"You mean?"--Ashe hesitated--"that her own position is too doubtful?"

"Doubtful, my dear fellow!" Darrell laughed unpleasantly. "I never
really understood what it all meant till the other night when old Lady
Grosville took and told me--more at any rate than I knew before. The
Grosvilles are on the war-path, and they regard the coming of this poor
child as the last straw."

"Why?" said Ashe.

Darrell gave a shrug. "Well, you know the story of Madame d'Estrées'
step-daughter--old Blackwater's daughter?"

"Ah! by his first marriage? I knew it was something about the
step-daughter," said Ashe, vaguely.

Darrell began to repeat his conversation with Lady Grosville. The tale
threatened presently to become a black one indeed; and at last Ashe
stood still in the broad walk crossing the Green Park.

"Look here," he said, resolutely, "don't tell me any more. I don't want
to hear any more."

"Why?" asked Darrell, in amazement.

"Because"--Ashe hesitated a moment. "Well, I don't want it to be made
impossible for me to go to Madame d'Estrées' again. Besides, we've just
eaten her salt."