culties, difficulties which he for one was apparently
determined to ignore. Had he recognized her, she wondered? It seemed
probable that he had not. But then there was nothing in his manner to
indicate that he had recognized Bertrand either; yet of that there could
be no doubt.

She heard her husband speaking to an acquaintance behind her, and
instinctively she began to move away from him. She did not feel equal to
effecting an introduction. She murmured something conventional about the
gardens, and Captain Rodolphe at once accompanied her.

Bertrand walked in silence on her other side till, with an obvious
effort, Chris included him in the conversation, when he responded
instantly, with that ready ease of manner which had first drawn her to
rely upon him. But though he showed himself quite willing, as ever, to
help her, he did not once on his own initiative address the man who had
been introduced for his benefit; and Chris, aware of an atmosphere that
was highly charged with electricity, notwithstanding its apparent calm,
began to cast about for a means of escape therefrom.

To rid herself of Captain Rodolphe was her first idea, but this was
easier of thought than accomplishment. He was chatting serenely, in
perfect English, and seemed to have taken upon himself the congenial task
of entertaining her for some time to come. He also did not directly
address her companion, unless she brought them into contact, and her
efforts in this direction very speedily flagged. She could not expect two
men, however courteous, to forget all in a moment the bitter enmity of
years merely to oblige her. They were quite ready to ignore it in her
presence, but the consciousness of it was more than Chris could endure
with equanimity. It disconcerted her at every turn. She felt as if she
trod the edge of a volcano, and her nerves, which had been so severely
strained for the past week, could not face this fresh ordeal.

She turned at last in desperation, almost appealingly, to Bertrand. She
knew he would understand. Had he ever failed her in this respect or in
any other?

"Do you mind going to see if I have dropped my handkerchief in the car?"
she asked him, with a nervous smile.

His smile answered hers. Yes, he understood. "I shall go with pleasure,"
he said, and with a quick bow was gone.

Chris breathed a little sigh of relief, and moved on with her escort into
the rose-garden.

He seemed scarcely aware of Bertrand's departure. H