ed from him to the Countess. The Countess began to
laugh. Her husband seemed as bewildered as Dieppe.

"Oh, dear," laughed the Countess, "I believe Captain Dieppe did n't
know me!"'

"Did n't know you?"

"He 's only seen me once, and then in the dark, you know. Oh, what did
you suspect? But you recognise me now? You will believe that I really
am Andrea's wife?"

The Captain could not catch the cue. It meant to him so complete a
reversal of what he had so unhesitatingly believed, such an utter
upsetting of all his notions. For if this were in truth the Countess
of Fieramondi, why, who was the other lady? His want of quickness
threatened at last to ruin the scheme which he had, although
unconsciously, done so much to help; for the Count was growing puzzled.

"I--I--Of course I know the Countess of Fieramondi," stammered Dieppe.

The Countess held out her hand gracefully. There could, at least, be
little harm in kissing it. Dieppe walked across the room and paid his
homage. As he rose from this social observance he heard a voice from
the doorway saying:

"Are n't you glad to see me, Andrea?"

The Captain shot round in time to see the Count paying the courtesy
which he had himself just paid--and paying it to a lady whom he did
know very well. The next instant the Count turned to him, saying:

"Captain, let me present you to my wife's cousin, the Countess Lucia
Bonavia d'Orano. She has arrived to-night from Rome. How did you
leave the Bishop of Mesopotamia, Lucia?"

But the Countess interposed very quickly.

"Now, Andrea, you promised me not to bother Lucia about her journey,
and especially not about the Bishop. You don't want to talk about it,
do you, Lucia?"

"Not at all," said Lucia, and the Count laughed rather mockingly. "And
you need n't introduce me to Captain Dieppe, either," she went on. "We
've met before."

"Met before?" The Count turned to Dieppe. "Why, where was that?"

"At the ford over the river." It was Lucia now who interposed. "He
helped me across. Oh, I 'll tell you all about it."

She began her narrative, which she related with particular fulness.
For a while Dieppe watched her. Then he happened to glance towards the
Countess. He found that lady's eyes set on him with an intentness full
of meaning. The Count's attention was engrossed by Lucia. Emilia gave
a slight but emphatic nod. A slow smile dawned on Captain Dieppe's
face.

"Indeed," ended Lucia, "I 'm n