"  Oh  no ! "  he  said,  turning  the  pages.
"  Only  you  seemed  to  be  of  opinion  just  now
that  the  pastime  of  staying  at  home  and
pulling  strings  had  its  advantages."

*'  So  it  has,"  was  the  cool  reply  ;  "  but  that


IN   THE   CITY.  163

in  no  way  alters  the  case  as  far  as  I  am
concerned."

"  Then  I  apologize,"  said  Easton,  raising
his  eyes  without  moving  his  head ;  "  I
thought  .  .   .  perhaps — well,   never  mind  !  "

"  What  did  you  think  ?  "

"  I  had  a  sort  of  notion  that  some  other
interest  had  sprung  up — that  you  were
getting  sick  of  all  this  long  preparation."

"  And  wished  to  back  out  ? "  su2:2:ested
Tyars,   in  his  high-bred   indifference.
As  he  spoke  he  looked  up,  and  their  eyes
met.  A  strong  contrast — these  two  pairs
of  eyes.  The  one,  large,  placid,  intensely
English ;  the  other  quick,  keen,  and  restless.
AlthouQ-h  Easton's  sraze  did  not  lower  or
flinch,  his  eyes  w^ere  not  still ;  they  seemed
to  search  from  corner  to  corner  of  the  laro'e

o

glance  that  met  his  own.
"'  I  am  afraid,"  he  said,  ignoring  the
question,  "  that  I  am  getting  a  trifle  sceptical.
164         PEISONIJRS  AND   CAPTIVES.
I  have  had  more  than  one  disappointment.
