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CHAPTER V.

HOW THREE GENTLEMEN ACTED FOR THE BEST.

The schemers schemed and the waiters upon
events waited with considerable patience, but
although the days wore on, the situation
showed little signs of speedy development.
Matters were in fact in a rather puzzling
position. The friendship and intimacy between
Claudia and Stafford continued to increase.
Eugene, whether in penitence or in pique, had
turned with renewed zeal to his proper duties
and was no longer content to allow Kate to be
monopolised by Haddington. The latter's
attentions had indeed been in danger of
becoming too marked, and it is, perhaps,
not uncharitable to attribute Kate's aj^parent
avoidance of them as much to considerations
of expediency as of principle. At the same
time, there was no coolness between Eugene
and Haddington, and when his guest presented
a valid excuse and proposed departure, Eugene
met the suggestion with an obviously sincere
opposition. Sir Roderick really could not
make out what was going on. Now Sir
Roderick disliked being puzzled: it conveyed