ave in the window," he said. He drew the woman aside
and added, "Don't tell her the price! You understand? If she insists
upon knowing take your cue from me." He could say no more as Flamby had
drawn near.

"How much is it?" she inquired naively.

"I don't know yet," replied Don. "Won't you look at it first?"

"The dress is a model, madam," said the puzzled modiste. "Probably we
should have to alter it to fit you."

"Would that be extra?" asked Flamby.

"Only a trifle," Don assured her, "if you really like it."

"How much is it please?" Flamby asked.

Don, standing just behind her became troubled with a tickling in the
throat, and the woman, hesitating, looked up and detected his urgent
glance. He raised three fingers furtively. She could scarcely conceal
her amazement, but an emphatic nod from Don left her in no doubt
respecting his meaning.

"I believe it is--three guineas, madam," she replied in a forced and
unnatural voice. She was wondering what would become of her if this very
eccentric officer played her false.

Flamby turned thoughtfully to Don. "That's expensive isn't it?" she
said.

The saleswoman's amazement increased; words failed her entirely, and to
cover her embarrassment she opened the screen at the back of the window
and took out the grey gown. Flamby's eyes sparkled.

"But isn't it sweet," she whispered. "Where do I go to try it on?"

"This way, madam," said the woman, darting an imploring glance at Don to
which he was unable to respond as Flamby was looking in his direction.

Flamby disappeared into a fitting-room and Don sat down to consider the
question of how far he could hope to pursue his plot without being
unmasked.

He lighted a cigarette and gave himself up to reflection on the point.
When presently Flamby came out, radiant, followed by the troubled
attendant carrying the grey gown, he was prepared for her.

"I'm going to have it!" she said. "Am I frightfully extravagant?"

"Not at all," Don assured her; and as she took out her purse. "No," he
added, "you must not pay cash, Flamby. It would confuse Nevin's books. I
will write a cheque and charge it to your account together with the
other purchases."

He withdrew with the saleswoman, leaving Flamby seated looking at the
velvet frock draped across a chair. Having proceeded to a discreet
distance--"What is the price of the dress, please?" he asked.

"With the alterations which madam requires, eighteen guineas, sir."

"I wi