The event justified him with unexpected suddenness.  No sooner had she passed the turnstile than a man stepped forward, saluting her in form.  Eve shook hands with him, and they walked on.

Uncontrollable wrath seized on Hilliard and shook him from head to foot.  A meeting of this kind was precisely what he had foreseen, and he resented it violently.

Eve’s acquaintance had the external attributes of a gentleman.  One could not easily imagine him a clerk or a shop-assistant smartened up for the occasion.  He was plain of feature, but wore a pleasant, honest look, and his demeanour to the girl showed not only good breeding but unmistakable interest of the warmest kind.  His age might perhaps be thirty; he was dressed well, and in all respects conventionally.

In Eve’s behaviour there appeared a very noticeable reserve; she rarely turned her face to him while he spoke, and seemed to make only the briefest remarks.  Her attention was given to the objects they passed.

Totally unconscious of the scenes through which he was moving, Hilliard tracked the couple for more than an hour.  He noticed that the man once took out his watch, and from this trifling incident he sought to derive a hope; perhaps Eve would be quit ere long of the detested companionship.  They came at length to where a band was playing, and sat down on chairs; the pursuer succeeded in obtaining a seat behind them, but the clamour of instruments overpowered their voices, or rather the man’s voice, for Eve seemed not to speak at all.  One moment, when her neighbour’s head approached nearer than usual to hers, she drew slightly away.

The music ceased, whereupon Eve’s companion again consulted his watch.

“It’s a most unfortunate thing.”  He was audible now.  “I can’t possibly stay longer.”

Eve moved on her chair, as if in readiness to take leave of him, but she did not speak.

“You think it likely you will meet Miss Ringrose?”

Eve answered, but the listener could not catch her words.

“I’m so very sorry.  If there had been any——­”

The voice sank, and Hilliard could only gather from observance of the man’s face that he was excusing himself in fervent tones for the necessity of departure.  Then they both rose and walked a few yards together.  Finally, with a sense of angry exultation, Hilliard saw them part.

For a little while Eve stood watching the musicians, who were making ready to play a new piece.  As soon as the first note sounded she moved slowly, her eyes cast down.  With fiercely throbbing heart, thinking and desiring and hoping he knew not what, Hilliard once more followed her.  Night had now fallen; the grounds of the Exhibition shone with many-coloured illumination; the throng grew dense.  It was both easy and necessary to keep very near to the object of his interest.

There sounded a clinking of plates, cups, and glasses.  People were sitting at tables in the open air, supplied with refreshments by the waiters who hurried hither and thither.  Eve, after a show of hesitation, took a seat by a little round table which stood apart; her pursuer found a place whence he could keep watch.  She gave an order, and presently there was brought to her a glass of wine with a sandwich.