'I have something to tell you,' he said, 'in which I am sure you will
take the warmest interest. May I trespass on your time for just ten
minutes in the morning? I got a curious little bit of intelligence
to-day which will carry me, I fancy, to the United States.'

'The United States? cried Gertrude. 'I can send you to the nicest people
there. But shall you be long away?'

'I shall be able to tell you that to-morrow,' Paul answered. 'May I?

'Certainly,' she replied graciously. 'Shall we all breakfast together at
twelve?'

'I am sorry,' said Paul, 'but for me that is impossible. But if I may
see you at a quarter to the hour----'

'Certainly,' she said again.

'Thank you,' he said, and turning away somewhat abruptly, as he thought
afterwards, he began to talk to the irresponsive Janes, who sat, as it
were, in fog.

'You come with me?' said Paul to the young Bostonian when the terminus
was reached, and the final adieux had been said amongst the rest.

'Well, no,' said Mr. Janes. 'I am a little out of sorts for some reason
or another, and I think that I'll go home.'

'Well, then,' said Paul, 'I go with you. It's all the same; but I have
something to say to you. It won't keep, Janes, and whether you and I
like it or no, it has to be spoken.'

'Oh,' said Janes, 'that sounds serious!'

'Come to the Rue Castiglione with me,' Paul answered, 'and I will tell
you exactly how serious it is.'

'Very well,' the younger man answered, and Paul having chartered a
fiacre, they drove home together.

Arrived at his hotel, Paul ordered, and his guest refused, a
whisky-and-soda, and the two sat down at a table in Paul's bedroom.

'Mr. Janes,' he began, 'I hope very sincerely that what am about to say
will not wound you--much. It is sure to hurt you a little at first, but
it is meant in friendship. Let me begin by telling you that for some
three years of my life, more or less, I made an unexampled ass of myself
about a certain lady. And now let me confess that I was put into
a beastly corner this afternoon, and could not help overhearing a
conversation in which the lady held a part. That conversation was
identical in result, and almost identical in terms, with one in which I
took part about a year and a half ago.'

Young Mr. Janes set his elbows on the table, and rested his face upon
his hands. He was silent for a long time, but at last he said:

'I cannot judge of the delicacy or otherwise of your statement, Mr.
Armstr