is consomme cup. "Of the modern school," he
enlightened. "There were 'no funeral baked meats to furnish forth the
marriage feast.' Matrimonially speaking, this charming lady plays in
repertoire."

"What has become of Jack Spotswood?" The older Miss Preston glanced up
inquiringly. "He used to be everywhere, and I haven't heard of him for
ages."

"He's still everywhere," responded Mr. Bellton, with energy;
"everywhere but here. You see, the papers were so busy with Jack's
affairs that they crowded Jack out of his own life." Mr. Bellton
smiled as he added: "And so he went away."

"I wonder where he is now. He wasn't such a bad sort," testified Mr.
Cleaver, solemnly. "Jack's worse portion was his better half."

"Last heard," informed Mr. Bellton, "he was seen in some town in South
America--the name of which I forget."

Senor Ribero had no passport of familiarity into local personalities,
and he occupied the moment of his own conversational disengagement in
a covert study of the face and figure beside him. Just now, the girl
was looking away at the indolently stirring curtains with an
expression of detachment. Flippant gossip was distasteful to her, and,
when the current set that way, she drew aside, and became the
non-participant.

Ribero read rightly the bored expression, and resolved that the topic
must be diverted, if Miss Filson so wished.

"One meets so many of your countrymen in South America," he suggested,
"that one might reasonably expect them to lose interest as types, yet
each of them seems to be the center of some gripping interest. I
remember in particular one episode--"

The recital was cut short by the entrance of Steele and Saxon. Ribero,
the only person present requiring introduction, rose to shake hands.

[Illustration: {Saxon and Ribero meet}]

The attache was trained in diplomacy, and the rudiments of diplomacy
should teach the face to become a mask when need be, yet, as his eyes
met those of Saxon, he suddenly and involuntarily stiffened. For just
a moment, his outstretched hand hesitated with the impulse to draw
back. The lips that had parted in a casual smile hardened rigidly, and
the eyes that rested on the face of Steele's celebrity were so
intently focused that they almost stared. The byplay occupied only a
moment, and, as Ribero had half-turned from the table to greet those
entering at his back, it escaped the notice of everyone except Saxon
himself. The newcomer felt the momentary ba