It was not a happy one.  My friends—­old and new—­I saw inextricably caught in a tangle of cross-purposes, miserably and hopelessly involved in a situation for which I could predict no possible relief.  I was able to understand now the beauty as well as the madness of Keredec’s plan; and I had told him so (after the departure of the Quesnay party), asking his pardon for my brusquerie of the morning.  But the towering edifice his hopes had erected was now tumbled about his ears:  he had failed to elude the Mursiana.  There could be no doubt of her absolute control of the situation.  That was evident in the every step of the youth now confidently parading before me.

Following his active stride with my eye, I observed him in the act of saluting, with a gracious nod of his bare head, some one, invisible to me, who was approaching from the road.  Immediately after—­and altogether with the air of a person merely “happening in”—­a slight figure, clad in a long coat, a short skirt, and a broad-brimmed, veil-bound brown hat, sauntered casually through the archway and came into full view in the light of the reflector.

I sprang to my feet and started toward her, uttering an exclamation which I was unable to stifle, though I tried to.

“Good evening, Mr. Percy,” she said cheerily.  “It’s the most exuberant night.  You’re quite hearty, I hope?”

“Takin’ a walk, I see, little lady,” he observed with genial patronage.

“Oh, not just for that,” she returned.  “It’s more to see him.”  She nodded to me, and, as I reached her, carelessly gave me her left hand.  “You know I’m studying with him,” she continued to Mr. Percy, exhibiting a sketch-book under her arm.  “I dropped over to get a criticism.”

“Oh, drawin’-lessons?” said Mr. Percy tolerantly.  “Well, don’ lemme interrup’ ye.”

He moved as if to withdraw toward the steps, but she detained him with a question.  “You’re spending the rest of the summer here?”

“That depends,” he answered tersely.

“I hear you have some passionately interesting friends.”

“Where did you hear that?”

“Ah, don’t you know?” she responded commiseratingly.  “This is the most scandalously gossipy neighbourhood in France.  My dear young man, every one from here to Timbuctu knows all about it by this time!”

“All about what?”

“About the excitement you’re such a valuable part of; about your wonderful Spanish friend and how she claims the strange young man here for her husband.”

“They’ll know more’n that, I expec’,” he returned with a side glance at me, “before very long.”

“Every one thinks I am so interesting,” she rattled on artlessly, “because I happened to meet you in the woods.  I’ve held quite a levee all day.  In a reflected way it makes a heroine of me, you see, because you are one of the very most prominent figures in it all.  I hope you won’t think I’ve been too bold,” she pursued anxiously, “in claiming that I really am one of your acquaintances?”