this afternoon she is going on an excursion."

"Thank you for the generous information." There was cool irony in the
tone. "You are tolerably well posted as to Mrs. Detlor's movements."

"Oh, yes," was the equally cool reply. "In this case I happen to know,
because Mrs. Detlor sits for a picture at my studio this morning, and I
am one of the party for the excursion."

"Just so. Then will you please say nothing to Mrs. Detlor about having met
me? I should prefer surprising her."

"I'm afraid I can make no promise. The reason is not sufficient.
Surprises, as you remarked about Punch and Judy, are amusing, but they may
also be tragical."

Telford flashed a dark, inquiring look at his companion, and then said:
"Excuse me, I did not say that, though it was said. However, it is no
matter. We meet at dinner, I I suppose, this evening. Till then!"

He raised his hat with a slight sweeping motion--a little mocking excess
in the courtesy--and walked away.

As he went Hagar said after him between his teeth, "By Heaven, you are
that man!"

These two hated each other at this moment, and they were men of might
after their kind. The hatred of the better man was the greater. Not from a
sense of personal wrong, but--