hat to a waiter.

"Feeling shy, Victor?" he asked, smiling. "Never mind. We'll find a
table to ourselves all right."

They sat in a corner. The girls chattered and talked across them--often
at them. A Frenchwoman, superbly gowned in white lace, and with a long
rope of pearls around her neck, paused as she passed their table. She
carried a Pomeranian under her arm and held it out towards them.

"See! My little dog!" she exclaimed. "He bite you. Messieurs are
lonely?"

"Alas! Of necessity," Holderness answered in French. "Madame is too
kind."

She passed on, laughing. Macheson looked across the table almost
fiercely.

"What are you doing it for, Dick?" he exclaimed. "What does it mean?"

His friend looked across at him steadfastly.

"Victor," he said, "I want you to understand. You are an enthusiast, a
reformer, a prophet of lost causes. I want you to know the truth if you
can see it. There are many sides to life."

"What am I to learn of this?" Macheson asked, almost passionately.

"If I told you," Holderness answered, "the lesson would only be half
learnt. Sit tight and don't be a fool. Drink your wine. Mademoiselle in
violet there wants to flirt with you."

"Shall I ask her to join us?" Macheson demanded with wasted satire.

"You might do worse," Holderness answered calmly. "She could probably
teach you something."

It was a dull evening, and many of the tables remained unoccupied--save
for the one waiting figure. The women, tired of looking towards the
door, were smoking cigarettes, twirling their bracelets, yawning, and
looking around the room. Many a mute invitation reached the two young
men, but Holderness seemed to have lost his sociability. His face had
grown harder and he seemed glad when their meal was over and they were
free to depart. In the hall below they had to wait for their overcoats.
Macheson strolled idly towards the entrance of another supper room on
the ground floor, and looked in. An exclamation broke from his lips. He
turned towards Holderness.

"You see the time," he exclaimed, "and they are here! Those two!"

Holderness nodded gravely.

"The girl has been crying," he said, "and there is an A B C on the
table. It's up to you, Victor. We may both have to take a hand in the
game. No! I wouldn't go in. Wait till they come out!"

They stood in the throng, jostled, cajoled, besought. At last the two
rose and came towards the door. Letty had dried her eyes, but she looked
still pa