ou can see the same thing here, if you like."

The Duchess beamed.

"That would be delightful," she said. "Whom would you like to help
you?"

"Leave me alone for a minute or two," Saton said. "I will look around
and choose somebody."

The Duchess stepped back into the circle of her guests.

"Mr. Saton is going to entertain us in a very wonderful manner," she
announced.

Rochester, who had been on his way to the billiard room, came back.

"Let us stay and see the tricks," he remarked to the bishop, who had
been his companion.

The Duchess frowned. Saton shot a sudden glance at Rochester. A dull,
angry color burned in his cheeks.

"Stay, by all means, Mr. Rochester," he said. "We may possibly be able
to interest you."

There was almost a challenge in his words. Rochester, ignoring them
save for his slightly uplifted eyebrows, sat down by the side of
Pauline.

"The fellow's cheek is consummate!" he muttered.

"I need," Saton remarked quietly, "what I suppose Mr. Rochester would
call a confederate. I can only see one whom I think would be
temperamently suitable. Will you help me?" he asked, turning suddenly
toward Pauline.

"No!" Rochester answered sternly. "Lady Marrabel will have nothing to
do with your performance."

Rochester bit his lip the moment he had spoken. He felt that he had
made a mistake. One or two of the guests looked at him curiously. The
Duchess was literally open-mouthed. Saton was smiling in a peculiar
manner.

"In that case," he remarked quietly, "if Mr. Rochester has spoken with
authority, I fear that I can do nothing."

The Duchess was very nearly angry.

"Don't be such an idiot, Henry!" she said. "Of course Pauline will
help. What is it you want her to do, Mr. Saton?"

"Nothing at all," he answered, "except to sit in a corner of the room,
as far from me as possible, and answer the questions which I shall ask
her, if she be able. You will do that?" turning suddenly towards her.

"Of course she will!" the Duchess declared. "Be quiet, Henry. You are
a stupid, prejudiced person, and I won't have you interfere."

Pauline rose to her feet.

"I am afraid," she said, "that I can scarcely be of much use, but of
course I don't mind trying."

Saton was standing a little away, with his elbow leaning upon the
mantelpiece.

"If two of you," he said, helping himself to a cigarette, and
deliberately lighting it, "will take Lady Marrabel over--say to that
oak chair underneath the bani