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The attendant circumstances； however； are not so easy to
discover。 Judging by the careful report of the person whom I
employ； there must have been serious reasons； in this case； for
keeping facts secret and witnesses out of the way。 I mention
this； not to discourage you； but to prepare you for delays that
may occur on our way to discovery。
Be pleased to preserve your confidence in me； and to give me
timeand I answer for the result。
BOOK THE SECOND。
CHAPTER I。
THE SANDWICH DANCE。
A FINE spring； after a winter of unusual severity； promised well
for the prospects of the London season。
Among the social entertainments of the time； general curiosity
was excited； in the little sphere which absurdly describes itself
under the big name of Society； by the announcement of a party to
be given by Lady Loring； bearing the quaint title of a Sandwich
Dance。 The invitations were issued at an unusually early hour；
and it was understood that nothing so solid and so commonplace as
the customary supper was to be offered to the guests。 In a word；
Lady Loring's ball was designed as a bold protest against late
hours and heavy midnight meals。 The younger people were all in
favor of the proposed reform。 Their elders declined to give an
opinion beforehand。
In the small inner circle of Lady Loring's most intimate friends；
it was whispered that an innovation in the matter of refreshments
was contemplated； which would put the tolerant principles of the
guests to a severe test。 Miss Notman； the housekeeper； politely
threatening retirement on a small annuity； since the memorable
affair of the oyster…omelet； decided on carrying out her design
when she heard that there was to be no supper。 〃My attachment to
the family can bear a great deal；〃 she said。 〃But when Lady
Loring deliberately gives a ball； without a supper； I must hide
my head somewhereand it had better be out of the house！〃 Taking
Miss Notman as representative of a class； the reception of the
coming experiment looked； to say the least of it； doubtful。
On the appointed evening； the guests made one agreeable discovery
when they entered the reception rooms。 They were left perfectly
free to amuse themselves as they liked。
The drawing…rooms were given up to dancing； the picture gallery
was devoted to chamber music。 Chess…players and card…players
found remote and quiet rooms especially prepared for them。 People
who cared for nothing but talking were accommodated to perfection
in a sphere of their own。 And lovers （in earnest or not in
earnest） discovered； in a dimly…lighted conservatory with many
recesses； that ideal of discreet retirement which combines
solitude and society under one roof。
But the ordering of the refreshments failed； as had been
foreseen； to share in the approval conferred on the arrangement
of the rooms。 The first impression was unfavorable。 Lady Loring；
however； knew enough of human nature to leave results to two
potent alliesexperience and time。
Excepting the conservatory； the astonished guests could go
nowhere without discovering tables prettily decorated with
flowers； and bearing hundreds of little pure white china plates；
loaded with nothing but sandwiches。 All varieties of opinion were
consulted。 People of ordinary tastes； who liked to know what they
were eating； could choose conventional beef or ham； encased in
thin slices of bread of a delicate flavor quite new to them。
Other persons； less easily pleased； were tempted by sandwiches of
_pate de fois gras_ and by exquisite combinations of chicken and
truffles； reduced to a creamy pulp which clung to the bread like
butter。 Foreigners； making experiments； and not averse to garlic；
discovered the finest sausages of Germany and Italy transformed
into English sandwiches。 Anchovies and sardines appealed； in the
same unexpected way； to men who desired to create an artificial
thirstafter having first ascertained that the champagne was
something to be fondly remembered and regretted； at other
parties； to the end of the season。 The hospitable profusion of
the refreshments was all…pervading and inexhaustible。 Wherever
the guests might be； or however they were amusing themselves；
there were the pretty little white plates perpetually tempting
them。 People eat as they had never eat before； and even the
inveterate English prejudice against anything new was conquered
at last。 Universal opinion declared the Sandwich Dance to be an
admirable idea； perfectly carried out。
Many of the guests paid their hostess the compliment of arriving
at the early hour mentioned in the invitations。 One of them was
Major Hynd。 Lady Loring took her first opportunity of speaking to
him apart。
〃I hear you were a little angry；〃 she said； 〃when you were told
that Miss Eyrecourt had taken your inquiries out of your hands。〃
〃I thought it rather a bold proceeding； Lady Loring；〃 the Major
replied。 〃But as the General's widow turned out to be a lady； in
the best sense of the word； Miss Eyrecourt's romantic adventure
has justified itself。 I wouldn't recommend her to run the same
risk a second time。〃
〃I suppos e you know what Romayne thinks of it？〃
〃Not yet。 I have been too busy to call on him since I have been
in town。 Pardon me； Lady Loring； who is that beautiful creature
in the pale yellow dress？ Surely I have seen her somewhere
before？〃
〃That beautiful creature； Major； is the bold young lady of whose
conduct you don't approve。〃
〃Miss Eyrecourt？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I retract everything I said！〃 cried the Major； quite
shamelessly。 〃Such a woman as that may do anything。 She is
looking this way。 Pray introduce me。〃
The Major was introduced； and Lady Loring returned to her guests。
〃I think we have met before； Major Hynd；〃 said Stella。
Her voice supplied the missing link in the Major's memory of
events。 Remembering how she had looked at Romayne on the deck of
the steamboat； he began dimly to understand Miss Eyrecourt's
otherwise incomprehensible anxiety to be of use to the General's
family。 〃I remember perfectly；〃 he answered。 〃It was on the
passage from Boulogne to Folkestoneand my friend was with me。
You and he have no doubt met since that time？〃 He put the
question as a mere formality。 The unexpressed thought in him was；
〃Another of them in love with Romayne！ and nothing； as usual；
likely to come of it。〃
〃I hope you have forgiven me for going to Camp's Hill in your
place；〃 said Stella。
〃I ought to be grateful to you；〃 the Major rejoined。 〃No time has
been lost in relieving these poor peopleand your powers of
persuasion have succeeded； where mine might have failed。 Has
Romayne been to see them himself since his return to London？〃
〃No。 He desires to remain unknown； and he is kindly content； for
the present； to be represented by me。〃
〃For the present。〃 Major Hynd repeated。
A faint flush passed over her delicate complexion。 〃I have
succeeded；〃 she resumed； 〃in inducing Madame Marillac to accept
the help offered through me to her son。 The poor creature is
safe； under kind superintendence； in a private asylum。 So far； I
can do no more。〃
〃Will the mother accept nothing？〃
〃Nothing； either for herself or her daughter； so long as they can
work。 I cannot tell you how patiently and beautifully she speaks
of her hard lot。 But her health may give wayand it is possible；
before long； that I may leave London。〃 She paused； the flush
deepened on her face。 〃The failure of the mother's health may
happen in my absence；〃 she continued； 〃and Mr。 Romayne will ask
you to look after the family； from time to time； while I am
away。〃
〃I will do it with pleasure； Miss Eyrecourt。 Is Romayne likely to
be here to…night？〃
She smiled brightly； and looked away。 The Major's curiosity was
excitedhe looked in the same direction。 There was Romayne；
entering the room； to answer for himself。
What was the attraction which drew the unsocial student to an
evening party？ Major Hynd's eyes were on the watch。 When Romayne
and Stella shook hands； the attraction stood self…revealed to
him； in Miss Eyrecourt。 Recalling the momentary confusion which
she had betrayed； when she spoke of possibly leaving London； a