indicated good-breeding and refinement, though these were somewhat more
vivacious than is common with English ladies.

"I don't see what brought _you_ here," said Leon at last.

"I might say the same of you, _mon cher_," replied the lady, "but I
have a faint idea, and I have no desire to give you too much liberty."

"It's some more of your confounded jealousy," said Leon, angrily. "My
business here is a very delicate one indeed. I may have to do it
incognito, and it may ruin all if I have any one here who knows me."

"Incognito?" said the lady. "That will be charming; and if so, who can
help you better than I? I can be your mother, or your grandmother, or
your business partner, or any thing. You ought to have insisted on my
accompanying you."

The light tone of raillery in which this was spoken did not in any way
mollify the chagrin of the other, who still looked at her with a frown,
and as she ended, growled out,

"I don't see how you got on my track, confound it!"

"Nothing easier," said the lady. "You didn't take any pains to hide your
tracks."

"But I told you I was going back to Dudleigh."

"I know you did, _mon cher_; but do you think I believed you?"