rode vigorously away. The taxicab turned eastward over Blackfriars
Bridge.

CHAPTER XXI

On the following morning, Maraton saw Elisabeth for the first time since
his return from Manchester. As he rang the bell of Mr. Foley's
residence in Downing Street, at a few minutes before the hour at which
he had been bidden to luncheon, he found himself wondering with a leaven
of resentment in his feelings why he had so persistently avoided the
house during the last three weeks. All his consultations with Mr.
Foley, and they had been many, had taken place at the House of Commons.
He had refused endless invitations of a social character, and even when
Mr. Foley had told him in plain words that his niece was anxious to see
him, Maraton had postponed his call. This luncheon party, however, was
inevitable. He was to meet a great lawyer who had a place in the
Government, and two other Cabinet Ministers. No excuse would have
served his purpose.

The man who took his hat and coat had evidently received special
instructions.

"Mr. Foley is engaged with his secretary, sir," he said. "A messenger
has just arrived from abroad. Will you come this way?"

He was taken to Elisabeth's little room. She was there waiting for him.
Directly she rose, he knew why he had kept away.

"Are you not a little ashamed of yourself, Mr. Maraton?" she asked, as
the door was closed behind the departing servant.

"On the contrary," he replied, "I am proud."

She laughed at him, naturally at first, but with a note of
self-consciousness following swiftly, as she realised the significance
of his words.

"How foolish! Really, I know it is only a subterfuge to avoid being
scolded. Sit down, won't you? You will have to wait at least ten
minutes for luncheon."

They looked at one another. He took up a volume of poems from the small
table by his side and put it down again.

"Well?" she asked.

"You have conquered," he declared. "You see, I came down to earth."

"It isn't possible for me," she said simply, "to tell you how glad I am.
Don't you yourself feel that you have done the right thing?"

"Since that night at Manchester," he told her, "I have scarcely stopped
to think. Do you know that your strongest allies were Mr. Peter Dale
and his men?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I disclaim my allies. If we arrived at the same conclusion, we did so
by differing lines of thought. Let me tell you," she went on, "there
were two things for which I have