have to personally conduct you there
three or four times before you'll ever be able to find your way. I will
come as soon as I am ready, and then you can give me a cocktail before
we set out."

She disappeared with a little wave of the hand, and John drove on to his
destination. His rooms at the Milan were immensely comfortable and in
their way quite homelike. John made some small changes to his toilet and
was still in his shirt-sleeves, with hair-brushes in his hands, when
there came a ring at the bell. He answered it at once and found Sophy
standing outside. He gave a little start.

"I say, I'm awfully sorry!"

"What for, you silly person?" she laughed. "Which way is the sitting
room, please? Oh, I see! Now, please ring for the waiter and order me a
vermuth cocktail, and one for yourself, of course; and I want some
cigarettes. How clever of you to get rooms looking out upon the
Embankment! I wish they would light the lamps. I think the illuminated
arcs along the Embankment and past the Houses of Parliament is the most
wonderful thing in London. Don't please, look so terrified because you
haven't got your coat on! Remember that I have five brothers."

"I had no idea you would be here so soon," he explained, "or I would
have been downstairs, waiting for you."

"Don't be stupid!" she replied. "Please remember that when you are with
me, at any rate, you are in Bohemia and not Belgravia. I don't expect
such attentions. I rather like coming up to your rooms like this, and I
always love the Milan. I really believe that I am your first lady
visitor here."

"You most assuredly are!" he told her.

She turned away from the window and suddenly threw up her arms.

"Oh, I love this place!" she exclaimed. "I love the sort of evening that
we are going to have! I feel happy to-night. And do you know?--I quite
like you, Mr. Strangewey!"

She clasped the back of her chair and from behind it looked across at
him. She was petite and slender, with a very dainty figure. She wore a
black tailor-made costume, a simple, round-black hat with a long quill
set at a provoking angle, white-silk stockings, and black, patent shoes.
She was unlike any girl John had ever known. Her hair was almost golden,
her eyes a distinct blue, yet some trick of the mouth saved her face
from any suggestion of insipidity. She was looking straight into his
eyes, and her lips were curled most invitingly.

"I wish I knew more about certain things," he said.