was dispelled with the morning post. Mrs. Smith was full of
regrets for herself and the Archdeacon, but Ruthven accepted in his
precise manner with "much pleasure and gratitude for so kind an
attention." The matter was settled, and Connie telephoned to Madalena.

"No Archdeacon; no Mrs. Archdeacon! But I've bagged the jewel-man. Will
he be strong enough alone to spread over us that mantle of mysterious
protection your crystal showed you?"

"I hope so," the Countess answered.

Yet the woman at the other end of the wire thought the voice sounded
dull, and was disappointed, even vaguely anxious. Her anxiety would have
increased if she could have seen the face of the seeress. Now that the
match was close to the fuse, Madalena had a wild impulse to draw back. It
was not too late. Nothing irrevocable had been done. Ruthven Smith's
acceptance of the invitation to Valley House would mean only a few days
of boredom for his fellow guests, unless--she herself made the next move
in the game.

Before she decided to make it, she resolved to see the man of whom she
thought as Michael Donaldson.

So far nothing had happened to raise any visible barrier between them.
She was not supposed to know that he did not want her to join the Easter
house party, and he and she and Annesley were on friendly terms. It would
be easy for her to see Don, to see him alone, if she could only choose
the right time, unless----There was an "unless," but she thought the face
of the butler would settle it.

There were certain times on certain days when Nelson Smith was "at home"
for certain people. These days were not those when Annesley and Constance
were "at home."

In fact, they had been chosen purposely in order not to clash.

The American millionaire had, from his first appearance in London,
interested himself in more than one charitable society. Representatives
of these associations called upon him during appointed hours, and were
shown straight to his "den." Indeed, they were the only persons welcomed
there, but the Countess de Santiago had some reason to expect that an
exception might be made in her favour.

Luckily, the day when she heard the news from Lady Annesley-Seton was one
of the two days in the week when Nelson Smith was certain not to be out
of the house in the afternoon. Luckily also she knew that his wife was
equally certain to be absent. "Anita" was going to play bridge at a house
where Madalena was invited.

She got her maid