In his luxurious drawing-room Allan Lyster sat alone.

He was engaged to dine with a party of guardsmen at Richmond, but he hardly felt in spirits to go.

This was Thursday; never dreaming that Lady Atherton would fail him, he had faithfully promised to pay his bet on Friday.

It was now Thursday evening, and he had heard nothing from her.

He had not the least intention of really betraying her to her husband--he knew the character of an English gentleman too well for that.