"It has been a very tiring day for you, Sir Nicholas," he said, "and for her Ladyship also." "Go and have a rest yourself, Burton, you have been up since cock crow, the new man Antoine can call me at five." And soon I was in a land of blissful dreams. Of course it was the very irony of fate that Suzette should have selected this very afternoon to come in and thank me for the Villa which she was just now going down to see--! Antoine opened the door to her while Burton was out. I heard afterwards that she told him she had an appointment with me when he had hesitated about letting her in. She was quite quietly dressed and had no great look of the _demi-monde_, and a new footman, blunted with war service, was probably impervious even to the very strong scent which she was saturated with--that perfume which I had never been able entirely to cure her liking for, and which she reverted to using always when she went away from me, and had to be corrected of again and again when she returned. Antoine came to my room by the passage, and said "a lady was in the salon to see me by appointment." For a moment I was not suspicious. I thought it might be Coralie, and fearing Alathea might be somewhere about, and it might be awkward for her, I hastened to rise and go in to see and get rid of the inopportune guest. I told Antoine he must never let anyone in again without permission. It was just growing dim in the salon, about half-past four o'clock, and a figure rose from the sofa by the fire as I entered. "_Mon chou--mon petit cheri_!" I heard, simultaneously with a softly closing sound of the door behind the screen, which masks the entrance to the room from the hall--Antoine leaving I supposed at the time, probably it was Alathea I surmised afterwards! "Suzette!" I exclaimed angrily. "Why do you come here?" She flew to me and held out her arms, expressing affection and grateful thanks. She had come for no other reason only just to express her friendly appreciation! To get rid of her was all I desired. I never was more angry, but to show it would have been the poorest game. I did not tell her it was my wedding day. I just said I was expecting some relatives, and that I knew she would understand and would go at once. "Of course," she said, and shook me by the hand. I was still standing with my crutch. She was passing to see her cousin Madame Angier, in the flat above, and could not resist the temptation to come in. "It must be the very last time, Suzette," I said. "I have given you all that you wanted, and I would rather not see you again." She pouted, but agreed, and I drew her to the door and saw her into the corridor, and even followed her to the front door. She was chatting all the time. I did not answer. I was speechless with rage, and could have sworn aloud, when at last I heard the door shut between us, then I strode back into my room, praying that Alathea _had_ been unaware of my visitor. Nemesis, on one's wedding day!