om.

"What has always licked me," he said at length, "is why she never told
me she was married. It's so curious, for she was as straight as they
make them. It's devilish odd!"

"Yes," I assented wearily, for every word of this talk was a new pain.
"Devilish odd!"

"I suppose it's a question of class again."

"Or sex," said I.

"What has sex to do with being straight?"

"Everything," said I.

"Rot!" said Dale.

I sighed. "I wish your dialectical vocabulary were not so limited."

He laughed and clapped me on the shoulder.

"Still the same old Simon. It does my heart good to hear you. May I have
another whisky?"

I took advantage of this break to change the conversation. He had
told me nothing of his own affairs save that he was engaged to Maisie
Ellerton.

"Heavens!" cried he. "Isn't that enough?"

"An engagement isn't an occupation."

"Isn't it, by Jove?" He laughed boyishly. "I manage, however, to squeeze
in a bit of work now and then. The mater has always got plenty on hand
for me, and I do things for Raggles. He has been awfully decent. The
first time I met him or any of the chiefs after the election I was in a
blue funk. But no one seemed to blame me; they all said they were sorry;
and now Raggles is looking out for a constituency for me to nurse for
the next General Election. Then things _will_ hum, I promise you!"

He waved his cigar with the air of a young paladin about to conquer
the world. In spite of my own depression, I could not help smiling with
gladness at the sight of him. With his extravagantly cut waistcoat, his
elaborately exquisite white tie, his perfectly fitting evening clothes,
with his supple ease of body, his charming manner, the preposterous
fellow made as gallant a show as any ruffling blade in powder and
red-heeled shoes. He had acquired, too, an extra touch of manhood since
I had seen him last. I felt proud of him, conscious that to the making
of him I had to some small degree contributed.

"You must come out and lunch with Maisie and me one day this week," said
he. "She would love to see you."

"Wait till you're married," said I, "and then we'll consider it. At
present Maisie is under the social dominion of her parents."

"Well--what of it?"

"Just that," said I.

Then the truth dawned on him. He grew excited and said it was damnable.
He wasn't going to stand by and see people believe a lot of scandalous
lies about me. He had no idea people had given me the cold sho