ner was loud in
its praises.

"I guess you're an artist, sir, for sure," he remarked. "This'll fix the
thing. Shall I come to your hotel?"

"If you please," Mr. Sabin answered. "I shall be there for the rest of
the day."

Mr. Skinner took up his hat.

"Guess I'll take my dinner and get right to work," he remarked. "Say,
you come along, Mr. Sabin. I'll take you where they'll fix you such a
beefsteak as you never tasted in your life."

"I thank you very much," Mr. Sabin said, "but I must beg to be excused.
I am expecting some despatches at my hotel. If you are successful this
afternoon you will perhaps do me the honour of dining with me to-night.
I will wait until eight-thirty."

The two men parted upon the pavement. Mr. Skinner, with his small bowler
hat on the back of his head, a fresh cigar in the corner of his mouth,
and his thumbs in the armholes of his waistcoat, strolled along Broadway
with something akin to a smile parting his lips, and showing his yellow
teeth.

"Darned old fool," he muttered. "To marry a slap-up handsome woman like
that, and then pretend not to know what it means when she bolts. Guess
I'll spoil his supper to-night."

Mr. Sabin, however, was recovering his spirits. He, too, was leaning
back in the corner of his carriage with a faint smile brightening his
hard, stern face. But, unlike Mr. Skinner, he did not talk to himself.

CHAPTER IV

R. Sabin, who was never, for its own sake, fond of solitude, had ordered
dinner for two at eight-thirty in the general dining-room. At a few
minutes previous to that hour Mr. Skinner presented himself.

Mr. Skinner was not in the garb usually affected by men of the world
who are invited to dine out. The long day's exertion, too, had had its
effect upon his linen. His front, indeed, through a broad gap,
confessed to a foundation of blue, and one of his cuffs showed a marked
inclination to escape from his wrist over his knuckles. His face
was flushed, and he exhaled a strong odour of cigars and cocktails.
Nevertheless, Mr. Sabin was very glad to see him, and to receive the
folded sheet of paper which he at once produced.

"I have taken the liberty," Mr. Sabin remarked, on his part, "of adding
a trifle to the amount we first spoke of, which I beg you will accept
from me as a mark of my gratitude for your promptness."

"Sure!" Mr. Skinner answered tersely, receiving the little roll of
bills without hesitation, and retreating into a quiet corner,