Mrs. Harrington's eyes came surreptitiously round. Luke also was looking at Agatha. And a queer little smile hovered across Mrs. Harrington's lips. The dream was assuming more tangible proportions. Mrs. Harrington began to see her way; already her inordinate love of power was at work. She could not admit even to herself that Luke FitzHenry had escaped her. Women never know when they have had enough. "How long are you to be in London?" she asked, with a sudden kindness. "Only a fortnight." "Well, you must often come and see me. I shall have the Ingham-Bakers staying with me a few weeks longer. It is dull for poor Agatha with only two old women in the house. Come to lunch to-morrow, and we can do something in the afternoon." "Thank you very much," said Luke. "You will come?" "I should like nothing better." And so the music went on--and the game. Some played a losing game from the beginning, and others played without quite knowing the stake. Some held to certain rules, while others made the rules as they went along--as children do--ignorant of the tears that must inevitably follow. But Fate placed all the best cards in Mrs. Harrington's hand. Luke and the Count Cipriani de Lloseta went out of the house together. They walked side by side for some yards while a watchful hansom followed. "Can I give you a lift?" said De Lloseta at length. "I am going down to the Peregrinator's." "Thanks, no. I shall go straight to my rooms. I have not had my clothes off for three nights." "Ah, you sailors! I am going down to have my half-hour over a book to compose my mind." "Do you read much?" De Lloseta called the cab with a jerk of his head. Before stepping into it he looked keenly into his companion's face. "Yes, a good deal. I read somewhere, lately, that it is never wise to accept favours from a woman; she will always have more than her money's worth. Good-night." And he drove away. CHAPTER X. THE GAME OPENS. Ce qu'on dit a l'etre a qui on dit tout n'est pas la moitie de ce qu'on lui cache. Agatha sent her maid to bed and sat down before her bedroom fire to brush her hair.