hef's going when he leaves this terrestrial sphere; but,
wherever it is, it's good enough for me. Well, Nellikins, enjoyed
yourself?"

Nell forced a smile.

"Very much," she replied. "It--it was a great success."

"So I hear," said Dick. "But you seem to have taken the cake to-night,
old man. They told me that you created a perfect furore, whatever that
is. Anyway, Mrs. Hawksley and the rest came down with the most exciting
account of your triumph. Seriously, Falconer, I congratulate you. I
won't say that I prophesied your success long ago, because that's a
cheap kind of thing to say; but I always did believe you'd hit the
bull's-eye the first time you got a chance; and you've done it."

"I think they were pleased," said Falconer.

"His lordship and the rest of the swells ought to be very much obliged,"
remarked Dick. "You've given eclat to his dance. Observe the French
again? There is no extra charge."

"His lordship was extremely kind," said Falconer, "and his thanks more
than repaid me for my poor efforts. I don't wonder at his popularity.
I've always heard that the higher the rank the simpler the manners; and
Lord Angleford is an instance of it. My acquaintance with the nobility
is extremely limited----"

"Ditto here," said Dick. "Though the young lady on your arm has lived in
marble halls, and hobnobbed with belted earls and lords of high degree.
But I'm glad to hear that this one is affable."

Falconer laughed.

"Affable is the wrong word; it means condescension, doesn't it? And Lord
Angleford was anything but condescending. He might have known me for
years, if one judged by the tone of his voice and manner; and, as I
said, I'm more than repaid."

"Well, I'm glad to hear he made a favorable impression on you," Dick
said. "I haven't had the pleasure of making his acquaintance yet; but I
shall probably see him before I go. But your success doesn't end here,
Falconer. I'm told that you are going to play at Cleavemere Court. By
George! if you knock them there as you did here--which, of course, you
will do--your fortune's made. The duchess has no end of influence, and
you'll be paragraphed in the papers, and get engagements at the houses
of other swells, and before we know where we are, we shall see 'Senor
Falconer's Recitals at St. James' Hall,' advertised on the front page of
the _Times_. And serve you right, old man, for if ever a man deserved
good luck, it is you. Eh, Nell?"

"Yes, yes," said Nell.