The Colonel seemed to have shrunk in his place. The cigar slipped from
his fingers and fell unheeded on to the grass. His mouth trembled and
twitched pitifully.

"My--my daughter Louise!" he faltered. "Wrayson, you are not serious!"

"It is God's truth," Wrayson answered. "I would stake my soul upon it
that the girl--I told you about--was the original of that picture! When I
look at your daughter Edith I can see the likeness."

The Colonel's head was buried in his hands. His exclamation sounded
like a sob.

"My God!" he murmured.

Then there was silence. Only the nightingale went on with his song.




CHAPTER VIII

THE BARONESS INTERVENES


The Baroness trifled with some grapes and looked languidly round the
room.

"My dear Louise," she declared, "it is the truth what every one tells me