hem to see me in
the state I was in before the barber came. They both looked fresh and
vigorous. Electioneering evidently agreed with them.

"We looked in," said Lalage, "because we thought you might want to be
cheered up a bit. You can't have many visitors now that poor Tithers is
gone."

"Dead?"

"Oh, no, not yet at least, and we hope he won't. Tithers means well and
I daresay it's not his fault if he don't speak the truth."

"They've put him in prison, I suppose. I hardly thought they'd allow him
to chop up Selby-Harrison in the College Park."

Hilda gaped at me. Lalage went over to the nurse and whispered something
in her ear. The nurse shook her head and said that my temperature was
normal.

"If you're not raving," said Lalage, "you're deliberately talking
nonsense. I don't know what you mean, nor does Hilda."

"It ought to be fairly obvious," I said, "that I'm alluding to
Mr. Titherington's attempt to find out Hilda's surname from young
Selby-Harrison."

Hilda giggled convulsively. Then she got out her pocket handkerchief and
choked.

"Tithers," said Lalage, "is past caring about anybody's name. He's got
influenza. It came on him the night before last at twelve o'clock. He's
pretty bad."

"I'm glad to hear that. I was afraid he might have been arrested in
Dublin. If it's only influenza there's no reason why he shouldn't send
me the key of the bag. I suppose you'll be going round to see him in the
course of the afternoon, Lalage."

"We hadn't thought of doing that," said Lalage, "but of course we can if
you particularly want us to."

"I wish you would, and tell him to send me the key of the bag at once.
You could bring it back with you."

"Certainly," said Lalage. "Is that all?"

"That's all I want; but it would be civil to ask how he is."

"There's no use making a special, formal visit for a trifle like that.
Hilda will run round at once. It won't take her ten minutes."

Hilda hesitated.

"Run along, Hilda," said Lalage.

Hilda still hesitated. It occurred to me that she might not know where
Titherington's house was.

"Turn to the right," I said, "as soon as you get out of the hotel.
Then go on to the end of the street. Mr. Titherington's house is at
the corner and stands a little way back. It has 'Sandringham' in gilt
letters on the gate. You can't miss it. In fact, you can see it from the
door of the hotel. Nurse will show it to you."

Even then Hilda did not start.

"The key of wha