-office. It read as follows:

DEAR MISS LENEVEU,

I believe that Mr. Arthur Morrison is a connection of yours, and I
am venturing to introduce myself to you as a friend of his. Could
you spare me half-an-hour of your company after the performance of
this evening? If you could honor me so much, you might perhaps
allow me to give you some supper.

Sincerely,
PHILIP E. MILES.

Laverick felt an absurd pang of jealousy as he handed back the
programme.

"I should say," he declared, "that this was simply some young man
who was trying to scrape an acquaintance with you because he was
or had been a friend of Morrison's."

"In that case," answered Zoe, "he is very soon forgotten."

She tore the programme into two pieces, and Laverick was conscious
of a ridiculous feeling of pleasure at her indifference.

"If you hear anything more about him," he said, "you might let me
know. You are a brave young lady to dismiss your admirers so
summarily."

"Perhaps I am quite satisfied with one," laughing softly.

Laverick told himself that at his age he was behaving like an idiot,
nevertheless his eyes across the table expressed his appreciation
of her speech.

"Tell me something about yourself, Mr. Laverick," she begged.

"For instance?"

"First of all, then, how old are you?"

He made a grimace.

"Thirty-eight--thirty-nine my next birthday. Doesn't that seem
grandfatherly to you?"

"You must not be absurd!" she exclaimed. "It is not even
middle-aged. Now tell me--how do you spend your time generally?
Do you really mean that you go and play cards at your club most
evenings?"

"I have a good many friends, and I dine out quite a great deal."

"You have no sisters?"

"I have no relatives at all in London," he explained.

"It is to be a real cross-examination," she warned him.

"I am quite content," he answered. "Go ahead, but remember, though,
that I am a very dull person."

"You look so young for your years," she declared. "I wonder, have
you ever been in love?"

He laughed heartily.

"About a dozen times, I suppose. Why? Do I seem to you like a
misanthrope?"

"I don't know," she admitted, hesitatingly. "You don't seem to me
as though you cared to make friends very easily. I just felt I
wanted to ask you. Have you ever been engaged?"

"Never," he assured her.

"And when was the last time," she as