atrocious time to come, I know--" he began apologetically.

"You're in time for some coffee, anyhow," Sophy told him cheerfully.
"And I know Louise is glad to see you, because if you hadn't come I was
going to make her go through some accounts."

"You know I am always glad to see you," Louise murmured, pointing to a
chair. "Sophy and I have been having a most interesting discussion, but
we have come to a _cul-de-sac_."

"I really came," John explained, "to ask if you cared to come and see a
collection of pictures. There's an Italian--a Futurist, of course--just
unpacked his little lot and set them up over a curiosity-shop in
Clifford Street. He is sending out cards for next week, but I could take
you to-day--that is, if you would care about it. We can go somewhere for
some tea afterward."

Louise made a little grimace.

"What bad luck!" she exclaimed.

She stopped short. She felt that by her hesitation she had, in a sense,
committed herself.

"I have promised to go and have tea with the prince at Seyre House," she
said. "It is an engagement we made last week."

John set down his empty coffee-cup with a clatter. An inexplicable but
dominating fury seemed to have suddenly assailed him. He took out a
cigarette and tried to light it. Sophy, after watching him for a moment
in astonishment, slipped out of the room. Louise came over to his side.

"Are you really so much disappointed?" she asked. "I am so sorry. If I
had known that you were coming for me, I would have kept myself free."

"It isn't that exactly," John answered. "It's something I can't
altogether explain. If you don't mind, I think I will be going. There is
something I must put right."

He left without another word. She watched him step into his new
motor-car and drive away a little recklessly, considering the crowded
state of the streets. He drew up, a few minutes later, outside the club
in Pall Mall, where, as it chanced, he had lunched that day with the
Prince of Seyre.

He found the prince still sitting in the smoking room, reading a review,
over the top of which he glanced up as John approached, and nodded
nonchalantly.

"Back again?" he murmured.

"I came back to have a word with you, prince."

The prince laid down the review, keeping his finger in the place.

"Delighted!"

"Not long ago," John went on, "in this room, some one--I think it was
Major Charters--asked you what you were doing this afternoon. You
replied that you were engag