sation. But he was not affianced to her, and, in the
face of what he had just heard, he never wished to be.

Jimmy saw that Mark was deeply moved, and made a shrewd guess at the
cause. In a friendly way, he walked round the writing-table, and
standing by the side of the chair, rested a hand on the other's
shoulder.

"I shouldn't take it too seriously," he said. "You'll generally find
there's a way out somehow. You know I told you, to begin with, that I
knew it was an infernal lie!"

"But--you see--it wasn't," answered Mark.

"I don't understand," said Jimmy, withdrawing his hand.

"It's perfectly true," muttered Mark, moistening his lips, "that
Carrissima came to Golfney Place and saw me----"

"Saw you--saw you with Bridget in your arms! Good Lord!" exclaimed
Jimmy, gazing down at Mark's bowed head.

Rising from his chair, Mark gripped one lapelle of his frock coat in
each hand as he paced the small room.

"She was talking about her earlier days at Crowborough," he said, with
considerable embarrassment. "She had been there that morning. She
seemed upset, and I--well, I lost my head for the moment. I hadn't
seen her since the day after my return from Paris. What I told
Carrissima was absolutely true. The moment she entered Bridget's room
I saw what a fool I had been. Of course, we both made the mistake of
imagining Carrissima had seen nothing. But anyhow--whatever she saw,
to think she could jump to such a conclusion!"

"Not very surprising, after all," said Jimmy quietly. "I fancy that I
should have thought the same. You must admit the situation appeared a
little compromising."

"You wouldn't say that if you had seen Bridget later on," answered Mark.

"Look here, old fellow," said Jimmy, "you and I have known each other a
good many years. You remember when we used to fight like billy-oh at
Brighton."

"I dare say you feel rather as if you would like to punch my head now,"
returned Mark.

"H'm, well--I tell you frankly," said Jimmy. "This jaw we're having
may influence my whole life."

"It has already influenced mine," cried Mark.

"How's that?" demanded Jimmy.

"I have been hoping to marry Carrissima--to put it plainly. You've
shown what she thinks of me."

"Surely," said Jimmy, "she had more than a little excuse!"

"My dear chap," replied Mark, "you're not such a prig that you can't
understand the possibility of a man's losing his head about a pretty
woman."

"Why, no," said J