the time with a sense of inward excitement which he
found it hard to conceal. Coffee and cigarettes were served at
Drexley's suggestion out in the palm court attached to the restaurant.
Afterwards, when the girls rose to leave, Douglas was conscious for the
first time of a look of reproach in Cicely's dark eyes. He pretended to
ignore it--he felt that any sort of response just then was impossible.
The girls refused any escort home. They drove away in a hansom, and
Drexley remained upon the pavement listening to the echo of their
farewell speeches as to a very pleasant thing. He turned back with a
rare smile upon his lips and laid his hand upon Douglas's shoulder.

"Your cousin is charming, Jesson," he said. "I'll never be able to
thank you enough for this evening. For the first time I have felt that
after all there may be a chance for me."

"I'm very glad," Douglas answered--"very glad indeed."

Drexley looked at him curiously.

"You're not quite yourself this evening, Jesson," he remarked.

"I'm all right. Which way are you going--to the club?"

Drexley shook his head.

"Back to my rooms," he answered. "I shall have a pipe and go to bed. I
haven't slept well lately. To-night I think I shall."

They were parted by a stream of outcoming people, and Douglas took
advantage of the opportunity to slip away. A little way along the
street a small brougham, which was very familiar to him, was waiting.

"Twenty, Grosvenor Square," he said, hailing a hansom.

He was driven through the seething streets, along Piccadilly, all on
fire with its streams of people, carriages, and brilliant lights, and,
arriving at the corner of the Square, jumped out. He walked slowly up
and down the pavement. He could feel his heart thumping with
excitement; his cheeks were burning with an unusual colour. He cursed
himself for coming, yet the sound of every carriage which turned the
corner sent the blood leaping through his veins. He cursed himself for
a fool, but waited with the eagerness of a boy, and when her brougham
came into sight he was conscious of an acute thrill of excitement which
turned him almost dizzy. Supposing--she were not alone? He forgot to
draw back into the shadows, as at first had been his intention, but
stood in the middle of the pavement, so that the footman, who jumped
down to open the carriage door, looked at him curiously. She was within
a few feet of him when she stepped out.

"Douglas!" she exclaimed. "Is that