she uttered these words to a man standing near her with a newspaper
in his hand. He was a very stiff-jointed upright personage with iron
grey hair and features hard enough to suggest their having been
carved out of wood.

"No--I didn't know it"--he said, enunciating his words in the
deliberate dictatorial manner common to a certain type of American--
"If I had I should have taken steps to prevent it."

"You can't take steps to prevent anything Morgana Royal decides to
do!" declared his companion. "She's a law to herself and to nobody
else. I guess YOU couldn't stop her, Mr. Sam Gwent!"

Mr. Sam Gwent permitted himself to smile. It was a smile that merely
stretched the corners of his mouth a little,--it had no geniality.

"Possibly not!" he answered--"But I should have had a try! I should
certainly have pointed out to her the folly of her present
adventure."

"Do you know what it is?"

He paused before replying.

"Well,--hardly! But I have a guess!"

"Is that so? Then I'll admit you're cleverer than I am!"

"Thats a great compliment! But even Miss Lydia Herbert, brilliant
woman of the world as she is, doesn't know EVERYTHING!"