in the course of
a few days, now that the tension of concealment was over, Sir Arthur had
become almost childishly dependent upon him.

A church clock struck somewhere in the distance. Falloden looked at his
watch. Time to go to some restaurant and dine. With Gregory's figures
running in his head, he shrank from his Club where he would be sure to
meet a host of Harrow and Oxford acquaintance, up for the Varsity match,
and the latter end of the season. After dinner he would look into a
music-hall, and about eleven make his way to the Tamworth House ball.

He must come back, however, to Portman Square sometime to dress. Lady
Tamworth had let it be known privately that the Prince and Princess
were coming to her ball, and that the men were expected to appear in
knee-breeches and silk stockings. He had told his valet at Flood to pack
them; and he supposed that fool of a housemaid would be equal to
unpacking for him, and putting out his things.

* * * * *

"How do you do, Douglas?" said Lady Tamworth, an imposing, bejewelled
figure standing at the head of the galleried staircase of Tamworth
House. "Saw your father yesterday and thought him looking very seedy."

"Yes, he's not the thing," said Douglas. "We shall have to get him away
to Marienbad, or somewhere of that kind."

Lady Tamworth looked at him closely, her eyelids fluttering just a
little. Douglas noticed the flutter, and knew very well what it meant.
Lady Tamworth and his father were first cousins. No doubt all their
relations were busy discussing their affairs day and night; the City, he
knew, was full of rumours, and certain newspapers had already scented
the quarry ahead, and were beginning to make ghoulish hints and
gibberings. As he passed on into the ballroom, every nerve in him was
sensitive and alive. He seemed to have eyes at the back of his head, to
catch everywhere the sudden attention, the looks of curiosity, sometimes
of malice, that followed him through the crowd. He spoke to a great many
acquaintance, to girls he had been accustomed to dance with and their
mothers. The girls welcomed him just as usual; but the casual or
interrupted conversation, which was all the mothers could spare him,
showed him very soon how much was known or guessed, of the family
disasters. He understood that he was no longer in the running for these
exquisite creatures in their silks and satins. The campaigning mothers
had already dropped him