The minister looked at her covertly. A secret thought which had sent her to the Savoy Hotel whispered an accusation in his ear, and found him guilty. He would have given much to know just what passed between Gabrielle and John Faber. Perhaps he saw also that his daughter had never looked so well. Undoubtedly she was a beautiful woman. "Yes," he said at last; "I don't think Sir Jules will marry. You must accept this invitation, Gabrielle." "But what am I to do for frocks?" "Can't you wear those you took to America?" "My dear father, they were mostly summer dresses." "Well, Corfu is a summer resort. I forget what the winter temperature is--something abnormal. Unfortunately, they have just opened a gambling saloon there. Wherever nature is most beautiful, there men turn their backs upon her." "Sir Jules is hardly likely to do that. He is going to Corfu to try to meet the German Emperor. You know he has a great idea--the Federation of Europe. He says that commerce is the only key to the peace of the world." "A faith rather in the Jews than the Divine gospels." "Oh! I think not--a faith in good common sense, father." Silvester shook his head. "He will not associate himself with us," he said, a little sadly. And then, "They tell me he is a very rich man." "Just the reason why I must have some frocks if I go to Corfu." II She was not to leave for Richmond until the end of the week, and when lunch was over she was reminded of Harry Lassett's promise by the advent of that boisterous sportsman and his expressed determination to take her at once to the Vale of Health pond, where the ice was "top-notch." There Gabrielle found herself amid a knot of very suburban but friendly people, whose noisy cordiality forced her to remember that this rather than the other was her true sphere. Harry Lassett had been down to St. James's Street to get her skates, and they fitted her to perfection. The scene was inspiriting and full of colour. All about them lay the whitened heath; London beneath a veil of sunlit fog in the hollow. So keen was the splendid air that every nerve reverberated at its breath. Such frost had not been known in England since oxen were roasted whole upon the Thames in the early days of the nineteenth century. She was a good skater, and had often accompanied Eva Achon to Princes during the previous season. Harry Lassett waltzed divinely, and while waltzing upon boards was anathema to Gordon Silvester, waltzing upon the ice seemed to him a harmless diversion. He even came down to the brink of the pond and watched the merry throng at play; but that was before dusk fell and the great bonfire was lighted, and those who had merely clasped hands discovered that a more binding link was necessary. Silvester saw nothing of the outrageous flirtations. He would have been sadly distressed had he known that Gabrielle herself was among the number of the sinners. She was, in fact, one of the ringleaders.