rrily and melodiously. She certainly had a nice laugh, that
girl.

"Now, concerning what follows, I have, since then, entertained some
doubts whether I behaved in all respects discreetly. You will allow
that the position was a difficult one, but it is, I admit, very
possible that my wisest course would have been to make an apology and
turn tail as quickly as I could. Well, I didn't. I thought that I
owed the lady a full explanation. Besides, I wanted a full explanation
myself. Finally (oh, yes, I see you fellows grinning and winking),
Mary was not there, and this young lady rather interested me. I
decided that I would have five minutes' talk with her; then I would run
back and find Mary.

"'I must beg a thousand pardons,' I began, 'but I took you for somebody
else."

"'Oh, of course,' said she, with a shrug, 'it's always that.'

"'You appear incredulous,' said I, rather offended.

"'Well, and if I am?' said she.

"My feelings were hurt. I produced Mary's second note.

"'If I can trust to your discretion, I'll prove what I say,' I remarked
in a nettled tone.

"'I shall be very curious to hear the proof, sir, and I will be most
discreet,' she said. She was pouting, but her eyes danced. Really, she
looked very pretty--although, of course, I would not for a moment
compare her with Lady Mary.

"'A lady,' said I, 'was so kind as to tell me to seek her here this
morning.'

"'Oh, as if I believed that!'

"I was piqued.

"'There's the proof,' I cried, flinging the note into her lap.

"She took it up, glanced at it, and gave a little shriek.

"'Where did you get this?'

"'Why, from the head waiter.'

"'Oh, the fool!' she cried. 'It's mine.'

"'Yours? nonsense! He gave me that and another last night.'

"'Oh, the stupidity! They were for--they were not for you. They were
for--someone who is to arrive.'

"I pointed at the signature and gasped, 'M.! Do you sign M.?'

"'Yes; my name's--my name begins with M. Oh, if I'd only seen that
waiter this morning! Oh, the idiot!'

"Then I believe I swore.

"'Madame,' said I, 'I'm ruined! No harm is done to you--I'm a man of
honor--but I'm ruined. On the strength of your wretched notes, madame,
I've cut the girl I love best in the world--cut her dead--dead--dead!'

"'What? That young lady in the---- Oh, you thought they were from
her? Oh, I see? How--how--oh, how very amusing!' And the heartless
little wretch went off into another peal of laug