Until he could find out the meaning of all this comedy, he must not let Henry have an idea that there was anything underneath; and then with a pang of mortification and pain he remembered his promise to Henry--and he clenched his hands in his coat pockets, he was indeed tied and bound. Sabine for her part felt she could bear the situation no longer; she must be alone--so on the plea of letters to write, she dismissed them with Madame Imogen to show them to their rooms in the other part of the house which was connected to this, her two great turrets and middle immense room, by a passage which went along from the turret which contained her bedroom. "You won't mind, perhaps, dining at half past seven?" she said as she paused at her door, "because our good Cure, Pere Anselme is coming, and he hates to sit up late." And with the corner of his eye, Michael saw that before he hurried after him, Henry had bent and surreptitiously kissed his hostess' hand--and a sudden blinding, unreasoning rage shook him as he stalked on to his allotted apartment. CHAPTER X Sabine decided to be a little late for dinner--three minutes, just to give the rest of the party time to be assembled in the big salon. She was coming from the communicating passage to her part of the house when Mr. Arranstoun came out of his room, and they were obliged to go down the great staircase together. To see him suddenly in evening dress like this brought her wedding night back so vividly to her, she with difficulty kept a gasp from her breath. He was certainly the most splendidly good-looking creature, with his blue eyes and dark hair and much fairer little moustache. "I am late!" she cried laughing, before he could speak a word. "Pere Anselme will scold me! Come along!" and she tripped forward with a glance over her shoulder. Michael's eyes blazed--she was a truly bewitching morsel in her fresh white frock with its bunch of crimson sweet peas stuck in the belt. "Your flowers should be stephanotis," he said, and that was all, as he followed her down the stairs. "I cannot bear them," she retorted and shuddered a little. "I only care for out-door, simple things like my sweet peas." He did not speak as they went along the gallery--this disconcerted her--what did it mean? She had been prepared to fence with him, and keep him in his place, she was ready to defend herself on all sides--and no defence seemed necessary! A sudden cold feeling came over her as though excitement had died down and she opened the salon door quickly and advanced into the room. Michael had come to a determination while dressing--Henry had walked in and smoked a cigarette with him before he began, and had then showed plainly his joy and satisfaction. She--his worshiped lady--had never before been so tender and gracious, and he was awfully happy because things were going well. And what did his friend Michael think of his choice? Was she not the sweetest woman in the world?