bit indeed."

"We heard tales of it," Mrs. Clephane replied imperturbably. "It is an
ungracious thing, Mrs. Spencer, to scandalize the dead, but do you know
anything of his gayness from your own experience?"

Harleston suppressed a chuckle. Mrs. Clephane would take care of
herself, he imagined.

Mrs. Spencer's foot paused in its swinging, and for an instant her eyes
narrowed; then she smiled engagingly, the smile growing quickly into a
laugh.

"Not of my own experience, Mrs. Clephane," she replied confidentially,
"but I have it from those who do know, that he set a merry pace and
travelled the limit with his fair companions. It was sad, too--he was a
most charming fellow. Rumour also had it that he was none too happy in
his marriage, and that _his_ Mrs. Clephane was something of the same
sort. I've seen _her_ several times; she was of the type to make men's
hearts flutter."

"It's no particular trick to make men's hearts flutter," said Mrs.
Clephane sweetly.

"How about it, Mr. Harleston?" Mrs. Spencer asked.

"No trick whatever," he agreed, "provided she choose the proper method
for the particular man; and some men are easier than others."

"For instance?" Mrs. Spencer inflected.