Sabatini, who had been listening, leaned a little forward.

“She lives entirely alone with the uncle of whom you have spoken?” he asked.

“Up till yesterday she has done so,” Arnold answered gravely.  “Just at present, as you know, he has gone away.  I only wish that I could find him.”

“Going away, as you put it,” Fenella murmured, “seems to be rather the fashion just now.”

Arnold glanced up quickly but her expression was entirely innocent.  He looked across the table, however, and found that Sabatini was watching him pensively.  Fenella leaned towards him.  She spoke almost in a whisper, but her tone was cold, almost unfriendly.

“I think,” she said, “that with regard to that young woman you carry chivalry too far.”

Arnold flushed slightly.  Then Sabatini, with a little murmur of words, changed the conversation.  Once more it became entirely general, and presently the meal drew towards a pleasant termination.  Fenella and Lady Blennington left together.  At the moment of departure, the former turned towards Arnold.

“So I cannot induce you to become my escort for to-night?” she asked.

There was appeal, half humorous, half pathetic in her eyes.  Arnold hesitated, but only for a moment.

“I am sorry,” he said, “but indeed I shall not be able to leave the office until after the time for the theatre.”

“You will not obey my orders about the office?”

“I could not, in any case, leave Ruth alone this evening,” he replied.

She turned away from him.  The little gesture with which she refused to see his hand seemed to be one of dismissal.

“Signor di Marito, you will take us to the automobile, will you not?” she said.  “Perhaps we can drop you somewhere?  Good-bye, Andrea, and thank you very much for your charming luncheon.  If the message comes, you will telephone, I know?”

Arnold lingered behind while Sabatini showed his guests to the door.  When he, too, would have left, however, his host motioned him to resume his chair.

“Sit down for a few minutes,” he begged.  “You have probably seen enough of me for to-day, but I may be called away from England at any moment and there is a question I want to ask you before I go.”

Arnold nodded.

“You are really in earnest, then, about leaving?” he asked.

“Assuredly,” Sabatini replied.  “I cannot tell you exactly how things may go in my country, but if there is a rising against the reigning house, a Sabatini will certainly be there.  I have had some experience in soldiering, and I have a following.  It is true that I am an exile, but I feel that my place is somewhere near the frontier.”

Arnold glanced enviously at the man who lounged in the chair opposite him.  He seemed to carry even about his person a flavor from the far-off land of adventures.

“What I want to ask you is this,” Sabatini said.  “A few minutes ago you declared that you were anxious to discover the whereabouts of your little friend’s uncle.  Tell me why?”