As I lay back and reflected peacefully, footsteps approached. The tapestry was pushed aside, and a man entered. He was tall, with a dark complexion. His appearance was aristocratic. I glanced at him, and recognised him in a flash. I knew him by his likeness to the excellent photograph Lady Ursula possessed--he was her lover. I was seated rather in the shadow. At first when he came in he did not notice me. He went straight up to Lady Ursula's table, and laid a small morocco case on it. He took up a photograph of the young lady, looked at it steadily--a half smile played round his somewhat austere mouth, his eyes softened. He held the photograph close to his lips, but he did not kiss it; with an almost reverent gesture he replaced it, then turned to leave the room. As he did so he caught sight of me. I had been looking on with a very red face. It was now Captain Valentine's turn to get red. He grew scarlet; he looked intensely angry. I saw at a glance that he was the last man who could bear to be caught in a sentimental attitude, he was the last man who could bear even a shade of ridicule. He bowed very stiffly to me and vanished. The next instant Lady Ursula came in. "Oh, here you are, Rosamund!" she said; "how do you do?" "I am very well," I answered. I did not want Lady Ursula to call me Rosamund. She sat down on the sofa with her hands crossed idly in her lap. Her face was full of interrogation; it said as plainly as face could: "Now, what do you want, Rosamund? Have the goodness to say it, whatever it is, and go away." The look in her eyes was replied to steadily by mine. Then I said calmly: "I have come for my ring." When I said this Lady Ursula dropped her mask. War to the knife gleamed in her bright eyes. "Oh! the ring," she said; "well, you can't have it, so there!" At that instant Captain Valentine hastily re-entered the room. With a brief apology to me he turned to Lady Ursula and spoke: "Here is your ring," he said, taking up the morocco case, touching a spring and opening it. "I have had the central ruby properly fastened in; there is no fear of your losing it now." He was leaving the room again when an impulse, which I could not overcome, made me rush forward and lay my hand on the table. "Don't, Rosamund, I beseech of you," said Lady Ursula. There was entreaty, almost anguish in her bright blue eyes. I paused, the words arrested on my lips. Captain Valentine stared from one to another of us with a puzzled, amazed glance. Lady Ursula slipped her hand through his arm. She led him towards the door. They passed out together; the door was a little ajar, and I heard him murmur something. Her gentle caressing reply reached my ears: "My love, there is not the smallest fear, she is only a very excitable, eccentric young person, but I shall soon get rid of her."