ng in
chemistry. That's Wildred's great fad, and makes the two, who are as
different as possible, rather chummy."

As we spoke on, still in somewhat cautious tones, the two newcomers drew
nearer to us, greeting several men whom they knew, and finally sat down.
The room felt the colder to me for Carson Wildred's presence.

Half an hour dragged along, and I was thinking of moving on, when, as I
passed Wildred with a slight inclination in return for his, somewhat to
my surprise he followed me.

"How do you do?" he said, with an attempt at an ingratiating smile.
"Now, if you won't think me rude for the suggestion, I'd be willing to
bet you a hundred pounds to a fiver that you and Driscoll were doing me
the honour of discussing some of my affairs, if not myself, when I
happened to look in just now."

Here was a good opening for a conversation unweighted by polite
fictions, and I unhesitatingly accepted it. "Yes," I replied, quietly,
turning more fully towards him, "we were talking of you and your
affairs."

"I readily divined that from the look on Driscoll's innocent old mug as
I entered. I am remarkably quick at reading other people's faces."

"I have flattered myself that I am the same--when the faces have not
been altered almost (if not quite) beyond recognition."

I looked full into his curious pale eyes as I gave him this hint, but
they did not fall before mine, and his dark, sallow skin could scarcely
be paler than its wont.

He returned my stare, and was not afraid to show me that my meaning had
made itself clearly understood.

"Why speak in riddles, my dear Mr. Stanton?" he asked, shrugging his
shoulders a little. "But as we have got upon this subject, suppose we
follow it up to the end--bitter or otherwise--and as you may not care to
take all your fellow-Wayfarers into your inmost confidence, I suggest
that we move out of earshot of the mob. Here are a couple of chairs, and
a table, far from the madding crowd. Shall we sit for five minutes or
so? Thanks. And won't you let me offer you a cigar? These are not bad
ones. A present from the Shahzada last year!"

I courteously refused the offer, watching him with some interest as,
pretending to be unconscious of or indifferent to my scrutiny, he struck
a match and lighted his cigar.

"I have already frankly assured you, Mr. Stanton," he went on, "that I
am not aware of having met you before the other night--Christmas Eve, I
think it was--at the theatre with