and
social position--questions which were most natural in the
circumstances of our proposed relationship.

But while we were talking a rather curious incident arrested my
attention. Pennington was sitting with his back to the door of the
lounge, when, among those who came and went, was a rather stout
foreigner of middle age, dressed quietly in black, wearing a gold
pince-nez, and having the appearance of a French business man.

He had entered the lounge leisurely, when, suddenly catching sight of
Sylvia's father, he drew back and made a hurried exit, apparently
anxious to escape the observation of us both.

So occupied was my mind with my own affairs that the occurrence
completely passed from me until that same night, when, at ten o'clock,
on descending the steps of White's and proceeding to walk down St.
James's Street in the direction of home, I suddenly heard footsteps
behind me, and, turning, found, to my dismay, the Frenchman from
Manchester quietly walking in the same direction.

This greatly mystified me. The broad-faced foreigner in gold
pince-nez, evidently in ignorance that I had seen him in Manchester,
must have travelled up to London by the same train as myself, and must
have remained watching outside White's for an hour or more!

Why had the stranger so suddenly become interested in me?

Was yet another attempt to be made upon me, as Shuttleworth had so
mysteriously predicted?

I was determined to show a bold front and defy my enemies; therefore,
when I had crossed Pall Mall against St. James's Palace, I suddenly
faced about, and, meeting the stranger full tilt, addressed him before
he could escape.

Next moment, alas! I knew that I had acted injudiciously.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THE MAN IN THE STREET

I had asked the Frenchman, rather angrily I fear, why he was following
me, whereat he merely bowed with the exquisite politeness of his race,
and replied in good English--

"I was not aware of following m'sieur. I regret extremely if I have
caused annoyance. I ask a thousand pardons."

"Well, your surveillance upon me annoys me," I declared abruptly. "I
saw you spying upon me in Manchester this afternoon, and you have
followed me to London!"

"Ah, yes," he replied, with a slight gesticulation; "it is true that I
was in Manchester. But our meeting here must be by mere chance. I was
unaware that monsieur was in Manchester," he assured me in a suave
manner.

"Well," I said in French, "y