I shan't be long." For the second time she avoided meeting his eves as she left the room.
Tallente stood on the hearth-rug, still looking at the closed door through which she had vanished, puzzled, a little chilled.

He gave his order to the attentive butler who presently appeared and who looked at him with covert interest,--the Press had been almost hysterically prodigal of his name during the last few weeks.

Then he settled down to wait for her return with an impatience which became almost uncontrollable.

It seemed to him, as he paced restlessly about, that this little apartment, which he remembered so well, had in a measure changed, was revealing a different atmosphere, as though in sympathy with some corresponding change in its presiding spirit.

There was a huge and well-worn couch, smothered with cushions and suggestive of a comfort almost voluptuous; a large easy-chair, into which he presently sank, of the same character.