bit her lips and frowned.

'Don't be alarmed. He is really quite interested in you.' She looked up.
Fielding was standing just behind her shoulder. 'He asked me quite often
what you were like.'

'I don't understand you,' said she loftily; and then, 'He might be a
schoolboy at his first pantomime.'

'He gives that kind of impression, I believe, in everything he does.'

Miss Le Mesurier had not made the remark in order to elicit eulogy.

'He looks old, though,' she said, and her voice defied Fielding to
contradict her.

'Responsibility writes with the cyphers of age,' he quoted solemnly. It
was his habit to recite sentences from _A Man of Influence_ when
Mallinson was present, in a tone which never burlesqued but somehow
belittled the work. Mallinson was never able to take definite offence,
but he was none the less invariably galled by it.

'As a matter of fact there is hardly a year to choose between the ages of
Drake, Conway, and you, Mallinson, is there?' asked Fielding.

Mallinson admitted that the statement was correct.

'He has lived a hard life, has anxieties enough now, I don't doubt. You
will find the explanation in that. The only people who remain young
nowadays are actors. They keep the child in them.'

The curtain went up as he spoke. As soon as it was lowered again Conway
hurried Drake out of the stalls and up the staircase to the box.
Clarice welcomed Drake quietly. Mr. Le Mesurier vouchsafed him the
curtest of nods.

'Didn't I see you join Israel Biedermann?' asked Fielding. The name
belonged to a speculator who had lately been raised into prominence by
the clink of his millions.

'Yes,' replied Drake, with a laugh. 'The city makes one acquainted with
strange financiers. I have business with him.'

Mr. Le Mesurier showed symptoms of interest.

'Really?' he said. 'You mean to return to Africa, I suppose.'

'If I can help it, no.'

'You intend to stay in England?' asked Mallinson sharply.

'Yes,' replied Drake. He addressed himself to Miss Le Mesurier. 'You were
kind enough to invite me to your house on the evening I arrived.'

Mr. Le Mesurier's eyebrows went up at the mention of the day.

'Mr. Mallinson had talked of you,' she explained. 'We seemed to know you
already. I saw that you had landed from an interview in the _Meteor_, and
thought you might have liked to come with your friend.'

The words were spoken indifferently.

'The _Meteor_?' inquired Mr. Le Mesurier. 'Isn't that th