There was a moment's silence after Madelon had spoken, and then she once more turned from the window with a disappointed air. "Pardon, Monsieur," she said again, "but can you tell me what time it is? Is it past eleven?" "It is more than half-past," said Graham, looking at his watch. "Have you been waiting here long?" "Since ten o'clock," said Madelon, "papa said he would be in by ten. I cannot think where he can be." "He has probably found something to detain him," suggested Graham. "No," answered Madelon, rejecting this obvious proposition; "for he had an appointment here; there is some one waiting for him now." "Then he has perhaps come in without your knowing it?" "I do not think so," said Madelon, "he would have called me; and besides, I should have seen him cross the courtyard. I saw you come in just now, Monsieur." Nevertheless she left her station by the window, and moved slowly along the passage to their apartment; it was just opposite Graham's, and as she went in, leaving the door open, Horace, who had followed her without any very definite purpose, looked in. It was a tolerably large room, with a door to the left opening into a smaller apartment, Utrecht velvet chairs and sofa, a mantelpiece also covered with velvet, on which stood a clock, a tall looking-glass, and two lighted wax candles; a table in the middle with some packs of cards, and a liqueur bottle and glasses, and a bed on one side opposite the fireplace. The window looked on to a side street, noisy with the incessant rattling of vehicles, and so narrow that the numerous lighted interiors of the houses opposite were visible to the most casual observer. A smell of smoking pervaded the room, explained by the presence of a young man, who held a cigar in one hand, whilst he leaned half out of the window, over the low iron balcony in front, shouting to some one in the street below. He looked round as Madelon came in, and slowly drew himself back into the room, exhibiting a lean, yellow face, surrounded with dishevelled hair, and ornamented by black unkempt beard and moustache. "_Monsieur votre pere_ does not arrive apparently, Mademoiselle," he said. "I have not seen him come in, Monsieur," answered Madelon; "I thought he was perhaps here." "Not at all, I have seen nothing of him this evening. But this is perhaps a trick that Monsieur le Papa is playing me; he fears to give me his little revenge of which he spoke, and wishes to keep out of my way. What do you say to that, Mademoiselle?" "I am quite sure it is not so," answered Madelon, with a little defiant air. "I heard papa say it was quite by chance he had lost all that money to you, for you did not understand the first principles of the game." "Ah! he said that? But it is lucky for us other poor devils that we have these chances sometimes! You will at least admit that, Mademoiselle?"