d."

Doran admitted that he was worried--very worried.

"But good heavens, why? Tough looking chap--ought to be able to look
after yourself."

"I can, sir, but I was forbidden to do so. And I was wondering if it's
to be a bar of lead or a sponge of chloroform."

"Oh, rats," Richard laughed, "you go and find out."

"Very well, sir."

Doran took a grip on himself and marched out.

"And now," said Richard to himself, "I suppose the fun is going to
begin."

He lit a cigarette and waited. It was quite a long time before the
door opened and a woman came quickly into the room. And she was
lovely. She had a mass of black hair swept clear of the brow. Her
eyes were black, large and luminous. She was unnaturally white but her
lips were scarlet. It was a beautiful mouth, shapely, sensuous,
sensitive, but with a hint of strength. Her brows very straight and as
thin almost as pencil lines. She wore a flame-coloured evening
dress--'_Tout feu_' as a ladies' journal would describe it--and a cloak
of smoke colour which fell from one shoulder and double draped the
other. There was nothing ordinary in the appearance of Auriole Craven.
She attacked the eye and held it captive. A woman would have declared
her to be overdressed--_outre_--almost _demi mondaine_--would have
denounced the white face and the red curled lips--would have criticised
the uncanny knack of falling instantaneously into attitudes of flowing
lines. But to a man the subject of these criticisms was matter for
appreciation. By her very daring she stirred a spirit of adventure.
Richard checked a gasp of admiration--of surprise--rose to his feet and
bowed, but other than by settling her eyes upon him the girl gave no
sign of recognition. Clearly it was up to someone to make a move,
wherefore Richard politely offered her "good evening."

"Is that all you have to say?" came the answer.

"Of course not," he laughed, "but I make a point of saying that first.
Do sit down, won't you?"

She occupied the offered chair and looked up at him.

"At least I thought you'd be surprised," she said. "Still it doesn't
matter."

"P'raps I am," he admitted reluctantly, "but my surprise was drowned in
a very natural pleasure."

"Pleasure?"

"It was awfully nice of you to look in like this. Been to a theatre or
something?"

"No."

"No?"

"I came to talk."

"Fine! We--we've every facility."

"Yes." Her head was slightly raised and she seemed to be lis