“Leave that to Captain Fitzgerald and myself,” Mrs. McBride said, proudly.  “I have a scheme that Mr. Brown shall spend the day with Clutterbuck R. Tubbs, examining some new machinery they are both interested in.  Leave it to me!” The part of Deus ex machina was always a role the widow loved.

Then they descended to an agreeable lunch in the restaurant, with a numerous party of her friends as usual, and Lord Bracondale felt afterwards full of joy and hope, to continue his sinful path unrepenting.

The days that intervened before Theodora saw him again were uneventful and full of blankness.  The walks in the Bois appeared more tedious than ever in the morning, the drives in the Acacias more exasperating.  It was a continual alertness to see if she caught sight of a familiar face, but she never did.  Fate was against them, as she sometimes is when she means to compensate soon after by some glorious day of the gods.  And although Lord Bracondale called at her hotel and walked where he thought he should see her, and even drove in the Acacias, they had no meeting.

Josiah did not feel himself sufficiently strong to stand the air of theatres, and they went nowhere in the evenings.  He was keeping himself for his own dinner-party, which was to take place at the Madrid on the Monday.

Captain Fitzgerald had arranged it, and besides Mrs. McBride several of his friends were coming, and a special band of wonderfully talented Tziganes, who were delighting Paris that year, had been engaged to play to them.  If only the weather should remain fine all would be well.

A surprise awaited Theodora on Saturday morning.  A friendly note from Mrs. McBride arrived, asking her if she would spend the day with her at Versailles, as she had asked her husband to do her a favor and lunch with Mr. Clutterbuck R. Tubbs.

Theodora awaited Josiah’s presence at the premier dejeuner, which they took in their salon, with absolute excitement.  He came in, a pompous smile on his face.

“Good-day, my love,” he said, blandly.  “That charming widow writes me this morning, asking if I will do her a favor, and take her friend, Mr. Clutterbuck Tubbs, to examine that machinery for the separation of fats we both have an interest in, and he suggests I should lunch with him, as he is very anxious to have my opinion upon the merits of it.”

“Yes,” said Theodora.

“She also says,” referring to the letter in his hand, “she will take charge of you for the day, and take you to Versailles, which I know you wish to go to.  She wants an answer at once, as she will call for you at twelve o’clock if we accept.”

“I have heard from her, too,” said Theodora.  “What shall you answer, Josiah?” and she looked out of the window.

“Oh, I may as well go, I think.  There is money in the invention, or that old gimlet-eye would not be so keen about it; I talked the matter over with him at Armenonville the other night.”