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 hadn't told him!" She stretched her gloved hands convulsively in her lap, then sighed loudly and relaxed them. "But there! It's done, and we have to make the best of it; but that isn't what I've come to you about."

"You know I'll do anything," Rennie said.

"Yes, I know you will. I'm afraid I'm here to ask you to do something difficult."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember one morning when you and Charles and I were watching Miss Ambler and Don Arturo Liana as they sat by the railing of the hotel garden, and Charles looked so absurdly depressed?"

"Yes; he seemed gloomy about Arturo's filling Miss Ambler's heart. I was delighted."

"I was rather pleased myself, Mr. Rennie. I thought it would be good for him to take a little interest in her, like that."

"Don't you think it has?"

"No," she said. "If it had remained a little interest we'd have been right to be pleased." She shook her head. "It hasn't."

"No?" Rennie looked puzzled. "You don't think he's serious about her?"