the way, I
thought there were six of you. Piers gave me the number, but neither
gender nor anything else."

"There's a female to come," said Berry. "But I don't think she will
to-day. She's a wayward child. We'll send her round to apologise
to-morrow."

Here coffee and chocolate were served.

"I must apologise," said Mrs. Waterbrook, "for giving you no tea. But
there you are." She sighed. "What tea you can get in France reminds
me of grocer's port. I won't touch it myself, and I haven't the face
to offer it to my guests. I usually bring some from England; but I--I
didn't this time." She passed a hand across her eyes, as though to
brush away a memory. "After all, you needn't come again, need you?"

"But we do the same," said Daphne. "We've given up tea. Up to last
week, I clung to a cup before breakfast. But now I've stopped it."

"Yes," said Berry. "It was affecting her brain. Ten minutes after
she'd swallowed it, she used to begin to wonder why she married me."

"I believe you," said Mrs. Waterbrook. "You can't drink French tea and
be resigned. Now, a cup of well-made chocolate affords relief."

Before Berry could reply, she had pointed to an old china box and said
that it contained cigarettes.

If she had said that it was full of black pearls, she could not have
created more excitement. Besides, there was a confidence in her tone
that set my nerves tingling. It was, I felt sure, no "grocer's port"
that she was commending. And I--we, with the exception of Berry, had
not smoked a good cigarette for nearly six weeks....

As Jonah handed the box to Daphne, I strove to look unconcerned.

"And if anybody likes cigars," added Mrs. Waterbrook, "there are some
in that silver box by Major Pleydell."

Berry started, said, "Oh--er--thanks very much," and opened the box.
Then he took out a cigar, idly enough.

I became conscious that Daphne's and Adele's eyes were upon me as Jonah
brought me the cigarettes. I took one without looking, and stared
back. Instantly their eyes shifted to the cigarette in my hand. I
followed their gaze, to behold one of the brand which I had smoked
invariably for seven years.

Dazedly I looked across at Berry, to see him regarding his cigar with
bulging eyes....

As in a dream, I heard Jonah's voice.

"You must forgive my cousins. They're not being rude. To tell you the
truth, we've recently had a bereavement. A particularly cherished
friend, who was to furn