So they said good-bye, the young man speeding westwards in a taxi, the
lion hunter's excitement thrilling in his veins.

The financier returned to his stately office and passed through his
obsequious rows of clerks to his inner sanctum. Then he lit another
cigar and gave orders that he was not to be disturbed for a quarter of
an hour. He reposed in a comfortable chair and allowed himself to dream.
All his plans were working; there must be no rush. Great emergencies
required rush, but to build to the summit of one's ambitions, one must
use calm and watchful care.

CHAPTER VIII

Countess Shulski was seated in her uncle's drawing-room when Lord
Tancred was announced.

It was rather a severe room, purely French, with very little furniture,
each piece a priceless work of art. There were no touches of feminine
influence, no comfortable sofas as in the morning-room or library, all
was stiff, and dignified, and in pure style.

She had chosen to receive him there, on purpose. She wished the meeting
to be short and cold. He came forward, a look of determination upon his
handsome face.

Zara rose as he advanced, and bowed to him. She did not offer to shake
hands, and he let his, which he had half outstretched, drop. She did not
help him at all; she remained perfectly silent, as usual. She did not
even look at him, but straight out of the window into the pouring rain,
and it was then he saw that her eyes were not black but slate.

"You understand why I have come, of course?" he said by way of a
beginning.

"Yes," she replied and said nothing more.

"I want to marry you, you know," he went on.

"Really!" she said.

"Yes, I do." And he set his teeth--certainly she was difficult!

"That is fortunate for you, since you are going to do so."

This was not encouraging; it was also unexpected.

"Yes, I am," he answered, "on the 25th of October, with your
permission."

"I have already consented." And she clasped her hands.

"May I sit down beside you and talk?" he asked.

She pointed to a Louis XVI. _bergere_ which stood opposite, and herself
took a small armchair at the other side of the fire.

So they sat down, she gazing into the blazing coals and he gazing at
her. She was facing the gloomy afternoon light, though she did not think
out these things like her uncle, so he had a clear and wonderful picture
of her. "How could so voluptuous looking a creature be so icily cold?"
he wondered. Her wonderful hair see