A 1/SION Of

here. Or must 1 cject you ? "

“Lolisson !

That was M. DBergny's answer. There was just a momentary hesitation. Then, “grasping M. Berigny firmly by the shoulders, Mr. Lovell began to move him, more rapidly

than gently, in the direction ol the door.

Are you gomg?

CLNOTHE DIRRCTTON ol The Vicomte came forward, with the evident mtenton of mterposing. There would pro- bably have been a shghtly undignified scramble had not a diversion been ercated by the opening of the door, and the entrance of Mr. Warren. "That gentleman glanced from onc person to another,

“1oheg your pardon,” he chserved. 1 hope 1 don't murude 1

Mr. Lovell laughed, o hittle foreedly. complexion was distinetly ruddy,

“Not at all! 1T wish vou had sooner. T'he most ridiculous happencd.”

“Indeed! T have aneyve for the nidiculous.”

“You know that picture of mine, * A\ Vision of the Night 2?7

Flis

come 1n thing has

1IN IG ()3

THE Doog,”

3

“ve heard of 0"

“This gentleman says that 1ts a portrait of his wife.”

My Lovell d THumiceres.

“No? Then, i that case, this zentleman's wife came mto your bedroom in the middle of the might, and—kissed you, wasn't it?”

Mr. Warren spoke in the mnocence of his

]mintcd to the Vicomte

heart, but, at that moment, Mr. Tovell could have struck his bovhood's friend. There was a histener behind the sercon.

The young gentleman’s checks grew erimson, as the lady’s had done a few minutes before. Fle was conscious, too, that the Vicomte's unfriendly cves were fixed upon his face.

“Sol That s ! Youo vou - 7 The Vicomte moved a step forward then checked himsell. ' Tell me, where is my

wile at this mstant 27 NMr.o Lovell could have told hiny, hut he reframed, “1 declhme to vou any imformation of any kind what cver. “NYou decline 27 The Vicomte rarsed his hand. He would have struck the artist. NMr. Warren miter- poscd toavert the hlow. e dechines for theverysimple reason . that he has never seern vour wife oasn't that so, Gerald ? 7 Mr. Lovell hes tated. Te scarcely saw his way to a denal while the lady was behimd the sereen. “You see! Tle does not even dare to lie!” “Don't talk nonsense, sir!t o Gerald, why don't vou tell the man that you have never scen the woman 1 vour hife 2”7

“1orepeat that ITodechne to give this person any mformation of any kid what cver.

“Nou dechime?” The Vicomte uttered the words m a kind

of strangled screech. His o patience was cexhausted. He scemed to think that he was

bemng subjected to treatment which was more than tlesh and blood could hear. Tle rushed at Mr. Lovell. Mr. Lovell, probably forget- ting himscll on the impulse of the moment- -