"

"To what do you refer?" he asked steadily.

He knew that the struggle had commenced, and he was determined to bring
this mock phantasy of love to an end. If he could not marry the one
woman who had shown him what love really meant, he would at least have
done with this foolish dalliance.

"Your engagement to that pink-and-white cousin--Lady----"

"Be silent," he commanded, more sternly than he had ever spoken to any
man, woman or child in his life. His face had paled; his eyes were like
steel. The very thought of hearing her name reviled by the jealous woman
before him filled him with wrath.

She stood silent, but with flashing eyes, her breast heaving with
excitement.

"It is true, then?" she panted. "You are going to marry her--tell me the
truth----"

"I did not say so," he returned, slowly and painfully.

"Then you don't love her. Ah, I knew it!" she cried triumphantly.

He did not reply; and she read in his silence the confirmation of her
fears.

"Adrien, is it possible--you love her, and she----"

"Eveline," he said, "for the sake of our past friendship"--she started
at the words--"do not say any more. You know we have only played with
the divine passion. It has beguiled many a pleasant hour, but I do not
think it has been anything more than a pastime."

"Not to you," she said almost sullenly. "But how dare you doubt my
feelings? How dare you insult me?"

"I did not mean to hurt you," he said gently, and her voice softened at
his tone.

"Ah, Adrien," she cried beseechingly, "you do hurt me when you treat me
like this. Try and forget her, unless"--she broke off abruptly--"unless
you are really going to marry her. Is that so?"

"I told you," he answered wearily. "I shall never marry Constance. She
is engaged to another."

"Thank Heaven!" was her, ladyship's mental ejaculation, but she said
nothing aloud.

Leroy roused himself. "I must go," he said.

"So soon?" she asked tremulously. "Where are you going?"

"To the theatre."

She frowned, and, seeing it, he stopped to explain.

"It is no longer mine," he said with a faint smile.

"Not yours!" she cried in surprise.

"No, it belongs to Miss Lester."

Her quick intellect grasped his meaning at once.

"Henceforth, you mean to retire from the gay world, then?" she said,
with a faint sneer, adding quickly, as his face darkened, "Ah, forgive
me, if am bitter! I hate to see you unhappy. Try and forgive my
ill-humour."

"You are, as ever