e."

"I love argument, but art is long and my stay at Nimes very brief.
To-morrow I must move on to Orange."

"Then I'll not disturb you further. I expect you have a good deal to get
through."

"Yes. This afternoon it's the Pont du Gard; this evening the Druids'
Tower."

"This evening! The place is very lonely at night-time."

"I know. But I must sketch it in moonlight. That's essential."

"Remember Arles," warned Riviere. "You ought not to be alone."

She nodded. "I know. But I have my work to do."

Riviere felt uneasy over the matter. He did not wish to urge an
undesired escort upon her, but he did not like to think of her working
alone by the solitude of the Druids' Tower at night-time.

"If I can be of any service to you while you are here at Nimes," he
said, "you have only to send a note to the Villa Clementine."

With that he said good-bye and left her. It seemed evident that he had
offended her in some way. Possibly, he thought, it was by asking her to
write that letter to Olive. Though she had agreed willingly enough at
the time, it was possible that afterwards she had regretted it. It had
offended against her sense of right. Riviere felt distressed.

Then the remembrance came to him that this was the merest tourist
acquaintanceship. To-morrow she would be leaving Nimes, and the episode
would pass out of her thoughts. Probably they would never meet again. It
was not worth further thought on either side.

Resolutely he banished all thoughts of Elaine from his mind, and
concentrated on his own work-problems.

From the corner of a lane near the Maison Carree, Crau, the young
Provencal, had been watching them keenly as they talked together.

CHAPTER XIV

BY THE DRUIDS' TOWER

Mme Giras, the proprietress of the Villa Clementine, was a rosy, smiling
body, plumped and rounded in almost every aspect, and with a heart of
gold. Yesterday it had been plain to her shrewd, twinkling eyes that
monsieur and mademoiselle were soon to make a match of it. Of course it
was very shocking that mademoiselle should be travelling about alone at
her age, but much could be forgiven in so charming a young lady.

When Riviere returned to the villa for lunch, he found the table in the
arbour laid for two, and by one plate a rose had been placed.

"I have prepared for two," said Mme Giras, smilingly. "Is it not right?"

"Thank you; but it will not be necessary," answered Riviere.

"After all my preparations! A