A delicate, dainty, seductive note. With a start, Vane remembers the elegant house on ---- avenue, which had been Mr. Langton's property. Here it is that his heiress had pitched her tent, figuratively speaking, and opened the campaign, for she is determined not to lose the delights of the winter wholly, although in ostensible mourning. Vane is roused to indignation at first. Why should she ask him to call? Does she take him for a simpleton? He has forgiven her for Reine's sake. That is enough. He stays away, and in three days an elegant private carriage sets Maud down in front of his office. She rustles across the threshold in a costly costume, designed to represent slight second mourning--a black silk with jetted trimmings, white _crepe lisse_ at throat and wrists, a jetted bonnet with white _lisse_ strings, a dress that is marvelously becoming to the pearl-fair beauty, framed in soft waves of golden hair. "Perhaps you think I have come to scold you," she says, with infinite tact, as he comes forward, visibly embarrassed; "but I have not. Of course you had a right to decline my invitation, if it did not please you to come. I shall not trouble you long now. I am here on a matter of business." Mr. Charteris bows and hands her a chair. She seats herself, making _moonlight_, not "sunlight," "in a shady place," with her cold, white beauty. Then her large, light-blue eyes turn scrutinizingly on his worn, handsome face. "You are not looking well," she pronounces. "Business, perhaps, is driving you too hard?" Vane smiles rather grimly. "I cannot make any complaint of that nature," he responds. The blue eyes light, unmistakably, with pleasure. "Then you are not busy," she says; "I am rather glad to hear it. Perhaps you will have time to manage my property for me?" He looks inquiringly at the beautiful, smiling face. "I have quarreled with my lawyer," she explains. "I intended to take the management of my affairs out of his hands. Will you take his place, Vane?" A dark, red flush creeps up to his temples at her air of condescending patronage. "Excuse me, I must decline," he answers. "You decline--surely not!" says the proud beauty, with incredulous surprise. "Why should I not decline?" Vane Charteris asks, with a certain haughtiness, before which Maud lowers her proud tone of patronage visibly. "I thought you could not afford to decline," she falters. "Are you not--not poor?" "Granted," he answers, with a slight, cold smile. "I am not yet poor enough to barter my self-respect. For the rest, you know, Miss Langton-- "'Man wants but little here below, Nor wants that little long.'" Maud, who has come bustling with pretty patronage and self-importance, is visibly disconcerted. She takes a new tone. "You are harsh and cruel to me, Vane," she says, petulantly. "I came with the best intentions. I only meant kindness." "Thank you," stiffly.