Marie Belloc Lowndes

“ But all the same—well, I often feel envious of M. Popeau, for he seems to be always doing things for you.” He turned round on the bench on which they were both sitting, and looked at her very earnestly. “I'm a lazy chap, but I'd like to—to be able to prove——”
Then he stopped dead, and Lily's heart began to beat unaccountably.
What a pity it is sometimes that two human beings cannot see what is passing through each other's minds and hearts. What a lot of trouble, pain—aye, and danger—their doing so would often save. ”

“ He had seemed to understand exactly what she was feeling, and he had soothed and comforted her. But now, this afternoon, he seemed quite unlike the man whom she had first told of her hideous discovery.
“I think I must be going up to La Solitude soon,” she said rather nervously. “Beppo Polda is arriving to-morrow, and they're having a kind of spring cleaning in his honour she smiled a little. “I said I'd help Cristina with it.”
“Surely you needn't go yet? It's quite early,”—there was an urgent note in Captain Stuart's voice. ”

“ Strange to say—it really was strange when she came to think of it—this was the very first time she had ever been alone with a man who sat so curiously silent by her side, for she did not count the few moments they had spent together yesterday morning. ”

“ I suppose you know what Popeau really is?”
“I haven't the slightest idea!” she exclaimed.
“He's the head of a very important branch of the French Secret Service. Since the war he's been worked to death; and though he's on holiday now, they keep in very close touch with him.”
Lily was extremely surprised, and rather thrilled. “I wonder why he didn't tell me?” she exclaimed.
”He's an odd sort of man,” said Angus Stuart thoughtfully. “I don't think he's exactly proud of his job, Miss Fairfield. Perhaps he'd rather you didn't know. You'll keep the fact to yourself, eh?” ”