"Oh," said the Picture, "if you put it in the light of a duty to your
friend, of course we will go."

"Not at all," replied Stuart, heartily; "I will read something. I
should really prefer it. How would you like something of Browning's?"

"Oh, I read all of Browning once," said the Picture, "I think I should
like something new."

Stuart gasped at this, but said nothing, and began turning over the
books on the centre table. He selected one of the monthly magazines, and
choosing a story which neither of them had read, sat down comfortably in
front of the fire, and finished it without interruption and to the
satisfaction of the Picture and himself. The story had made the half
hour pass very pleasantly, and they both commented on it with interest.

"I had an experience once myself something like that," said Stuart, with
a pleased smile of recollection; "it happened in Paris"--he began with
the deliberation of a man who is sure of his story--"and it turned out
in much the same way. It didn't begin in Paris; it really began while we
were crossing the English Channel to--"

"Oh, you mean about the Russian who took you for some one else and had
you followed," said the Picture. "Yes, that was like it, except that in
your case nothing happened."

Stuart took his cigar from between his lips and frowned severely at the
lighted end for some little time before he spoke.