s. Milbanke's air
of having just discovered some delicious secret that is always
prompting me to curiosity."

"How do you manage to look so triumphant?" She turned again to Clodagh
with a long, puzzled glance. "I wish you would impart the secret."

Clodagh's bright eyes met hers.

"My father used to say that the secret of happiness is never to look
beyond the present hour."

"A philosopher!" murmured Deerehurst.

"I should say a bold man." Barnard looked from the old nobleman to his
hostess.

But almost as he spoke, the name of Sir Walter Gore was announced, and
Lady Frances looked sharply towards the door.

With a quiet, unembarrassed bearing, Gore crossed the salon.

As he approached the little group, Lady Frances stepped towards him
with outstretched hands.

"How nice of you!" she said softly. "I began to fear you had forgotten
about to-night."

He took her hand calmly.

"But I had promised to come," he said simply.

And at the words, his eyes turned involuntarily towards Clodagh.

"Good evening, Mrs. Milbanke!" he added in the same level voice.

At his glance and his words, Clodagh's expression changed. The vague
excitement of the past hours seemed suddenly to focus itself. She
realised abruptly that she had not yet vindicated her right to the joy
of life. With exaggerated difference she bent her head in
acknowledgment of his greeting; and almost immediately turned to
Deerehurst.

"Lord Deerehurst!" she said, very softly and distinctly, "I want you to
do me a favour to-night! I want you to teach me to play roulette!"

It was her declaration of war--the moment towards which she had
unconsciously been tending ever since the interview of the afternoon.
She knew it instantly the words had left her lips--knew it by the quick
surprise in Barnard's eyes, the sharp curiosity in Lady Frances Hope's,
the veiled triumph in Deerehurst's, and the cold disapprobation in Sir
Walter Gore's. Without another glance she turned away and walked slowly
forward across the salon, to where a couple of dozen people were
grouped about the roulette-table.

As she moved deliberately forward, many heads were turned in her
direction, but she was heedless and almost unobservant of the interest
she evoked. Her heart was beating fast, she was rejoicing recklessly in
her vindicated independence.

Deerehurst overtook her, as she halted by the roulette-table. And she
was conscious of his presence without looking round.

"Will