e of
clothes lay upon the counter; a sheet of paper, with a name and address
scrawled across it, rested on the bundle. Harry Bennett, given to idle
curiosity, approached and read the same. Harry Bennett, with his stick,
poked the bundle, scattering its items over the counter.

"Donth do thath!" said the shopman, coming up. "Juth been putting 'em
together."

"What the devil," said Harry Bennett, "is Johnny Bulstrode going to do
with that rig-out?"

"How thoud I know?" answered the shopman. "Private theathricals, I
suppoth. Friend o' yourth?"

"Yes," replied Harry Bennett. "By Jove! he ought to make a good girl.
Should like to see it!"

"Well arthk him for a ticket. Donth make 'em dirty," suggested the
shopman.

"I must," said Harry Bennett, and talked about his own affairs.

The rig-out and the wig did not arrive at Johnny's lodgings within the
hour as promised, but arrived there within three hours, which was as much
as Johnny had expected. It took Johnny nearly an hour to dress, but at
last he stood before the plate-glass panel of the wardrobe transformed.
Johnny had reason to be pleased with the result. A tall, handsome girl
looked back at him out of the glass--a little showily dressed, perhaps,
but decidedly _chic_.

"Wonder if I ought to have a cloak," mused Johnny, as a ray of sunshine,
streaming through the window, fell upon the image in the glass. "Well,
anyhow, I haven't," thought Johnny, as the sunlight died away again, "so
it's no good thinking about it."

Johnny seized his reticule and his umbrella and opened cautiously the
door. Outside all was silent. Johnny stealthily descended; in the
passage paused again. Voices sounded from the basement. Feeling like an
escaped burglar, Johnny slipped the latch of the big door and peeped out.
A policeman, pasting, turned and looked at him. Johnny hastily drew back
and closed the door again. Somebody was ascending from the kitchen.
Johnny, caught between two terrors, nearer to the front door than to the
stairs, having no time, chose the street. It seemed to Johnny that the
street was making for him. A woman came hurriedly towards him. What was
she going to say to him? What should he answer her? To his surprise she
passed him, hardly noticing him. Wondering what miracle had saved him,
he took a few steps forward. A couple of young clerks coming up from
behind turned to look at him, but on encountering his answering stare of
angry alarm, a