t to notice that his clothes
were wet. But "Wiggy" Devar did not care now whether or not the story
told by Cynthia was true. With reaction from the nightmare that had
possessed her since ten o'clock came a sharp appreciation of the
extraordinarily favorable turn taken by events so far as she was
concerned. If a French count were to be supplanted by an English
viscount, what better opportunity of approving the change could
present itself?

"Mr. Fitzroy," she said in her shrill voice, "I can never thank you
sufficiently for the courage and resource you displayed in rescuing
Miss Vanrenen. You have acted most nobly. I am only saying now what
Mr. Vanrenen will say when his daughter and I tell him of your
magnificent behavior."

He reddened and tried to smile, though wishing most heartily that
these heroics, if unavoidable, had been kept for some other time
and place. He could not believe that Cynthia had exalted a not
very serious incident into a "rescue," yet she might be vexed if he
cheapened his own services. In any event, it was doubtful whether she
would wish her father to hear of the escapade until she told him
herself at the close of the tour.

"I am sure Miss Vanrenen felt safe while in my care," was all he dared
to say, but Cynthia promptly understood his perplexity and came to his
aid.

"Mrs. Devar thinks far more of our adventure than we do," she broke
in. "Our chief difficulty lay in finding the road. The only time I
felt worried was when you crossed the river to retrieve the ferryboat.
But surely I have caused enough excitement for to-night. You ought to
take some hot lemonade and go to bed."

A man who had walked up the hill from the boathouse with Medenham
laughed and slapped him on the shoulder.

"Come along, old chap!" he cried. "You certainly want a hot draught of
some sort, and you must not hang about in those wet clothes."

"Yes," purred Mrs. Devar, "don't run the risk of catching cold,
Fitzroy. It would spoil everything if _you_ were laid up."

Her gracious manner almost deceived Medenham. During his years of
wandering he had come across unexpected good qualities in men from
whom he looked for naught but evil--was it the same with women? He
hoped so. Perhaps this scheming marriage-broker had shed her worldly
scales under the stress of emotion.

"You need have no fear that the car will not be waiting for you in the
morning, Mrs. Devar," he said, smiling frankly into her steel-gray
eyes. "Did