They gladly accepted his invitation and accompanied him round the stables, where he pointed out to them the different celebrities, and gave a rapid sketch of their several careers, with their failings, foibles, victories and defeats. Suddenly Verona found herself face to face with a young man in a long racing coat, whose face seemed familiar. "Miss Chandos!" he exclaimed, halting immediately before her, and then she recognised Captain Haig, who snatched off his cap and held out his hand, saying: "This is, indeed, an unexpected pleasure! Pray, when did you arrive?" "Some time ago," she answered. "And you?" "Only this morning; I have two ponies entered, one of them a celebrated performer; her name is"--and he looked at her with steady significance--"V. C." "Oh!" she ejaculated. "What an odd name for a pony." "Hallo, Salwey, how are you?" he said; "I did not see you"--then he glanced interrogatively at the bony, half-caste youth, Salwey's companion. "No," replied Salwey, "and yet I'm generally visible to the naked eye." "Miss Chandos and I," explained Captain Haig, "are--I hope I may say--old friends; we met each other year before last at Homburg. Poor Madame!" looking at Verona as he spoke, "so she is gone. What a cheery old lady she was! Shall we take a turn round the paddock? I want to show you your namesake." The young lady inclined her head and the pair strolled off, leaving Salwey and Nicky alone. "I say," burst out Nicky, "I should not wonder if that fellow is a pal of Verona's." "I should not wonder, either," repeated Salwey, and he became suddenly silent. Meanwhile, Verona and Captain Haig moved slowly round the paddock, where she was, as of old times, the cynosure of admiring eyes. Captain Haig considered her critically. She looked a little pale and thin, but was as beautiful, as well turned out, as self-possessed as ever. There was the same perfection of dress and perfection of untroubled composure, and he had never forgotten her--so he imagined now; she had exercised over him a lasting and vivid fascination. "I was in two minds about this meeting," he announced; "how glad I am now I came." "Oh, are you?" she murmured vaguely. "Yes, I needn't tell you that I would thankfully travel many miles to see _you_." To this over-blown compliment Verona made no reply; she was wondering what he would say when he saw her mother and sisters! In the distance she caught sight of Dominga, splendidly dressed, boisterous, shrill. A stranger might reasonably have suspected that this laughing and chattering was the effects of champagne--they would be mistaken. Dominga was merely intoxicated with her own supreme happiness, her extraordinary social success. "I suppose you are out here for the cold weather?" resumed Captain Haig. "It is quite the thing to do now." "No," she responded, "I am out for altogether--my people live here."