and let her out, and she went
back to her own rooms.

CHAPTER XVI

SANTOINE'S "EYES" FAIL HIM

Eaton, coming down rather late the next morning, found the breakfast
room empty. He chose his breakfast from the dishes on the sideboard,
and while the servant set them before him and waited on him, he
inquired after the members of the household. Miss Santoine, the
servant said, had breakfasted some time before and was now with her
father; Mr. Avery also had breakfasted; Mr. Blatchford was not yet
down. As Eaton lingered over his breakfast, Miss Davis passed through
the hall, accompanied by a maid. The maid admitted her into the study
and closed the door; afterward, the maid remained in the hall busy with
some morning duty, and her presence and that of the servant in the
breakfast room made it impossible for Eaton to attempt to go to the
study or to risk speaking to Miss Davis. A few minutes later, he heard
Harriet Santoine descending the stairs; rising, he went out into the
hall to meet her.

"I don't ask you to commit yourself for longer than to-day, Miss
Santoine," he said, when they had exchanged greetings, "but--for
to-day--what are the limits of my leash?"

"Mr. Avery is going to the country-club for lunch; I believe he intends
to ask you if you care to go with him."

He started and looked at her in surprise. "That's rather longer
extension of the leash than I expected," he replied.

He stood an instant thoughtful. Did the invitation imply merely that
he was to have greater freedom now?

"Do you wish me to go?" he asked.

Her glance wavered and did not meet his. "You may go if you please."

"And if I do not?"

"Mr. Blatchford will lunch with you here."

"And you?"

"Yes, I shall lunch here too, probably. This morning I am going to be
busy with Miss Davis on some work for my father; what I do depends on
how I get along with that."

"Thank you," Eaton acknowledged.

She turned away and went into the study, closing the door behind her.
Eaton, although he had finished his breakfast, went back into the
breakfast room. He did not know whether he would refuse or accept
Avery's invitation; suddenly he decided. After waiting for some five
minutes there over a second cup of coffee, he got up and crossed to the
study door and knocked. The door was opened by Miss Davis; looking
past her, he could see Harriet Santoine seated at one of the desks.

"I beg pardon, Miss Santoine," he explained his