He knitted his brows. There was a course, which promised to be effective, open to him, but he was most averse to adopting it. He could give Gladwyne a plain hint that he had better restrain his confederate, but he could enforce compliance only by stating what he knew about the former's desertion of his cousin. He was not ready to do that yet; it would precipitate the climax, and once his knowledge of the matter was revealed his power to use it in case of a stronger need might be diminished. The temptation to leave Jim Crestwick to his fate was strong, but his pity for the anxious girl was stronger. "I'll have a talk with Gladwyne," he promised. "That wouldn't be of the least use!" "I think he'll do what I suggest," Lisle answered with a trace of grimness. "Make your mind easy; I'll have Batley stopped." She looked at him in surprise, filled with relief and gratitude. He was one who would not promise more than he could perform; but how he could force his will on Gladwyne she did not know. "You're wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Whatever one asks you're able to do." "And you're very staunch." "Oh!" she said, standing very close to him, with his hand still on her shoulder, "we won't exchange compliments--they're too empty, and you deserve something better." She glanced round swiftly. "Shut your eyes, tight!" He obeyed her, and for a moment light fingers rested on his breast; then there was a faint warm touch upon his cheek. When he looked up she was standing a yard away, smiling mockingly. "Don't trust your imagination too much--it might have deceived you," she warned. "But you have sense; you wouldn't attach an undue value to anything." "Confidence and gratitude are precious," he answered. "I'd better point out that I haven't earned either of them yet." Bella was satisfied with this, but she grew graver, wondering how far she might have delivered Gladwyne into his hands. She was angry with the man, but she would not have him suffer. "I don't know what power you have--but you won't make too much use of it--I don't wish that," she begged. "After all, though, Jim must be got out of that fellow's clutches." "Yes," assented Lisle, "there's no doubt of it." She left him presently and he went on down the dale, not exactly repenting of his promise, but regretting the necessity which had led to his making it. The task with which he had saddled himself was an exceedingly unpleasant one and might afterward make it more difficult for him to accomplish the purpose that had brought him to England, but he meant to carry it out. As it happened, he met Mrs. Gladwyne at Millicent's, where he called, and he spent an uncomfortable half-hour in her company. She had shown in various ways that she liked him, and calling him to her side soon after he came in, she talked to him in an unusually genial manner. He felt like a traitor in this gracious lady's presence and it was a relief when she took her departure. "You look troubled," Millicent observed.