he had even
prayed for it. Now the moment seemed to have come. God would not let her
be the victim of an ignoble trick!

"I'm glad," she said, her face lit by a light from within. And at that
moment, bending toward each other, they were a beautiful couple. A seeker
of romance would have taken them for lovers.

"Tell me what you want me to do," Annesley said once more.

"The worst of it is, I can't tell you exactly. Two men may come into this
restaurant looking for me. One or both will speak to me. They'll call me
a certain name, and I shall say they've made a mistake. You must say so,
too. You must tell them I'm your husband, and stick to that no matter
what the man, or men, may tell you about me. The principal thing now is
to choose a name. But--by Jove--I forgot it in my hurry! Are you
expecting any one to join you? If you are, it's awkward."

"I was expecting someone, but I've given him up."

"Was this table taken in his name or yours? Or, perhaps--but no, I'm sure
you're _not_!"

"Sure I'm not what?"

"Married. You're a girl. Your eyes haven't got any experience of life in
them."

Annesley looked down; and when she looked down her face was very sweet.
She had long, curved brown lashes a shade or two darker than her hair.

"I'm not married," she said, rather stiffly. "I thought a table had been
engaged in the name of Mr. Smith, but there was a misunderstanding. The
head waiter put me at this table in case Mr. Smith should come. I've
given him up now, and was going away when----"

"When you took pity on a nameless man. But it seems indicated that he
should be Mr. Smith, unless you have any objection!"

"No, I have none. You'd better take the name, as I mentioned it to the
waiter."

"And the first name?"

"I don't know. The initial I gave was N."

"Very well, I choose Nelson. Where do we live?"

Annesley stared, frightened.

"Forgive me," the man said. "I ought to have explained what I meant
before asking you that, or put the question another way. Will you go on
as you've begun, and trust me farther, by letting me drive with you to
your home, if necessary, in case of being followed? At worst, I'll need
to beg no more than to stand inside your front door for a few minutes if
we're watched, and--but I see that this time I have passed the limit. I'm
expecting too much! How do you know but I may be a thief or a murderer?"

"I hadn't thought of such a thing," Annesley stammered. "I was only
thinking--i