ur side, and I'll do the same
on mine."

"Well, but we meet everything on the--"

"Never mind! Oh, don't be practical at such a moment! He might pass us
on any side."

Alston laughed and obeyed her mandate.

They were a long way up the hill, and were near to the church of the
Holy Trinity when Charmian cried out:

"There's a carriage coming. I believe he's in it."

"Why?"

"Because I do! Be ready to stop him."

"Gee! He is in it! Hi! Mr. Crayford! Crayford!"

Charmian, leaning quickly forward, gave their astonished coachman a
violent push in the small of his back.

"Stop! Stop!"

He pulled up the horses with a jerk.

"Hello!" said Crayford.

He took off his hat.

"Goin' home to roost?" he added to Charmian.

"If you have no objection," she answered, with a pretense of dignity.

They looked at one another in the soft darkness which was illumined by
the lamps of the two carriages. Crayford, as usual, was smoking a big
cigar.

"Have you dined?" said Alston.

"Not yet."

"Have you--" Charmian began, and paused. "Have you been hearing the
opera all this time?"

"Yaw."

He blew out a smoke ring.

"Hearing it and talking things over."

Her heart leaped with hope and with expectation.

"Then you--then I suppose--"

"See here, little lady," said Crayford. "I'm not feeling quite as full
as I should like. I think I'll be getting home along. Your husband will
tell you things, I've no doubt. Want Lake to see you in, do you?"

"No. I'm almost there."

"Then what do you say to his coming back with me?"

"Of course. Good-night, Mr. Lake. No, no! I don't want you really! All
the coachmen know me here, and I them. I've driven alone dozens of
times. Good-night. Good-night, Mr. Crayford."

She almost pushed Alston out of the carriage in her excitement. She was
now burning with impatience to be with Claude.

"Good-night, good-night!" she called, waving her hands as the horses
moved forward.

"She's a oner," said Crayford. "And so are you to keep a woman like that
quiet all these hours. My boy, I'm empty, I can tell you."

He said not a word to Alston about the opera that night, and Alston did
not attempt to make him talk.

When Charmian arrived at Djenan-el-Maqui she found Claude in the little
dining-room with Caroline, who was seated beside him on a chair, leaning
her lemon-colored chin upon the table, and gazing with pathetic eyes at
the cold chicken he was eating.

"O Claude!" she said, as