to renew my acquaintance with you, Mr. Malling. Are you going to be long
in London?"

"All the season, I think."

"Then I hope we may meet again soon, very soon."

He hesitated, put one hand in his pocket, and brought out a card-case.

"I should like to give you my address."

"And let me give you mine."

They exchanged cards.

"I expect you'll be very busy," said the curate, rather doubtfully.

Then he added, like a man urged on by some strong, almost overpowering
desire to do a thing not quite natural to him:

"But I wish you could spare an evening to come to dine with me. I live
very modestly, of course. I'm in rooms, in Hornton Street--do you know
it?--near Campden Hill?--Number 4a--as you'll see on my card. I wonder--"

"I shall be delighted to come."

"When?"

"Whenever you are kind enough to ask me."