a holiday at
Sark.'

Drake caught the eye of a man who was passing the end of his row of
stalls towards the saloon, and was beckoned out.

'I will join you after the interval,' he said, turning to Conway, and he
saw that his companion was bowing to Miss Le Mesurier.

Miss Le Mesurier in her box noticed Drake's movement, and she asked
Mallinson, 'Who is that speaking to Mr. Conway?'

Mallinson put up his glasses and looked. Clarice read recognition in a
lift of eyebrows, and guessed from his hesitation to answer who it was
that he recognised.

'Well, who is it?'

'Where?' asked Mallinson, assuming an air of perplexity.

'Where you were looking,' said she quietly.

'It's Stephen Drake,' interposed Fielding, and 'Hulloa!' he added in a
voice of surprise as he observed the man whom Drake joined.

'Drake! Stephen Drake!' exclaimed Mr. Le Mesurier, leaning forward
hurriedly. 'Point him out to me, Fielding.'

The latter obeyed, and Mr. Le Mesurier watched Drake until he disappeared
through the doorway, with what seemed to Mallinson a singular intentness.
The father's manner waked him to a suspicion that he might possibly have
mistaken the daughter's motive in seeking Drake's acquaintance. Was it
merely a whim, a fancy, strengthened to the point of activity by the
sight of his name in print? Or was it something more? Was there some
personal connection between Drake and the Le Mesuriers of which the
former was in some way ignorant? He was still pondering the question when
Clarice spoke to him.

'So that was the bourgeois, was it?' she said, bending forwards and
almost whispering the words. Mallinson flushed.

'Was it?' he asked. 'I can't see. I am rather short-sighted.'

'I begin to think you are.'

The sentence was spoken with an ironic sympathy which deepened the flush
upon Mallinson's cheek. A knock at the door offered him escape; he rose
and admitted Conway. Conway was received with politeness by Mr. Le
Mesurier, with cordiality by his daughter.

'I have Drake with me,' said Conway. 'I came to ask permission, since you
invited him to Beaufort Gardens, to introduce him after the next act.'

Mr. Le Mesurier started up in his chair.

'Did you ask him to the house?' he asked Clarice abruptly.

'I asked Mr. Mallinson to bring him,' she replied; and then, with all
the appearance of a penitent anxiety, 'Why? Oughtn't I to have done so?'
she asked.

Mr. Le Mesurier cast a suspicious glance at his daughter.