"Yes," responded Raife, "she is a friend of my mother's, and sometimes stays with us at Aldborough Park." "Aldborough Park! Dear me, I've heard of that some time. It's a fine old Tudor place near Tunbridge Wells, isn't it?" Raife said: "Yes. It's a fine old place. It belongs to me. There have been happy days at Aldborough, but yet I cannot help thinking that some people seem to thrive on the misery of others." "That's true," the doctor crooned again, "It's sad, but it's true." Then, cheerfully, Raife said; "I hope, doctor, that you and Miss Tempest will honour me with a visit there some day soon, and we'll try and make merry again. If we can, we'll forget that villainous assassin." Again Gilda winced, and, dropping her serviette, stooped to pick it up, thus hiding a scarlet flush that suffused her cheeks. Without replying to the invitation and, with a suddenness that appeared to be anent nothing, Doctor Malsano said: "Oh, Sir Raife, I've forgotten to express my thanks to you for the charming talisman you have presented to my niece, which I see she is wearing around her neck!" Raife and Gilda both started at this extraordinary sally. Neither knew that the doctor was aware of the gift. The slight gold chain to which the talisman was attached was barely visible, whilst the figure of Isis was entirely screened from view. It heaved on Gilda's palpitating breast, behind the bodice of her charming and dainty morning gown. Without apparently heeding the embarrassment of the young couple, he proceeded: "There is a delightful mysticism about Egyptian mythology that charms me. Let me see, Isis was a goddess, wasn't she? To be sure she was a goddess, and the record of her does not always make pleasant reading." Raife gazed steadfastly at this mysterious man, and marvelled at the meaning of his cryptic utterances, which came from him graciously, and with a smile that was bland, until the swivel eye destroyed the illusion. Gilda was trained to the startling nature of her uncle's methods, and collected her senses rapidly, remarking: "Yes, wasn't it kind of Raife-- Sir Raife I mean, to give it to me. I told him you would be pleased." Raife was more mystified than ever. She had not said anything of the kind to him. And what was the meaning of that lapse--the omission of the title in speaking before her uncle? Truly, the depths of these personalities were unfathomable. In spite of it all he had sworn to trust Gilda and remain her friend. He was a Reymingtoune and he would keep his word. Apart from that, he loved her, and love remains as blind to-day as when Cupid became fully fledged and wore wings.