man with an Oriental cast of features and he
wore a red fez. It sounds incredible, I admit, but such was the fact.
He addressed me civilly, but in somewhat imperfect English.

"Morning, sar. It is a fine walk-day."

"Delightful," I assented.

"My mistress, sar--the Lady Allegra--she will be obligated of the honor
to have your company dinner. You have no engagement anticipatory?" He
stood with his head cocked a trifle to one side, smiling amiably.

"To-night?" I asked.

"That, sar, is my counselment. To-night, at clock nine."

"Very good. I'll be here."

Red-Fez shook his head deprecatingly. Finally, and after much
circumlocution, I gathered that I was not expected at No. 231. My
instructions were simply to be in waiting at the Worth Monument in
Madison Square at half-after eight; for the rest Red-Fez would hold
himself responsible. And upon this understanding we parted.

"The Lady Allegra," I said, under my breath, as I walked home. "The
Lady Allegra."

Up to this point I had kept my own counsel, but now I felt it my duty
to make a confidant of Indiman. He listened to my story with grave
attention.

"It promises well--decidedly so," admitted Indiman. "Confound it! If it
were not for this unlucky accident of a sprained ankle--" and he
glanced ruefully at his injured limb encased in its plaster-of-Paris
form.

"I like the name," I went on, somewhat irrelevantly. "The Lady Allegra."

"There are possibilities in it," assented Indiman, grumpily. "Will you
hand me my solitaire cards--and, for Heaven's sake! stop kicking the
lacquer off the andirons."

"Oh, I beg your pardon."

"Of course you understand what I mean. It isn't the andirons, but the
sight of your aggressively vigorous legs that moves me to childish
wrath. To be tied down here like a trussed pigeon! Better leave me to
my solitaire. I'll be more civilized after luncheon." Whereupon I
smiled and went out.

Half-past eight o'clock; the Worth Monument; Red-Fez in a four-wheeler;
the carefully drawn window-curtains; the production of the black silk
bag with which to envelop my head--it all happened in accordance with
the playbill. At first I tried to keep some idea of distance and
direction, but I soon got confused and had to give it up. I could only
conjecture that the course was a long one, for I heard a clock striking
nine just as the cab stopped, and our pace had been a rapid one.

"Thisaway, sar," whispered my guide, and I yielded to the gent