"I think shopping is delightful. Is it not?" she exclaimed.
Wolfenden was absolutely sure of it. He was, indeed, needlessly emphatic. Mr. Sabin smiled faintly.
"I am glad to have met you again, Lord Wolfenden," he said, "if only to thank you for your aid last night. I was anxious to get away before any fuss was made, or I would have expressed my gratitude at the time in a more seemly fashion."
"I hope," Wolfenden said, "that you will not think it necessary to say anything more about it. I did what any one in my place would have done without a moment's hesitation."
"I am not quite so sure of that," Mr. Sabin said. "But by the bye, can you tell me what became of the fellow? Did any one go after him?"
"There was some sort of pursuit, I believe," Wolfenden said slowly, "but he was not caught."
Wolfenden looked at him in some surprise. He could not make up his mind whether it was his duty to disclose the name of the man who had made this strange attempt.
"Your assailant was, I suppose, a stranger to you?" he said slowly.
"By no means. I recognised him directly. So, I believe, did you."
"He was your guest, I believe," Mr. Sabin continued, "until I entered the room. I saw him leave, and I was half-prepared for something of the sort."
"He was my guest, it is true, but none the less, he was a stranger to me," Wolfenden explained. "He brought a letter from my cousin, who seems to have considered him a decent sort of fellow."
"There is," Mr. Sabin said dryly, "nothing whatever the matter with him, except that he is mad."
"On the whole, I cannot say that I am surprised to hear it," Wolfenden remarked; "but I certainly think that, considering the form his madness takes, you ought to protect yourself in some way."
Mr. Sabin shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.
"He can never hurt me. I carry a talisman which is proof against any attempt that he can make; but none the less, I must confess that your aid last night was very welcome."
"I was very pleased to be of any service," Wolfenden said, "especially," he added, glancing toward Mr. Sabin's niece, "since it has given me the pleasure of your acquaintance."
A little thrill passed through him. Her delicately-curved lips were quivering as though with amusement, and her eyes had fallen; she had blushed slightly at that unwitting, ardent look of his. Mr. Sabin's cold voice recalled him to himself.