tempt no advance. But for his own part he did not care; he meant to
have a word with Alec at the first opportunity.

Alec's quiet eyes now rested on Robert Boulger.

'Ah, there's my little friend Bobbikins. I thought you had a headache?'

Lady Kelsey remembered her nephew's broken engagement and interposed
quickly.

'I'm afraid Bobbie is dreadfully dissipated. He's not looking at all
well.'

'You shouldn't keep such late hours,' said Alec, good-humouredly. 'At
your age one needs one's beauty sleep.'

'It's very kind of you to take an interest in me,' said Boulger,
flushing with annoyance. 'My headache has passed off.'

'I'm very glad. What do you use--phenacetin?'

'It went away of its own accord after dinner,' returned Bobbie frigidly,
conscious that he was being laughed at, but unable to extricate himself.

'So you resolved to give the girls a treat by coming to Lady Kelsey's
dance? How nice of you not to disappoint them!'

Alec turned to Lucy, and they looked into one another's eyes.

'I sent you a paper this evening,' he said gravely.

'It was very good of you.'

There was a silence. All who were present felt that the moment was
impressive, and it needed Canon Spratte's determination to allow none
but himself to monopolise attention, to bring to an end a situation
which might have proved awkward. He came forward and offered his arm to
Lucy.

'I think this is my dance. May I take you in?'

He was trying to repeat the direct cut which he had given Alec earlier
in the day. Alec looked at him.

'I saw you in Piccadilly this evening. You were dashing about like a
young gazelle.'

'I didn't see you,' said the Canon, frigidly.

'I observed that you were deeply engrossed in the shop windows as I
passed. How are you?'

He held out his hand. For a moment the Canon hesitated to take it, but
Alec's gaze compelled him.

'How do you do?' he said.

He felt, rather than heard, Dick's chuckle, and reddening, offered his
arm to Lucy.

'Won't you come, Mr. MacKenzie?' said Lady Kelsey, making the best of
her difficulty.

'If you don't mind, I'll stay and smoke a cigarette with Dick Lomas. You
know, I'm not a dancing man.'

It seemed that Alec was giving Dick the opportunity he sought, and as
soon as they found themselves alone, the sprightly little man attacked
him.

'I suppose you know we were all beseeching Providence you'd have the
grace to stay away to-night?' he said.

'I confess that I suspect