Robert,
however, begged him to make his excuse, as he had an engagement
in--a very different sort of place.
When Shargar returned, Robert had not come in. He was too excited
to go to bed, and waited for him. It was two o'clock before he came
home. Shargar told him there was to be a large party at Lady
Patterdale's the next evening but one, and Lady Janet had promised
to procure him an invitation.
The next morning Robert went to see Mary St. John, and asked if she
knew anything of Lady Patterdale, and whether she could get him an
invitation. Miss St. John did not know her, but she thought she
could manage it for him. He told her all about Shargar, for whose
sake he wished to see Miss Hamilton before consenting to be
introduced to her. Miss St. John set out at once, and Falconer
received a card the next day. When the evening came, he allowed
Shargar to set out alone in his brougham, and followed an hour later
in a hansom.
When he reached the house, the rooms were tolerably filled, and as
several parties had arrived just before him, he managed to enter
without being announced. After a little while he caught sight of
Shargar. He stood alone, almost in a corner, with a strange, rather
raised expression in his eyes. Falconer could not see the object to
which they were directed. Certainly, their look was not that of
love. He made his way up to him and laid his hand on his arm.
Shargar betrayed no little astonishment when he saw him.
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