y.

"You are putting me in the position of a supplicant!" she exclaimed.
"To-night we must have an understanding."

The little party moved on all together to another cover. Rosamund had
joined them and hung on to Dominey's arm with delight. The brisk walk
across the park had brought colour to her cheeks. She walked with all
the free and vigorous grace of a healthy woman. Dominey found himself
watching her, as she deserted him a little later on to stand by
Terniloff's side, with a little thrill of tangled emotions. He felt a
touch on his arm. Stephanie, who was passing with another of the guns,
paused to whisper in his ear:

"There might be a greater danger--one that has evaded even your cautious
mind--in overplaying your part!"

Dominey was taken possession of by Caroline on their walk to the next
stand. She planted herself on a shooting stick by his side and commenced
to take him roundly to task.

"My dear Everard," she said, "you are one of the most wonderful examples
of the reformed rake I ever met! You have even acquired respectability.
For heaven's sake, don't disappoint us all!"

"I seem to be rather good at that," Dominey observed a little drearily.

"Well, you are the master of your own actions, are you not?" she asked.
"What I want to say in plain words is, don't go and make a fool of
yourself with Stephanie."

"I have not the least intention of doing anything of the sort."

"Well, she has! Mark my words, Everard, I know that woman. She is clever
and brilliant and anything else you like, but for some reason or other
she has set her mind upon you. She looks at dear little Rosamund as
though she hadn't a right to exist. Don't look so sorry for yourself.
You must have encouraged her."

Dominey was silent. Fortunately, the exigencies of the next few minutes
demanded it. His cousin waited patiently until there came a pause in the
shooting.

"Now let me hear what you have to say for yourself, sir? So far as I can
see, you've been quite sweet to your wife, and she adores you. If you
want to have an affair with the Princess, don't begin it here. You'll
have your wife ill again if you make her jealous."

"My dear Caroline, there will be no affair between Stephanie and me. Of
that you may rest assured."

"You mean to say that this is altogether on her side, then?" Caroline
persisted.

"You exaggerate her demeanour," he replied, "but even if what you
suggest were true--"

"Oh, I don't want a lot of pro