nto his arms. Every pulse in
his body was tingling. He was fiercely awake, eager for motion, action,
excitement of any sort.

Suddenly he remembered the night-club to which he had been introduced by
Sophy on the first night of his arrival in London. The address, too, was
there quite clearly in his disordered brain. He leaned out of the cab
and repeated it to the driver.

XXXV

The little place was unexpectedly crowded when John entered, after
having handed his hat and coat to a _vestiaire_. A large supper-party
was going on at the further end, and the dancing space was smaller than
usual. The _maitre d'hotel_ was escorting John to a small table in a
distant corner, which had just been vacated, when the latter heard his
name suddenly called by a familiar voice. Sophy, who had been dancing,
abandoned her partner precipitately and came hurrying up to John with
outstretched hands.

"John!" she exclaimed. "You, of all people in the world! What do you
mean by coming here alone at this time of night? Fancy not telling me!
Is anything the matter?"

"Nothing," he replied. "I really don't exactly know why I am here. I
simply didn't want to go to bed."

She looked at him closely. It was clear that she was a little puzzled at
his appearance.

"If it were not you, John," she declared, "I should say that you had
been having more to drink than was good for you!"

"Then you would be very wrong," John assured her, "because I haven't had
anything at all. I have come here to get something. Can't you come and
sit with me?"

"Of course!" she assented eagerly. "The prince is giving a supper-party
at the other end of the room there. We all came on together from the
reception. Let us get away to your corner quickly, or they will see you
and make you go and join them. I would much rather have you to myself.
The people here seem so stupid to-night!"

John stood still, and made no movement toward the table which the
_maitre d'hotel_ was smilingly preparing for them.

"Where is the prince?" he asked.

Sophy, struck by something in his voice, swung around and looked at him.
Then she thrust both her arms through his, clasped her two hands
together, and led him firmly away. A glimmering of the truth was
beginning to dawn upon her.

"Tell me where you have been since you left the reception," she
insisted, when at last they were seated together.

"Wait till I have ordered some wine," he said.