ot in the most perfect taste, though none were monstrosities. It
was not exceptionally big, and was certainly not showy; on the whole,
it had the unmistakable air of having been built by a good architect,
of the very best materials and in a way to last as long as hewn stone
can. Such beauty as it had lay in its proportions and not in any sort
of ornament, for it was in fact rather plainer than most of its
neighbours in the Boulevard Pereire.

The big door opened noiselessly just as the car came up, but Logotheti,
who drove himself, did not turn in.

'It's rather a tight fit,' he explained, as he stopped by the
curbstone.

He gave his hand to Margaret to get down. As her foot touched the
pavement a man who was walking very fast, with his head down, made a
step to one side, to get out of the way, and then, recognising her and
the Greek, lifted his hat hastily and would have passed on. She started
with an exclamation of surprise, for it was Lushington, whom she had
supposed to be in London. Logotheti spoke first, calling to him in
English.

'Hollo! Lushington--I say!'

Lushington stopped instantly and turned half round, with an exclamation
intended to express an imaginary surprise, for he had recognised all
three at first sight.

'Oh!' he exclaimed coldly. 'Is that you? How are you?'

Margaret offered her hand as he did not put out his. She was a little
surprised to see that he did not change colour when he took it, as he
always used to do when they met; he did not seem in the least shy, now,
and there was a hard look in his eyes.

'All right?' he said, with a cool interrogation, and he turned to
Logotheti before Margaret could give any answer.

'Come in and lunch, my dear fellow,' said the Greek affably.

'I never lunch--thanks all the same.' He moved to go on, nodding a
good-bye.

'Are you here for long?' asked Margaret, forcing him to stop again.

'That depends on what you call long. I leave this evening.'

'I should call that a very short time!' Margaret tried to laugh a
little, with a lingering hope that he might unbend.

'It's quite long enough for me, thank you,' he answered roughly.
'Good-bye!'

He lifted his hat again and walked off very fast. Margaret's face fell,
and Logotheti saw the change of expression.

'He's an awfully good fellow in spite of his shyness,' he said quietly.
'I wish we could have made him stay.'

'Yes,' Margaret answered, in a preoccupied tone.

She was wondering wheth