. He remained in
excellent spirits throughout dinner.

When it was over, and the bridge players were established on the
veranda, he drifted off to the smoking-room in an aimless, inconsequent
fashion, and his hostess and accomplice saw him no more.

She would have given a good deal to have witnessed his subsequent
movements, but she would have been considerably disappointed had she
done so, for Hone's methods were disconcertingly direct. All he did when
he found himself alone was to sit down and scribble a brief note.

"I am waiting to see you" (so ran his message). "Will you come to me
now, or must I follow you to the world's end? One or the other it will
surely be.--Yours, PAT."

This note he delivered to the _khitmutgar_, with orders to return to him
with a reply. Then, with a certain massive patience, he resumed his
cigar and settled himself to wait.

The _khitmutgar_ did not return, but he showed no sign of exasperation.
His eyes stared gravely into space. There was not a shade of anxiety in
them.

And it was thus that Nina Perceval found him when at last she came
lightly in from the veranda in answer to his message. She entered
without the smallest hesitation, but with that regal air of hers before
which men did involuntary homage. Her shadowy eyes met his without fear
or restraint of any sort, but they held no gladness either. Her
remoteness chilled him.

"Why did you send me that extraordinary message?" she said. "Wasn't it a
little unnecessary?"

He had risen to meet her. He paused to lay aside his cigar before he
answered, and in the pause that dogged expression that had surprised
Mrs. Chester descended like a mask and covered the first spontaneous
impulse to welcome her that had dominated him.

"It was necessary that I should see you," he said.

"I really don't know why," she returned. "I wrote a note to thank you
for the care you took of me the other night. That was days ago. I
suppose you received it?"

"Yes, I received it," said Hone. "I have been trying, without success,
to see you ever since."

She made a slight impatient movement.

"I haven't seen any one. I was upset after that horrible adventure. I
shouldn't be seeing you now, only your ridiculous note made me wonder if
there was anything wrong. Is there?"

She faced him with the direct inquiry. There was a faint frown between
her brows. Her delicate beauty possessed him like a charm. He felt his
blood begin to quicken, but he kept