After this, the two men parted, and Reginald Eversleigh called a cab, in which he drove down to Hilton House. He might have stayed away much longer, in self-interested obedience to Carrington, had he been sure of Paulina's unabated devotion; but he was piqued by her silence, and he wanted to discover whether there was a rival in the field. He knew Madame Durski's habits, and that it was not till late in the afternoon that she was to be seen. It was nearly six o'clock when he drove up to the door of Hilton House. Carlo Toas admitted him, and favoured him with a searching and somewhat severe scrutiny, as he led the way to the drawing-room in which Paulina was wont to receive her guests. Here Sir Reginald felt some little surprise, and a touch of mortification, on beholding the aspect of things. He had expected to find Paulina pensive, unhappy, perhaps ill. He had expected to see her agitated at his coming. He had pondered much upon the cessation of her letters; and he had told himself that she had ceased to write because she was angry with him--with that anger which exists only where there is love. To his surprise, he found her brilliant, radiant, dressed in her most charming style. Never had he seen her looking more beautiful or more happy. He pressed the widow's hand tenderly, and contemplated her for some moments in silence. "My dear Paulina," he said at last, "I never saw you looking more lovely than to-night. And yet to-night I almost feared to find you ill." "Indeed; and why so?" she asked. Her tone was the ordinary tone of society, from which it was impossible to draw any inference. "Because it is so long since I heard from you." "I have grown tired of writing letters that were rarely honoured by your notice." "So, so," thought the baronet; "I was right. She is offended." "To what do I owe this visit?" asked Madame Durski. "She is desperately angry," thought the baronet. "My dear Paulina," he said, aloud, "can you imagine that your letters were indifferent to me? I have been busy, and, as you know, I have been away from London." "Yes," she said; "you spent your Christmas very agreeably, I believe." "Not at all, I assure you. A bachelors' party in a country parsonage is one of the dullest things possible, to say nothing of the tragical event which ended my visit," added Reginald, his cheek paling as he spoke. "A bachelors' party!" repeated Paulina; "there were no ladies, then, at your cousin's house?" "None." "Indeed!" Paulina Durski's lip curled contemptuously, but she did not openly convict Sir Reginald of the deliberate falsehood he had uttered. "I am very glad you have come to me," she said, presently, "because I have urgent need of your help." "My dear Paulina, believe me--" began the baronet "Do not make your protest till you have heard what I have to ask," said Madame Durski. "You know how troublesome my creditors had become before Christmas. The time has arrived when they must be paid, or when I--"