And their youthful enchantment had faded so naturally, so pleasantly, that always there had remained to them both an agreeable after-taste--a sort of gay understanding which almost invariably led to mutual banter when they encountered.

But now something appeared to be lacking in their rather listless badinage--something of the usual flavour which once had salted even a laughing silence with significance.

Siward, too, had ceased to be amused at the spectacle of Plank's calf-like infatuation; and Leila Mortimer's bored smile had lasted so long that her olive-pink cheeks were stiff, and she relaxed her fixed features with a little shrug that was also something of a shiver.

Then, looking prudently around, she encountered Siward's eyes; and during a moment's hesitation they considered one another with an increasing curiosity that slowly became tentative intelligence.

And her eyes said very plainly and wickedly to Siward's: "Oho, my friend! So it bores you to see Mr.Plank monopolising an engaged girl who belongs to Howard Quarrier!" And his eyes, wincing, denying, pretending ignorance too late, suddenly narrowed in vexed retaliation: "Speak for yourself, my lady! You're no more pleased than I am!" The next moment they both regretted the pale flash of telepathy.