earer to him.
What there is or may be between you I do not know. It is not for me to
know. But if not now, some day Eugene of Seyre means you to be his, and
he is not a person to be lightly resisted. Now from the skies there
looms up this sudden obstacle."

"You do not realize," Louise protested, almost eagerly, "how slight is
my acquaintance with Mr. Strangewey. I once spent the night and a few
hours of the next morning at his house in Cumberland, and that is all I
have ever seen of him. How can his presence here be of any serious
import to Eugene?"

"As to that," Graillot replied, "I say nothing. If what I have suggested
does not exist, then for the first time in my life I have made a
mistake; but I do not think I have. You may not realize it, but there is
before you one of those struggles that make or mar the life of women of
every age. As for the men, I will only say this, and it is because of it
that I have spoken at all--I am a lover of fair play, and the struggle
is not even. The younger man may hold every card in the pack, but Eugene
of Seyre has learned how to win tricks without aces. I stayed behind to
say this to you, Louise. You know the young man and I do not. It is you
who must warn him."

"Warn him?" Louise repeated, with upraised eyebrows. "Dear master,
aren't we just a little--do you--melodramatic? The age of duels is past,
also the age of hired bravos and assassins."

"Agreed," Graillot interrupted, "but the weapons of to-day are more
dangerous. It is the souls of their enemies that men attack. If I were a
friend of that young man's I would say to him: 'Beware, not of the
enmity of Eugene of Seyre, but of his friendship!' And now, dear lady, I
have finished. I lingered behind because the world holds no more sincere
admirer of yourself and your genius than I. Don't ring. May I not let
myself out?"

"Stop!" Louise begged.

Graillot resumed his seat. He watched with an almost painful curiosity
the changes in Louise's face, which was convulsed by a storm of
passionate apprehension. Yet behind it all he could see the truth. There
was something softer in her face than he had ever perceived before, a
tenderer light than he had ever seen in her eyes. He sighed and looked
down at the carpet.

Louise rose presently and walked abruptly to the window. Then she came
back and reseated herself by his side.

"You are the one friend I have in life who understands, dear master,"
she said. "Do I weary you if I