ht when we meet again!"

He took her to the car, and watched her as she gathered her skirts about
her and climbed inside.

"Can't we drop you at your house!" said Lord Jasper. "It won't be any
trouble to do so!"

"No, thanks," Henry replied. "I'd rather walk home. It's such a
beautiful night!"

Lord Jasper followed Lady Cecily into the car. "You're a romantic chap,
Quinn!" he said, and then, as an afterthought, he added quickly, "I say,
we must arrange to go to the Empire together some evening. You're the
sort of chap I like...."

Lady Cecily waved her hand to him. As the car moved off he saw her
beautiful face leaning against the side of the car, and he longed to
take her in his arms and kiss her. Then the car turned, and drove
quickly off. He stood for a moment or two looking after it, and
continued to stand still even when it had swung out of the courtyard
into the Strand. Then he walked slowly away from the restaurant. He had
not gone very far when his arm was touched, and, turning round, he saw
Gilbert.

6

"Hilloa," he said, "you're late!"

"No, I'm not," Gilbert replied.

"Yes, you are. The Jaynes have gone!"

"I saw them going. I've been here for over half-an-hour, waiting for
you!"

"Over half-an-hour! What's up, Gilbert?"

Gilbert put his arm in Henry's and made him move out of the Savoy
courtyard. "Come down to the Embankment," he said. "It's quieter there.
I want to talk to you!"

"But hadn't we better go home? We can talk on the way. It's late...."

"No. I want to go to the Embankment. Damn it all, Quinny, it's a
sentimental place for a heart-to-heart talk, isn't it?"

"You aren't drunk, Gilbert, I suppose?"

"Never so sober in my life, Quinny. Besides, I don't get drunk. People
who talk about beer and whisky as much as I do, never get drunk. Come
along, there's a good chap!"

"Very well ... only I'm not going to stay long. I'm no good for work the
day after I've had a long night...."

"I won't keep you long. How did the supper-party go off?"

"Damnably. Two tame novelists turned up ... Boltt and Lensley!"

"Those asses!"

"Yes. Lensley 'chattered' to Lady Cecily, and Boltt bored and bored and
bored.... I took him down a bit. I rubbed in the _Morning Report_
review. The little toad could hardly sit still! Of course, he affected
the superior person attitude!"

"God be merciful to him, poor little rat! He wants to be a wicked,
hell-for-leather fellow, but he hasn't got the sto