leges were for a happier man than I: I was at best
only her "friend." Never could I hope, whether success or failure
crowned the effort I was impatient to begin--for more than that.

Instead I walked soberly up to the door and knocked, telling the cabman
that he might wait--and wishing that he might have to wait for long.

Presently in answer to my summons a footman appeared (a fellow I
remembered to have seen at the town house when I had called), and it
struck me that, as I enquired if Lady Tressidy was at home, he eyed me
more piercingly than a well-trained servant usually eyes a guest.

"I am sorry, sir," he answered with a slight hesitation, "that her
ladyship is out at present. What name shall I say when she returns?"

"Mr. Stanton," I unsuspectingly replied, though it did dimly occur to me
that the man might have left me to give him my card. It seemed almost
too good to be true that Lady Tressidy should be away from home, for now
I felt practically certain that I should have the unexpected joy of
seeing Karine alone, speaking to her far more unrestrainedly than I
could do in the presence of her hostess, and explaining in a way
satisfactory to us both, my intended absence.

"I am sorry," I hypocritically remarked, "not to see Lady Tressidy; but
I have come some distance, and perhaps Miss Cunningham would spare me a
few minutes."

"I--I am afraid, sir"--still stammering uncomfortably--"that Miss
Cunningham is away with her ladyship."

I was astonished at this piece of information, for I was absolutely sure
that it was Karine whose shining halo of hair and white gown I had seen
in that rosy space between the window curtains. Of course the footman
might honestly believe that she was not at home; but I did not mean
lightly to abandon the chance of a few words with her.

"I think you are mistaken about that," I boldly said. "Please be good
enough at any rate to enquire."

The fellow's face reddened, contrasting unpleasantly with his powder,
but he persisted in his story.

"I am quite sure I am right, sir," he went on more firmly. "Miss
Cunningham is with my lady."

My impulse was to slip a couple of sovereigns into his palm, and insist
that he should ascertain if Miss Cunningham were not after all at home,
for I was beginning to be suspicious of a plot to thwart me. If such an
one existed I could not think that Karine had been a party to it, for
though of course she could not care to see me, in at all the sa