Totally unconscious of the scenes through which he was moving,
Hilliard tracked the couple for more than an hour. He noticed that
the man once took out his watch, and from this trifling incident he
sought to derive a hope; perhaps Eve would be quit ere long of the
detested companionship. They came at length to where a band was
playing, and sat down on chairs; the pursuer succeeded in obtaining
a seat behind them, but the clamour of instruments overpowered their
voices, or rather the man's voice, for Eve seemed not to speak at
all. One moment, when her neighbour's head approached nearer than
usual to hers, she drew slightly away.

The music ceased, whereupon Eve's companion again consulted his
watch.

"It's a most unfortunate thing." He was audible now. "I can't
possibly stay longer."

Eve moved on her chair, as if in readiness to take leave of him, but
she did not speak.

"You think it likely you will meet Miss Ringrose?"

Eve answered, but the listener could not catch her words.

"I'm so very sorry. If there had been any----"

The voice sank, and Hilliard could only gather from observance of
the man's face that he was excusing himself in fervent tones for the
necessity of departure. Then they both rose and walked a few yards