Somehow，intheduskylamplight，hersmall，close-sealedfacecameominouslybacktohim。Herubbedhisforeheadandknittedhisbrowsthoughtfully。Afteramomentheshookhisheadandwenton:“Iampositivethatnothingcanbegainedbyhighhandedmethods，James。CaptainGreshamisoneofthemostpopularmeninLondon，andhisfriendswouldtearupTreffinger’sbonesifhewereannoyedbyanyscandalofourmaking——andthisschemeyouproposewouldinevitablyresultinscandal。LadyEllenhas，ofcourse，everylegalrighttosellthepicture。Treffingermadeconsiderableinroadsuponherestate，and，assheisabouttomarryamanwithoutincome，shedoubtlessfeelsthatshehasarighttoreplenishherpatrimony。“
HefoundJamesamenable，thoughdoggedlyskeptical。Hewentdownintothestreet，calledacarriage，andsawJamesandhisburdenintoit。Standinginthedoorway，hewatchedthecarriagerollawaythroughthedrizzlingmist，weaveinandoutamongthewet，blackvehiclesanddartingcablights，untilitwasswallowedupintheglareandconfusionoftheStrand。“Itisratherafinetouchofirony，“hereflected，“thathe，whoissooutofit，shouldbetheonetoreallycare。PoorTreffinger，“
hemurmuredas，witharatherspiritlesssmile，heturnedbackintohishotel。“PoorTreffinger；sictransitgloria。“
ThenextafternoonMacMasterkepthispromise。WhenhearrivedatLadyMaryPercy’shousehesawpreparationsforafunctionofsomesort，buthewentresolutelyupthesteps，tellingthefootmanthathisbusinesswasurgent。LadyEllencamedownalone，excusinghersister。Shewasdressedforreceiving，andMacMasterhadneverseenonesobeautiful。
Thecolorinhercheekssentasofteningglowoverhersmall，delicatelycutfeatures。