Lady Loring had placed herself in an awkward position. Her husband had
described to her his interview with Major Hynd, and had mentioned his
project for bringing Romayne and Stella together, after first exacting
a promise of the strictest secrecy from his wife. She felt herself
bound--doubly bound, after what she had now discovered--to respect the
confidence placed in her; and this at the time when she had betrayed
herself to Stella! With a woman's feline fineness of perception, in all
cases of subterfuge and concealment, she picked a part of the truth out
of the whole, and answered harmlessly without a moment's hesitation.

"I have certainly seen him," she said--"probably at some party. But I
see so many people, and I go to so many places, that I must ask for time
to consult my memory. My husband might help me, if you don't object to
my asking him," she added slyly.

Stella snatched the drawing away from her, in terror. "You don't mean
that you will tell Lord Loring?" she said.

"My dear child! how can you be so foolish? Can't I show him the drawing
without mentioning who it was done by? His memory is a much better one
than mine. If I say to him, 'Where did we meet that man?'--he may tell
me at once--he may even remember the name. Of course, if you like to be
kept in suspense, you have only to say so. It rests with you to decide."

Poor Stella gave way directly. She returned the drawing, and
affectionately kissed her artful friend. Having now secured the means of
consulting her husband without exciting suspicion, Lady Loring left the
room.

At that time in the morning, Lord Loring was generally to be found