form
of Mr Robert Ratman, in travelling costume, nodding familiarly across
the room.

At the sight the little lady's face blanched, and the joy of the evening
vanished like smoke.

"Oh, Duke!" she exclaimed, clinging to her guest's arm, "do please turn
that wicked man there out of the house. We didn't invite him, and he's
no right, really. If dear Mr Armstrong was only here! Please put him
out."

The duke looked a little blank at this appeal.

"Why, child, really? Who is he?" he asked.

"A wicked, bad man, that I hate; and I did think you would be kind
enough to--"

"What is his name?"

"Mr Ratman; he hurt me awfully once."

The duke, feeling that Miss Oliphant's party was taking rather a serious
turn, walked across the room to where Mr Ratman was already engaged in
an uncomfortable colloquy with Dr Brandram.

"What are you doing here?" the doctor had asked.

"That's my business," said Mr Ratman. "For the matter of that, what
are you doing here?"

"Among other things, I am here to see that the young people of the house
are not annoyed by the intrusion of a person called Ratman."

"And I," said the duke, coming up, "am here to advise you to save
trouble by leaving the house."

"And who are you, sir?"

"I am the Duke of Somewhere."

"Proud to renew my acquaintance, sir. May I ask if you have quite
forgotten me?"

"Sir, you have the advantage of me. I never saw you before."

"Pardon me, my lord, you saw me a month ago, at a birthday party in this
very house."

"If so, I was not sufficiently impressed sir, to remember you now. I
repeat my request as the friend of the young lady."

"Ah, indeed!" said Ratman; "I am not aware, your grace, of your right to
speak to me in the name of Miss Oliphant, or anybody else."

"Oh," said Tom, arriving on the scene at this juncture, "you there,
Ratty? you'd better clear out. All the grub's done, and you're not
wanted here. We didn't ask you--took care not to. Rosalind's not here.
This is Jilly's and my party. Isn't it, you chaps?" The chaps
appealed to, His Grace, the doctor, and one or two of the other guests,
corroborated this statement.

Mr Ratman leant comfortably against the wall.

"Flattering reception," said he. "I am inclined to take your lordship's
advice and go; but before I do, may I ask your lordship again if you
really do not remember me?"

"I never saw you before, sir," said His Grace; "and allow me to add, I
have no desire to s