lf of such a companion.

"Ah, Mr. Clavering, I am so glad to see you. I was with Julie last
night. She was fagged, very much fagged; the journey, you know, and the
business. But yet so handsome! And we talked of you. Yes, Mr. Clavering;
and I told her how good you had been in coming to me. She said you were
always good; yes, she did. When shall you see her?"

Harry Clavering was a bad hand at fibbing, and a bad hand also at
leaving a question unanswered. When questioned in this way he did not
know what to do but to answer the truth. He would much rather not have
said that he was going to Bolton Street that evening, but he could find
no alternative. "I believe I shall see her this evening," he said,
simply venturing to mitigate the evil of making the communication by
rendering it falsely doubtful. There are men who fib with so bad a grace
and with so little tact that they might as well not fib at all. They not
only never arrive at success, but never even venture to expect it.

"Ah, this evening. Let me see. I don't think I can be there to-night;
Madame Berenstoff receives at the embassy."

"Good afternoon," said Harry, turning into Truefit's, the hairdresser's,
shop.

"Ah, very well," said Sophie to herself; "just so. It will be better,
much better. He is simply one lout, and why should he have it all? My
God, what fools, what louts, are these Englishmen!" in having read
Sophie's thoughts so far, we will leave her to walk up the remainder of
the arcade by herself.

I do not know that Harry's visit to Truefit's establishment had been in
any degree caused by his engagement for the evening. I fancy that he had
simply taken to ground at the first hole, as does a hunted fox. But now
that he was there he had his head put in order, and thought that he
looked the better for the operation. He then went back to his club, and
when he sauntered into the card-room one old gentleman looked askance at
him, as though inquiring angrily whether he had come there to make fresh
misery. "Thank you; no--I won't play again," said Harry. Then the old
gentleman was appeased, and offered him a pinch of snuff. "Have you seen
the new book about whist?" said the old gentleman. "It is very
useful--very useful. I'll send you a copy if you will allow me." Then
Harry left the room, and went down to dinner.

Chapter XVI

An Evening In Bolton Street

It was a little past eight when Harry knocked at Lady Ongar's door. I
fear he had cal