h her as only a desperate man can
plead. He threw his pride to the winds, and prayed her mercy and her
forgiveness.

"What time is it?" he said, when he had finished.

"Three o'clock," said Winfield, looking at his watch, "and I've had no
lunch."

"No; you expected--that is, we expected to----I say, Winfield, I'm going
to send this by hand."

"Wait until to-morrow."

"No; to-morrow is an eternity. I must send it now. Great God! you don't
know what this means to me. Get your lunch, Winfield; I'll be back
presently."

He left the room as he spoke, while Winfield went into the dining-room.

"Poor beggar," said the young man as he examined the menu, "he's got it
bad, and no wonder; for it was a knock-down blow. Well, it must be kept
out of the papers, anyhow."

When he had nearly finished his lunch Leicester joined him.

"I've sent it off," he said, "and have told the man to wait for an
answer."

"Better if you'd waited until to-morrow," said Winfield.

"I couldn't, man. Most likely she'll go away somewhere to-night--that
is--unless--you know. If I'd waited until to-morrow, she'd never have
got my letter, she'd be on the way to the Continent, or--heaven knows
where. No, I've done right."

"Perhaps you have. Anyhow, sit down and get some lunch. A man must eat,
you know."

"I could just as easily fly. Ah, and that reminds me. Winfield, let's go
for a ride out in the country. We can get a couple of horses at
Bilson's. He has a mad mare that I want to ride. She's a fearful
creature, and scarcely any one dares to mount her. I must do something
to keep the devil out of me."

"Very well. I'm just in the humour for a gallop; but get some lunch, old
man."

"Come on, if you have finished. We can get to Wimbledon Common in an
hour--in less than an hour. Then we will give those horses of Bilson's a
chance to know what they can do."

"But we must get some riding togs on, old man. You can't go a-riding
with a frock coat, and a top hat."

"Oh, I forgot; but that's soon remedied. We can be back by seven or
eight o'clock, and by that time there should be--an answer."

A few minutes later, they were on their way towards Wimbledon Common.
But for Winfield, Leicester would have galloped through the crowded
streets, and more than once he was on the point of resenting his
companion's restrictions. When they arrived at the open country,
however, he gave his horse rein, and tore across the Common, while
Winfield kept cl