.

"An amazing woman!" said Saltash.

Toby glanced at him, and said nothing. She had watched the whole episode
from her corner with eyes that missed nothing; but she had not spoken a
word.

He bent suddenly towards her. "Drink some wine, _cherie_! You are pale."

She started a little at the quick peremptoriness of his speech. She
lifted her glass to drink, and splashed some of the wine over. He leaned
farther forward, screening her from observation.

"Go on! Drink!" he said, with insistence, and in a moment his hand closed
upon hers, guiding the wine to her lips.

She drank obediently, not meeting his look, and he took the glass from
her, and set it down.

"Now we will go. Are you ready?"

She rose, and he stood aside for her. As she passed him, his hand closed
for an instant upon her bare arm in a grasp that was close and vital. She
threw him a quick, upward glance; but still she said no word.

They passed out through the throng of diners almost unobserved, but in
the corridor Spentoli leaned against a pillar smoking a long, black
cigar. He made no movement to intercept them, but his eyes with their
restless fire dwelt upon the girl in a fashion that drew her own
irresistibly. She saw him and slightly paused.

It was the pause of the hunted animal that sees its retreat cut off, but
in an instant Saltash's voice, very cool, arrogantly self-assured,
checked the impulse to panic.

"Straight on to the lift, _ma chere_! See! It is there in front of you.
There will be no one in the gallery. Go straight on!"

She obeyed him instinctively as her habit was, but in the lift she
trembled so much that he made her sit down. He stood beside her in
silence, but once lightly his hand touched her cheek. She moved then
swiftly, convulsively, and caught it in both her own. But the next moment
he had gently drawn it free.

The gallery that ran round three sides of the great _salon_ was deserted.
There was only one point at the far end whence a view of the stage that
had been erected for the dancer could be obtained. Towards this Saltash
turned.

"We shall see her from here," he said.

The place was but dimly illumined by the flare of the many lights
below--two great crystal candelabra that hung at each end being left
unlighted. Under one of these was a settee which Saltash drew forward to
the balcony.

"No one will disturb us here," he said. "We can smoke in peace."

He offered her his cigarette-case, but she refused