They walked in silence for some minutes, he apparently pondering over her last words, she with the cloud passing from her face as, with her head a little thrown back and her eyes half-closed, she sniffed the strong, salty air with an almost voluptuous expression of content. She was perfectly dressed for the country, from her square-toed shoes, which still seemed to maintain some distinction of shape, the perfectly tailored coat and skirt, to the smart little felt hat with its single quill. She walked with the free grace of an athlete, unembarrassed with the difficulties of the way or the gusts which swept across the marshy places, yet not even the strengthening breeze, which as they reached the sea line became almost a gale, seemed to have power to bring even the faintest flush of colour to her cheeks. They reached the long headland and stood looking out at the sea before she spoke again. “You were very kind to me last night, Mr. Orden,” she said, a little abruptly. “I paid a debt,” he reminded her. “I suppose there is something in that,” she admitted. “I really believe that that exceedingly unpleasant person with whom I was brought into temporary association would have killed you if I had allowed it.” “I am inclined to agree with you,” he assented. “I saw him very hazily, but a more criminal type of countenance I never beheld.” “So that we are quits,” she ventured. “With a little debt on my side still to be paid.” “Well, there is no telling what demands I may make upon our acquaintance.” “Acquaintance?” he protested. “Would you like to call it friendship?” “A very short time ago;” he said deliberately, “even friendship would not have satisfied me.” “And now?” “I dislike mysteries.” “Poor me!” she sighed. “However, you can rid yourself of the shadow of one as soon as you like after luncheon. It would be quite safe now, I think, for me to take back that packet.” “Yes,” he assented slowly, “I suppose that it would.” She looked up into his face. Something that she saw there brought her own delicate eyebrows together in a slight frown. “You will give it me after lunch?” she proposed. “I think not,” was the quiet reply. “You were only entrusted with it for a time,” she reminded him, with ominous calm. “It belongs to me.” “A document received in this surreptitious fashion,” he pronounced, “is presumably a treasonable document. I have no intention of returning it to you.” She walked by his side for a few moments in silence. Glancing down into her face, Julian was almost startled. There were none of the ordinary signs of anger there, but an intense white passion, the control of which was obviously costing her a prodigious effort. She touched his fingers with her ungloved hand as she stepped over a stile, and he found them icy cold. All the joy of that unexpectedly sunny morning seemed to have passed.