The sofa on which they sat was between the two windows. She reclined in the easy chair in the corner between the right-hand window and the door of her room. She was so near them that she might have touched the sofa by stretching out her hand.
Without dreaming of harm, she overheard their conversation.
Mr. Fabian was the first to speak.
"I say, Rose," he began, "I have a deuce of a hard time to get a tete-a-tete with you. This is the first we have had for two months."
"And we could not have had this but for the accidental arrangement of these convenient rooms," she whispered.
"Exactly. We must arrange for future plans to-night. I understand that the old folks have been trying to persuade you to return home with us?"
"Yes; but, of course, I shall not go."
"Of course not; but how did you get out of it?"
"Oh, by raising the old gentleman."
"Do you mean the—the—the—de—"