by
her dust veils.

When the maid appeared above stairs a few minutes later the mystery of
the unknown visitor's identity remained unsolved.

"The lady said," announced the servant, "that she hoped you would see
her for a few minutes."

"Who is the lady?"

"I don't know, ma'am. She said she had no card with her and would I
please just deliver that message."

As Conscience came noiselessly and lightly down the stairs a few moments
later her guest was standing by one of the pillars of the terrace,
looking off across the breadth of landscape, but her figure and profile
were revealed. The veil, thrown back, was faintly aflutter about a head
crowned with red-brown hair and a face delicately chiseled. Her eyes
held the clear luminosity of lighted amber, but, unconscious of being
observed, they held a note of pain--almost of timidity. Conscience's
first impression untinged by any bias of preconception expressed itself
in the thought, "Whoever she is, she is very lovely." Then she stepped
out onto the tiles and the lady turned. The eyes of the two met and the
lips of the two smiled.

"You are Mrs. Eben Tollman?" inquired the visitor and Conscience nodded
with that quick graciousness of expression which always brought to her
face a quality of radiance.

"Yes, the maid didn't get your name, I believe."

The hint of pain and timidity had left the amber eyes now and in their
place had come something more difficult to define.

"No, I preferred giving it to you myself. I am Marian Holbury."

CHAPTER XX

The visitor did not miss the sudden and instinctive change on the face
of her hostess or the impulsive start as if to draw back in distaste.
Conscience evidently saw in this visit a violation of all canons of good
taste. At all events she remained standing as if letting her attitude
express her unwillingness to prolong the situation.

"I suppose if I were diplomatic," went on Marian when it was evident
that the other had no intention of making inquiries as to the cause of
her coming, "I might say that I'd turned in to make inquiry about these
bewildering roads--or to borrow gasoline."

"If there is any motoring assistance I can give--" began the hostess,
but the other woman interrupted her with a short laugh and a glance of
almost reckless straightforwardness.

"No, it isn't for that, that I came. You see I'm _not_ diplomatic. I'm
said to be startlingly frank. I came to talk with you, if you'll let me,
about