"Oh," he said, rousing himself and endeavouring to smile, "I didn't know. Forgive me." "You've changed somehow, Dudley," she said, rising. She went near to him and took his hand tenderly. "Why don't you tell me what is the matter? Something is troubling you. What is it?" "You are, for one thing," he answered promptly, looking straight into her splendid eyes. As she stood there in that beautiful gown, with the historic pearls of the Nevills upon her white neck, Dudley thought he had never seen her look so magnificent. Well might she be called the Empress of Mayfair. "But why trouble your head about me?" she asked in a low, musical voice, pressing his hand tenderly. "You have worries enough, no doubt." "The stories I hear on every hand vex me horribly." "You are jealous of that man who was at the Meldrums' house-party. It's useless to deny it. Well, perhaps I was foolish, but if I promise never to see him again, will you forgive me?" "It is not for me to forgive," he said in an earnest voice. "I have, I suppose, no right to criticise your actions, or to exact any promises." "Yes, Dudley, you, of all men, have that right," she answered, her beautiful breast, stirred by emotion, rising and falling quickly. "All that you have just said is, I know, just and honest; and it comes straight from your heart. You have spoken to me as you would to your own sister--and, well, I thank you for your good advice." "And will you not promise to follow it?" he asked, taking her other hand. "Will you not promise me, your oldest man friend, to cut all these people and return to the simple, dignified life you led when Dick was still alive? Promise me." "And if I promise, what do you promise me in exchange?" she asked. "Will you make me your wife?" The look of eagerness died out of his face; he stood as rigid as one turned to stone. What was she suggesting? Only a course that they had discussed, times without number, in happier days. And yet, what could he answer, knowing well that before a few hours passed he might be compelled to take his own life, so as to escape from the public scorn which would of necessity follow upon his exposure. "I--I can't promise that," he faltered, uttering his refusal with difficulty. She shrank from him, as if he had struck her a blow. "Then the truth is as I suspected. Some other woman has attracted you!" "No," he answered in a hard voice, his dark brow clouded, "no other woman has attracted me." "Then--well, to put it plainly--you believe all these scandalous tales that have been circulated about me of late? Because of these you've turned from me, and now abandon me like this!" "It is not that," he protested. "Then why do you refuse to repeat your promise, when you know, Dudley, that I love you?" "For a reason which I cannot tell you."