rtainly Major Hunt-Goring was the last person Olga expected to meet at
the Musgraves' dinner-party that night, and so astounded was she for the
moment at the sight of him that she came to a sudden halt on the
threshold of the drawing-room.

"Hullo!" murmured Max's voice behind her. "Here's a dear old friend!"

Max's hand gently pushed her forward, and in an instant she had mastered
her astonishment. She met the dear old friend with heightened colour
indeed, but with no other sign of agitation. He smiled upon her, upon
Max, upon Nick, with equal geniality.

"Quite a gathering of old friends!" he remarked.

"Quite," said Nick. "Have you only just come out?"

"No, I've been out some weeks. I came after tiger," said Hunt-Goring,
with his eyes on Olga, who had passed on to her host.

"You won't find any in this direction," said Nick. "Wyndham bagged the
last survivor on Christmas Day, and a mangy old brute it was."

"I daresay I shall come across other game," said Hunt-Goring, bringing
his eyes slowly back to Nick.

Nick laughed. "It's not particularly plentiful here. You'll find it a
waste of time hunting in these parts."

"Oh, I have plenty of time at my disposal," smiled Hunt-Goring.

Nick's eyes flickered over him. He also was smiling. "Perseverance
deserves to be rewarded," he said.

"And usually is," said Hunt-Goring. He held out his hand to Max. "Ah,
Dr. Wyndham, I'm delighted to meet you again. You will be gratified to
hear that, thanks to your skilful treatment, my thumb has mended quite
satisfactorily."

Max looked at the hand critically; he did not offer to take it. "I
am--greatly gratified," he said.

Hunt-Goring withdrew it, still smiling. "May I congratulate you on your
engagement," he said.

Max's mouth went down ironically. "Certainly if you feel so disposed,"
he said.

Hunt-Goring laughed easily. "You young fellows have all the luck," he
said. "When do you expect to be married?"

"On Midsummer Day," said Max.

"Really!" Hunt-Goring's laugh was silken in its softness. "Your plans
are all cut and dried then. Yet, you know, 'there's many a slip,' etc."

"Not under my management," said Max.

He looked hard and straight into the other man's eyes, and turned aside.

Nick had already joined his hostess, and was making gay conversation
about nothing in particular.

Noel came in late, acknowledged everyone with a deep salaam, and
attached himself instantly to Olga.

With relief she found t