"Pray wait--wait a minute or two," begged Harry. "I want to think for a minute." Neeld sat down again. It is very likely they were as surprised at him as he was childishly vexed with them. For he exhibited perfect calm. Yet perhaps Colonel Edge, who had given so colorless an account of the Comtesse's wild appeal to him, was well suited. "I'm going down to Iver's to-morrow," said old Neeld, tucking the extract from the Journal into his pocket. "To Iver's?" After a moment's silence Harry fairly laughed. Edge was surprised, not understanding what a difference the Comtesse's manœuvre had made there too. He could not be expected to know all the difference it had made to Harry's life, even to the man himself. Two irresponsible ladies--say Addie and--well, Madame Valfier--may indeed make differences. "Yes, to Fairholme," continued old Neeld. "We--we may see you there now?" Edge looked up with an interested glance. It had occurred to him that he was turning somebody out as well as putting somebody in. "You'll have, of course, to communicate what I have said to--to----? "Oh, we'll say Lady Tristram still," Harry interrupted. Edge gave a little bow. "I shall be ready to meet her or her advisers at any time," he remarked. "She will, I hope, recognize that no other course was open to me. She must not think that there is any room for doubt." Harry's brain was at work now; he saw himself going to Blent, going to tell Cecily. "Possibly," Mr Neeld suggested, "it would be better to intrust a third person with the task of giving her this news? One of her own sex perhaps?" He seemed to contemplate a possible fainting-fit, and, remembering his novels, the necessity of cutting stay-laces, a task better left to women. "You're thinking of Mina? Of Mina Zabriska?" asked Harry, laughing. There again, what a loss! Why had not Mina heard it at first hand? She would have known how to treat the thing. "She's always taken a great interest in the matter, and--and I understand is very friendly with--with Miss Gainsborough," said Neeld. "We shall have to make up our minds what to call ourselves soon," sighed Harry. "There can be no doubt at all," Edge put in; "and if I may venture to suggest, I should say that the sooner the necessity is faced the better."