paid not the least regard to him.

At Earl's Court she alighted hurriedly. By this time Hilliard had
begun to feel shame in the ignoble part he was playing, but choice
he had none--the girl drew him irresistibly to follow and watch
her. Among the crowd entering the Exhibition he could easily keep
her in sight without risk of his espial being detected. That Eve had
come to keep an appointment with some acquaintance he felt sure, and
at any cost he must discover who the person was.

The event justified him with unexpected suddenness. No sooner had
she passed the turnstile than a man stepped forward, saluting her in
form. Eve shook hands with him, and they walked on.

Uncontrollable wrath seized on Hilliard and shook him from head to
foot. A meeting of this kind was precisely what he had foreseen, and
he resented it violently.

Eve's acquaintance had the external attributes of a gentleman. One
could not easily imagine him a clerk or a shop-assistant smartened
up for the occasion. He was plain of feature, but wore a pleasant,
honest look, and his demeanour to the girl showed not only good
breeding but unmistakable interest of the warmest kind. His age
might perhaps be thirty; he was dressed well, and in all respects
conventionally.

In Eve's behaviour there appeared a very noticeable reserve; she
rarely turned her face to him while he spoke, and seemed to make
only the briefest remarks. Her attention was given to the objects
they passed.