“Yes—for Daisie’s sake.”

The despair in his face and voice made her kind heart ache, and she murmured:

“Thank you, and may God bless you. I know you will never regret this promise.”

“I am not so sure of that,” he answered, sighing; though he added: “But my word is given, and the motto of our house is Toujours fidèle.”

She rose and took his arm.

“I must go back to my chaperon now. I dare say Mrs. Fleming will scold me for monopolizing the lion of the hour.”

“And must I—be civil to that woman?” he exclaimed, with a man’s horror of duplicity.

“Yes; you must be very clever, and not let her know I have betrayed her—especially do not let her trap you into an admission of your identity,” cautioned Annette anxiously.

“I will not,” he promised; and, emboldened by success, she added:

“And I hope you will be going away from New York soon. It would be very embarrassing to have you about long.”