ave it from those who do know, that he set a merry pace and
travelled the limit with his fair companions. It was sad, too--he was a
most charming fellow. Rumour also had it that he was none too happy in
his marriage, and that _his_ Mrs. Clephane was something of the same
sort. I've seen _her_ several times; she was of the type to make men's
hearts flutter."

"It's no particular trick to make men's hearts flutter," said Mrs.
Clephane sweetly.

"How about it, Mr. Harleston?" Mrs. Spencer asked.

"No trick whatever," he agreed, "provided she choose the proper method
for the particular man; and some men are easier than others."

"For instance?" Mrs. Spencer inflected.

"No instance. I give it to you as a general proposition and without
charge; which is something unusual in these days of tips and gratuities
and subsidized graft and things equally predatory."

Mrs. Spencer arose. "The mere mention of graft puts me to instant
flight," she remarked.

"And naturally even the suggestion of a crime is equally repugnant to
you," Mrs. Clephane observed.

"'As a general proposition,'" Mrs. Spencer quoted.

"And general propositions are best proved by exceptions, _n'est-ce
pas_?" was the quick yet drawling answer.

The two women's eyes met.

"I trust, Mrs. Clephane, we shall meet again and soon," Mrs. Spencer
replied, extending her hand.

"Thank you so much," was Mrs. Clephane's answer.

Mrs. Spencer turned to Harleston with a perfectly entrancing smile.

"Good-night, Guy," she murmured.--"No, sir, not a foot; I'm going up to
my apartment."

"Then we will convoy you to the elevator. Come, Mr. Harleston."

"It is only a step," Mrs. Spencer protested.

"Nevertheless," said Mrs. Clephane, "we shall not permit you to brave
alone this Peacock Alley and its heedless crowd."

And putting her arm intimately through Mrs. Spencer's she went on: with
Harleston trailing in the rear and chuckling with suppressed glee. It
was not often that Madeline Spencer met her match!

When the car shot upward with Mrs. Spencer, Harleston gave a quiet laugh
of satisfaction.

"Now shall we go in to dinner?" he asked.

Mrs. Clephane nodded.

"The table in the corner yonder, Philippe," Harleston said.

"Who is Mrs. Spencer?" she inquired, as soon as they were seated.

"You've never heard of her?"

"No--nor seen her before tonight. One is not likely to forget her; she's
as lovely as--"

"Original sin?" Harleston supplied.

Mrs. C