taxicab which was just setting down a passenger, and was well on
her way back towards Pall Mall. Her ruse appeared to have been
perfectly successful. At any rate, she saw nothing more of the
occupants of the two taxicabs.

She stopped in front of one of the big clubs and, scribbling a
line on her card, gave it to the door keeper.

"Will you find out if this gentleman is in?" she said. "If he is,
will you kindly ask him to step out and speak to me?"

She returned to the cab and waited. In less than five minutes a
tall, broad-shouldered young man, clean-shaven, and moving like
an athlete, came briskly down the steps. He carried a soft hat in
his hand, and directly he spoke his transatlantic origin was
apparent.

"Penelope!" he exclaimed. "Why, what on earth--"

"My dear Dicky," she interrupted, laughing at his expression,
"you need not look so displeased with me. Of course, I know that
I ought not to have come and sent a message into your club. I
will admit at once that it was very forward of me. Perhaps when I
have told you why I did so, you won't look so shocked."

"I'm glad to see you, anyway," he declared. "There's no bad news,
I hope?"

"Nothing that concerns us particularly," she answered. "I simply
want to have a little talk with you. Come in here with me,