"I cannot return the compliment and look fixedly at him," she said, "but I will take one glance at him, and see if I know him." Calmly, slowly, deliberately, yet with the fire and hate of fury burning in her heart, she laid down her dainty bouquet; she took up the jeweled opera-glass, held it for a moment lightly balanced in her hand, then, with a calm, proud smile, raised it to her eyes. Oh, heavens! that the first glimpse of those dark eyes, looking fire into her own, did not kill her. Her heart gave a terrible bound; she could have cried aloud in her agony, and have died; but the Studleigh nerve was uppermost, the Studleigh courage in full play; her hands did not tremble, nor her lips quiver. Quite calmly she looked, as though she saw a stranger for the first time, and even then a stranger who did not interest her. She laid down the glass, and turned to Earle, with a smile. "I do not know the gentleman; I have not seen him before." At that same moment he who had been watching her with such eager interest made her a low bow. "He appears to recognize you," said Earle; "he is bowing to you." She did not make even the least acknowledgment in return. "He cannot know me," she said, calmly; "he is mistaken. I have never seen him before." "He must be either very dull or foolish to mistake you, my darling, for anyone else," said Earle. "I defy the whole world to show another face like yours. It is some one whom you have met and forgotten. Be kind, and give him some little acknowledgment, Doris. See, he is bowing again." She raised her eyes to his face. "Lady Studleigh returns no bows from strangers," she said, haughtily, and Earle felt himself rebuked. At that moment Sir Harry Durham entered the box to pay his respects to the belle of the evening. Earle asked him eagerly if he knew the gentleman in the center box, who wore the white japonica? "Know him!" said Sir Harry, laughingly; "yes, of course I do--every one knows him. That is Lord Charles Vivianne." The familiar name fell upon her ears like a death-knell. Earle repeated in surprise: "Lord Vivianne! I have heard of him often enough, though I never saw him before. I have surely heard some romantic story about some love affair." "Earle," interrupted Lady Doris, "do you think Lady Linleigh looks tired?" She merely asked the question, the first that came into her mind, to divert his attention. She succeeded perfectly--Sir Harry went to ask the countess if she were fatigued. Earle bent over Lady Doris' chair. "You have some strange deeds to answer for," he said, lightly. For one moment she looked startled. "What do you mean, Earle?" she asked. "I believe," he replied, "that you have made a conquest of this famous Lord Vivianne." "Heaven forbid!" she said; and she said it so earnestly that Earle looked at her in utter wonder. "I am tired of conquests, Earle," she said, trying to smile. "I want nothing--no one but you, no love but yours."