"John," she faltered. Just for a moment it occurred to Rent that the woman's face had a guilty air.  "What are you doing here like this? Is anything wrong?"

"Oh, I know I am out of place," the stranger said grimly.  "Mrs. Bromley-Martin has asked me more than once to call, and now I am here. I have come for you."

"Oh, I know I am out of place," the stranger said grimly.  "Mrs. Bromley-Martin has asked me more than once to call, and now I am here. I have come for 

."

The speaker's stern, clear tones rang through the room, and cards were dropped for the moment. The hostess laughed.

The speaker's stern, clear tones rang through the room, and cards were dropped for the moment. The hostess laughed.

"Oh, don't mention it," she said.  "I love originality. You can't think how tired one gets sometimes of bridge in a drawing-room."

"Oh, don't mention it," she said.  "I love originality. You can't think how tired one gets sometimes of bridge in a drawing-room."

All eyes were turned upon Charlock, and he seemed to have become master of the situation. He walked to the windows and jerked up the blinds. The clear glow of the morning fell on tired eyes and painted faces that looked ghastly white and drawn. There was no sign of a smile on Charlock's face.

All eyes were turned upon Charlock, and he seemed to have become master of the situation. He walked to the windows and jerked up the blinds. The clear glow of the morning fell on tired eyes and painted faces that looked ghastly white and drawn. There was no sign of a smile on Charlock's face.

"Take the tables and play outside," he said. "That will be something new, something for the papers to chatter about. But I am intruding here, and I want my wife. You will come at once. I beg your pardon, I am sure I did not mean to hurt you, but I am a little beside myself to-night. You will know why presently. I will go outside and wait for you."

"Take the tables and play outside," he said. "That will be something new, something for the papers to chatter about. But I am intruding here, and I want my wife. You will come at once. I beg your pardon, I am sure I did not mean to hurt you, but I am a little beside myself to-night. You will know why presently. I will go outside and wait for you."

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