"But--as I have just remarked to Frances--other bracelets may have been made precisely similar to yours," he urged. "If it is mine, the initials 'S. H.' are scratched on the back of the middle star. I did it one day with a penknife." "You never mentioned that fact before." "No. I was determined to give no clue. I was always afraid of the affair being traced home to Gerard, and it would have reflected so much disgrace on my husband's name." "Did you speak to the lady?--did you ask where she got the bracelet?" interrupted Frances. "How could I ask her?" retorted Lady Sarah. "I do not know her." "I will," cried Frances, in a resolute tone. "My dear Fanny!" remonstrated Sir Francis. "I vow I will," she persisted. But they did not believe her. Frances kept her word. She found the strange lady in the refreshment-room. Locating herself by her side, she entered upon a few trifling remarks, which were civilly received. Suddenly she dashed at once to her subject. "What a beautiful bracelet!" "I think it is," was the stranger's reply, holding out her arm for its inspection, without any reservation. "One does not often see such a bracelet as this," pursued Frances. "Where did you buy it?--if you don't mind my asking." "Garrards are my jewellers," she replied. This very nearly did for Frances: for it was at Garrards' that the colonel originally purchased it: and it seemed to give a colouring to Sir Francis Netherleigh's view of more bracelets having been made of the same pattern. But she was too anxious and determined to stand upon ceremony--for Gerard's sake: and he was dearer to her than the world suspected. "We--one of my family--lost a bracelet exactly like this some time back. When I saw it on your arm, I thought it was the same. I hoped it was." The lady froze directly, and laid down her arm, making no reply. "Are you--pardon me, there are painful interests involved--are you sure you purchased this at Garrards'?" "I have said that Messrs. Garrard are my jewellers," replied the stranger, in cold, repelling tones; and the words sounded evasive to Frances. "More I cannot say: neither am I aware by what law of courtesy you thus question me, nor whom you may be." The young lady drew herself up, proudly secure in her name and rank. "I am Lady Frances Chenevix. And I must beg you to pardon me." But the stranger only bowed in silence, and turned to the refreshment-table. Frances went to find the Cadogans, and to question them. She was a Lady Livingstone, they told her, wife of Sir Jasper Livingstone. The husband had made a mint of money at something or other, and had been knighted; and now they were launching out into high society. The nose of Lady Frances went into the air. A City knight and his wife: that was it, was it! How could Mrs. Cadogan have taken up with _them?_