to Liosha were:

"Hallo, my Balkan Queen, how have you been getting on?"

"Very well, thank you," smiled Liosha.

He turned to Jaffery. "She's not up to her usual form to-day. But
sometimes she's a fair treat! I give you my word."

He laughed loudly and winked. Jaffery, whose agility in repartee was
rather physical than mental, glowered at him, rumbled something
unintelligible beneath his breath, and took tea out to Doria, who was
established on the terrace.

"Seems to have got the pip," Mr. Fendihook remarked cheerfully.

Barbara, with icy politeness, offered him tea. He refused, explaining
that unless he sat down to a square meal, which, in view of the
excellence of his lunch, he was unable to do, he never drank tea in the
afternoon.

"Could I have a whisky and soda, old pal?"

The drink was brought. He pledged Barbara--"And may I drink to the
success of that promising little affair"--he jerked a backward
thumb--"between our pippy friend and the charming widow?"

Barbara had passed the gasping stage.

"Mr. Chayne," she said in the metallic voice that, before now, had made
strong men grow pale, "Mr. Chayne stands in the same relation of trustee
to Mrs. Boldero as he does to Mrs. Prescott."

But Fendihook was undismayed. "Some fellows have all the luck! Here's to
him, and here's to you, Sheba's Queen."

He nodded to Liosha and pulled at his drink. But Liosha did not respond.
A hard look appeared in her eyes and the knuckles of her hand showed
white. Presently she rose and went onto the terrace, where she found
Jaffery fixing a rebellious rug round Doria's feet. And this is what
happened.

"Jaff Chayne," she said, "I want to have a word with you. You'll excuse
me, Doria, but Jaff Chayne's as much my trustee as he is yours. I have
business to talk."

Doria eyed her coldly. "Talk as much business as you like, my dear girl.
I'm not preventing you." Jaffery strode off with Liosha. As soon as they
were out of earshot, she said:

"Are you going to marry her?"

"Who?"

"Doria."

Jaffery bent his brows on her. He was not in his most angelic mood.

"What the blazes has that got to do with you? Just you mind your own
business."

"All right," she retorted, "I will."

"Glad to hear it," said he. "And now I want a word with you. What do you
mean by bringing that howling cad down here?"

"It's you who howl, not he. He's a very kind gentleman and very clever
and he makes me laugh. He's not like you."

"