Now that she had agreed to come, he began to wish he had never said anything about it. What if his dear friend Ilfracombe got wind of the matter? Would not that render his wife’s efforts on Mr Portland’s behalf futile ever afterwards? The earl was very suave and easily led; but Jack Portland knew him too well to suppose he would ever forgive an offence against his honour. If Nora’s good name were compromised by his nearest and dearest friend, that friend would have to go, if the parting broke his heart. Added to which Mr Portland had no idea of getting into even an imaginary scrape for Lady Ilfracombe; he did not like her well enough. He regarded her only as a convenient tool in his hands which he had no intention of letting go. ‘Perhaps, after all,’ he said cautiously, ‘you had better not risk it. It _would_ be a risk, you know, and it would be awkward to have to give Ilfracombe an explanation of the affair, wouldn’t it?’ ‘I shall be careful to run no risk,’ was her reply. ‘But suppose some of the farm people should see you, what excuse could you make for being there?’ ‘I should make no excuse at all. I have as much right as other people, I suppose, to take a moonlight ramble. What time shall I meet you? It must not be too late, as I must go upstairs when the other ladies do.’ ‘That is not very early, as a rule,’ said her companion; ‘let us say midnight. Ilfracombe will be safe in the card or billiard-room at that time, and not likely to notice what you are about.’ ‘And how will you manage to leave the party without observation?’ ‘Oh, I shall trust to chance; but you may be sure I shall be there. And--and--if you fail me, Nora, why, I shall understand that you value your reputation more than you do--me, or your husband’s good opinion, because in that case--’ ‘I understand. You need not recapitulate. But I shall not fail you. It will seem quite like old times having an assignation with you, Jack. Do you remember the night I met you down by the landing-place at Valetta, and that horrid man Pietro followed me all the way, and only showed his ugly face just as I had reached your side? I always believed that it was Pietro who betrayed us to papa, for he was sometimes very impertinent in his manner to me afterwards. Oh, and have you forgotten the time when you took me out in a boat and we got caught in a squall, and had to put in to shore, and remained nearly the whole day away in a little _estaminet_? What a fearful row papa made about it, and I had to pretend I had been alone, though I don’t think he believed me. Papa certainly did hate you, Jack, though I never could understand why. I suppose it was all the money, or, rather, the lack of it.’ And here Nora heaved a most deceitful sigh. ‘Do you ever regret that there was any obstacle between us?’ asked Mr Portland persuasively. ‘Do you think you could have been happy as Mrs Jack Portland, if Ilfracombe had not come between us?’