should I?"

"I'm glad to hear that, at all events," said Meldon. "For, unless
under very exceptional circumstances, I couldn't conscientiously assist
you in any way."

"You said just now," said Miss King, "that you had no prejudices, and
that nothing shocked you."

"Very few things do," said Meldon. "In fact I can't recollect ever
having been shocked before; but this idea is a little new to me. I
candidly confess that I never--hullo! We're slowing down into a
station. Now I expect there'll be trouble about my ticket."

There was--considerable trouble. But Meldon emerged from it
victoriously. He flatly refused to move from the carriage in which he
sat. The guard, the station-master, a ticket-collector, and four
porters gathered round the door and argued with him. Meldon argued
fluently with them. In the end they took his name and address,
threatening him with prosecution. Then, because the train was a mail
train and obliged to go on, the guard blew his whistle and Meldon was
left in peace.

"It's a nuisance," he said to Miss King, "being worried by those men.
I wanted to send a telegram, but I couldn't. If I'd ventured out of
the carriage they'd never have let me back again. The Major won't be
expecting me till the next train. I only caught this one by accident."

"By accident?"

"Yes. The fact is I was up early this morning, wakened by my little
daughter, a baby not quite two years old yet. I told you I was
married, didn't I? The poor child was upset by the journey from
England, and didn't sleep properly. When she had me wakened I thought
I might as well get up. I intended to stroll up towards the station
quietly. I walked rather faster than I meant to, and when I got within
about three hundred yards of the station I discovered that I might just
catch this train by running; so, of course, I ran. I'm very glad I did
now. If I hadn't I shouldn't have met you."

"What did you do with the baby?"

"I didn't drop her on the way, if that's what you're thinking of. I'm
not that kind of man at all, and I am particularly fond of the child.
I scarcely ever complain when she keeps me awake at night, though many
men I know would want to smother her. She and my wife are stopping
with my mother-in-law in Rathmines. I'm going down for a fortnight's
yachting with the Major. I might persuade him to give you a day's
sailing, perhaps, if he doesn't find out who you are, and we succeed in
keeping it dar