by which he could crush
out that sweet but unhappy tangle of memories which somehow or other had
stolen the flavour out of life for the last few weeks.

At the hotel he glanced at the clock. It was just eight, and he was to
accompany the Bullsoms to the theatre. He met them in the hall, and
Selina looked with reproach at his morning clothes. She was wearing a
new swansdown theatre cloak, with a collar which she had turned up round
her face like a frame. She was convinced that she had never looked so
well in her life.

"Mr. Brooks, how naughty of you," she exclaimed, shaking her head in
mock reproach. "Why, the play begins at 8:15, and it is eight o'clock
already. Have you had dinner?"

"Oh, I can manage with something in my room while I change," he answered
cheerily. "I'm going to take you all out to supper after the theatre,
you know. Don't wait for me--I'll come on. His Majesty's, isn't it?"

"I'll keep your seat," Selina promised him, lowering her voice. "That
is, if you are very good and come before it is half over. Do you know
that we met a friend of yours, and he lent us his carriage, and I think
he's charming."

Brooks looked surprised. He glanced at Mary, and saw a look in her face
which came as a revelation to him.

"You don't mean--"

"Lord Arranmore!" Selina declared, triumphantly. "He was so nice, he
wouldn't let us come home in a cab. He positively made us take his own
carriage."

Mr. Bullsom came hurrying up.

"Cab waiting," he announced. "Come on, girls."

"See you later, then, Brooks."

Brooks changed his clothes leisurely, and went into the smoking-room for
some sandwiches and a glass of wine. A small boy shouting his number
attracted his attention. He called him, and was handed a card.

"Lord Arranmore!"

"You can show the gentleman here," Brooks directed.

Arranmore came in, and nodded a little wearily to Brooks, whom he had
not seen since the latter had left Enton.

"I won't keep you," he remarked. "I just wanted a word with you about
that obstinate young person Miss--er--Scott."

Brooks wheeled an easy-chair towards him.

"I am in no great hurry," he remarked.

Arranmore glanced at the clock.

"More am I," he said, "but I find I am dining with the Prime Minister at
nine o'clock. It occurs to me that you may have some influence with
her."

"We are on fairly friendly terms," Brooks admitted.

"Just so. Well, she may have told you that my solicitors approached
her, as the