it's all very well, but you came to me to find the money for hisoutfit."
"Now, look here, Jo-si-ah," cried Mrs Barclay, who was a wonder ofsatin, feathers, and jewellery, "Mr Denville has been kind enough toask us to his party, and I will not have another word said about billsand money. I've come to enjoy myself, and I mean to. There!"
"Bless the woman!" sighed Denville.
"And where's Miss Claire? Oh, here she is. Oh, my dear, how lovableyou look in your plain pearl satin. Oh, I never did! Only oughtn't youto have a necklace on? I say, take me to your room, and let me lend youmine."
She placed her plump hand upon a magnificent ruby necklet that she wore,but Claire checked her.
"No, no, no, Mrs Barclay," she whispered.
"Well, p'raps you're right, my dear. Nothing wouldn't make you lookbetter."
"Let me compliment you too, Miss Denville," said Barclay in his brusqueway; and, after a smile and a few words, he turned back to talk to hishost.
"I say, Denville--why, it was in that back room that--why, you've madeit into a back drawing-room."
"For God's sake, Barclay!"
Denville caught at his visitor's arm, and looked at him in a ghastlyway.
"Eh? Why, you look scared. Ah, well, it was stupid to mention it at atime like this. Mustn't allude to it when they are all here, eh?"
"For heaven's sake, no."
"All right, I won't. I say, Denville, what do you think of that?"
He drew a case from his pocket, opened it, and displayed a necklace oflarge single diamonds, the sight of which made the MC start and shiver.
"Magnificent!" he faltered.
"I should think they are. All choice picked stones, sir. Belonged to aCountess."
"To a Countess?" said Denville, in a faltering voice.
"Yes, sir. I say, your bread's beginning to be buttered thick. Lookhere."
He drew out another case as they stood alone in the front room.
"There's a set of pearls, sir. There's lustre and regularity. Twofifty guineas, Denville."
"But, my dear Barclay," said the host, striving to recover hisequanimity, "why have you brought those here?"
"Why have I brought 'em? Don't you know? Well, I'll tell you. OldCarboro' wants to pay a delicate attention to a lady he admires, and hebade me bring two or three things here to choose from. I mean to sellold Drelincourt the one he does not take. Look, I've two more lots."
"But, my dear Barclay, surely you will not attempt to sell or barterhere--in my house," said Denville piteously.
"Not try? Oh, won't I, though! Why, my dear Denville, you don'tsuppose I came to waste time, do you? Not I."
There was an announcement here, and Denville had to hide the feeling ofannoyance mingled with pleasure that came upon him, for there could beno doubt in his own mind for whom the jewels were intended.
How would Claire treat the offer?
The guests began to arrive fast now, and the shabbiness of thecandle-decked room was soon turned into a suitably subdued setting tothe rich dresses which Mrs Barclay scanned in turn, and decided werenot so good as her own.
The incident about the jewels troubled Denville more and more, and hefound himself glancing from time to time at the beautiful woman in hersimple, pearl-tinted satin, who was doing the honours of his house sogracefully.
"Yes," he sighed, "worthy to be a Countess, but--" He drew his breathhard. Poor as he was, it seemed too terrible a sacrifice.
Then the temptation came upon him very strongly again. Rich, admired,beautiful, an enviable position; and, once she was married, the terribledisclosure that would some day perhaps come would not affect her.
"Colonel Mellersh; Mr Richard Linnell," announced Isaac; and a feelingof jealous anger against the young man he had been obliged to invitecame over him, but had to be hidden by a smile as the two new-comersadvanced to Claire.
Denville watched them keenly; but Claire's face was as calm as if theyhad been total strangers. She gave them both a most courteous greeting.That was all.
"Lord Carboro'," announced Isaac.
There was a little excitement here, as the wealthy old beau entered,looking very keen and sharp, but very old; and as Denville saw him takeClaire's hand, the feeling of elation was swept away by a cold,despairing chill. It was impossible.
