He was ill at case as he hurried forward.  With each succeeding day of the old life the new annoyances, the new obligations became more hampering.  Before his compact with Loder this old life had been a net about his feet; now the meshes seemed to have narrowed, the net itself to have spread till it smothered his whole being.  His own household—­his own rooms, even—­offered no sanctuary.  The presence of another personality tinged the atmosphere.  It was preposterous, but it was undeniable.  The lay figure that he had set in his place had proved to be flesh and blood—­had usurped his life, his position, his very personality, by sheer right of strength.  As he walked along Bond Street in the first sunshine of the year, jostled by the well-dressed crowd, he felt a pariah.

He revolted at the new order of things, but the revolt was a silent one-the iron of expediency had entered into his soul.  He dared not jeopardize Loder’s position, because he dared not dispense with Loder.  The door that guarded his vice drew him more resistlessly with every indulgence, and Loder’s was the voice that called the “Open Sesame!”

He walked on aimlessly.  He had been but five days at home, and already the quiet, grass-grown court of Clifford’s Inn, the bare staircase, the comfortless privacy of Loder’s rooms seemed a haven of refuge.  The speed with which this hunger had returned frightened him.

He walked forward rapidly and without encountering a check.  Then, suddenly, the spell was broken.  From the slowly moving, brilliantly dressed throng of people some one called him by his name; and turning he saw Lillian Astrupp.

She was stepping from the door of a jeweller’s, and as he turned she paused, holding out her hand.

“The very person I would have wished to see!” she exclaimed.  “Where have you been these hundred years?  I’ve heard of nobody but you since you’ve turned politician and ceased to be a mere member of Parliament!” She laughed softly.  The laugh suited the light spring air, as she herself suited the pleasant, superficial scene.

He took her hand and held it, while his eyes travelled from her delicate face to her pale cloth gown, from her soft furs to the bunch of roses fastened in her muff, The sight of her was a curious relief.  Her cool, slim fingers were so casual, yet so clinging, her voice and her presence were so redolent of easy, artificial things.

“How well you look!” he said, involuntarily.

Again she laughed.  “That’s my prerogative,” she responded, lightly.  “But I was serious in being glad to see you.  Sarcastic people are always so intuitive.  I’m looking for some one with intuition.”

Chilcote glanced up.  “Extravagant again?” he said, dryly.

She smiled at him sweetly.  “Jack!” she murmured with slow reproach.

Chilcote laughed quickly.  “I understand.  You’ve changed your Minister of Finance.  I’m wanted in some other direction.”