de
regarding himself and his connections must be obtainable by Avery now.
Why Eaton had played at all; why he had been afraid to refuse the
invitation to play, she could not know; but sympathy and fear for him
swept over her, as she comprehended that it was to Avery the betrayal
had been made and that Avery, for some purpose of his own, was
withholding this betrayal to make use of it as he saw fit.

She moved once more to return to her father; again she stopped; then,
swiftly, she turned and went downstairs.

As she descended, she saw in the lower hall the stenographer, Miss
Davis, sitting waiting. There was no adequate reason for the girl's
being there at that hour; she had come--she said, as she rose to greet
Harriet--to learn whether she would be wanted the next day; she had
already seen Mr. Avery, and he would not want her. Harriet, telling
her she would not need her, offered to send a servant home with her, as
the roads were dark. Miss Davis refused this and went out at once.
Harriet, as the door was closed behind the girl, looked hurriedly about
for Avery. She did not find him, nor at first did she find Eaton
either. She discovered him presently in the music-room with
Blatchford. Blatchford at once excused himself, tired evidently of his
task of watching over Eaton.

Harriet caught herself together and controlled herself to her usual
manner.

"What shall it be this evening, Mr. Eaton?" she asked. "Music?
Billiards?"

"Billiards, if you like," he responded.

They went up to the billiard room, and for an hour played steadily; but
her mind was not upon the game--nor, she saw, was his. Several times
he looked at his watch; he seemed to her to be waiting. Finally, as
they ended a game, he put his cue back in the rack and faced her.

"Miss Santoine," he said, "I want to ask a favor."

"What is it?"

"I want to go out--unaccompanied."

"Why?"

"I wish to speak to a friend who will be waiting for me."

"How do you know?"

"He got word to me at the country club to-day. Excuse me--I did not
mean to inform on Mr. Avery; he was really most vigilant. I believe he
only made one slip."

"He was not the only one observing you."

"I suppose not. In fact, I was certain of it. However, I received a
message which was undoubtedly authentic and had not been overseen."

"But you were not able to make reply."

"I was not able to receive all that was necessary."

She considered for a moment. "What do