needs no description, and would not greatly
interest if described; neither very good nor very bad, very handsome
nor very plain, but moving religiously within the lines of custom and
on the ground of commonplace.

It is no wonder, then, that a woman like Ida de la Molle was /facile
princeps/ among such company, or that Harold Quaritch, who was
somewhat poetically inclined for a man of his age, at any rate where
the lady in question was concerned, should in his heart have compared
her to a queen. Even Belle Quest, lovely as she undoubtedly was in her
own way, paled and looked shopgirlish in face of that gentle dignity,
a fact of which she was evidently aware, for although the two women
were friendly, nothing would induce the latter to stand long near Ida
in public. She would tell Edward Cossey that it made her look like a
wax doll beside a live child.

While Mr. Quest was still watching Ida with complete satisfaction, for
she appealed to the artistic side of his nature, Colonel Quaritch
arrived upon the scene, looking, Mr. Quest thought, particularly plain
with his solid form, his long thin nose, light whiskers, and square
massive chin. Also he looked particularly imposing in contrast to the
youths and maidens and domesticated clergymen. There was a gravity,
almost a solemnity, about his bronzed countenance and deliberate
ordered conversation, which did not, however, favourably impress the
aforesaid youths and maidens, if a judgment might be formed from such
samples of conversational criticism as Mr. Quest heard going on on the
further side of his arbutus.

CHAPTER XI

IDA'S BARGAIN

When Ida saw the Colonel coming, she put on her sweetest smile and
took his outstretched hand.

"How do you do, Colonel Quaritch?" she said. "It is very good of you
to come, especially as you don't play tennis much--by the way, I hope
you have been studying that cypher, for I am sure it is a cypher."

"I studied it for half-an-hour before I went to bed last night, Miss
de la Molle, and for the life of me I could not make anything out of
it, and what's more, I don't think that there is anything to make
out."

"Ah," she answered with a sigh, "I wish there was."

"Well, I'll have another try at it. What will you give me if I find it
out?" he said with a smile which lighted up his rugged face most
pleasantly.

"Anything you like to ask and that I can give," she answered i