ou deceive an innocent girl?"

"Women are so narrow-minded. They can't understand...Nice kid, though,
this."

This was splendid. "You mean, Margery--er--What's-her-name?"

"Yes. She's taken rather a fancy to you--your picture, I mean."

I laughed deprecatingly. Then:

"What's she like?" I said carelessly. "To look at, I mean?"

"Like!" roared George. "What d'you mean?"

"Like," I replied coolly. "You know. Similar to."

"Well, she's like that, you fool!" said George heatedly, pointing to
the picture.

"Ah, of course. Is she really?"

"Look here," said George. "If you can't--"

"Wait a bit," said I. "When was she due here? I mean to say, supposing
you had fixed to-day for her to come?"

"Eleven o'clock. Why?"

"There now," I said musingly. "It must have been just about then."

George seized me by the arm. "Has she been and gone?" he cried.

"Well, I don't know. But about an hour ago a girl did come here. Now
I come to think, she was something like the picture. I thought she was
a model, and--"

George flung up his hands with a cry. I stopped and looked at him.

"Go on," he said excitedly. "What did she say?"

"Yes, I know it was about then, because a van had just gone up the
street. You know. One of those big vans with--"

"Damn the van!" said George. "What did she say?"

"She didn't say anything. I tell you, I thought she was a model. I
just said you didn't want one this morning."

George literally recoiled.

"What's the matter?" said I. "Aren't you well?"

"Had she a lilac dress on?" he cried, with the air of one hoping
against hope.

"Er--yes," said I.

At that, George uttered a terrible cry, snatched up his coat, and
before I could stop him, rushed out of the studio. I put my head out
of the window. As he dashed hatless out of the front door:

"Where are you going?" I said.

He threw me a black look. Then: "To wire an apology," he said.

I turned to find my lady at my shoulder.

"He's gone to wire you an apology," I said.

"You are wicked," she said. "Poor Mr. Larel. I feel quite--"

I put my head on one side and regarded her. "Nice kid, though," I said.

"I know," she said severely. "But the poor man--"

"She's taken quite a fancy to me," said I.

She drew back, biting a red lip and trying hard not to smile.

"He'll soon be back," I went on, "and then you're going to have your
show. Kindly ascend the throne. All queens do sooner or lat