sed to be exact copies of those used in a mediaeval tavern,
when Pargeter began to turn sulky. The maitre d'hotel of the Coq d'Or
was not aware of how important a guest was honouring him that night, and
for a few moments no attention was paid to the two friends.

"I say, this is no good!" exclaimed Pargeter angrily, "let's go
somewhere else--to the Cafe de Paris."

"For God's sake, Tom," exclaimed Vanderlyn harshly, "sit down! Can't you
see I'm tired out? Let's stay where we are."

"All right. But I can tell you that at this rate we sha'n't get anything
till midnight!" Still Pargeter sat down again, and fortunately there
soon came up a waiter who had known the great sportsman elsewhere; and a
moment later he was absorbed in the amusing occupation of making out a
careful menu from a new bill of fare.

During the long course of the meal, Vanderlyn listened silently to
Pargeter's conjectures concerning Peggy's disappearance--conjectures
broken by lamentations over the contretemps which had made it impossible
for him to leave Paris that day. Absorbed as he was in himself and his
own grievances, Pargeter was yet keenly aware when his companion's
attention seemed in any way to wander, and at last there came a moment
when, leaving his cup of black coffee half full, he pushed his chair
away with a gesture of ill-temper.

"I'm afraid, Grid, all this must be an infernal bore for you!" he said;
"after all, Peggy's not your wife--no woman has the right to lead you
such a dance as she has led me to-day. Let's try to forget her for a
bit; let's go along to 'The Wash'?"

Vanderlyn shook his head; he felt spent, worn out. He muttered that he
had work to do, that it was time for him to turn in.

Each man paid his portion of the bill, and, as they went through the
glass doors giving onto the Boulevard, Vanderlyn noticed that on each
side of the entrance to the Coq d'Or a man was standing, sentinel-wise,
as if waiting for someone to go in or come out.

For a moment the two friends stood on the pavement.

"Let's take a fiacre," said Pargeter suddenly, "and I'll drive you to
your place." The warm spring weather had brought out a number of open
cabs. They hailed one of these, and, as they did so, Vanderlyn noticed
that the two men who had been standing at the door of the restaurant
entered another just behind them.

* * * * *

When at last he found himself in his own flat, and at last alone,
Vander