e had done
its work, when the wretched affair was forgotten, and himself recovered
from the sordid experience, he might return to London. But never here to
this studio again!

The prospect of departure stirred him! "Here I cannot breathe another
day!" he kept murmuring to himself.

Then why not start this very evening?

He glanced at his watch; it was not yet four. There would be time to
dash round to a local bank and provide himself with funds for the start.
But on investigation he found he had enough to take him to Paris, so he
could devote the whole time to his preparations and necessary
correspondence.

And no sooner was the decision arrived at than he adjusted his outlook
to it as an accomplished fact. Without any further delay, he got ready
his trunk and dressing-case, and started his packing in earnest.

The train left at nine that evening. He had five good hours to catch it.
So he worked deliberately and carefully, overlooking nothing in the
haste of departure. Lady Betty's wizard, his most cherished possession,
went down deep into the trunk, and he did not forget his cheque-book and
his private papers. Otherwise, everything was in such excellent order
that his task was comparatively simple. Whatever he lacked for his
journey he could count on purchasing in Paris, where also he could renew
his funds for travelling.

At last everything was ready, and he had ample time for his
correspondence. This was speedily disposed of, since his letters were
mostly to cry "off" from invitations already accepted. Only one was of a
more intimate character, and that was to his sister Mary. But even that
was brief and to the point. "Dearest Mary," he wrote,--"I regret I have
rather disagreeable news for you, but I trust you will not take too
serious a view of it. Alice asked me to release her to-day, and of
course I had no alternative but to accede to her wishes. I cannot bear
to stay in London just now, so I leave this evening for a long stay
abroad. Forgive this brief note, forgive me also for not coming to kiss
you goodbye, but, as you may guess, I am off on impulse, time is short,
and there were a few matters to arrange. Perhaps you may be able to join
me later when your vacation comes, and then we shall have a happy time
together. I am all right, so please don't worry about me. I shall write
to you soon, and keep you posted as to my adventures."

He took out the batch of letters to the post, picking up a cab on his
w