with observing, "Well, it was very
soon off in your case, wasn't it, old fellow?"

Sutton flushed.

"I've told you before that that's not true," he said angrily.

Calder laughed.

"All right, all right. We used to think, once upon a time, Merceron,
you know, that old Victor here was a bit smitten himself; but he hasn't
drugged my champagne yet, so of course, as he says, it was all a
mistake."

After dinner the three separated. Victor had to go to a party. Calder
Wentworth proposed to Charlie that they should take a stroll together
with a view to seeing whether, when they came opposite to the door of a
music-hall, they would 'feel like' dropping in to see part of the
entertainment. Charlie agreed, and, having lit their cigars, they set
out. He found his now friend amusing, and Calder, for his part, took a
liking for Charlie, largely on account of his good looks; like many
plain people, he was extremely sensitive to the influence of beauty in
women and men alike.

"I say, old fellow," he said, pressing Charlie's arm as if he had known
him all his life, "there was somebody in that summer-house, eh?"

Charlie turned with a smile and a blush. He felt confidential.

"Yes, there was, only Victor----"

"Oh, I know. I nearly break his head whenever he mentions any girl I
like."

"You know what he'd have thought--and it wasn't anything like that
really."

"Who was she, then?"

"I--I don't know."

"Oh, I don't mean her name, of course. But what was she?"

"I don't know."

"Where did she come from?"

"London, I believe."

"Oh! I say, that's a queer go, Merceron."

"I don't know what to think about it. She's simply vanished," said poor
Charlie, and no one should wonder if his voice faltered a little.
Calder Wentworth laughed at many things, but he did not laugh now at
Charlie Merceron. Indeed he looked unusually grave.

"I should drop it," he remarked. "It don't look--well--healthy."

"Ah, you've never seen her," said Charlie.

"No, and I tell you what--it won't be a bad thing if you don't see her
again."

"Why?"

"Because you're just in the state of mind to marry her."

"And why shouldn't I?"

Mr. Wentworth made no answer, and they walked on till they readied
Piccadilly Circus. Then Charlie suddenly darted forward.

"Hullo, what's up?" cried Calder, following him.

Charlie was talking eagerly to a very smart young lady who had just got
down from an omnibus.

"By Jove! he can't have found, he