o Bowen
when he called, she would then shut herself in her room and plead a
headache as an excuse for not being disturbed. Thus she would escape
Miss Wangle and her waves of interrogation.

As Patricia descended the stairs, Gustave was in the act of throwing
open the door to Lady Tanagra. It was too late to retreat.

"Ah! there you are," exclaimed Lady Tanagra as she passed the
respectful Gustave in the hall.

Patricia descended the remaining stairs slowly and with dragging steps.
Lady Tanagra looked at her sharply.

"Aren't we a nuisance?" cried she. "There's nothing more persistent in
nature than a Bowen. Bruce's spider is quite a parochial affair in
comparison," and she laughed lightly.

Patricia smiled as she welcomed Lady Tanagra. For a moment she
hesitated at the door of the lounge, then with a sudden movement she
turned towards the stairs.

"Come up to my room," she said, "we can talk there."

There was no cordiality in her voice. Lady Tanagra noticed that she
looked worn-out and ill. Once the bedroom door was closed she turned
to Patricia.

"My poor Patricia! whatever is the matter? You look thoroughly done
up. Now lie down on the bed like a good girl, and I will assume my
best bedside manner."

Patricia shook her head wearily, and indicating a chair by the window,
seated herself upon the bed.

"I'm afraid I am rather tired," she said. "I was just going to lock
myself up for the night."

"Now I'm going to cheer you up," cried Lady Tanagra. "Was there ever a
more tactless way of beginning, but I've got something to tell you that
is so exquisitely funny that it would cheer up an oyster, or even a
radical."

"First," said Patricia, "I think I should like you to read these
letters." Slowly and wearily she ripped open the three letters and
handed them to Lady Tanagra, who read them through slowly and
deliberately. This done, she folded each carefully, returned it to its
envelope and handed them to Patricia.

"Well!" said Patricia.

Lady Tanagra smiled. Reaching across to the dressing-table she took a
cigarette from Patricia's box and proceeded to light it. Patricia
watched her curiously.

"I think you must have been meant for a man, Tanagra," she said after a
pause. "You have the gift of silence, and nothing is more provoking to
a woman."

"What do you want me to say?" enquired Lady Tanagra. "I like these
cigarettes," she added.

"If you are not careful, you'll make me scream