And the lady, who, under these ministrations and protestations, had gradually recovered her self-control, ceased her passionate sobbing, rested her head contentedly on his shoulder, and allowed him, with but feeble resistance, to encircle her waist with a protecting arm--in short, everything seemed prepared for her success, when the curtain was pushed aside and there stood before them the figure of a man, which caused them both to spring to their feet, in time, as they fondly hoped, to escape detection; the Secretary with a smothered exclamation of rage; the lady, as she recognised the intruder, with a startled cry of: "Colonel Darcy!" CHAPTER XVII HER HUSBAND Even an unobserving man--and Colonel Robert Darcy was not that--could hardly have helped seeing that his presence was unwelcome, and that he had interrupted an important interview. "I beg your pardon," he said, "I fear I've intruded." The Secretary said nothing, and Miss Fitzgerald came to the rescue by declaring that she was very glad to see him, and that she had no idea he would be in Sussex so soon. "The fact is, I particularly wanted to see you," he replied bluntly. Thereupon Mr. Stanley did that most unpardonable thing in good society--lost his temper and gave evidence of the fact; a piece of egotism often noticeable in young men during their first years of social life, before a severe course of snubbing has taught them of how little relative importance they really are. "Three's an impossible number for a tête-à-tête," he said stiffly, "so if you'll excuse me," and he started to leave her side. Up to this point Belle had been in some doubt as to how she ought to act; but when the Secretary took the initiative, it at once gave her her cue, and she was quick to save the situation. "There are no secrets between friends," she said hastily, "and you're both friends of mine, so I shall expect you to be friends of each other's." "This is Colonel Robert Darcy, Jimsy--we call him Bob for short," she rattled on, laughing nervously. "And now, Bob, why have you arrived so unexpectedly in Sussex?" "I think you've forgotten to introduce me to Colonel Darcy, Miss Fitzgerald," suggested Stanley. "Dear me, I believe I have," replied that lady, calmly. "Bob, this is Jimsy; Jimsy, this is Bob--that'll do for the present. I'll tell you the rest of his names, titles and appurtenances when I've more time and less to talk about. So now we are friends and have no secrets from each other, therefore out with yours." Darcy laughed. "You see, Jimsy," continued Miss Fitzgerald, turning to the Secretary, "though I'm young and ignorant, men have always come to me for advice, or, perhaps, for the use of my intuition." "I'm sure I trust Colonel Darcy will profit by it; but even our well-established friendship gives me no right to play third party to his confidences, and as I promised Kingsland a game of pool----"