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〃They'll be quite one of the best…looking and most interesting
couples of the Season； won't they？〃 he cried； by way of farewell。
The door closed and Francesca Bassington sat alone in her drawing…
room。
Before she could give way to the bitter luxury of reflection on the
downfall of her hopes； it was prudent to take precautionary
measures against unwelcome intrusion。 Summoning the maid who had
just speeded the departing St。 Michael； she gave the order： 〃I am
not at home this afternoon to Lady Caroline Benaresq。〃 On second
thoughts she extended the taboo to all possible callers； and sent a
telephone message to catch Comus at his club； asking him to come
and see her as soon as he could manage before it was time to dress
for dinner。 Then she sat down to think； and her thinking was
beyond the relief of tears。
She had built herself a castle of hopes； and it had not been a
castle in Spain； but a structure well on the probable side of the
Pyrenees。 There had been a solid foundation on which to build。
Miss de Frey's fortune was an assured and unhampered one； her
liking for Comus had been an obvious fact； his courtship of her a
serious reality。 The young people had been much together in
public； and their names had naturally been coupled in the match…
making gossip of the day。 The only serious shadow cast over the
scene had been the persistent presence； in foreground or
background； of Courtenay Youghal。 And now the shadow suddenly
stood forth as the reality； and the castle of hopes was a ruin； a
hideous mortification of dust and debris； with the skeleton
outlines of its chambers still standing to make mockery of its
discomfited architect。 The daily anxiety about Comus and his
extravagant ways and intractable disposition had been gradually
lulled by the prospect of his making an advantageous marriage；
which would have transformed him from a ne'er…do…well and
adventurer into a wealthy idler。 He might even have been moulded；
by the resourceful influence of an ambitious wife； into a man with
some definite purpose in life。 The prospect had vanished with
cruel suddenness； and the anxieties were crowding back again； more
insistent than ever。 The boy had had his one good chance in the
matrimonial market and missed it； if he were to transfer his
attentions to some other well…dowered girl he would be marked down
at once as a fortune…hunter； and that would constitute a heavy
handicap to the most plausible of wooers。 His liking for Elaine
had evidently been genuine in its way； though perhaps it would have
been rash to read any deeper sentiment into it； but even with the
spur of his own inclination to assist him he had failed to win the
prize that had seemed so temptingly within his reach。 And in the
dashing of his prospects； Francesca saw the threatening of her own。
The old anxiety as to her precarious tenure of her present quarters
put on again all its familiar terrors。 One day； she foresaw； in
the horribly near future； George St。 Michael would come pattering
up her stairs with the breathless intelligence that Emmeline
Chetrof was going to marry somebody or other in the Guards or the
Record Office as the case might be； and then there would be an
uprooting of her life from its home and haven in Blue Street and a
wandering forth to some cheap unhappy far…off dwelling； where the
stately Van der Meulen and its companion host of beautiful and
desirable things would be stuffed and stowed away in soulless
surroundings； like courtly emigres fallen on evil days。 It was
unthinkable； but the trouble was that it had to be thought about。
And if Comus had played his cards well and transformed himself from
an encumbrance into a son with wealth at his command； the tragedy
which she saw looming in front of her might have been avoided or at
the worst whittled down to easily bearable proportions。 With money
behind one； the problem of where to live approaches more nearly to
the simple question of where do you wish to live； and a rich
daughter…in…law would have surely seen to it that she did not have
to leave her square mile of Mecca and go out into the wilderness of
bricks and mortar。 If the house in Blue Street could not have been
compounded for there were other desirable residences which would
have been capable of consoling Francesca for her lost Eden。 And
now the detested Courtenay Youghal； with his mocking eyes and air
of youthful cynicism； had stepped in and overthrown those golden
hopes and plans whose non…fulfilment would make such a world of
change in her future。 Assuredly she had reason to feel bitter
against that young man； and she was not disposed to take a very
lenient view of Comus's own mismanagement of the affair； her
greeting when he at last arrived； was not couched in a sympathetic
strain。
〃So you have lost your chance with the heiress；〃 she remarked
abruptly。
〃Yes；〃 said Comus； coolly； 〃Courtenay Youghal has added her to his
other successes。〃
〃And you have added her to your other failures；〃 pursued Francesca；
relentlessly； her temper had been tried that day beyond ordinary
limits。
〃I thought you seemed getting along so well with her；〃 she
continued； as Comus remained uncommunicative。
〃We hit it off rather well together；〃 said Comus； and added with
deliberate bluntness； 〃I suppose she got rather sick at my
borrowing money from her。 She thought it was all I was after。〃
〃You borrowed money from her！〃 said Francesca； 〃you were fool
enough to borrow money from a girl who was favourably disposed
towards you； and with Courtenay Youghal in the background waiting
to step in and oust you！〃
Francesca's voice trembled with misery and rage。 This great stroke
of good luck that had seemed about to fall into their laps had been
thrust aside by an act or series of acts of wanton paltry folly。
The good ship had been lost for the sake of the traditional
ha'porth of tar。 Comus had paid some pressing tailor's or
tobacconist's bill with a loan unwillingly put at his disposal by
the girl he was courting； and had flung away his chances of
securing a wealthy and in every way desirable bride。 Elaine de
Frey and her fortune might have been the making of Comus； but he
had hurried in as usual to effect his own undoing。 Calmness did
not in this case come with reflection； the more Francesca thought
about the matter； the more exasperated she grew。 Comus threw
himself down in a low chair and watched her without a trace of
embarrassment or concern at her mortification。 He had come to her
feeling rather sorry for himself； and bitterly conscious of his
defeat； and she had met him with a taunt and without the least hint
of sympathy； he determined that she should be tantalised with the
knowledge of how small and stupid a thing had stood between the
realisation and ruin of her hopes for him。
〃And t