es." His voice sounded a little disappointed. "I met you at----?"

"At Lady Evenswood's, Mr Disney." Taking courage she added, "I sent what
you wanted?"

"What I wanted?"

"Yes. What you wanted me to write, about--about the Tristrams."

"Yes." The voice sounded now as if he had placed her. He smiled a
little. "I remember it all now. I read it the other morning." He nodded
at her, as if that finished the matter. But Mina did not move. "I'm busy
just now," he added, "but--Well, how's your side of the affair going on,
Madame Zabriska? I've heard nothing from my cousin about that."

"It's just wonderful to see you like this!" the Imp blurted out.

That amused him; she saw the twinkle in his eye.

"Never mind me. Tell me about the Tristram cousins."

"Oh, you are thinking of it then?"

"I never tell what I'm thinking about. That's the only reason people
think me clever. The cousins?"

"Oh, that's all dreadful. At least I believe they are--they would be--in
love; but--but--Mr Tristram's so difficult, so obstinate, so proud. I
don't suppose you understand----"

"You're the second person who's told me I can't understand, in the last
half-hour." He was smiling now, as he coupled Mina and the handsome
recalcitrant colleague in his protest. "I'm not sure of it."

"And she's been silly, and he's been horrid, and just now--well, it's
all as bad as can be, Mr Disney."

"Is it? You must get it better than that, you know, before I can do
anything. Good-night."

"Oh, stop, do stop! Do say what you mean!"

"I shan't do anything of the kind. You may tell Lady Evenswood what I've
said and she'll tell you what I mean."

"Oh, but please----"

"If you stop me any longer, I shall send you to the Tower. Tell Lady
Evenswood and Southend. If I didn't do my business better than you do
yours----!" He shrugged his shoulders with a good-natured rudeness.
"Good-night," he said again, and this time Mina dared not stop him.
Twenty yards further on he halted once more of his own accord and fell
into thought. Mina watched him till he moved on again, slowly making his
way across the Mall and toward St James's Street. A great thing had
happened to her--she felt that; and she had news too that she was to
tell to Southend and Lady Evenswood. There was considerable unsettlement
in the Imp's mind that night.

The next day found her at Lady Evenswood's. The old lady and Southend
(who had been summoned on Mina's command--certainly Mina was g