Again he took her in his strong arms and pressed her to him, still being watched by the mysterious individual who had followed Dorise.
"Ah! my darling, these are, indeed, moments of supreme happiness," Hugh exclaimed as he held her tightly in his arms. "I wonder when we dare meet again?"
"Soon, dear--very soon, I hope. Let us make another appointment," she said. "On Friday week mother is going to spend the night with Mrs. Deane down at Ascot. I shall make excuse to stay at home."
"Right. Friday week at the same place and time," he said cheerily.
"I'll have to go now," she said regretfully. "I only wish I could stay longer, but I must get back at once. If mother misses me she'll have a fit."
So he walked with her out of the Victoria Gate into the Bayswater Road and put her into an empty taxi which was passing back to Oxford Street.
Then, when he had pressed her hand and wished her adieu, he continued, towards Notting Hill Gate, and thence returned to Kensington.
But, though he was ignorant of the fact, the rather lank figure which had been waiting outside the house in Grosvenor Gardens now followed him almost as noiselessly as a shadow. Never once did the watcher lose sight of him until he saw him enter the house in Abingdon Road with his latchkey.
Then, when the door had closed, the mysterious watcher passed by and scrutinized the number, after which he hastened back to Kensington High Street, where he found a belated taxi in which he drove away.