ILLUSTRATED

Harper & Brothers
new York and London
M.C.M.I.X

Copyright, 1908, 1909, by Harper & Brothers.

All rights reserved.

Published May, 1909.

[Transcriber’s note:  The name of the author, Basil King, does not appear in the text.]

ILLUSTRATIONS

She stood watching the rise and dip of
the steamer’s bow (See page 61) Frontispiece

The banker took A longer time than was
necessary to scan the poor little list Facing p. 46

Presently all four were on their way
back to the drawing-room " 78

Diane propped the cablegram in A conspicuous
place " 152

“I’ve no one to speak A word for me but
you” " 202

It was what Mrs. Wappinger called an
“Off-day” " 252

MRS. BAYFORD WAS PURRING TO HER GUESTS " 260

Having made A copy of this letter, she
called Simmons and Fulton and gave
them their instructions " 264

“Since the inner shrine is unlocked—­at
last—­I’ll go in” " 354

THE INNER SHRINE

THE INNER SHRINE

I

Though she had counted the strokes of every hour since midnight, Mrs. Eveleth had no thought of going to bed.  When she was not sitting bolt upright, indifferent to comfort, in one of the stiff-backed, gilded chairs, she was limping, with the aid of her cane, up and down the long suite of salons, listening for the sound of wheels.  She knew that George and Diane would be surprised to find her waiting up for them, and that they might even be annoyed; but in her state of dread it was impossible to yield to small considerations.