ll, I'll do my best for you, but I confess the provision of romantic
adventures is a little outside the programme we've arranged."

"Ha, ha! Ve shall see, ve shall see, Bonker!"

They arrived at the Corinthian Theatre about the middle of the first act,
for, as Mr Bunker explained, it is always well to produce a good first
impression, and few more effective means can be devised than working one's
way to the middle of a line of stalls with the play already in progress.

Hardly were they seated when the Baron drove his elbow into his friend's
ribs (draped for the night, it may be remarked, with one of the Baron's
spare dress-coats) and exclaimed in an excited whisper, "Next to you,
Bonker! Ach, zehr huepsch!"

Even before this hint Mr Bunker had observed that the lady on the other
side of him was possessed of exceptional attractions. For a little time he
studied her out of the corners of his eyes. He noticed that the stall on
the farther side of her was empty, that she once or twice looked round as
though she expected somebody, and that she seemed not altogether
unconscious of her new neighbours. He further observed that her face was
of a type that is more usually engaged in attack than defence.

Then he whispered, "Would you like to know her?"

"Ach, yah!" replied the Baron, eagerly. "Bot--can you?"

Mr Bunker smiled confidently. A few minutes later he happened to let his
programme fall into her lap.

"I beg your pardon," he whispered, softly, and glanced into her eyes with
a smile ready.

His usual discernment had not failed him. She smiled, and instantly he
produced his.

A little later her opera-glasses happened to slip from her hand, and
though they only slipped slowly, it was no doubt owing to his ready
presence of mind that their fall was averted.

This time their fingers happened to touch, and they smiled without an
apology.

He leant towards her, looking, however, at the play. They shared a laugh
over a joke that she might have been excused for not understanding;
presently a criticism of some situation escaped him inadvertently, and she
smiled again; soon after she gave an exclamation and he answered
sympathetically, and at the end of the act the curtain came down on an
acquaintance already begun. As the lights were turned up, and here and
there men began to go out, she again looked at the entrances in some
apparent concern, either lest some one should not come in or lest some one
should.

"He is l