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the rooms。
〃Shall I bring you a glass of water or an ice； Adrien？〃 inquired
Hugh； noting the pallor in her face。
〃Thank you。 A glass of water； if you will be so kind。 How
deliciously fragrant that spruce is。〃
As her partner set off upon his errand； Adrien stepped to the
spruce tree which screened the open door of the room opposite； and
taking the bosky branches in her hands； she thrust her face into
the aromatic foliage。
〃How deliciously fragrant；〃 she murmured。
Suddenly； as if stabbed by a spine in the trees； she started back
and stood gazing through the thick branches into the room beyond
There stood Maitland and Annette； the girl； with her face tearfully
pale and pleading； uplifted to his and with her hands gripped tight
and held fast in his； clasped against his breast。 More plainly
than words her face； her eyes； her attitude told her tale。 She was
pouring out her very soul to him in entreaty； and he was giving
eager； sympathetic heed to her appeal。
Swiftly Adrien stepped back from the screening tree； her face white
as if from a stunning blow； her heartbeats checking her breath。
Quickly； blindly； she ran down the corridor。 At the very end she
met Hugh with a glass of water in his hand。
〃What is the matter； Adrien？ Have you seen a ghost？〃 he cried in
an anxious voice。
She caught the glass from his hand and began to drink； at first
greedily； then more slowly。
〃Ah！〃 she said； drawing a deep breath。 〃That is good。 Do you
know； I was almost overcome。 The air of that room is quite deadly。
Now I am all right。 Let us get a breath from the outside； Hugh。〃
Taking him by the arm； she hastened him to the farther end of the
corridor and opened the door。 〃Oh； delicious！〃 She drew in deep
breaths of the cold； fresh air。
〃How wonderful the night is； Hugh。〃 She leaned far out； 〃and the
snow was like a cloth of silver and diamonds in this glorious
moon。〃 She stooped； and from a gleaming bank beside the door she
caught up a double handful of the snow and； packing it into a
little ball； flung it at her partner； catching him fairly on the
ear。
〃Aha！〃 she cried。 〃Don't ever say a woman is a poor shot。 Now
then；〃 she added； stamping her feet free from the clinging flakes
and waving her hands in the air to dry them； 〃I feel fit for
anything。 Let us have one more dance before we go home； for I feel
we really must go。〃
〃You are sure you are quite fit？〃 inquired Hugh； still anxious for
her。
〃Fit？ Look at me！〃 Her cheeks were bright with colour； her eyes
with light。
〃You surely do look fit；〃 said Hugh； beaming at her with frank
admiration。 〃But you were all in a few moments ago。〃
〃Come along。 There is a way into the hall by this door；〃 she
cried； catching his hand and hurrying him into the dancing room
again。
At the conclusion of their dance they came upon Patricia near the
main entrance； in great distress。 〃I have not seen Captain Jack
anywhere；〃 she lamented。 〃Have you； Adrien？ I have just sent Vic
for a final search。 I simply cannot go home till I have had my
dance。〃 The girl was almost in tears。
〃Never mind； dear；〃 said Adrien。 〃He has many duties to…night with
all these players to look after。 I think we had better go whenever
Vic returns。 I am awfully sorry for you； Patricia；〃 she added。
〃No！ Don't！ You simply must not cry here。〃 She put her arm
around her sister's shoulder； her own lips trembling； and drew her
close。 〃Where has Vic gone； I wonder？〃
That young man； however； was having his own trials。 In his search
for Maitland he ran across McNish； whom he recognised as Annette's
partner in the first dance。
〃Hello！〃 he cried。 〃Do you know where Captain Maitland is； by any
chance？〃
〃No； how should I know；〃 replied McNish； in a voice fiercely
guttural。
〃Oh！〃 said Vic； somewhat abashed。 〃I saw you dance with Annette
with Miss Perrotteand I thought perhaps you might know where the
Captain was。〃
McNish stood glowering at him for a moment or two； then burst
forth：
〃They are awa'he's ta'en her awa'。〃
〃Away；〃 said Vic。 〃Where？〃
〃To hell for all I ken or care。〃
Then with a single stride McNish was close at his side； gripping
his arm with fingers that seemed to reach the bone。
〃Ye're a friend o' his。 Let me say tae ye if ony ill cames tae
her； by the leevin' God above us he wull answer tae me。〃 Hoarse；
panting； his face that of a maniac； he stood glaring wild…eyed at
the young man before him。 To say that Vic was shaken by this
sudden and violent onslaught would be much within the truth。
Nevertheless he boldly faced the passion…distracted man。
〃Look here！ I don't know who you are or what you mean；〃 he said；
in as steady tones as he could summon； 〃but if you suggest that any
girl will come to harm from Captain Maitland； then I say you are a
liar and a fool。〃 So speaking； little Vic set himself for the rush
which he was firmly convinced would come。 McNish； however； stood
still； fighting for control。 Then； between his deep…drawn breaths；
he slowly spoke：
〃Ye may be richt。 A hope tae God A am baith liar and fule。〃 The
agony in his face moved Vic to pity。
〃I say； old chap；〃 he said； 〃you are terribly mistaken somehow； I
can swear to that。 Where is Maitland； anyway； do you know？〃
〃They went away together。〃 McNish had suddenly gotten himself in
hand。 〃They went away in his car； secretly。〃
〃Secretly；〃 said Vic； scornfully。 〃Now； that is perfect rot。 Look
here； do you know Captain Maitland？ I am his friend； and let me
tell you that all I ever hope to own； here and hereafter； and all
my relatives and friends； I would gladly trust with him。〃
〃Maybe； maybe；〃 muttered McNish。 〃Ye may be richt。 A apologise；
sir； but if〃 His eyes blazed again。
〃Aw； cut out the tragedy stuff；〃 said Vic； 〃and don't be an ass。
Good…night。〃
Vic turned on his heel and left McNish standing in a dull and dazed
condition； and made his way toward the ballroom。
〃Who is the Johnny； anyway？〃 he said to himself。 〃He is mad
looneyutterly bughouse。 Needs a keeper in the worst way。 But
what about the Captainmust think up something。 Let's see。 Taken
suddenly ill？ Hardlythere is the girl to account for。 Her
mothergrandmotheror somethingstrickenlet's see。 Annette
has a brotherBy Jove！ the very thingI've got itbrother met
with an accidentrun overfell down a wellanything。 Hurry
callambulance stuff。 Good line。 Needs working up a bit； though。
What has happened to my grey matter？ Let me think。 Ah； yeswhen
that Johnny brought word of an accident； a serious accident to her
brother； Maitland； naturally enough； the gallant soul； hurries her
off in his car； sending word by aforesaid mad Johnny。〃
Vic went to the outer door； feeling the necessity for a somewhat
careful conning of his tale to give it； as he said himself； a
little artistic verisimilitude。 Then； with his lessonas he
thoughtwell learned； and praying for aid of unknown gods； he went
back to find his partner。
〃If only Patricia will keep out of it；〃 he said to himself as he
neared the hall door； 〃or if I could only catch old Hugh first。
But he is not much of a help in this sort of thing。 Dash