"Exactly," Wingrave interrupted. "And these ladies that you spoke
of--"

"Oh! There's no difficulty about that," Rocke declared with an air of
relief. "I can make up a little dinner party for tonight, if you like.
There's an awfully smart American woman over here, with the Fanciful
Fan Company--I'm sure you'd like her, and she'd come like a shot. Then
I'd get Daisy Vane--she's all right. They don't know anything, and
wouldn't care if they did. Besides, you could call yourself what you
liked."

"Thank you," Wingrave said. "I am afraid I did not make myself quite
clear. I was not thinking of play fellows. I was thinking of the men
and women of my own order. Shall I put the matter quite clearly? Can I
take my place in society under my own name, renew my old friendships
and build up new ones? Can I do this even at the risk of a few
difficulties at first? I am not a sensitive man. I am prepared for the
usual number of disagreeable incidents. But can I win my way through?"

With his back against the wall, Rocke displayed more courage. Besides,
what was the use of mincing matters with a man who had all the
appearance of a human automaton, who never flinched or changed color,
and whose passions seemed dried up and withered things?

"I am afraid not, Sir Wingrave," he said. "I should not recommend you
to try, at any rate for the present."

"Give me your reasons," was the cool response.

"I will do so with pleasure," Rocke answered. "About the time of the