while Carrissima sat with her eyes averted, hoping that nobody would
suspect her actual object.

But she had known of his intention to depart for Paris the next
morning, to spend a month with his old friend Wentworth before finally
settling down in London. If she had waited for Colonel Faversham's
return to Grandison Square she must, obviously, have missed Mark Driver
again. One of the chief purposes of Carrissima's life seemed to be the
disguise of motives, concerning which she scarcely knew whether she
ought to feel ashamed or not.

"Well," suggested Lawrence, "we haven't heard why you didn't turn up in
time."

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting," said Mark, at last shaking hands
with his brother-in-law.

"Only half-an-hour!"

"You see," Mark explained, "I dined at Belloni's."

"Good gracious!" answered Lawrence, with evident annoyance, "if you
could go to Belloni's, why in the world couldn't you come here as you
promised?"

"I meant to come," said Mark, looking somewhat embarrassed, as he
glanced at Carrissima. "You see, I went to Duffield's Hotel in Craven
Street direct from the station. I thought I would just potter about
and smoke a pipe or so till it was time to change."