"Your fault?" she said, in surprise. "However, I warned George Neston to let it alone. But he's a hot-headed fellow." "I never thought him that." "He is, though. Well, look at this. He asks Blodwell, and Vane, and me--at least, he didn't ask me, but Blodwell did--to make a party here. We agree. The next moment--hey, presto! he's off at a tangent!" Neaera could not make up her mind whether Lord Mapledurham was giving this explanation merely to account for his own presence or also for her information. "The fact is, you see," the Marquis resumed, "his affairs are rather troublesome. He's out of favour with the authorities, you know--Mrs. Pocklington." "Does he mind about Mrs. Pocklington?" "He minds about Miss Pocklington, and I suspect----" "Yes?" "That she minds about him. I met Pocklington at the club yesterday, and he told me his people had gone abroad. I said it was rather sudden, but Pocklington turned very gruff, and said 'Not at all.' Of course that wasn't true." "Oh, I hope she will be good to him," said Neaera. "Fancy, if I were the cause----" "As I said at the beginning," interrupted the Marquis, "I'm the cause." "You!" Then he settled himself by her side, and told her how his reminiscence had been the first thing to set George on the track of discovery, whence all the trouble had resulted. "So you see," he ended, "you have to put all your woes down to my chatter." "How strange!" she said, dreamily, looking out to sea. The Marquis nodded, his eyes scanning her face. Then she turned to him suddenly, and said, "I was very young, you know, and--rather hungry." "I am a sinner myself," he answered, smiling. "And--and what I did afterwards, I----" "I came to make my confession, not to hear yours. How shall I atone for all I have brought on you? What shall I do now?" "I--I only want some friends, and--and some one to speak to," said Neaera, with a forlorn little sigh. The Marquis took her hand and kissed it gallantly. "If that is all," said he, smiling, "perhaps we may manage." "Thanks," said Neaera, putting her handkerchief into her pocket. "That's right! Blodwell and Vane are here too, and----" "I don't much care about them; but----" "Oh, they're all on your side." "Are they? I needn't see more of them than I like, need I?" The Marquis was not young, no, nor inexperienced; but, all the same, he was not proof against this flattery. "Perhaps they won't stay long," he said. "And you?" she asked. He smiled at her, and, after a moment of innocent seriousness, her lips wavered into an answering smile.