ng-room, where Mrs. Duveen, returned from her visit,
was lighting a large brass table lamp, Flamby dropped cross-legged upon
the floor and tenderly removed her left shoe. Having got it free of her
foot, she hurled it violently into the kitchen.

"Hell!" she said, succinctly.

"Flamby!" cried her mother, in a tone of mild reproval. "How can you
swear like that!"

Flamby began to remove her stocking. "_You'd_ swear if you had a damn
great nail sticking in your heel!" she retorted.

XIII

Paul arrived at Babylon Hall exactly eight minutes late for his
appointment. In the wonderful dusk unknown to the tropics, when sun
contests with moon, disputing the reign of night, he walked up the long
avenue past the silent lodge, and was shown into a small room adjoining
the entrance hall. Of the latter he derived no very definite impression,
except that it was queerly furnished. Wherein this queerness was
manifested he found himself unable to decide on subsequent reflection.
But the ante-room was markedly Eastern, having Arabesque mosaics, rugs
and low tables of the Orient, and being lighted by a brass mosque-lamp.
The footman who had opened the door for him was a foreigner of some
kind, apparently a Greek.

He wondered at his reception; for the servant merely bowed and departed,
without relieving him of hat and coat. Indeterminate, he stood, vaguely
conscious of misgiving and questioning the stillness of the great house.
But almost immediately a young man entered whose face expressed the
utmost concern. He was clean-shaven, except for those frustrated
whiskers once sacred to stage butlers, but latterly adopted as the sigil
of the New Bohemia. He had pleasing dark brown hair, and if nature had
not determined otherwise, might have been counted a handsome brunette.
His morning-dress was worthy of Vesta Tilley's tailor. Paul detected the
secretary even before the new arrival proclaimed his office.

"You have missed Mr. Thessaly by less than three minutes," he said,
glancing at his watch. "I am his secretary, and upon me devolves the
very delicate task of explaining his departure. In the absence of a
hostess--this is a bachelor establishment--the position is peculiarly
unfortunate--"

"Pray say no more, Mr.----"

"My name is Caspar."

"I beg you to offer no apologies, Mr. Caspar. Believe me, I quite
understand and sympathise. Mr. Thessaly has been called away at the last
moment by affairs of urgent importance."

"Exactly