she were to be given some
moments alone together, Jack having prepared the mind of P. S.
meanwhile.

The two men were in the library when I opened the door and walked in
upon them. Jack had finished telling the tale of the night, and I felt
pity as well as affection for Peter. He doesn't show his emotions
easily, but I could see that he was pained and humiliated by the failure
of his romantic scheme. I said not a word to him about it, but mentioned
that Patsey was in my boudoir. "I think she has something to say to
you," I added.

"I'll go to her at once, if I may!" he exclaimed.

"You not only may but must," I enjoined; then stopped him at the door.
"I hope you're ready to tell her everything now?"

"I'm ready, yes," he answered promptly. "But is it the best time----"

"It's the only time there is!" I cut him short.

"She's right," Jack backed me up.

"Very well," said Peter. "If you both say it's the supreme moment, it
is. But I shall have to go through with what she's got for me first."

With that, he went out and shut the door. And I confess to you,
Mercedes, I should have liked to be a fly on the wall in my boudoir
during the scene between those two. A fly has no conscientious scruples
against eavesdropping, which is fortunate for it, as nature has equipped
it so well for indulgence in that pursuit. As I couldn't be a fly on a
ceiling, looking at Peter and Pat upside down, I went and sat on Jack's
lap.

"Dearest," said I, "you tell me what _you'd_ say if you were Peter, and
I'll tell you what _I'd_ say if I were Pat."

"I wouldn't say anything," replied Jack without an instant's hesitation.
"I should just take you in my arms, and hug you hard. I should also kiss
you. And one kiss leads to another, you know."

"I do know," I admitted. "By experience. You taught me that. It's one of
the lessons of life."

"I'll bet Patricia Moore is learning it at this instant," Jack remarked
thoughtfully. And we kissed each other in sheer vividness of
imagination.

"But she's still engaged to Ed Caspian," I reminded him.

"Damn Caspian!" said Jack; and then jumped, staring at something over
the back of my head.

I bounded off his lap as if a Jack Johnson had exploded at my feet.
Wheeling round to stare where he stared, I saw the most deadly reputable
of my dear late cousin's servants ushering into the room the person
apostrophized. Behind that person followed one I had never seen before.
Behind both lurked Larry