"Dangerous?" Vernon looked straightly at the speaker, wondering how he had chanced to hit on the very defect which spoilt Maunders' charm. "It's the only word I can think of which describes him. But perhaps I am wrong. Frances would think so." "I always thought that Miss Hest did not like Maunders. "It may be so," said Hest indifferently. "Still, he is handsome, and Frances is a woman. It seems to me, however, that the word rests with Miss Dimsdale. If she loves Colonel Towton she will marry him, if Maunders, he will win her. A wilful woman will have her way." "I do not think that Miss Dimsdale is wilful," said Vernon stiffly, then with an afterthought that Hest might help the Colonel to thwart the plans which Frances certainly appeared to entertain, he added, "Would you like to meet Towton?" "Oh, yes. I shall be in town for a week before going to Paris. I have few friends here and like to be amused." "Where are you staying?" "At Professor Garrick Gail's, Isleworth." "Oh!" Vernon could scarcely conceal his surprise. "I thought that you did not approve of your sister appearing as a reciter?" "Nor do I," rejoined the other man with a frown, "but Frances asked me to deliver a message to Professor Gail, whom I met before and whom I like. He asked me to accept his hospitality while in London, so I did so, as I hope to induce him to get Frances to abandon this scheme of earning money by her talents--which by the way I don't deny--so that she may resume her proper place in society as my sister." Vernon shook his head. "Miss Hest is of too active a mind to bear tamely the life of an ordinary country lady." "She is singularly obstinate, if that is what you mean," said Hest with a curling lip. "However, that is my address, so if you can arrange a dinner with Colonel Towton I shall be glad to meet him and to give him the latest news of Miss Dimsdale." "Thank you!" Vernon booked the dinner. "Say next Wednesday?" "That will suit me capitally. The day after to-morrow? Well, and what are you going to do now?" "Just wander round," replied Vernon evasively. He did not wish to disclose his plans regarding Diabella to the Yorkshire squire. "Good-day." "Good-day," said the other in a friendly tone, and the two were soon separated by the ever-moving crowd.