handled?" she laughed.
"Oh, I forgot! money is no object to you. Well, bide your own time, my
dear, but don't let it be too long.... Must you really go?"

"I'm afraid so; and, June----"

"Um!" said June, intent on another cigarette.

Micky fidgeted. He looked down at the carpet.

"If you don't hear anything of me for a few days you'll know I'm out
of London...." He looked at Esther, but she was kneeling down by the
fire stroking Charlie.

"Out of London!" June said in surprise. "Where are you going?"

Micky cleared his throat.

"I thought of running over to Paris for a day or two," he said.

"Paris!" They were both looking at him now. Micky was painfully aware
of the eagerness in Esther's face.

"Yes; I haven't been since September. Anything I can do for you while
I'm there?"

June raised her brows comically.

"Not for me, but perhaps Esther ... Esther has a great friend over
there, haven't you, my child?"

Esther turned crimson from chin to brow.

"Mr. Mellowes is not at all likely to meet any friend of mine," she
said stiffly.

Micky felt horribly sorry for her.

"Don't be too sure, Miss Shepstone," he said lightly. "It's a small
world, you know, and it's the most unexpected things that happen."

But Esther seemed not to have heard.

CHAPTER XIII

Micky went to Paris. "No, I shan't want you, Driver," he told his man
awkwardly. "I'm only going for a day or two. I--er--I shan't want
you," he said again lamely.

He looked at the man guiltily, but Driver was as impassive as ever.
"Very good, sir," he said. He could not understand what had happened
to Micky; as a rule, he refused even to take his own railway ticket or
speak to a porter. This new independence worried him.

But Micky went off cheerfully enough. He rang June up at her club the
morning he started and told her he was really going. He heard her
cheery laugh across the telephone. "Micky, you're not up to any
mischief?"

"As if I should be!" he answered with dignity.

"I wouldn't trust you," she said promptly. "However, have a good time,
and if you see the phantom lover, you might push him into the Seine
for me."

"I'll remember," Micky said grimly. He hesitated. "Everything all
right?" he asked.

She echoed his words, not understanding. "Everything all right? Do you
mean the swindle? Oh, yes, it's going fine, thank you. I had another
order from those American export people this morning."

"Good.... And--Miss Shepstone go