She seemed fond of questioning about the latter, and led him to speak more of himself, and of wild adventures in the dark jungle, where daylight scarcely came, than was his wont. She asked him what his regiment was, and on his telling her, the expression of her face brightened; and laughingly tapping his hand with her perfumed fan, she said: 'Then you must know well a friend of mine.' 'Very probably; was he of ours?' 'If not quite a friend, one at least in whom I have an interest.' 'And his name?' 'Chute--Captain Trevor Chute.' 'I am he you speak of,' replied the other, feeling considerably mystified. 'You!' exclaimed the lady, colouring. 'There is no other so named in the regiment.' 'You the Trevor Chute who was engaged to--to Clare Collingwood!' she exclaimed. It was Chute's turn to colour now at this blunt remark, and with some surprise and annoyance he said: 'I knew not that our engagement was such a common topic as to be known to every chance stranger.' 'But I am no stranger to all this,' she replied, with something of a haughty smile; 'I have heard much of your love and devotion--a love quite like that of a romance rather than of everyday life; but I fear greatly that in the present instance your chances of success----' 'Are rather small,' said a voice, and Sir Carnaby Collingwood, looking somewhat flurried and weary, but yet endeavouring to cover his annoyance by his perpetual smile, suddenly appeared beside them. 'Got your telegram at Buchen just in time to catch the last train for this place, and so am here; and so I find you, Evelyn, _tête-à-tête_ with Captain Chute!' Evelyn! So the lady was the sister of Desmond, and the newly married bride of Sir Carnaby. The words he had casually overheard, without understanding their exact application, had filled him with a secret annoyance that almost amounted to rage and jealousy. The old baronet was aware of Chute's great personal attractions, his popularity with women, his charms of manner and handsome person, and of the disparity in years between them; he was fully aware also of the name Lady Evelyn had for scientific flirtation, and for a time he almost feared that, perhaps in revenge, Chute might have been overattentive, or tempted to improve the occasion, so little did he understand the real nature of the man at whom he was gazing now with a cold stare, while his lips attempted a smile. 'This is a doubly unexpected pleasure, Sir Carnaby,' said Chute, presenting his hand, which the other seemed not to perceive; 'I am so glad to have been of service to Lady Evelyn, and permit me to congratulate----' 'Thanks, that will do,' replied the baronet, abruptly interrupting him; 'you are too apt, sir, to thrust yourself upon members of my family, and at times, too, when you are neither wanted nor wished for.' 'Sir, this is most unwarrantable!' exclaimed Chute, who grew very pale with mortification and bitterness of heart. 'Sir Carnaby!' urged the lady.