"I'll leave Cecily to tell you." He was quiet now, but with a vicious quietness. "I've been explaining that I have a preference for being left alone. Perhaps it may not be superfluous to mention the fact to you too, Madame Zabriska. My cab's waiting. Good-night." He looked a moment at Cecily, and his eyes seemed to dwell a little longer than he had meant. In a tone rather softer and more gentle he repeated, "Good-night." Cecily sprang to her feet. "I shall remember!" she cried. "I shall remember! If ever--if ever the time comes, I shall remember!" Her voice was full of bitterness, her manner proudly defiant. Harry hesitated a moment, then smiled grimly. "I shouldn't be able to complain of that," he said, as he turned and went out to his cab. Cecily threw herself into her chair again. The bewildered Imp stood staring at her. "I didn't know where you were," Mina complained. "Oh, it doesn't matter." "Fancy being here with him at this time of night!" Cecily gave no signs of hearing this superficial criticism on her conduct. "You must tell me what it's all about," Mina insisted. Cecily raised her eyes with a weary air, as though she spoke of a distasteful subject unwillingly and to no good purpose. "I went to tell him he could get Blent back by marrying me." "Cecily!" Many emotions were packed into the cry. "What did he say?" Cecily seemed to consider for a moment, then she answered slowly: "Well, he very nearly beat me--and I rather wish he had," she said. The net result of the day had distinctly not been to further certain schemes. All that had been achieved--and both of them had contributed to it--was an admirable example of the Tristram way. XXI THE PERSISTENCE OF BLENT