating remembrance of the
ill-timed advent of her ex-lover, but of inducing something as closely
akin to self-forgetfulness as was possible to her self-centred nature.
She grew hotly anxious to obtain, to charm--if it might be, to usurp
the whole field of Richard's attention and imagination.

A small round table showed as an island of tender light in the dimness
of the vast room. And Richard, sitting at it awaiting her coming,
appeared more nearly related to the Richard of Brockhurst and of five
years ago than he had done during the interview of the morning. In any
case, she took him more for granted. While he, if still inscrutable and
unsmiling, proved an eminently agreeable companion, ready of
conversation, very much at his ease, very much a cultivated man of the
world, studious--a little excessively so, she thought--in his avoidance
of the personal note. And this at once piqued Helen, and incited her to
intellectual effort. If this was what he wanted, well, he should have
it! If he elected to talk of travel, of ancient and alien religions, of
modern literature and art, she could meet him more than half-way. Her
intelligence ran nimbly from subject to subject, point to point. She
struck out daring hypotheses, indulged in ingenious paradox, her mind
charmed by her own eloquence, her body comforted by costly wines and
delicate meats. Nor did she fail to listen also, knowing how very dear
to every man is the sound of his own voice, or omit to offer refined
flattery of quick agreement and seasonable laughter. It was late when
she rose from the table at last.

"I have had a delightful dinner," she said. "Absolutely delightful. And
now I will encroach no longer on your time or good nature, Richard. You
have your own occupations, no doubt. So, with thanks for shelter and
generous entertainment, we part for to-night."

She held out her hand smiling, but with an admirable effect of
discretion, all ardour, all intimacy, kept in check by self-respect and
well-bred dignity. Madame de Vallorbes was enchanted with the reserve
of her own demeanour. Let it be well understood that she was the least
importunate, the lea