had no suspicion of his
shameless conduct the night before. Ayre directed their walk to the very
same seat on which she and Haddington had sat. As they passed, either
romance or laziness suggested to Kate that they should sit down. Ayre
accepted her proposal without demur, asked and obtained leave for a
cigarette, and sat for a few moments in apparent ease and vacancy of
mind. He was thinking how to begin.

"Ought one ever to do evil that good may come?" he did begin, a long way
off.

"Dear me, Sir Roderick, what a curious question! I suppose not."

"I'm sorry; because I did evil last night, and I want to confess."

"I really don't want to hear," said Kate, in some alarm. There's no
telling what men will say when they become confidential, and Kate's
propriety was a tender plant.

"It concerns you."

"Me? Nonsense! How can it?"

"In order to serve a friend, I did a--well--a doubtful thing."

Kate was puzzled.

"You are in a curious mood, Sir Roderick. Do you often ask moral
counsel?"

"I am not going to ask it. I am, with your kind permission, going to
offer it."

"You are going to offer me moral counsel?"

"I thought of taking that liberty. You see, we are old friends."

"We have known one another some time."

Ayre smiled at the implied correction.

"Do you object to plain speaking?"

"That depends on the speaker. If he has a right, no; if not, yes."

"You mean I should have no right?"

"I certainly don't see on what ground."

"If not an old friend of yours, as I had hoped to be allowed to rank
myself, I am, anyhow, a very old friend of Eugene's."

"What has Mr. Lane to do with it?"

"As an old friend of his--"

"Excuse me, Sir Roderick; you seem to forget that Mr. Lane is even more
than an old friend to me."

"He should be, no doubt," said Ayre blandly.

"I shall not listen to this. No old friendship excuses impertinence, Sir
Roderick."

"Pray don't be angry. I have really something to say, and--pardon
me--you must hear it."

"And what if I refuse?"

"True; I did wrong to say 'must.' You are at perfect liberty. Only, if
you refuse, Eugene must hear it."

Kate paused. Then, with a laugh, she said:

"Perhaps I am taking it too gravely. What is this great thing I must
hear?"

"Ah! I hoped we could settle it amicably. It's merely this: you must
release Eugene from his engagement."

Kate did not trouble to affect surprise. She knew it would be useless.

"Did he send you to tell