‘Fred! How you startled me! Have you come to the meeting?’ ‘Yes, I have. Much good it will do me or any one else, my being here. But the governor was----’ ‘Oh yes! I know. But stop! You know Mr. Mallory. Miss Blisset, let me----’ Adrienne interrupted her. She was standing, pale, haughty, and erect, with eyes full of cold contempt; and she interposed, in a cool, decided voice, ‘Pardon me, Miss Spenceley, I do not wish for any introduction. I must decline to make that--gentleman’s acquaintance.’ With which she turned away, in perfect outward composure, and, seating herself at a desk, calmly looked out of the window, leaving Sebastian surprised, and yet not surprised, Fred furious, and Helena overwhelmed with confusion; for she knew her brother, and felt sure that he must have distinguished himself in some far from desirable manner towards Miss Blisset, to cause that gentle lady openly to manifest discourtesy. Helena’s humiliation was increased as she realised, with lightning-like rapidity, that Adrienne must have some excellent reason for repeatedly refusing to visit her at Castle Hill. Crimson, she stood where she had received the rebuff, and knew not what to do. It was Sebastian who, after the unavoidable momentary pause, and when Mr. Spenceley had turned upon his heel, said just as if nothing had happened, ‘I shall lay the matter before the Board to-day, Miss Spenceley, and I am sure it will be attended to immediately.’ Helena met his eyes as she looked up at him, and the burning blush of mortification glowed more deeply than before. ‘You are very kind,’ said she, in a low, choked voice; ‘but you cannot do away with the fact that I have to blush for my nearest relations.’ With that, she too turned away, as if not knowing where to go to; and Sebastian decided that the best thing he could do would be to follow Mr. Spenceley to the council-room. For Mr. Spenceley, muttering an anathema, had directed his steps away from such dangerous ground, and with raging hatred in his heart, entered the second of the three rooms. In that moment he would gladly have strangled some one, or kicked his dog, or flogged his horse, or sworn at his mother; and if he had had a wife, he would have caused her to spend a joyful evening on his return home. As it was, he found himself in a small room, in the window of which stood a long desk, at which desk sat two men busily writing. One of them rose, as he entered, to fetch a ledger from a shelf at the other side of the room. Spenceley’s rage gave way to a momentary start of surprise; then the blood came surging to his face and ears, as he found that he was confronting that insolent, unknown operative who had disgraced and branded him, and degraded and punished him, ten months ago in the club billiard-room.