us of! This party is meant to advertise that they're the best of
friends."

"Guy, you're to sit next Mrs. Dupont," she directed; and at the sound of
her voice my heart gave a little jump. There was a different quality
about this voice--a contralto quality. It was heavier, richer, less
flutelike than Rosemary's used to be.

Mrs. Dupont and Guy Brandreth passed us to reach their chairs. Guy was a
square-jawed, rather ugly, but extremely masculine young man of a type
intensely attractive to women.

"She wants to show everyone how she trusts him now!" I thought. "She's
giving him Mrs. Dupont practically to himself for the evening."

All the party pushed by, Rosemary and an elderly man, who, it appeared,
was Mr. Dupont, coming last. He sat between her and me, and they chatted
together before the music began; but now and then she looked past him at
me, without the slightest sign of embarrassment.

"Jim," I whispered, "_it isn't Rosemary_!"

"Well--I was wondering!" he answered. "But--it _must_ be."

"It simply _isn't_," I insisted. "To-morrow I'm going to call on Mrs.
Guy Brandreth."

"Supposing she won't see you?"

"She will," I said. "I shall ring her up early before she can possibly
be out, and make an appointment."

"If it is Rosemary, when she knows who you are she won't----" began Jim,
but I cut him short. I repeated again the same obstinate words: "It is
_not_ Rosemary."

* * * * *

I called up Mrs. Guy Brandreth at nine o'clock next morning, and heard
the rich contralto voice asking "_Who_ is it?"

"Lady Courtenaye at Willard's Hotel," I boldly answered. "I've come from
England on purpose to see you. I have very important things to say."

There was a slight pause; then the voice answered with a new vibration
in it: "When can you come? Or--no! When can you have me call on you?
That would be better."

"I can have you call as soon as you care to start," I replied. "The
sooner the better."

"I'm not dressed," said the quivering voice. "But I'll be with you at
ten o'clock."

I told Jim, and we arranged that he should be out of the way till
ten-thirty. Then he was to walk into our private sitting room, where I
would receive Mrs. Brandreth. I thought that by that time we should be
ready for him.

CHAPTER XIII

MRS. BRANDRETH'S STORY

She came--into a room with all the blinds up, the curtains pushed back,
and floods of sunshine streaming in.

Just for an inst