His heart beat violently and his colour rose as he was ushered into the little sitting-room, and he thought less of the case at the moment than of the joy in seeing Miss Vrain once more, in hearing her speak, and watching her lovely face.
On her part, Diana, recollecting their last meeting, or more particularly their parting, blushed in her turn, and gave her hand to the barrister with a new-born timidity.

She also was inclined to like Lucian more than was reasonable for the peace of her heart; so these two people, each drawn to the other, should have come together as lovers even at this second meeting.
But, alas! for the prosaicness of this workaday world, they had to assume the attitudes of lawyer and client; and discourse of crime instead of love.

The situation was a trifle ironical, and must have provoked the laughter of the gods.
"Well ?" asked Miss Vrain, getting to business as soon as Lucian was seated, "and what have you found out ?" "A great deal likely to be of service to us.

And you ?" "I!" replied Miss Vrain in a satisfied tone.

"I have discovered that the stiletto with the ribbon is gone from the library." "Who took it away ?" "No one knows.