The young man at the door, who had known Riatt before, appeared confused, but was decided.

Miss Fenimer, he insisted, was out.

Glancing past him Riatt saw a hat and stick on the hall table.  He had no doubt as to their owner.

“I’ll wait then,” he said, coming in, and handing his own things to the footman, who seemed more embarrassed still.

Taking pity on him, Riatt said: 

“You mean Miss Fenimer is at home, but has given orders that she won’t see any one?”

Such, the man admitted, was the case.

“She’ll see me,” Riatt answered, “take my name up.”

The footman, looking still more wretched, obeyed.  Riatt heard him go into the little drawing-room overhead, and then there was a long pause.  Once he thought he heard a voice raised in anger.  As may be imagined his own anger was not appeased by this reception.

While he was waiting, the door of a room next the front-door opened and Mr. Fenimer came out.  His astonishment at seeing Riatt was so great that with all his tact he could not repress an exclamation, which somehow did not express pleasure.

“You here, my dear Riatt!” he said, grasping him cordially by the hand.  “Christine, I’m afraid—­”

“I’ve sent up to see,” said Max, curtly.

“Ah, well, my dear fellow,” Mr. Fenimer went on easily, “come, you know, a man really can’t go off in the casual way you did and expect to find everything just as he likes when he comes back.  I have a word to say to you myself.  Shall we walk as far as the corner together?”

To receive his dismissal from Mr. Fenimer was something that Riatt had never contemplated.

“I should prefer to wait until the footman comes down,” he answered.

“No use, no use,” said Mr. Fenimer, suddenly becoming jovial, “I happen to know that Christine is out.  Come back a little later—­”

“And whose hat is that, then?” asked Max.

It had been carelessly left on its crown and the initials “L.L.” were plainly visible.

Mr. Fenimer could not on the instant think of an answer, and Riatt decided to go upstairs unannounced.

As he opened the drawing-room door he heard Christine’s voice saying:  “Thank you, I shall please myself, Lee, even without your kind permission.”

The doors in the Fenimer house opened silently, so that though Christine, who was facing the door, saw him at once, Linburne, whose back was turned to it, was unaware of his presence, and answered: 

“You ought to have more pride than to want to see a fellow who has made it so clear he doesn’t care sixpence about seeing you.”

Christine openly smiled at Max, as she answered:  “Well, I do want to see him,” and Linburne turning to see at what her smile was directed found himself face to face with Riatt.

Max made a gesture to the footman, and shut the door behind his hasty retreat, then he came slowly into the room.