"Colin!" cried Miss Cavendish. "One would think, from your talk, that Geoffrey was in a cowboy camp, with waitresses for society." He grinned, and lighted a fresh cigarette. She tossed him an alluring look. "And nothing can induce you to tell me the location of the camp?" she implored. He smoked, a bit, in silence. Should he or should he not?... "No!--not now!" he said, slowly. "Let us try the bond matter, first. If he sells, I think he will return; if not, I'll then consider telling." "You're a good fellow, Colin, dear!" she whispered, leaning over and giving his hand an affectionate little pat. "You're so nice and comfortable to have around--you never misunderstand, nor draw inferences that you shouldn't." "Which means, I'm not to draw inferences now?" he said. "Nor at any other time," she remarked. "And the reward?" "Will be forthcoming," with an alluring smile. "I've a mind to take part payment now," said he, intercepting the hand before she could withdraw it. "If you can, sir!" whisking it loose, and darting around a table. "A challenge, is it? Oh, very well!" and he sprang after. With a swift movement, she swept up her skirts and fled--around chairs, and tables, across rugs, over sofas and couches--always manoeuvring to gain the doorway, yet always finding him barring the way;--until, at last, she was forced to refuge behind a huge davenport, standing with one end against the wall. "Now, will you surrender?" he demanded, coming slowly toward her in the cul de sac. She shook her head, smiling the while. "I'll be merciful," he said. "It is five steps, until I reach you--One!--Will you yield?" "No!" "Two!--will you yield?" "No!" "Three!--will you yield?" "No!" "Four----" Quick as thought, she dropped one hand on the back of the davenport; there was a flash of slippers, lingerie and silk, and she was across and racing for the door, now fair before her, leaving him only the echo of a mocking laugh. "Five!" she counted, tauntingly, from the hall. "Why don't you continue, sir?" "I stop with four," he said. "I'll be good for to-night, Elaine--you need have no further fear." She tossed her head ever so slightly, while a bantering look came into her eyes. "I'm not much afraid of you, now--nor any time," she answered. "But you have more courage than I would have thought, Colin--decidedly more!" XII ONE LEARNED IN THE LAW It was evening, when Croyden returned to Hampton--an evening which contained no suggestion of the Autumn he had left behind him on the Eastern Shore. It was raw, and damp, and chill, with the presage of winter in its cold; the leaves were almost gone from the trees, the blackening hand of frost was on flower and shrubbery. As he passed up the dreary, deserted street, the wind was whistling through the branches over head, and moaning around the houses like spirits of the damned.