Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo

ent over their coffee, that her brother should pay the bill a

oing to do abou

hall be, in fact, most sociable-and sooner or later in our conversation I shall ask every one if they kn

one soon!" he grumbled, looking arou

ughed

le impetuous

to be introduced to her before four o'cl

d w

s head turned towards the clouds. "Let's go and

o prink, and afterwards into the Sporting Club at four o'clock. That's my programme. I shall be doing what I can the whole of the time. I shall make discreet enquiries of my dressmaker, who knows everybody, and I sha'n't let a single acquai

er, after a moment's hesitation, approached

ou do, Si

ttle blankly at first. Then he remembe

aren't you? Sit down and have some

a chair. "I've been at Algiers for a time with some friends, and I've

eys hes

I am a

crowd of people here, too. I suppose you know everybo

, "I am almost a stranger here. I have

he name of Grex?" Lane asked

iate reply. He seemed to

h from his cigarette. "Rather an unc

nce or twice," Lane explained. "Very interesting-looki

me, I think," Hunterleys said, "who has

rsonally?" the youn

, I can scarcel

ber one. For some reason or other, too, Hunter

with him," Richard persisted

and surveyed his questioner. He had met

edly, "let me ask you a question for a change.

Hunterleys' face and manner i

jackass. I am not in the habit of doing such things. I'm twenty-seven and I have never gone out of my wa

hook his hea

o use to you-no practical use, that is. I c

it?" Richard

you the credit to believe that you are, you had better pack up

cruise s

leys n

ove all, don't think anything more of that young lady.

upright in his chair. Hi

ou mean by this

rejoined. "If you are in earnest, and I hav

ng to make me understand

young lady," Hunterleys assured him, "as with

r a moment wit

ow who she i

far as I am concerned, the subject is exhausted. I have given you th

oked at hi

got me puzzled

feet, and, summoning

in a few minutes. If you are wise, young man," he added, patting

, as he sat there, that he had been waiting for this day for years. The old nights in New York and Paris and London floated before his memory. He pushed them on one side with a shiver, and yet with a curious feeling of exultation. He recalled a certain sensation which had been drawn through his life like a thin golden thread, a sensation which had a habit of especially asserting itself in the midst of these youthful orgies, a curious sense of waiting for something to happen, a sensation which had been responsible very often for what his friends had looked upon as ecc

ely taken a dozen steps, however, when he came face to face with Lady Hunterleys and Mr. Draconmeyer. Qui

rleys," he remarked, a little puzzled.

sm

eeting was almost accidental. Henry had been at Bordighera

Draconmeyer, who was standing a little o

perhaps. I met him at my sister's, Lad

sured him courteously. "We have all been admir

hard continued. "If so, I hope you'll all join us. Flossie is g

Lady Hunterleys seemed as though abou

making frantic efforts to continue the conversation. "I b

Paris," Lady Hunterleys remarked. "What

d been driven away by incessant rain. "This place is much more fun, though," he added,

rleys shoo

yer here is my guide. He is as

ome people named Grex?" Richard a

howed some signs of interest. He loo

eated. "A very

lderly, and looks as though he took great care of himself-awful

old-rimmed spectacles and rubb

he enquired. "Is t

at," Richard said bo

r readjusted h

s birth, who has taken a very magnificent villa and desires for a time t

young lady?" R

"is, as you surmised, his daughter.... Sha

rudgingly a lit

do you think there'd be any chance of my

laugh, as though something in the idea tickled him

world, I should think," he

r companion's amusement as t

love, do you suppose?

unate choice. However, it really doesn't matter. Love at his a

d and loo

incredulously, "that yo

s hat. Somehow, without it, in that clear light, one realised, notwithstanding his spectacles, his grizzled black beard of unfashionab

absolutely. I do not believe that youth can love, because from the first it misapprehends the mea

lly stimulating, it was very seldom that she had heard him speak with so much real f

creed that they should feel something which they call love. They marry, and in this small world of ours they give a hostage as heavy as a millstone of their chances

me confidence, something from which she must escape. The memory of her husband's warning was v

t on, leaning a little tow

r had the swish of a woman's ski

r," she interrupted, "c