regular footing. Meantime, I would not for the world detain you longer
from your friends. John," he added, raising his voice, "will you see
that this gentleman finds his great-coat?"

And with the most agreeable air Mr. Morris escorted his visitor as far
as the ante-room door, where he left him under conduct of the butler. As
he passed the window, on his return to the drawing-room, Brackenbury
could hear him utter a profound sigh, as though his mind was loaded with
a great anxiety, and his nerves already fatigued with the task on which
he was engaged.

For perhaps an hour the hansoms kept arriving with such frequency that
Mr. Morris had to receive a new guest for every old one that he sent
away, and the company preserved its number undiminished. But towards the
end of that time the arrivals grew few and far between, and at length
ceased entirely, while the process of elimination was continued with
unimpaired activity. The drawing-room began to look empty: the baccarat
was discontinued for lack of a banker; more than one person said
good-night of his own accord, and was suffered to depart without
expostulation; and in the meanwhile Mr. Morris redoubled in agreeable
attentions to those who stayed behind. He went from group to group and
from person to person with looks of the readiest sympathy and the most
pertinent and pleasing talk; he was not so much like a host as like a
hostess, and there was a feminine coquetry and condescension in his
manner which charmed the hearts of all.

As the guests grew thinner, Lieutenant Rich strolled for a moment out of
the drawing-room into the hall in quest of fresher air. But he had no
sooner passed the threshold of the ante-chamber than he was brought to a
dead halt by a discovery of the most surprising nature. The flowering
shrubs had disappeared from the staircase; three large furniture-waggons
stood before the garden gate; the servants were busy dismantling the
house upon all sides; and some of them had already donned their
great-coats and were preparing to depart. It was like the end of a
country ball, where everything has been supplied by contract.
Brackenbury had indeed some matter for reflection. First, the guests,
who were no real guests, after all, had been dismissed; and now the
servants, who could hardly be genuine servants, were actively
dispersing.

"Was the whole establishment a sham?" he asked himself. "The mushroom of
a single night which should disappear before mor