called,--but could he not get at him so as to strike him?
If he could do the man a real injury he would not care what amount of
punishment he might be called upon to bear.

He hurried at last out of the square into Coventry Street and down
the Haymarket. His lodgings were in Duke Street, turning out of
Piccadilly,--but he could not bring himself to go home to his bed.
He was unutterably wretched, but yet he kept himself going with some
idea of doing something, or of fixing some purpose. He certainly
was tipsy now, but not so drunk as to be unable to keep himself on
his legs. He gloried in the wet, shouting inwardly to himself that
he in his misery was superior to all accidents of the weather. Then
he stood for awhile watching the people as they came out of the
Haymarket Theatre. He was at this time a sorry sight to be seen. His
hat was jammed on to his head and had been almost smashed in the
jamming. His coat reeking wet through was fastened by one button
across his chest. His two hands were thrust into his pockets, and the
bottle of champagne was visible in his face. He was such a one,--to
look at,--that no woman would have liked to touch or any man to
address. In this guise he stood there amidst the crowd, foremost
among those who were watching the ladies as they got into their
vehicles. "And she might be as good as the best of them, and I might
be here to hand her into her own carriage,"--said he to himself,--"if
it were not for that intruder!"

At that moment the intruder was there before him, and on his arm was
a lady whom he was taking across to a carriage, at the door of which
a servant in livery was standing. They were followed closely by a
pretty young girl who was picking her steps after them alone. These
were Lady Albury and Nina, whom Colonel Stubbs had escorted to the
play.

"You will be down by the twentieth?" said the elder lady.

"Punctual as the day comes," said the Colonel.

"And mind you have Ayala with you," said the younger.

"If Lady Albury can manage it with her aunt of course I will wait
upon her," said the Colonel. Then the door of the carriage was shut,
and the Colonel was left to look for a cab. He had on an overcoat and
an opera hat, but otherwise was dressed as for dinner. On one side
a link-boy was offering him assistance, and on another a policeman
tendering him some service. He was one of those who by their outward
appearance always extort respect from those around them.

As long