know that she did.

One other thing he didn't know, which was that Lucy was half his own
before she started for Martley. She, in fact, didn't know it either.
She had been his from the moment when she had asked him to keep out of
the air, and he had declined.

All this is necessary matter, because in the light of it his next
deliberated move in his game was a bad mistake.

On the night before she was expected at Martley, being there himself,
he wrote her a letter to this effect:

"Dear Mrs. Macartney: To my dismay and concern I find that I
can't be here to receive you, nor indeed until you are on the
point to go away. I shall try hard for Sunday, which will give
me one day with you--better to me than a thousand elsewhere.
Vera will be my curate. Nothing will be omitted which will
show you how much Martley owes you, or how much I am, present
or absent, yours,

"J. U."

That letter he gave to Vera Nugent to deliver to Lucy. Vera wanted to
know what it was all about.

"It's to say that I can't be here," he said. "That is the fact,
unfortunately."

"Why, my dear Jimmy, I thought you adored her. Isn't the poor lady the
very latest?"

"My dear girl, I do adore her. Leave it at that. It's an excellent
reason for not being here: the best. But I'm going up with a star,
which is another reason. And I hope to be here on Sunday, which is the
most I can afford myself. Really, that's all. But you like her, you
say; or you should."

"I do like her. She's not very talkative--to me; but listens well.
Considine will like her. Listeners are rare with him, poor dear. But
you move me. I didn't know you were so far gone."

"Never mind how far I am gone, provided that I go," said Urquhart.

"Oh, at this rate, I will hasten you. I can't be bothered with a
_cause celebre_. But what am I to tell the lady? You must be
practical, my fine man."

"Tell her that I was sent for in a hurry. Hint at the air if you think
proper. I think I have said all that is necessary in the note."

* * * * *

The Macartneys were expected to lunch. Urquhart left his house at
noon, driving himself in a motor. He disappeared in the forest, but
didn't go very far.

James heard of his host's defection with impassivity and a glance of
his eyeglass. "Wonder what Jimmy has shied off for?" he said to Lucy
through the dressing-room door. "Aeropla