Shall I see you to-night, I wonder, at Esholt House ?" "Perhaps!" There were still many people in the room.

Some fresh arrivals occupied his hostess's attention, and Borrowdean, with a resigned shrug of the shoulders, prepared to depart.

He had come, hoping for an opportunity to be alone for a few minutes with the Duchess, and himself a skilful tactician in such small matters, he could not but admire the way she had kept him at arm's length.

And then the opportunity for a master stroke came.

A servant sought him out with a card.