And yet, as his lordship stood chatting to the beautiful girl, Denvillenoticed that there was a change in her. She seemed brighter and moreanimated. She smiled at the old man's remarks, and once more theimpossible seemed to be growing possible, for Claire was only a woman,after all.
Colonel Mellersh saw this too, and half sneeringly turned to RichardLinnell.
"There," he said, "much good you've done by making me bring you. Ibelieve your syren has captivated old Carboro'."
"Just look at the old man," whispered Mrs Barclay to her husband."Why, I declare, he's quite gallant."
"Hold your tongue, and don't you let it go, old woman. Here he is."
"Pinch of your snuff, Barclay," said the old dandy, coming up smiling."My compliments to you, Mrs Barclay. You look charming."
"Oh, my lord!" said Mrs Barclay, rising to curtsey, and saying toherself, "As if I didn't know better than that."
"I can't think what you were about to marry such an ugly old scoundrelas Barclay here. Have you brought anything?"
He took Barclay's arm, and they walked into the back drawing-room, wherethere were a couple of card-tables.
"Dick," said Colonel Mellersh, "old Carboro's going to borrow money, orelse--by Jove, he's getting a present from him for your beloved."
"I thought you were my friend, Mellersh," said Linnell, with his browknitting.
"So I am. Look."
"I am not a spy," said Linnell coldly, and he turned away.
"What have you brought?" said Lord Carboro'.
"These diamonds, my lord, this string of pearls, and a large diamondbracelet. Look at these diamonds, my lord--"
"Don't talk. I don't want everybody to see. Lay them on the table.No: show me the pearls."
"They are perfect, my lord, and--"
"Hold your tongue, man. That will do."
"I'll slip out this bracelet, my lord. No; I'll go and give it to mywife. She shall put it on, and you can go and talk to her, and see howbeautiful it is in design."
"Hold your tongue, man. The pearls will do. How much?"
"Three hundred guineas, my lord. They are--"
"Bah! Robbery! I'll give you two hundred down. Do you think I wantcredit?"
"But, my lord, I should lose heavily."
"And a doosid good thing too, Barclay. You want bleeding. Am I to havethem?"
"Two fifty, my lord, as you are so old a friend."
"Two hundred--in an instant. Yes, or no?"
"Well, yes, my lord."
"Give me another pinch of snuff, Barclay, and hold the pearls in yourhand. Never mind the case. Thanks, that will do. Come for the moneyin the morning."
The exchange was ingeniously effected, but Colonel Mellersh saw it, andhis lips tightened as he glanced at Richard Linnell.
"He's got the pearls, old woman," said Barclay, going back to his wifewhere she sat fanning herself, and alone.
"How much?"
"Two hundred guineas."
"Let's see; you gave the Hon. Mrs Bedam fifty for 'em, didn't you,Josiah?"
"Yes; but they're worth a hundred, honestly."
"And is he going to give 'em to Claire?"
"Don't know. Wait."
"Lady Drelincourt, Sir Matthew Bray, Colonel Lascelles," announcedIsaac; and, before the small talk was half over, he shouted again: "SirHarry Payne, Major Rockley, Mr Morton Denville."
Richard Linnell told himself that he was no spy, but he could not keephis eyes from the group, as the officers entered, and were received byClaire.
It was a crucial meeting, but she bore it well, bowing rather stiffly toMajor Rockley as he advanced in a deprecating way; and he was evide
ntlyabout to stay by her side, but Isaac announced:
"Mrs and Miss Dean."
There was a little buzz of excitement.
"Mrs Pontardent."
This lady meant to be before her _protegees_; but she was in time afterall, and after a quiet, unaffected welcome from Claire, they formed alittle group by themselves, about whom, like flies attracted by brightcolours, the officers buzzed.
Mrs Pontardent was a tall, good-looking, lady-like woman, whopatronised the Master