Neaera had often decided that Masters was the best match in the country and had schemed to secure him; but she was aware of his sagacity and had so far refrained from any overture that might alienate him. She had, however, never failed to improve an opportunity for displaying her attractions in his presence, taking care to keep religiously away from him at such times lest he should guess the plot that lay at the bottom of all her performances. On more serious occasions she had had long and confidential conversations with him, chiefly on political subjects; she had indeed been one of his political lieutenants, but when engaged in politics she had studiously avoided the slightest symptoms of coquetry. Masters, on the contrary, had often allowed her to feel that he would gladly have made their relations more intimate. She had seen the big fish rise--a little lazily, it is true--at her cast; she had felt that upon a sufficiently dramatic occasion she could land him; and now it satisfied her sense of antithesis that so signal a defeat as that of her party that day might be converted by her skill into an individual victory. It was about four in the afternoon--the hour when Masters should be leaving his office for his apartment. If she walked in the direction of the latter he would possibly overtake her; she did not wish to go to him; she preferred to meet him accidentally; it would not do for him to imagine she had counted on him. She walked, therefore, slowly and with a pretty air of concern along the street he usually took, wondering whether she would be favored by fortune before the arrest which she knew was being prepared for her. She felt that the events of the day would be likely to change the daily routine, even of so methodical a man as Masters, and was beginning to fear she would have to take refuge in his apartment, when she heard a step overtaking her, and to her great relief his big voice said: "Why, Neaera, what are you doing here? I thought you were in the thick of it?" Neaera looked up shyly and then down again. "I am afraid all is over," she said very low. "And where are you going?" "I don't know." "Is there any fear of arrest?" Neaera brewed up a tear and cast an appealing glance at him. She was one of those fortunate and dangerous women who could summon a tear to her eye without at the same time bringing blood to her nose and eyelids. "You must step into my apartment until we can take precautions," he said. "I'm afraid I'll compromise you." "Compromise _me_!" exclaimed Masters, "never in the world! And as for _you_, I'll send for your mother." "Will you, indeed?" said Neaera, edging a little closer to him; but she did not mean that he should do this. They were at his door then; and touching her lightly on the elbow he guided her past the porter's lodge, up the staircase and into his rooms.