She took off her cloak, handing it to her maid, then sat down on the couch and made herself comfortable, and attractive; she knew the full value of her personal appearance, and fine figure, and posed accordingly. Fletcher Denyer always admired her; to-night she looked so radiant and alluring he was fascinated, under her spell. He forgot his caution so far as to come to the sofa, bend over her, attempt to kiss her. She pushed him back roughly, and said: "Keep your distance, Fletcher, or we shall fall out. You have had too much champagne." "It's not the champagne," he said hotly; "it's your beauty; it acts like wine. You are lovelier than ever to-night. That fellow Rolfe admired you, any one could see it. You're not going to throw me over for him, are you, Len?" "Don't be a silly boy. As for throwing you over, there is no engagement between us; we are merely good friends, and if you wish to maintain the relationship you had better not try to kiss me again. I hate being kissed; kisses are only for babes and sucklings," she said. He laughed; it was no good quarreling with her. He was satisfied to think that had any other man attempted to kiss her she would have ordered him out of the house. "Not much of the babe about you," he said. "More than you think, but I'm not made to be kissed." "That's just what you are, the most lovable woman I ever met." She laughed. "That champagne was certainly too strong for you," she said. She never seemed tired; all go, no matter how late the hour; her flow of spirits seldom flagged, her eyes always shone brightly, her complexion never failed her; she was really a remarkable woman. No one knew what an effort it cost her to keep up appearances--alone a change came over her, the reaction set in. She did not care to be alone, at times she was afraid. "What do you think of Rolfe?" he asked. "In what way?" "All ways, as far as you can judge from what you have seen to-day, and to-night," he said. She was thoughtful. He watched her; the jealous feeling came uppermost again. "I think," she said slowly, "he is a man who has had a great deal of trouble, suffered much, probably on account of a woman. I think he is a strong man, that he is determined, and if he has an object in view he will attain it, no matter what the obstacles in his way. Probably he has traveled, seen a good deal of the world, had strange experiences. He has remarkable eyes, they pierce, probe into one, search out things. He is a fine looking man, well built, but has probably had a severe illness not long ago. I think I shall like him; he is worth cultivating, making a friend of." She spoke as though no one were present. Fletcher Denyer felt for the time being he was forgotten and resented it. "You have analyzed him closely; you must be a character reader. Have you ever turned your battery of close observation on me?" he asked snappishly. She smiled.