Bassett
praised the one and not the other, and the leading lady called
the ingenue 'Chit' and the ingenue retorted 'Wrinkles!' And the
reconciliation at the champagne supper which Darco gave when Bassett
went away, when the tears they shed must have tasted of the wine.

Oh, the days--the days, long years before he set out on his Journey of
Despair, when mirth had no malice, and tears were tributaries to pity!

'I have vound oudt,' said Darco, one day, 'that our paggage man is
a pantit He is ropping eferypoty, and I have kiven him a fortnight's
vages, and the bag to carry. That is my liddle chockular vay to say he
has got the zack. I haf dele-graphed for a new man, and he will come
from Lonton by the seven-thirty train. His name is Warr, and you will
know him by his nose, which is pigger than your fist, and as hot to look
at as the powels of the Phalarian Pull. It ought to be an acony to garry
it, but he laughs pehint it in the distance. But I nodice it always
zeems to make his eyes vater.'

Paul went to meet this phenomenon, and from the train Mr. Warr of the
Nonconformist printing-office stepped out, carrying the work of art
before him like an oriflamme.

'Mr. Warr, I believe?' said Paul.

'The same, sir,' said Mr. Warr, with a spinal inclination.

Paul's face was framed in a virginal fringe of brown beard, and he was
dressed by a London theatrical tailor. Mr. Wan-had no memory of him.

'I am Mr. Darco's private secretary,' said Paul. 'That is the address of
your lodgings, and when you have taken your traps there Mr. Darco will
meet you at the theatre.'

'I am at your disposal, sir,' said Mr. Warr.

He gathered up two newspaper parcels, each of which leaked ragged
hosiery and soiled linen at either end, and pottered along the platform
at Paul's side, subservient and timid. Paul spurted laughter and
affected a cough to hide it.

'Here is the refreshment-room, Mr. Warr,' he said. 'May I ask if you
care at this moment to administer a coating of varnish to the work of
art?'

'Have I had the pleasure to encounter you before, sir?' asked Mr. Warr,
peering at him sideways across that astonishing nose, with a brown eye
bright with moisture. It was like an old cat looking out from the side
of a fireplace.

'Come in and see,' said Paul.

Mr. Warr went in, and being offered a choice in varnishes, selected cold
gin.

'My highly superior respects, sir. You either know me, or my fame has
reached you.' He smiled a