ed his legs, lit his cigar, and waited and watched for the
little Greek lady. The little Greek lady came not; but in her stead,
as he watched the entrance place, appeared the manly form of his chum
Barndale, clad in loose white serge. Barndale caught sight of Leland
almost at the moment of his own entrance, and took a seat beside him.

'Lilian has gone to bed,' said Barndale, 'and I came in here by
accident. Glad I found you.'

He looked about him with no great interest. The stream of people flowed
round and round the little circle, and repeated itself once in five
minutes or thereabouts, until he got to know nearly all the faces in the
crowd. He noted one face especially, where many were notable.

It was the face of a Greek of a very severe and commanding type,
shadowed in some strange way by a look which made the owner of the
face absolutely irritating to Barndale. There are some opposites in
nature--human nature--which can only meet to hate each other. These two
crossed glances once, and each was displeased with what he saw in
the other. The Greek saw a handsome, good-natured, bronzed face, the
thoughtful eyes whereof looked at him with an expression of curiosity
and analysis. The Englishman saw a pair of languid eyes, which flashed
instantaneous defiance and anger back to scrutiny. The Greek went by,
and in his after passages looked no more at Barndale, who continued
to watch him with an unaccountable, disliking regard. The crowd had
completed its circle some half score of times, and Barndale missed his
Greek from it. Turning to address Leland, he missed him too. He rose and
mingled with the circling procession, and listened to the music of the
band, and speculated idly on the people who surrounded him, as lazy and
unoccupied men will at times. Suddenly, in the shadow of the projecting
orchestra, he caught sight of a figure which he fancied was familiar to
him. Scarcely had he noticed it when it was joined by another figure,
recognisable at once even in that deep shadow--Mr. James Leland. And the
other personage was of course the pretty little Greek girl. 'No affair
of mine,' said Barndale, who was slow to meddle, even in thought, with
other people's doings; 'but neither wise nor right on Jimmy's side,' He
walked round the little circle discontentedly, thinking this matter
over with deepening displeasure. When he came to the orchestra again
the handsome Greek was there, with an expression so devilish on his face
t