“I did not think you knew Lady Barrington,” said Katherine, as he handed her an ice.

“Know her?  Never heard of her till you mentioned her name the day before yesterday.”

“How did she come to ask you to her house, then?”

“Let me see.  Oh, I went down to the club and asked if any one knew Lady Barrington, and who was going to her party.  At last Darrell said he was a sort of relation, and that he would ask for a card.  He did, and here I am.”

“But you said you were coming.”

“So I was.  I made up my mind to come as soon as you said you were.”

“You are very audacious, Mr. De Burgh!” said Katherine, laughing in spite of her intention to be rather distant with him.

“Do you think so?  Then I have earned the character cheaply.  Are they going to squall and fiddle all night?  I thought it might turn into a dance.”

“I did not imagine you would condescend to dance.”

“Why?  I used to like dancing, under certain conditions.  Don’t fancy I haven’t an ear for music, Miss Liddell, because I said the performance upstairs was ghastly.  I am very fond of music—­real sweet music.  I liked your songs, and I should have liked a waltz with you—­immensely.  You know I never met you in society before—­” He stopped abruptly and looked at her from head to foot, with a comprehensive glance so full of the admiration he did not venture to speak that Katherine felt the color mount to her brow and even spread over her white throat, while an odd sense of uneasy distress fluttered her pulses.  She only said, indifferently:  “I might not prove a good partner.  I have never danced much.”

“I might give you a lesson in that too, as well as in handling the ribbons.  And for that there will be a grand opportunity next week.  Lord De Burgh is coming up, and I shall have the run of his stables, which I will take good care shall be well filled.  We’ll have out a smart pair of cobs, and you shall take them round the Park every morning, till you are fit to give all the other women whips the go-by.”

“Do you seriously believe such a scheme possible?”

“It shall be if you say yes.  Do you know that you have brought me luck?  You have, ’pon my soul!  I am A-1 with old De Burgh, and I won a pot of money up in Yorkshire, paid a lot of debts, sold my horses.  Now, don’t you think you ought to be interested in your man Friday?  You remember our last meeting at Sandbourne—­hey?  Don’t you think I am going to succeed all along the line?”

“It is impossible to say,” returned Katherine.  “You know there is a French proverb—­” She stopped, not liking to repeat it as she suddenly remembered the application.

“Yes, I do know the lying Gallic invention! Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.  I don’t believe it.  If luck’s with you, all goes well; but then Fortune is such a fickle jade!”

“I trust you will always be fortunate, Mr. De Burgh,” said Katherine, gently.