s, my dear friend," he exclaimed.
"Back from the spoiling of the Egyptians, eh? How was money to-day?"

"An eighth easier," Trent answered, ascending the stairs.

Da Souza fidgeted about with the banisters, and finally followed him.

"There was just a word," he remarked, "a little word I wanted with you."

"Come and talk while I wash," Trent said shortly. "Dinner's on, and I'm
hungry."

"Certainly, certainly," Da Souza murmured, closing the door behind them
as they entered the lavatory. "It is concerning these young ladies."

"What! Miss Montressor and her friend?" Trent remarked thrusting his
head into the cold water. "Phew!"

"Exactly! Two very charming young ladies, my dear friend, very charming
indeed, but a little--don't you fancy just a little fast!"

"Hadn't noticed it," Trent answered, drying himself. "What about it?"

Da Souza tugged at his little black imperial, and moved uneasily about.

"We--er--men of the world, my dear Trent, we need not be so particular,
eh?--but the ladies--the ladies are so observant."

"What ladies?" Trent asked coolly.

"It is my wife who has been talking to me," Da Souza continued. "You
see, Julie is so young--our dear daughter she is but a child; and, as
my wife says, we cannot be too particular, too careful, eh; you
understand!"

"You want them to go? Is that it?"

Da Souza spread out his hands--an old trick, only now the palms were
white and the diamonds real.

"For myself," he declared, "I find them charming. It is my wife who says
to me, 'Hiram, those young persons, they are not fit company for our
dear, innocent Julie! You shall speak to Mr. Trent. He will understand!'
Eh?"

Trent had finished his toilet and stood, the hairbrushes still in his
hands, looking at Da Souza's anxious face with a queer smile upon his
lips.

"Yes, I understand, Da Souza," he said. "No doubt you are right, you
cannot be too careful. You do well to be particular."

Da Souza winced. He was about to speak, but Trent interrupted him.

"Well, I'll tell you this, and you can let the missis know, my fond
father. They leave to-morrow. Is that good enough?"

Da Souza caught at his host's hand, but Trent snatched it away.

"My dear--my noble--"

"Here, shut up and don't paw me," Trent interrupted. "Mind, not a word
of this to any one but your wife; the girls don't know they're going
themselves yet."

They entered the dining-room, where every one else was already
assembled. Mrs. Da S