The Profiteers

d, took up his hat and prepared to depart. Half-past twelve had just s

nuine admiration in his tone. "I don't believe there's another man

rugged his

ok hands, "are the men who take risks. I was never mean

coronet on the envelope and opened it eagerly. A glance at the signature br

r Mr.

n plain words that I was drunk. It is a humiliating confession, but it happens to be the truth. Will you accept this apology in the spirit in which i

regret

DLI

tter. An amende so complete left him with no alternative save acquiescence. Even while he was coming to this somewhat unwelcome d

. Wingate?"

itted. "Good mo

I like to have you call me. I am speaking for my hu

he is!" Wingat

" Josephine continued, "to beg your acceptance of

ingate replied. "Your husband has explained that he

obviously repeating Wingate's decisio

e that you will continue to visit at the house, and that you will not

aid or could say could

,-"at least that is

d m

e you to-da

answered. "Perhap

ugh the receiver had bee

on himse

he said. "You won't let this little affair make any

ting you about that, though. I don't see any object in m

t is because of last night's affair and I shall get it in the neck. I'm in di

sitated fo

ssented, "I will

all, t

peak to your wife a

rather malicious reply. "I'd have ke

hrow it open. Miss Flossie Lane stood there, very becomingly dressed in a tailor-made costume of covert coating. She wore a hat with ye

ne!" he

t him with w

r inviting me quite well, but I couldn't remember where you said, so I

, please. I'll ring for a cocktail and send the

aracteristics-a Chinese idol squatting in one corner, some West African weapons above it, two very fine moose heads over a quaintly shaped fireplace,

I've been in so many of them. How did you find time to furnish it

through the war. Sometimes I lend it to a friend. I am one of those domestic people," he ad

nice to live alon

t," he remarked. "Here come the cocktails. I hope that yours won't

nt's reflection. "We can go and sit out in

g, difficult of attainment, perhaps, but worth the effort. Soft glances and words hinting at tenderness, sighs and half-spoken appeals were all made to serve their obvious purpose. If Wingate's responses were a little artificial, he still made no attempt to hurry through the meal. He seemed perfectly content to consider the attractions which his companion heaped into the shop window of

m, chattered gaily away with scarcely a pause, and Wingate, after his first resentment at her coming had passed, found a c

well, don't you Mr. Wingate?"

ked with a warning

. "I know her, certainly. I wa

usband of hers a little more under control. You know, Mr. Wingate," she confided, "he has asked me to supper four or five time

" he answered

s terrible when he's drunk, as he was last night. I do so like nice men," she sighed, "and there are scarcely any left. One seems to have lost

he restaurant. One was Peter Phipps, the other Lord Dredlinton. Flossie Lane, seeking to discover t

d Mr. Peter Phipps! He is rather a dear person, M

ngate obser

, shaking her skirts a little and glancing into the mirr

ll more unpleasant, threaded his way between the chairs and pa

r exclaimed. "How are you,

ssage," Wingate replied stiffly. "So far as I am c

ught to know better. You should confine your attentions to the black sheep of the world, like me. Dear me!" he went on, standing a little on one side so as not to c

ntion of both that Josephine should realise the situation. Attracted by a gesture from her husband, she glanced across at them. For a single moment she half hesitated. The

omfortable thing to have a disapproving wife going about to the same restaurants and places. Let us go and sulk in a corner, Phipps, and leave

e young lady tosse

know any one who can say such horrid things without being actually rud

dge. He glanced at his watch a

xit, "that I must go back to work. Thank you so much fo

at sort of pity you

emands upon it," he assured he

here and there cloven by a wind-swept avenue of clearer spaces. He felt a sudden and passionate distaste for his recent environment,-the faint perfume which had crept out from the girl's hair and face as she had leaned towards him, the brushing of her clothes against his, the daring exposure of silk stocking, the continual flirtatious appeal of her eyes and li

ill see me if he is alone," h

w moments into what paradise his thoughts ha

which he wheeled up for her and

man's room, without too much furniture, and with ple

fortune which brought you to f

me when I tell yo

unless you like. You are h

ook he

taste in my mouth. At the last moment, even as I was stepping into a taxicab, I turned back. I went

t in the quickest possi

irst, then with a delightful little smile whic

ulate, in however innocent a fashion, my hus

, took her hands in his

sked, "do you ne

am here, since I have seen you, I don't feel that I

asion to feel it again,"

for the first time at

I was placed next to h

ced herself that I invit

d y

member having done anything of the

Now tell me about that supper party. What

," Wingate answered. "H

was the

the room and locked

ughed

," she declared. "Are y

hn Win

arry you away and lock you up if y

hose twinges one feels about sudden friendships, for you know, after all, in a way, nothing at étaples counted. You were just the most charming of my patients, and the most interesting, but still a pat

!" he exclaimed. "All the same, I feel just as you do. Out there, for

e?" she

he asked, with a sud

fraid to think-afraid of actual thoughts. Don't let us give form to

the river. Even the roar of the traffic over Waterloo Bridge seemed muffled and

London at all. It rests me more than any place I have been in for a lon

hy?" he ask

I have had nine such miserable years. All through the war there was one's work, one's hospital, the excitement of

ant to do that

rily. "You see, I thought Henry was different. I thought he only w

g," he insisted, "to lose the

e I should spread my wings and settle down upon another planet. But I can't. I am differently made. I am not proud of it. I wish I

you

rty-

" he declared confidently

ve dared to feel hope. I have felt it more than ever

fragility, was counteracted by the softness of her skin and the healthy colour of her curving lips. She bore his scrutiny so impersonally, with such sweet and challenging interest, that he persisted in it. Her brown hair was almost troublesome in its prodigality. There

pronounced, "is the absence

ven't the power for car

answered. "I think there has been no one to care fo

s presence which brought with it a peculiar and nameless joy. Her eyes failed to me

this time," she reminded him, "and we h

it, or rather my side of it," he dec

e timidly, "You don't think that

d the ide

knocked into shape is crude in its way, but the lives a

ysterious,"

t shall be. I need your help enormously, but you must make up your m

measure of unhappiness could be crowded into my life which is not already there?

nd kissed

"Within the next twenty-four hour

ny time-always,"