His business with Blessington over, Loder breathed more freely.  If Lady Astrupp had recognized Chilcote by the rings, and had been roused to curiosity, the incident would demand settlement sooner or later—­settlement in what proportion he could hazard no guess; if, on the other hand, her obvious change of manner had arisen from any other source he had a hazy idea that a woman’s behavior could never be gauged by accepted theories—­then he had safeguarded Chilcote’s interests and his own by his securing of Blessington’s promise.  Blessington he knew would be reliable and discreet.  With a renewal of confidence—­a pleasant feeling that his uneasiness had been groundless—­he moved forward to greet Eve.

Her face, with its rich, clear coloring, seemed to his gaze to stand out from the crowd of other faces as from a frame, and a sense of pride touched him.  In every eye but his own her beauty belonged to him.

His face looked alive and masterful as she reached his side.  “May I monopolize you?” he said, with the quickness of speech borrowed from Chilcote.  “We see so little of each other.”

Almost as if compelled, her lashes lifted and her eyes met his.  Her glance was puzzled, uncertain, slightly confused.  There was a deeper color than usual in her cheeks.  Loder felt something within his own consciousness stir in response.

“You know you are yielding,” he said.

Again she blushed.

He saw the blush, and knew that it was he—­his words, his personality—­that had called it forth.  In Chilcote’s actual semblance he had proved his superiority over Chilcote.  For the first time he had been given a tacit, personal acknowledgment of his power.  Involuntarily he drew nearer to her.

“Let’s get out of this crush.”

She made no answer except to bend her head; and it came to him that, for all her pride, she liked—­and unconsciously yielded to—­domination.  With a satisfied gesture he turned to make a passage towards the door.

But the passage was more easily desired than made.  In the few moments since he had entered the supper-room the press of people had considerably thickened—­until a block had formed about the door-way.  Drawing Eve with him, he moved forward for a dozen paces, then paused, unable to make further headway.

As they stood there, he looked back at her.  “What a study in democracy a crowd always is!” he said.

She responded with a bright, appreciative glance, as if surprised into naturalness.  He wondered sharply what she would be like if her enthusiasms were really aroused.  Then a stir in the corridor outside caused a movement inside the room; and with a certain display of persistence he was enabled to make a passage to the door.

There again they were compelled to halt.  But though tightly wedged into his new position and guarding Eve with one arm, Loder was free to survey the brilliantly thronged corridor over the head of a man a few inches shorter than himself, who stood directly in front of him.