Then, to Ogilvy, came that desperate and hysterical courage that comes to those whose terrors have at last infuriated them.
"By jinks!" he said with an unearthly smile, "I will come on!"
And he did, straight through the door and into the pretty living room where Hélène d'Enver rose in some slight consternation to receive this astonishingly pale and rather desperate-faced young man.
"Harry," said Ogilvy, calmly retaining Hélène's hand, "you go and play around the yard for a few moments. I have something to tell the Countess d'Enver; and then we'll all have tea."
"Mr. Ogilvy!" she said, amazed.
But Annan had already vanished; and she looked into a pair of steady eyes that suddenly made her quail.
"Hélène," he said, "I really do love you."
[Illustration: "'I am scared blue. That's why I'm holding on to your hand so desperately.'">[
"Please—"
"No! I love you! Are you going to let me?"