s a fishy sort of customer--but I shall come out of all
this with flying colours. The prosecution hasn't a leg to stand on.'

Allerton, reminding them that they were to lunch together, jumped into a
cab. Lucy and Dick walked slowly back to Charles Street. Dick was very
silent. He had not seen Fred Allerton for some time and was surprised to
see that he had regained his old smartness. The flat had pretty things
in it which testified to the lessee's taste and to his means, and the
clothes he wore were new and well-cut. The invitation to the _Carlton_
showed that he was in no want of ready money, and there was a general
air of prosperity about him which gave Dick much to think of.

Lucy did not ask him to come in, since George, by now, must have
arrived, and she wished to see him alone. They agreed to meet again at
two. As she shook hands with Dick, Lucy told him what her father had
said.

'I had a sleepless night,' she said. 'It was so stupid of me; I couldn't
get it out of my head that father, unintentionally, had done something
rash or foolish; but I've got his word of honour that nothing is the
matter, and I feel as if a whole world of anxiety were suddenly lifted
from my shoulders.'

* * *

The party at the _Carlton_ was very gay. Fred Allerton seemed in the
best of spirits, and his good-humour was infectious. He was full of
merry quips. Lucy had made as little of the affair as possible to
George. Her eyes rested on him, as he sat opposite to her, and she felt
happy and proud. Now and then he looked at her, and an affectionate
smile came to his lips. She was delighted with his slim handsomeness.
There was a guileless look in his blue eyes which was infinitely
attractive. His mouth was beautifully modelled. She took an immense
pride in the candour of soul which shone with so clear a light on his
face, and she was affected as a stranger might have been by the
exquisite charm of manner which he had inherited from his father. She
wanted to have him to herself that evening and suggested that they
should go to a play together. He accepted the idea eagerly, for he
admired his sister with all his heart; he felt in himself a need for
protection, and she was able to minister to this. He was never so happy
as when he was by her side. He liked to tell her all he did, and, when
she fired him with noble ambitions, he felt capable of anything.

They were absurdly light-hearted, as they started on their little jaunt.
Lady Kels