ade, it's just
as well to lose no time in scotching it."

Mark Driver had not the least suspicion. He sat with one elbow on the
table, one hand supporting his chin, his handsome, alert face wearing
the somewhat grave expression suitable to his professional environment.
His visit to Grandison Square the previous evening alone would have
been enough to prove, if proof were necessary, that Carrissima remained
blissfully ignorant of that trivial act of folly in Golfney Place. An
excellent test had been provided. Bridget's departure had been freely
discussed, and Carrissima had not shown the slightest embarrassment.
She had bidden him "good-bye" at eleven o'clock, and Colonel Faversham
had encouraged him to come again before many days. They were always
pleased to see him!

"But who in the world has been making an accusation?" asked Mark.

"Sybil--at least it originated with Carrissima," said Jimmy.

"My dear chap," retorted Mark warmly, "surely you must know that
Carrissima is the very last person to make an accusation, founded or
unfounded, against anybody."

"I should have thought so," Jimmy admitted.

"Whom is it against?"

"Bridget. I am bound to bring it out," said Jimmy. "The fact is
Carrissima insists that you two have been gulling us all. To put it
plainly, she declares there has been what she rather euphemistically
calls 'an understanding' between you from first to last."

Mark was on his feet before Jimmy ceased speaking, but even now he did
not perceive the real inwardness of the situation. The statement
sounded incredible. If there was one fact of which this somewhat
sceptical man was absolutely convinced, it was that whether Carrissima
loved him well enough to marry him or not, she at least entertained the
very highest opinion of him.

"You must be dreaming!" he cried. "Carrissima could never have said
anything of the kind."

"Anyhow," answered Jimmy, "I had it from Sybil an hour or so ago."

"But, my dear fellow," Mark expostulated, "it's simply inconceivable.
Carrissima knows that Bridget is nothing to me. To tell you the truth,
I had my own reasons for going out of my way to tell her so."

"You thought it necessary!" exclaimed Jimmy hastily.

"Oh well," said Mark, "I had fallen into the habit of going to Golfney
Place rather often--that was before I went to Yorkshire--as far back as
January. Carrissima had the idea that I admired the girl; so I did,
for that matter--who wouldn't?