"I think we had better get to our own room," a sweet, gentle voice said,
as the tall, fair girl by Fenwick's side rose and moved in the direction
of the door. It was, perhaps, unfortunate that Venner had risen at the
same time. As he strode from his own table, he came face to face with the
girl who stood there watching him with something like pain in her blue
eyes. Just for an instant she staggered back, and apparently would have
fallen had not Venner placed his arm about her waist. In the strange
confusion caused by the unexpected disturbance, nobody had noticed this
besides Gurdon, who promptly rose to the occasion.

"You had better take the lady as far as her own rooms," he said. "This
business has evidently been too much for her. Meanwhile, I will see what
I can do for Mr. Fenwick."

Venner shot his friend a glance of gratitude. He did not hesitate for a
moment; he saw that the girl by his side was quite incapable of offering
any objections for the present. In his own strong, masterful way, he drew
the girl's hand under his arm, and fairly dragged her from the room into
the comparative silence and seclusion of the corridor beyond.

"Which way do we go?" he asked.

"The Grand Staircase," the girl replied faintly. "It is on the first
floor. But you must not come with me, you must come no further. It would
be madness for him to know that we are together."

"He will not come just yet," Venner replied. "My friend knows something
of my story, and he will do his best to get us five minutes together. You
have heard me speak of Jim Gurdon before."