nted realm. And on this
night she made an unconsciously picturesque figure as she stood
fascinated by the chances of the play--her face flushed, her eyes
intensely bright, her fingers restlessly eager to make their stakes.
Round about her was gathered a little group of interested and admiring
men--Deerehurst, Luard, Serracauld, and a couple of young Americans who
had come to Venice with introductions to Lady Frances Hope; but on none
of them did she bestow more than a pre-occupied attention. She
permitted them to stand beside her; she laughed softly at their
compliments and their jests; but her eyes and her thoughts were
unmistakably for the painted board over which Barnard was presiding.
Another half-dozen rounds of the game were played; then suddenly she
turned away from the table with a quick laugh.

"The end!" she said to Serracauld, who was standing nearest to her; and
with a quick gesture, she held up the gold netted purse, now limp and
empty.

With an eager movement, he stepped forward.

"Let me be useful!" he whispered quickly.

"Or me! I represent your husband, you know!" Barnard leant across the
roulette-table.

"Oh, come, Barny! I spoke first----"

But Clodagh looked smilingly from one to the other, and shook her head.

"No!--no!" she said hastily. "I--I never borrow money."

Serracauld looked obviously disappointed.

"Nonsense, Mrs. Milbanke----" he began.

But Deerehurst intervened.

"If Mrs. Milbanke does not wish it, Valentine----" he murmured
soothingly. "Mrs. Milbanke, let me take you out of temptation!"

He bowed to Clodagh, and courteously made a passage for her through the
crowd that surrounded them. If any cynical remembrance of her first
vehement repudiation of the suggestion that she should gamble, rose now
to confute her newer denial, no shadow of it was visible in his face.

As they freed themselves from the group of players, they paused
simultaneously, and looked for a moment round the large, cool salon,
about which the elder or more serious of the assembly were scattered
for conversation or cards. Neither spoke; but after a moment's wait,
Deerehurst turned his pale eyes in the direction of the open windows,
and by the faintest lifting of his eyebrows conveyed a question.

Clodagh laughed; then silently bent her head, and a moment later they
moved forward together across the polished floor.

As they passed one of the many groups of statuary that brightened the
more shadowed p