of his skin. He wore gold-rimmed spectacles, and peered through them as
if they were not strong enough for his failing sight.

The other man was younger. He, too, was dark and sallow, but his
close-cut hair was black. He was clean shaven and well dressed. He wore a
high, almost painfully high, collar, which caused him to keep his chin in
air. He might be a Spaniard or an Italian.

Annesley had certainly not seen him before. She told herself this twice
over. Yet--she was frightened. There was something familiar about him.
It must be her foolish imagination which took alarm at everything!

But, with fingers grown cold, she covered up the blue diamond.




CHAPTER IX

THE THING KNIGHT WANTED


When Dr. Torrance, who was to give her away, and the Marchese di Morello,
who was to be Knight's "best man," had been introduced to Annesley, she
laughed at the stupid "scare" which had chilled her heart for a moment.

If Knight had remained with her after his friends finished their call,
she might have confessed to him how she had fancied in the tall, dark
young man a likeness to one of the dreaded _watchers_. Until Knight spoke
their names she had feared that the pair looking in at the door were