Mary, alarmed to see the storm she had raised, now attempted to soothe Annabelle. 'We may judge too rashly, after all, dearie,' she urged; 'it may be only one of those meaningless flirtations to which most young men--officers especially--are, it seems, addicted.' 'What right has he to engage in such, even if it be so?' 'Cecil's friend could never be so base!' urged Mary again. 'Oh, let us cling to the hope that it is something that may yet be explained away.' 'It--what?' asked Annabelle impetuously. 'This apparent mystery.' But less gentle than Mary, who was apt to take refuge in tears, Annabelle said with outward calmness, though she felt only despair and exasperation: 'I fear that he is totally without principle--false as the fell serpent that beguiled Eve!' And when night came she was thankful to lay her weary head on the pillow, though she did so, not to sleep, but to long that she was again at home beside her mother, and to agonise herself with doubts and fears as to the issue of this affair, to which she was resolved there should be a climax, either verbally or by letter, on the morrow, when Fotheringhame was expected to luncheon. But on the morrow matters took a new and more startling turn, ere time for luncheon came. Mary, who had been idling over the morning papers, suddenly drew Annabelle aside, and said: 'Look at this advertisement. Can it be that the creature takes the initial of his second name--if not his name altogether?' Annabelle read what the speaker's slender fingers indicated, and it ran thus: 'Will L.F. meet F.F. to-day in the N.G. at twelve o'clock?' 'This is evidently an appointment between these two--and in the National Gallery!' said Annabelle. 'Oh, it is intolerable!' 'I must confess that so far as the initials go, it looks as if such an event was on the _tapis_,' said Mary. 'But this mode of correspondence is surely beneath Fotheringhame?' 'Though not beneath her--it is her request.' 'If married, she would not resort to this. I shall go to the Gallery, humiliating though the act may be.' 'And I too,' exclaimed Mary; 'let the carriage be countermanded--we were to have driven this morning, but we shall set out quietly on foot.' Attired in dresses and hats of different style and colour from those they usually wore, and Shetland veils tied over their faces--than which there can be no more perfect masque--they set forth on this expedition, which was one of great pain to both, but more particularly to Annabelle.