me trumped up excuse, it was greeted with a
round of laughter, and served to enliven the naturally trifling _entree_
conversation; so no one,--least of all the hostess,--blamed him. One who
has been in an engine house when an alarm of fire is turned in can form
some idea of Duncan's dressing accomplishments. There were, to be sure,
no clanging gongs, stamping horses, and scurrying, half-dressed men, but
there was the same instantaneous assumption of perfect order out of
bewildering chaos. His servant was his faithful assistant, and when
Duncan's steps were heard upon the stairs, he would seize a shirt in
one hand and a pair of trousers in the other, which he held waiting for
the arrival of his master. Duncan would make a wild rush through the
door, and his top coat, coat and waistcoat would fly across the room at
random, while Parker pulled off one pair of trousers and assisted him on
with another. A dive into a face bath would give Parker time to change
the odds and ends in Duncan's pockets; while on would go the shirt, and
the tie would be adjusted and his hair smoothed while the servant
replaced the muddy boots with evening shoes. Coat and waistcoat would go
on together, hat, umbrella and overcoat be seized, and off Duncan would
start in the official time of three minutes and seventeen seconds.

On the present occasion he desisted from his dressing long enough to
read a small, blue note which he found upon his dressing table. It was
worded as follows: "The coast is clear at nine, and will be so till
after midnight. I will see you if you come." There was no signature or
address. It had been left by a maid in the usual way, so Parker said,
but even unsigned and non-committal as it was, it did not please
Duncan. "I wish I could forget that woman," he muttered to himself. "But
I suppose I will be there and play the fool, just as I always do. I have
a mind to break away from her, though." Then, turning to Parker, he
continued audibly, "I am going to Chicago to-morrow morning. Have my
portmanteau and shirt box packed. You know about what I want, but put in
plenty of shirts as I may be gone some weeks."

"Very good, sir," replied the taciturn Parker. "Hi suppose you will want
your hulster for the journey, sir."

"Yes," replied Duncan; then putting on his coat and hat, and seizing a
pair of gloves and a stick, he rushed down the stairs without stopping
for that apartment elevator which was never running, jumped into the cab