“More,” said Cliffe.  “Come along.”

And he made for the door, which he held open for her.  It was now Mary Lyster’s turn to flush—­the rebuff had been so naked and unadorned.  Ashe rose as Kitty passed him.

“Why don’t you come, too?” she said, pausing.  There was a flash from eyes deep and dark beneath a pair of wilful brows.  “Aunt Lina would never be cross with you!”

“Thank you!  I should be delighted to play buffer, but unfortunately I have some work I must do before dinner.”

“Must you?” She looked at him uncertainly, then at Cliffe.  In the dusk of the large, heavily furnished room, the pale yet brilliant gold of her hair, her white dress, her slim energy and elegance drew all their eyes—­even Mary Lyster’s.

“I must,” Ashe repeated, smiling.  “I am glad your headache is so much better.”

“It is not in the least better!”

“Then you disguise it like a heroine.”

He stood beside her, looking down upon her, his height and strength measured against her smallness.  Apparently his amused detachment, the slight dryness of his tone annoyed her.  She made a tart reply and vanished through the door that Cliffe held open for her.

* * * * *

Ashe retired to his own room, dealt with some Foreign Office work, and then allowed himself a meditative smoke.  The click of the billiard-balls had ceased abruptly about ten minutes after he had begun upon his papers; there had been voices in the hall, Lord Grosville’s he thought among them; and now all was silence.

He thought of the events of the afternoon with mingled amusement and annoyance.  Cliffe was an unscrupulous fellow, and the child’s head might be turned.  She should be protected from him in future—­he vowed she should.  Lady Tranmore should take it in hand.  She had been a match for Cliffe in various other directions before this.

What brought the man, with his notorious character and antecedents, to Grosville Park—­one of the dwindling number of country-houses in England where the old Puritan restrictions still held?  It was said he was on the look-out for a post—­Ashe, indeed, happened to know it officially; and Lord Grosville had a good deal of influence.  Moreover, failing an appointment, he was understood to be aiming at Parliament and office; and there were two safe county-seats within the Grosville sphere.

“Yet even when he wants a thing he can’t behave himself in order to get it,” thought Ashe.  “Anybody else would have turned Sabbatarian for once, and refrained from flirting with the Grosvilles’ niece.  But that’s Cliffe all over—­and perhaps the best thing about him.”