She stopped, but did not give him her hand directly. She was smiling, but her eyes seemed large with alarm and apprehension. "I do wish you'd promise me never to say another word about this." There was no doubt of her almost pitiful sincerity. It made him very remorseful. "I wish to God I could, Bernadette," he answered. "You're very strong. You can," she whispered, her face upturned to his. He shook his head; now her eyes expressed a sort of wonder, as if at something beyond her understanding. "I'm very sorry," he muttered in compunction. She sighed, but gave him her hand with a friendly smile. "No, don't be unhappy about it--about having told me, I mean. I expect you couldn't help it. _Au revoir_--in London!" "Couldn't we dine, or go to the play, or something, to-night?" It was hard to let her out of his sight. "I'm engaged, and----" She clasped her hands for a moment as though in supplication. "Please not, Oliver!" she pleaded. He drew back a little, taking off his hat. Her cheeks were glowing again as she turned away and went into the shop. CHAPTER X THE HERO OF THE EVENING That same afternoon--the day before Bernadette was to return from Paris--Marie Sarradet telephoned to Arthur asking him to drop in after dinner, if he were free; besides old friends, a very important personage was to be there, Mr. Claud Beverley, the author of the wonderfully funny farce; Marie named him with a thrill in her voice which even the telephone could not entirely smother. Arthur was thrilled too, though it did cross his mind that Mr. Claud Beverley must have rechristened himself; authors seldom succeed in achieving such suitable names as that by the normal means. Though he was still afraid of Mr. Sarradet and still a little embarrassed about Marie herself, he determined to go. He put on one of his new evening shirts--with pleats down the front--and one of his new white evening waistcoats, which was of extremely fashionable cut, and sported buttons somewhat out of the ordinary; these were the first products of the five hundred pounds venture. He looked, and felt, very well turned-out.