y
head. I had no desire to smoke.

We walked a few steps together in silence before he said: "I am trying
to frame a most unusual request so that it may not seem too fantastic
to you. It is more difficult than writing a fugue. The truth is--I
have gotten myself into a bit of a fix--and I want to guard against
its turning into something worse than that. I need some man's
assistance to extricate myself."

I probably looked alarmed. Those forebears of mine will intrude when I
am taken by surprise. He saw it, and said, quickly: "It is nothing
that a man, willing to be of service to me, need balk at; nothing, in
fact, that a chivalrous man would not be glad to do. You may not
think very well of me afterward, but be sure you will never regret the
act. I was in sore need of a friend. There was none at hand--if such
as I ever have friends. Suddenly I saw you. I remembered your violin
as I heard it behind me last night--an Amati, I fancy?"

I nodded assent.

"A beautiful instrument. I may some day ask you to let me try it--you
and I can never be quite strangers after to-night."

He paused, pounded the side-walk with his stick, impatiently, as if
the long preamble made him as nervous as it did me. Then, looking me
in the face, he said rapidly: "This is it. When I leave the box, after
the next act, do you follow me. Stay by me, no matter what happens.
Stick to me, even though I ask you to leave me, so long as there is
any one with me. Do more--stay by me, until, in your room or mine, you
and I sit down together, and--well, I will explain what must, until
then, seem either mad or ridiculous. Is that clear?"

I assured him that it was.

"Agreed then," he said.

By this time we were back at the door. The whole thing had not taken
five minutes. We re-entered the theatre, and walked hurriedly through
the lobby to the foyer. As we were about to separate, he laid a hand
on either of my shoulders, and with a whimsical smile, said: "I'll
dare swear I shall try to give you the slip."--The smile died on his
lips. It never reached his eyes. "Don't let me do it. After the next
act, then," and, with a wave of his hand, he disappeared.

I thought I was ridiculous enough when he had gone, and I realized
that I had promised to follow this man, I did not know where, I did
not know with whom, I did not know why.

It was useless for me to go back into the auditorium. I could not
listen to the music. In spite of myself, I kept approaching