, a brisk and vivacious young widow, who affected
always gowns of a peculiarly vivid and searching scarlet. And this
self-indulgence proved in the end the ruin of his fine scheme of
establishing himself in life on a sound monetary basis.

Tinker was about to get into bed one evening, and found himself slow
about it. His conscience was worrying him about some duty left undone,
and he could not remember what the duty was. Of a sudden his terrible
omission flashed into his mind: in his patient application to the task
of shadowing and annoying Mr. Arthur Courtnay he had forgotten his
daily bolt into the gambling rooms. Reluctant, but firm, he slipped on
his pumps and went downstairs. Four minutes later the feverish
gamblers in the Salles de Jeu were gratified by the sight of a
seraph-like child in blue silk pyjamas who flew gaily round the tables
pursued by two stout and joyfully excited Southern Europeans in livery.
The pursuit was lively, but short, for Tinker ran into the arms of a
wily croupier who had slipped from his seat, and unexpectedly joined
the chase. He was handed over to his pursuers and conducted from the
rooms, amidst the plaudits of the gamblers. He bade good-night to his
liveried friends on the threshold of the Casino, congratulating them on
their increasing efficiency in "Le Sport," and warm, but happy with the
sense of one more duty done, he strolled into the gardens to cool.

[Illustration: The pursuit was lively, but short.]

He was noiseless in his pumps, and coming quietly round a clump of
shrubs, he caught Mr. Arthur Courtnay in the act of trying to kiss
Madame de Belle-Ile with a fervour only justified by the most romantic
attachment.

"Oh!" said Tinker reproachfully; and even more reproachfully he began
to sing:

"Coupez vos cheveux! Coupez vos cheveux!"

With an execration which was by no means muttered, Mr. Arthur Courtnay
sprang up. Tinker darted away, and Courtnay followed. They pelted
through the gardens, Courtnay gaining; but as he passed a couple of
gendarmes standing in front of the Casino, Tinker yelled: "Gare le
voyou! Gare le voyou!" Instinctively the gendarmes flung themselves
before Courtnay, and his impetus brought the three of them to the
ground with some violence.

With one fleeting glance behind, Tinker scudded on to the hotel, and
once safely in his room abandoned himself without restraint to
convulsions of inextinguishable delight. When he recovered his
h