this man, even if I must succumb a trifle to that of the other.

I was, therefore, surprised when a hand was thrust over my shoulder,
and a fan dropped into my lap.

"It is warm here," was the comment which accompanied the action.

I thanked him, but felt that his sole object had been to cover his
change of position. For, when he sat down again, it was where he
could see my face. I therefore felt justified in plying the fan he
had offered me, in such a way as to shut off his somewhat basilisk
gaze. And so a dreary hour went by.

It was now well on towards morning, and I was beginning to suffer
from the languor natural after so many harrowing excitements, when
the door opened behind me, and the electric thrill shooting through
all my members, testified as to whose step it was that entered. At
the same moment the young man at my side arose, and with what I
felt to be a last sharp look in my direction, hastened to where his
brother stood, and entered into a whispered conversation with him.
Then I heard the door close again, and almost at the same instant
Mr. Pollard the elder advanced, and without seeking an excuse for
his action, sat down close by my side. The fan at once dropped; I
had no wish to avoid this man's scrutiny.

And yet when with a secret bracing of my nerves I looked up and met
his eyes fixed with that baffling expression upon mine, I own that
I felt an inward alarm, as if something vaguely dangerous had reared
itself in my path, which by its very charm instinctively bade me
beware. I, however, subdued my apprehensions, thinking, with a