well. One had met her on the parade, in the
afternoon, walking with Mrs. Marsett. Colonel Sudley had seen them on
horseback. He remarked to Dartrey:

'And by the way, you're a clean stretch ahead of us. I've seen you go by
these windows, with the young lady on one side, and a rather pretty woman
on the other too.'

'Nothing is unseen in this town!' Dartrey rejoined.

Strolling to his quarters along the breezy parade at night, he proposed
to himself, that he would breathe an immediate caution to Nesta. How had
she come to know this Mrs. Marsett? But he was more seriously thinking of
what Colney Durance called 'The Mustard Plaster'; the satirist's phrase
for warm relations with a married fair one: and Dartrey, clear of any
design to have it at his breast, was beginning to take intimations of
pricks and burns. They are an almost positive cure of inflammatory
internal conditions. They were really hard on him, who had none to be
cured.

The hour was nigh midnight. As he entered his hotel, the porter ran off
to the desk in his box, and brought him a note, saying, that a lady had
left it at half-past nine. Left it?--Then the lady could not be the
alarming lady. He was relieved. The words of the letter were cabalistic;
these, beneath underlined address:

'I beg you to call on me, if I do not see you this evening. It is urgent;
you will excuse me when I explain. Not late to-morrow. I am sure you will
not fail to come. I could write what would be certain to bring you. I
dare not trust any names to paper.'

The signature was, Judith Marsett.

CHAPTER XXXI

SHOWS HOW THE SQUIRES IN A CONQUEROR'S SERVICE HAVE AT TIMES TO DO
KNIGHTLY CONQUEST OF THEMSELVES

By the very earliest of the trains shot away to light and briny air from
London's November gloom, which knows the morning through increase of
gasjets, little Skepsey was hurried over suburban chimneys, in his
friendly third-class carriage; where we have reminders of ancient
pastoral times peculiar to our country, as it may chance; but where a man
may speak to his neighbour right off without being deemed offensive. That
is homely. A social fellow knitting closely to his fellows when he meets
them, enjoys it, even at the cost of uncushioned seats he can, if imps
are in him, merryandrew as much as he pleases; detested punctilio does
not reign there; he can proselytize for the soul's welfare; decry or
uphold the national drink; advertize a commercial Firm deriving
pr