She suddenly paused, as she caught sight of Paul, and, in her amazement, stood still, gazing upon him with an expression of blank astonishment. Half-angry with herself for being so surprised, she felt that she was accidentally placed in an almost ludicrous position for the moment; yet she could not as much as speak a word. Captain Desfrayne, for his part, could not have uttered one syllable if his life had depended on it. He had never, in all his days, felt so completely at a nonplus--so forlorn, so distracted, as he did at this instant. A terrible scene he knew was at hand, and he could not tell what might be the result. Lord Quaintree looked with surprise from one to the other, not being able to comprehend what was passing before his eyes. He had never seen Captain Desfrayne, and could not guess why Mrs. Desfrayne should be thus betrayed into so singular a display of emotion. Conscious that probably he might be a little in the way, he yet did not know how to move himself off the stage with his ordinary easy grace. Mrs. Desfrayne was the first to speak. She exclaimed: “Paul!” Captain Desfrayne bowed. “At your service, madam,” he said, very simply. “I was not aware----Lord Quaintree, my son--my only son--Captain Desfrayne.” Lord Quaintree smiled, and held out his hand. He saw that something was amiss, without knowing what. “I hope to see you presently, Captain Desfrayne,” he said, with his pleasant, urbane manner. “I must show myself up-stairs at once, or my lady will think I have run away.” He left the room, surmising that the two would greatly prefer being left together. But for very shame’s sake, Paul would have caught him by the sleeve, and detained him as a temporary shield. CHAPTER VI. PAUL’S GALLING SHACKLES. “You are surprised to see me here to-night, Mimi,” Paul Desfrayne said, using an old childish pet-name that always disarmed his mother. “I came here with a friend to see Lady Quaintree”--he hesitated painfully--“on--on business.” Mrs. Desfrayne opened her big blue eyes, and looked him straight in the face. A spasm of pique passed through her heart. “You did not know that _I_ was acquainted with Lady Quaintree?” she remarked, half-sarcastically, opening and shutting her fan with a movement which he knew well of old as indicating vexation. She was angry that he had come hither with some friend unknown to her, instead of asking her for an introduction, and telling her of his business. “My dear mother, I did not know until this very afternoon that I was to come here. I remembered, when I heard the name, that you had spoken of her. It was she who lent you the opera-box last night, was it not?” “Well--well, it does not signify. I must not be inquisitive,” said Mrs. Desfrayne, confident that she must learn all sooner or later. “Have you heard or seen anything of the young lady you spoke of yesterday evening?” “I have.”