. I promised that I would do my best to get you to call
with me this afternoon. If you don't mind, I wish you would," he added
wistfully.

"I will go with you certainly, if you wish it," Paul answered, not too
cordially, for he did not wish his brother to know that it was what
he had already planned to do. "Did she tell you that we had already a
slight acquaintance?"

"Yes! You rode home in a cab together from Lady Swindon's, didn't you?
There was only one, and it was raining, so you shared it. Adrea told
me that."

Paul nodded. He meant, after he had seen Adrea, to consider whether
it would not be best to tell his brother everything. But, for the
present, her story was enough. They turned into Pall Mall, and, almost
immediately, Arthur's hat was in his hand, and he was on the edge of
the pavement, colouring with pleasure. A small victoria had pulled up
by the side, and Paul found himself face to face with Adrea.

She was muffled up in rich brown furs, and almost invisible, but her
dark eyes flashed into his from underneath her thick veil. After the
first greeting she scarcely noticed Arthur; it was Paul upon whom her
eyes were bent.

"You are in London again, then, Mr. de Vaux," she remarked. "Have you
discovered that, after all, the country is a little _triste_ in this
land of damp and fogs--the country in November, I mean--or is it only
important business which has brought you up!"

"The latter," he answered, "as it happens. I am glad to see that the
damp and fogs which you complain of have not affected your health."

"I am quite well, thanks," she answered. "How long are you staying in
town?"

"For less than a week, I think."

"Well, it is too cold to talk here. Will you come and let me give you
some tea this afternoon, after the fashion of you strange islanders? I
want you to, please."

Paul looked her straight in the face. "You are very kind; I shall be
glad to," he answered.

She nodded. "About five o'clock. I go to sleep till then. Shall you
come, Arthur?" she added carelessly.

"I cannot, so late as that," he answered despondently.

"Ah, I forgot. You are going down to Aldershot, aren't you? Don't
overwork yourself."

She nodded, and the carriage drove on. Arthur watched it until it
was out of sight. "She might have said a little earlier," he remarked
despondently. "She knew I couldn't come so late as that."

Paul passed his arm through his brother's and was silent. He knew very
well that A