Arriving at Gardner’s Crossing in the evening, he sent Pete to the hotel and went to Austin’s house.  He must see Carmen and resolved that she should find him proof against her wiles; he was not going to be a sentimental fool again.  In a general way, Carmen was, of course, too clever for him, but he had now certain advantages which he meant to use.

He was shown into her drawing-room, where he was left for some time, and imagined with rather grim amusement that she was making preparations to receive him.  Carmen knew the power of her beauty, which, however, owed much to her tasteful dress.  In the meantime, he looked about the room.  It was pretty with a certain exotic touch that the girl knew how to give.  The color-plan of carpets, rugs, and curtains, although rather vivid, was good; the furniture pleased the eye.  Foster had once thought it charmingly artistic, but knew better now.  Alice Featherstone had taught him the difference between prettiness and dignified beauty.  He felt that difference plainly when Carmen came in, dressed like the fashionable women he had seen in Edinburgh.

“You have come back soon, but it’s nice to see you,” she said with a smile.  “The Crossing was duller than usual after you had gone.”

“Thank you!  I came back sooner than I expected,” Foster replied, rather dryly.

Carmen gave him a quick look, but sat down with languid grace in an easy chair.

“Well, I’ve no doubt you have much to tell me about your trip, and if you’ll talk about Edinburgh and London, I won’t let anybody in.”

“Aren’t you anxious to know if I delivered the packet?”

“The packet?  I had forgotten it,” Carmen said carelessly.  “Still, I did think you might have written to let me know you took it safe.  But I dare say you had many interesting things to do.”

“As it happened, I had,” Foster replied with a touch of grimness.  “For all that, I delivered the packet and got an answer.”

Carmen regarded him with surprise, as if she thought he had not played up.  “You can give me the answer afterwards.  Tell me about Featherstone’s place and his people.  I’m curious about them; particularly his sisters.  I suppose he has some?”

Foster thought he understood.  Carmen was clever and would not have used such obvious means had she wished to learn if Lawrence had a sister who had attracted him.  What she wanted was to persuade him that the packet was not important.

“I’d sooner talk about the errand you gave me.  Did you know what the packet contained?”

She laughed, but he thought the laugh was forced.  “Doesn’t that sound rather stupid when I sent the thing?”

“Perhaps it does,” said Foster gravely.  “Still, I hope you didn’t know.”

Her coquettish manner vanished and she leaned slightly forward while her eyes got hard.  Indeed, there was something feline in her alert pose.  Now she had, so to speak, unsheathed her claws, he was glad the advantage was heavily on his side.  For all that, he did not want to hurt her.