He turned away at once, and the incident was over, since by this unexpected move Nan had managed to convey to her too ardent champion that she desired it to be so.

He departed sullenly to the refreshment-room, mystified but obedient and she dived hurriedly into the cloakroom in search of her property.

She found Piet waiting for her when she came out, and she passed forth with him to the waiting motor with a laugh and a jest for the benefit of the onlookers.

But the moment the door closed upon them she fell into silence, drawn back from him as far as possible, her cold hands clenched tight under her cloak.

He did not attempt to speak to her during the quarter of an hour’s drive, sitting mutely beside her in statuesque stillness; and it was she who, when he handed her out, broke the silence.

“I have something to say to you.”

He bent before her stiffly.

“I am at your service.”

There was something in his words that sounded ironical to her, something that sent the blood to her face in a burning wave.  She turned in silence and ascended the steps in front of him.

She found the door unlocked, but the hall was empty, and lighted only by the great flames that spouted up from the log-fire on the open hearth.

Clearly the rest of the family had retired, and a sudden, sharp suspicion flashed through Nan that her husband had deliberately laid his plans for this private interview with her.

It set her heart pounding again within her, but she braced herself to treat him with a high hand.  He must not, he should not, assume the mastery over her.

Silently she waited as he shut and bolted the great door, and then quietly crossed the shadowy hall to join her.

She had dropped her cloak from her shoulders, and the firelight played ruddily over her dress of shimmering white, revealing her slim young beauty in every delicate detail.  Very pale, but erect and at least outwardly calm, she faced him.

“What I have to say to you,” she said, “will make you very angry; but I hope you will have the patience to listen to me, because it must be said.”

He did not answer.  He merely stooped and stirred the fire to a higher blaze, then turned and looked at her with those ever-watching eyes of his.

Nan’s hands were clenched unconsciously.  She was making the greatest effort of her life.

“It has come to this,” she said, forcing herself with all her quivering strength to speak quietly.  “I do not wish to be your wife.  I have realized for some time that my marriage was a mistake, and I thought it possible, I hoped with all my heart, that you would see it, too.  I suppose, by your coming back in this way, that you have not yet done so?”

He was standing very quietly before her with his hands behind him.  Notwithstanding her wild misgiving, she could not see that he was in any way angered by her words.  He seemed to observe her with a grave interest.  That was all.