To Lucy Warrender, who now heard of the matter for the first time, these initials were no enigma. The cause of Haggard's mysterious detention in Rome, and of their own sudden flitting, became at once clear to her. "It was very thoughtful of Spunyarn," she said to herself; "he was quite right, Georgie certainly shouldn't see this." The careful Lucy took every precaution. The consequences of the incident at Papayani's ball remained a secret to the young wife. The ladies were glad of the temporary excitement of their move to the Villa Lambert, which they made the day after the departure of the two men. And now commenced a life of seclusion and retirement, which both of them enjoyed from its very novelty. The old quiet life that they had led at The Warren seemed to recommence once more. They gardened, they drove out, they rowed and sailed upon the lake, but they declined all acquaintances. The life was monotonous enough and devoid of incident. Hephzibah Wallis had recovered her spirits, her Swiss lover was more attentive than ever; he escorted her on a Sunday evening to the Protestant place of worship, and though she didn't understand a word, Hephzibah enjoyed the service. In the mysterious rite of "walking out" going to church together forms an important factor; it is the outward and visible sign of "keeping company;" it is the inevitable step to being "asked in church," a kind of probationary period, a sort of trial trip. Mr. Capt was more loquacious than the British man-servant, under similar circumstances, would be. He was never tired of drawing out Miss Wallis on the subject of her young mistresses. The juvenile escapades of the younger of them were to him a source of endless amusement; he heard all that his inamorata had to tell, nay his interest was so great in her artless narratives that he would make her repeat them over and over again. The Swiss soon found out that in Hephzibah he was dealing with a truthful girl; for the tale, though oft repeated, never varied. What girl has any secret from the man she loves? Hephzibah Wallis formed no exception to the rule. But it never dawned on her, at least not then, that she was being "pumped." She put down Mr. Capt's complaisance to his interest in her; and though, as servants will, she at times asked him questions about his master, she merely admired him the more when they were dexterously parried, for the confidential valet, in regard to Haggard, ever remained discretion itself.