hat there was tragedy of
some kind between this pretty, frail-looking girl and the tall man in
the big coat.

"You said you were hungry, but you're not eating anything," Esther
broke out irritably. "How much longer are you going to make me sit
here? I want to catch a train to Paris to-night."

"There are no trains, except slow ones," Micky told her; "the express
has gone half an hour ago. I can find you rooms in a hotel close by
for the night...." His eyes met hers across the table, and he broke
out, "Esther, for God's sake let me explain things to you. You've all
your life before you; to-morrow, if you wish it, I'll go away and
never see you again. But I can't let you go now without telling you
the truth. I ought to have told you before--it was for your own sake I
tried to keep it back...."

Her grey eyes searched his face disbelievingly.

"If you've anything to say against Mr. Ashton," she said, "I refuse to
listen. I shouldn't believe anything you say, for one thing. Why, you
don't even know his name--unless June has told you," she added
breathlessly.

"June has told me nothing, but I know, all the same. I knew the first
night I ever met you--when I left you and went back to my rooms, he
was there waiting for me...."

She half turned, leaning across the table, and her eyes were like
fire.

"He was there--who was there?" she asked shrilly.

"Ashton--Raymond Ashton," Micky answered.

There was a tragic silence, then Esther rose to her feet; she stood
looking dazedly round her in a helpless sort of way.

Micky called for the bill--without waiting for his change he followed
Esther out into the darkness. She offered no resistance when he drew
her hand through his arm. He did not know what on earth to do with
her; if he took her to an hotel it would mean leaving her, and she
would probably go away in the night. They went back to the station,
and Micky found a waiting-room with a roaring fire; he dragged one of
the uncomfortable wooden benches close to it and made Esther sit down;
he closed the door and came back to her.

There was so much he wanted to say, and for the life of him he did not
know how to begin. She sat there so silently; she seemed to have
forgotten his presence altogether.

Micky looked at her, and suddenly he broke out--

"Esther, speak to me--say something--for heaven's sake----"

She moved in a curiously heavy sort of way, as if it were an effort;
she raised her eyes to his agitated fa