a diploma issued by the College of Padua," said the other
promptly.

CHAPTER VI

At precisely ten o'clock, as the curtain came reefing slowly down upon
the first act of _The Strand Girl_, Lady Dinsmore turned with
outstretched hand to greet the first of the two men who had just entered
the box.

"My dear Count," she exclaimed, "I am disappointed in you! Here I have
been paying you really quite tremendous compliments to these young
people. I presume you are on Gregory's 'business'?"

"I am desolated!"

Count Poltavo had a way of looking at one gravely, with an air of
concentrated attention, as if he were seeing through the words, into the
very soul of the speaker. He was, indeed, a wonderful listener, and this
quality, added to a certain buoyancy of temperament, accounted perhaps
for his popularity in such society as he had been able to penetrate.

"Before I ask you to name the crime, Lady Dinsmore," he said, "permit
me to offer my humblest apologies for my lateness."

Lady Dinsmore shook her head at him and glanced at Farrington, but that
dour man had drawn a chair to the edge of the box, and was staring
moodily down into the great auditorium.

"You are an incorrigible!" she declared, "but sit down and make your
excuses at your leisure. You know my niece, and I think you have met Mr.
Doughton. He is one of our future leaders of thought!"

The Count bowed, and sank into a chair beside his hostess.

Frank, after a frigidly polite acknowledgement, resumed his conversation
with Doris, and Lady Dinsmore turned to her companion.

"Now for the explanation," she exclaimed, briskly. "I shall not let you
off! Unpunctuality _is_ a crime, and your punishment shall be to confess
its cause."

Count Poltavo bent toward her with bright, smiling eyes.

"A very stupid and foolish business engagement," he replied, "which
required my personal attendance, and unfortunately that of Mr.
Farrington."

Lady Dinsmore threw up a protesting hand.

"Business has no charms to soothe my savage breast! Mr. Farrington,"
she lowered her voice confidentially, "can talk of nothing else. When he
was staying with us he was for ever telegraphing, cabling to America, or
decoding messages. There was no peace in the house, by day or by night.
Finally I made a stand. 'Gregory,' I said, 'you shall not pervert my
servants with your odious tips, and turn my home into a public
stock-exchange. Take your bulls and bears over to the Savoy an