shook hands in silence, Nance's dark blue eyes scanning his face.

"Have you heard from Clo?" she said, at last. "I have. Such a dear
letter--written in the train."

He flushed.

"Yes," he said laconically, "I have heard. But I can't wait to talk
about the letter now. I only came here hoping to find a man I know;
they told me at his rooms that he was dining here, but 'twas evidently
a mistake. I must say good-night!"

He held out his hand, and Nance took it mechanically; but as their
fingers fell apart, she stepped forward and walked with him resolutely
across the lounge.

In the vestibule she paused, and compelled him to meet her eyes.

"Walter," she said, "something is wrong!"

Gore's face hardened.

"Nothing is wrong."

She tightened her fingers round the fan she was carrying.

"That is untrue, Walter."

Something in the entire candour of the words touched him. He looked at
her with new eyes.

"You are right," he said quietly. "It was untrue."

"Then something has happened? Something about Clo?"

"Yes. Something--something that will break our engagement."

Nance turned very pale.

"Walter!" she said faintly, after a moment's pause. Then, before he
could speak again, she looked up at him. "Wait for a minute!" she said
sharply--"wait for a minute!" And turning, she hurried back to where
Daisy Estcoit was still sitting.

"Daisy," she said, "tell Pierce that I have gone out with Walter, and
that I'll be back in half an hour. Tell him that it's something
most--most important." She spoke hastily; and, without waiting to see
the effect of her words, turned again, and threaded her way between the
groups of people back to where Gore was standing.

"Call a cab, Waiter!" she said. "We _must_ talk."

"But, Nance----"

"A hansom, please!"

She turned without embarrassment to one of the attendants.

"But Nance----"

"You cannot refuse me, Walter. Clo is everything in the world to me."

The jingle of harness sounded, as the hansom drew up; and, walking
deliberately forward, she got into the vehicle.

"Tell him to drive anywhere that will take half an hour," she said to
Gore, as he reluctantly followed.

"Out Holland Park way!" he said, pausing on the step. "I'll tell you
when to stop."

He took his seat and closed the doors of the cab.

"Won't you be cold without a wrap?"

Nance ignored the question.

"Now," she said, "what is it? Is it about Deerehurst?"

At the sudden onslaught, Gore sta