“We made them—­Noel and I. We used some of your cartridges for gunpowder.  He got saltpetre and one or two other things from the chemist.  They were quite a success,” said Chris, with a touch of her old light gaiety.

“And you are paying for it to-day,” he said.  “It will be a good thing when Noel goes back to school.”

“Oh no,” she answered quickly.  “It wasn’t the fireworks.  I often have wakeful nights.”

It was the first time she had ever alluded to the fact.  He wondered if she would summon the courage to tell him something further.  He earnestly hoped she would; but he hoped in vain.  Chris said no more.

He paused for a full minute to give her time, but, save that she became tensely still, she made no sign.  Very quietly he let the matter pass.  He would not force her confidence, but he realized at that moment more clearly than ever before that she had only really belonged to him during the brief fortnight that they had been alone together.  The two months of their married life had but served to teach him this somewhat bitter lesson, and he determined then and there to win her back as he had won her at the outset, to make her his once more and to keep her so for ever.

“I am going to take you away, Chris,” he said.  “You are wanting a change.  Noel’s holidays will be over next week.  We will start then.”

“Where shall we go?” said Chris, and he detected the relief with which she hailed the change of subject.

“We will go to Valpre,” he said, with quiet decision.

“Valpre!” The word leaped out as if of its own volition.  Chris suddenly sprang upright from her pillows, and gazed at him wide-eyed.  In the dim light he could not see her face distinctly, but there was something almost suggestive of fear in her attitude.  “Why Valpre?” she said, in a queer, breathless undertone as if she could not control her voice.

He looked down at her in surprise.  “You would like to go to Valpre again, wouldn’t you?”

She gasped.  “I—­I really don’t know.  But what made you choose it?  You have never been there.”

“No,” he said.  “You will be able to introduce me to all your old haunts.”

She gasped again.  “You chose it because of that?”

He put a steadying hand upon her shoulder.  “Chris, what makes you so nervous, child?  No, I didn’t choose it because of that.  As a matter of fact, I didn’t choose it at all.  I am due there on business in three weeks’ time, but I thought we might put in a fortnight together there beforehand.  Wouldn’t you like that?”

She shivered under his hand, and made no reply.  She only said, “What business?”

He hesitated a moment, then deliberately sat down upon the bed and drew her close to him.  “You remember that blackguard Frenchman Rodolphe who was staying with the Pounceforts two or three weeks ago?”

“Yes,” whispered Chris.