“I am not sure that any definite time has been fixed,” I answered. “In about a month I should think.”

“I heard about it yesterday,” he remarked. “Your stay here has not been a long one, has it?”

“Would to God that we had never come at all!” I exclaimed, fervently. “It has been the most miserable time in my life.”

“I don’t know that I can echo that wish,” he said, with a faint smile. “Yet so far as you are concerned, from your point of view, I suppose your coming here must have seemed very unfortunate. It is a pity.”

“Mr. Deville,” I said, drawing close to his side, “I am going to ask you a question.”

He looked down at me shaking his head.

“I should rather you asked me no question at all,” he answered, promptly. “Can’t we talk of other things?”

“No, we cannot! Listen!”

I laid my hand upon his arm, and forced him to turn towards me.

“You were speaking of going to see my father this afternoon,” I said. “Can I give him any message for you?”