But no; that could not be the step of Ida, hastening lightly and quickly to keep her appointment. It was a slow and heavy one--that of a man; and Major Desmond came sauntering along, in full evening costume, with his hands in his coat-pockets, and the red glowing end of a cigar projecting from his bushy moustache. He was chuckling, laughing to himself, and evidently much amused by something. Vane would gladly have avoided him and quitted the rhododendron walk, but to do so might be to lose the last chance of seeing whether Ida kept her appointment; while, if she came, it might indicate that one had been made. He could but hope that the tall guardsman would pass and leave him; but it was not to be so. He had partaken freely of wine, and he was disposed to be jocular, confidential, and particularly friendly, so he passed his arm through Vane's, saying: 'As I passed into the garden a few minutes ago, just to enjoy a soothing weed, I made the funniest discovery in the world--by Jove I did!' 'You discovered what?' asked Vane, intensely annoyed. 'Well--ah--that, with all her grief for our friend Beverley, I don't think the fair Ida is quite beyond being consoled. Do you take?' 'Not in the least,' was the curt response. 'She has an admirer.' 'Many, I should think,' replied Jerry, becoming more and more amazed and nettled by the tone and laughter of the guardsman. 'But she has one in particular, I tell you.' 'Who do you mean?' asked Vane, colouring, as he thought the reference was to himself. 'By Jove, that is more than I can tell you!' said Desmond, with another quiet laugh, as he tossed his cigar away; 'I only know that as I lounged slowly past the arbour where the marble statue stands, about ten minutes ago, I saw her in close proximity--quite a confabulation--with a fellow, though I did not hear their voices; doubtless they were "low and sweet," like that of Annie Laurie.' Was this assertion a piece of Desmond's impudence, or the result of the baronet's champagne? his idea of wit, fun, or what? Jerry Vane felt his face first redden and then grow pale with fury in the dark. 'You must be mistaken,' he said, sternly--almost imperiously. 'Not at all, Vane,' replied the other; 'I passed on without affecting to perceive them; but I could make out that the fellow who hung over her as she sat at the table was not one of the guests--very pale, with a black, lanky moustache.' 'Oh, it is impossible!' urged Vane in a very strange voice. 'Not at all, I tell you,' replied Desmond, in a somewhat nettled tone. 'I simply amused myself with the fun of the thing. I heard a sound, and on looking up saw her start up, look at her watch, and then hurry--almost rush----' 'This way?' 'Oh, no!' 'Whither, then?' 'Straight into the house by the back drawing-room window.' And the tall dandy stroked his long moustache, and uttered one of his quiet laughs again.