E TOPLADY."

Constance had read the article in question, and, immediately after
doing so, had dispatched an order to London for the French sociological
work therein discussed.

CHAPTER XVII

Pillow-propped at her morning studies, the humourist of Pont Street, as
she glanced rapidly over the close-printed pages of a trans-Atlantic
monthly, had her eye caught by the word "bio-sociological." Whom had
she heard using that sonorous term? It sounded to her with the Oxford
accent, and she saw Lashmar. The reading of a few lines in the context
seemed to remind her very strongly of Lashmar's philosophic eloquence.
She looked closer; found that there was question of a French book of
some importance, recently published; and smilingly asked herself
whether it could be that Lashmar knew this book. That he was capable of
reticence regarding the source of his ideas, she had little doubt; and
what would be more amusing than to see "the coming man" convicted of
audacious plagiarism? She wished him no harm; none whatever. It
delighted her to see a man make his way in the stupid world by
superiority of wits, and Dyce Lashmar was a favourite of hers; she had
by no means yet done with him. All the same, this chance of
entertainment must not be lost.

Having gone down rather earlier than usual, she found Miss Tomalin also
studiously engaged, a solid tome open before her.

"My dear May, what waste of time that is! If you would only believe me
that all the substance of big books is to be found in little ones! One
gets on so much more quickly, and has a much clearer view of things.
Why, no end of poor people nowadays make their living by boiling down
these monsters to essence. It's really a social duty to make use of
their work. Look, for instance, at this article I have just been
reading--'Recent Sociological Speculations.' Here the good man gives us
all that is important in half a dozen expensive and heavy volumes.
Here's all about bio-sociology. Haven't I heard you talk of
bio-sociology?"

"But," cried May, "that's Mr. Lashmar's theory! Has he been publishing
it?"

"No. Someone else seems to have got hold of the same idea. Perhaps it's
like Darwin and Wallace--that kind of thing."

May took the periodical, and read.

"Why, this is astonishing!" she exclaimed. "There's a passage quoted
which is exactly like Mr. Lashmar--almost the very words I have heard
him use!"

"Yet, you see, it's from a French book. This would cer